Volunteers Get Some Love

O'Rourke's Diner treats Buttonwood volunteers to special dinner!

After O'Rouke's Diner officially closed for the day, Brian O'Rourke kept going to show his support for his North End neighbor. Gracious as ever on the Summer Solstice, he laid out a beautiful dinner party for the volunteers of The Buttonwood Tree. Anne-Marie Cannata, Executive Director of North End Arts Rising / The Buttonwood Tree, returned to the kitchen to help prepare and serve the meal.

Brian made special accommodations for vegetarians on the spot, but he warned everybody that there would be no cheesecake for anyone who didn't eat their brussels sprouts. And never so tasty a tiny cabbage was there ever served up in a Middletown dining establishment. Salad was fresh with house made dressing and fresh herbs, soup was rich, and everything was delicious. It really was a special way for the Buttonwood to say thanks to the people who have, in testament to the importance of The Buttonwood, donated their time, talent, energy, and services over the years. Anne-Marie would like to thank each and every person and hopes she has remembered everyone when she says that The Buttonwood Tree IS:

Eileen Albrizio | Mike Arafeh | Francine Augeri | Reverend Ronnie Bantum | John Basinger | 
Ed Biofore | Bill Biski | Abe Bobman | Lisa Bosco | Brian Burness | J- Cherry | Breanne Coates | Tom Cushing | Matt Donahue | Brad Devlin | Kelly DiMauro & daughter Kelsey | Mike D'Amico | Matt Earls | Matthew Evangelisti | Brad Devin | Deb Flynn | Ambur Fulse | Annaita Gandhy | Bill George | Bob Gotta | Tom Hahn | John and Jen Halfinger | Colin Haskins | Joe Hoyadilla | Ty Hunter | Jim Keating | Terri Klein | Kunle Mwanga | Kay Lani | Isaac Lichter | Roy Lisker | Topher Polack | 
Ian LaForce | Suzy Lampson | Laura Lawton | Roy Lisker | 
Dr. Maryott | Ted Paulsen | Topher Polack | Abby Reynolds | Paul Rice | Cocomo Rock | Erin St. Pierre | Phill Salafia | Ann Smith | Rev. Sandra Steele | Tim Sparks | Melissa Spencer | James Stoetzle | Dave Stott | Karen Swartz | Elizabeth Thomas | Ken Villines | Ashley & Sheryl Wescott | Terri Johnson & Martha Johnson | Dottie & Barry Ten Eyck | Fred Carroll

Here Stephan and Susan Allison talk about the origins of The Buttonwood Tree (TBT), now also called NEAR. The Allisons are pleased that TBT is thriving under Anne-Marie Cannata's leadership, and were delighted to receive the new TBT mug! The Allison's talk also focused on the original goals of The Buttonwood and some history and reminiscing. It was a great opportunity for the volunteers to learn some of the stories of the people and events and changes over the years.

As always, The Buttonwood has a full slate Thursday night and throughout the weekend with lots of great music scheduled. The details can be found at www.buttonwood.org

Celebrate a Visionary & Other Events (May 8-9)

It's been a tough, heartbreaking, scary and sorrowful few days but even as we mourn a member of our community cruelly taken from our midst, we must move forward.

North End Arts Rising celebrates the work and vision of Susan Allison on Friday May 8 with a gala fundraiser and evening of performances. Hard to believe but it's been 20 years since the poet/activist Allison came to Middletown to open Ibis Bookstore on Rapallo Avenue. Within 2 years, the place became a gathering place for writers and soon Allison and her husband Stephan began a performance series. The Buttonwood Tree soon began to book musicians from all over the country and world, many of whom only performed on college campuses or in larger urban areas. Plays were staged, poetry slams and more until that fateful May night when a fire broke out on the second floor and the building soon was reduced to ashes.

Through a lot of hard work and pounding the pavement, The Buttonwood Tree and bookstore moved to Liberty Commons (after a stint in the basement of Oddfellows Playhouse.) The new space at 605 Main Street, located on the first floor of what used to be the Arriwani Hotel, literally and figuratively rose from the ashes. While it's never been easy to attract local people to the North End (unless you're a brilliant chef in an old diner or have one of the best beer selections in the state), performers and poets love working in the intimate space and artists enjoy having their work on the walls.

To celebrate, 4 separate venues in the North End will take part in the festivities from 7 - 10 p.m. The Buttonwood Tree hosts Noah Baerman (piano) who performs with Joe Fonda (bass) and Kunle Mwanga (clarinet.) James Burr will also perform as will Kristen Graves (in a post-party mini-concert.) There will be a live and silent auction and perhaps Ms. Allison will favor the crowd with a poem or 2. A number of local restaurants are providing food for the evening. Across the street at MAC 650, saxophonist David Davis will host a musical party (with more food) featuring Melissa Spencer, Terry Woolard, Trevor Davis and Randy & Freddie Moses. Around the corner at the Realto Cafe on Rapallo Avenue, the Jarrod Caffey Jazz Trio will perform and attendees will be able to view a video of The Buttonwood Tree's early years. I understand there will be some dynamite food as well. The Gatekeeper Tavern, 73 Ferry Street, is the 4th venue and will feature a Traveling Poetry Troupe, music by the John Dixon Band, and Francine Augeri's verbal memoir of the North End. Lest we forget, there will be more food at this venue.

The blocks north of Washington Street have been maligned for years - I know there are issues - but look what has grown up and/or expanded in the 20 years since Ibis Bookstore and The Buttonwood took root. There are a slew of restaurants, a great Tibetan store, It's Only Natural Market, Michael Arafeh's Coffee House Studios, Middletown Framing, the Community Health Center, the Soup Kitchen, and other businesses. Let's hope the rain stops long enough for people to come and celebrate the vision of Susan Allison, her family and friends. For more information, call 347-4957 or go to www.buttonwood.org.

The Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company completes its 5-show run of Arthur Miller's "The American Clock" with 7:30 p.m. performances on both Friday and Saturday. For more information and reservations, call 347-6143.

There are number of events scheduled on the Wesleyan campus for this weekend including Friday's West African Drumming & Dance Concert at 3 p.m. and the Wesleyan Steel Band Concert Saturday at 1 p.m. (as well as several dance events.) Go to www.wesleyan.edu/cfa or call the University Box Office at 685-3355 to find out the status of these programs.

On Saturday evening, The Buttonwood Tree opens its doors to singer/songwriter Shandy Lawson. Opening the show at 7:30 p.m. will be the 4-piece rock band known as The Mountain Movers.

Also on Saturday, Boney's Music Lounge above Fishbone Cafe, 106 Court Street, welcomes bassist/composer Mario Pavone & his new Quartet. The Connecticut native and resident came into his own as a performer in the 1970s. After a long stint with saxophonist Thomas Chapin (ending in 1998 with Chapin's untimely death at the age of 40), Pavone began leading his own groups and is considered one of the finer players on the creative music scene. Joining him will be pianist Craig Hartley, saxophonist Kris Allen and drummer Curtis Torian. For more information, call346-6000.

Important Message from The Buttonwood Tree - No City Funding for 2009

Hello Friends of The Buttonwood Tree!

We are pleased to announce:

NORTH END ARTS RISING PARTY

A TRIBUTE TO SUSAN ALLISON

In celebration of the 20th year since opening the Ibis Bookstore

May 8, 2009

(The Friday night of Mother's Day weekend)

Photo at right:
In 2006 Susan and Stephan Allison receiving honors from then-director of the Buttonwod Tree Anne Sabin.




Due to challenging economic times and change in policy, our city funding is no longer secured for 2009. Without this support it will be nearly impossible to receive other funding from outside sources, and so the likelihood that The Buttonwood Tree could continue would be slim. In our effort to remain open we have begun to plan a fund-raiser with our goals being to thank and recognize our beloved founder, Susan Allison, to show the city leaders that we have community support for our organization, to raise money that will be eligible for matching funds, and to have a really good time together! We'll have both live and silent auctions, door prizes, lots of entertainment, glances back in time, stories and surprises. We hope you'll show your support in some form and join us for the making of new memories while we relive some old ones :)More details to come...For now... please save the date... May 8th, 2009 (tentative time 7-10pm)





Thank you! from Anne-Marie Cannata, Executive Director


N.E.A.R., Inc. /The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center