Book Reading - Towards the End of Ordinary Time

Where Great Books are Destined to be Used The Book Bower 386 Main St. in Main St. Market Middletown, CT 860/704-8222 www.bookbower.com reminder Book Reading Friday, Sept. 9 at 5 pm Towards the End of Ordinary Time by Elizabeth MacKiernan Miel Just nine days after September 11th, 2001 writer and artist Elizabeth MacKiernan Miel and her husband nervously decided to go ahead with a planned trip to Paris. Over the course of two weeks, the couple visited their favorite neighborhoods, museums and many, many churches. Miel, a Christian with a Master's degree in Islamic Studies, found herself filling journal after journal with reflections on war, prejudice, art, and foreign cultures. She examines honestly the impact of 9/11 on her own faith not only in God but in tolerance and pacifism: Towards the End of Ordinary Time documents one person's spiritual journey in the days immediately after September 11th, touching on issues that are just as relevant today. --------------------------------------- Elizabeth MacKiernan Miel is a writer, scholar, translator and volunteer hospital and hospice chaplain living in Middletown, Connecticut. She studied Russian language and literature at Boston University, completed an M.Phil in linguistics at Yale University and a Master's degree in Islamic Studies at the Hartford Seminary. She works part-time at Wesleyan University and serves as a lay minister at Grace Episcopal Church in Hartford, Connecticut. Her novelAncestors Maybe was published under the name Elizabeth MacKiernan by Burning Deck Press. Her fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous publications. copies of the book are available at the store

Weekend Update (arts-wise)

Thursday June 17:
The Cypress Restaurant, 1265 South Main Street, presents live music on its back patio on Thursday and Saturday evening.  This week, it's the duo known as Two Big Guys a.k.a Mike and Eric performing at 7 p.m. on Thursday.  Saturday, the Basically Blues Band returns to play its infectious repertoire of blues and rock tunes at 7:30 p.m. - in case of rain, the musicians and the music move indoors. For information, call 860-346-3367.

Friday June 18:

The Buttonwood Tree presents the duo of Anne & Pete Sibley at 8 p.m.  New England natives, the duo has lived in Wyoming for the past decade.  Their music is a sweet blend of folk, bluegrass and traditional material, utilizing guitars and banjo behind Anne's lovely voice and their close harmonies. They have issued 4 CDs with the latest being 2009's "Coming Home."  1% of their annual sales is donated to sustainability-oriented initiatives in the Jackson Hole/Teton region - if you have ever been there, you can understand why they would work to preserve the natural beauty of the area.

Reservations are a must - call 860-347-4957 and be part of the lovely evening.

Saturday Friday 19:
The Book Bower, inside Main Street Market, welcomes Dr. Robert A. Linden, who will talk from and sign copies of his new book, "The Rise and Fall of the American Medical Empire: A Trench Doctor's View of the Past, Present and Future of the U.S. Healthcare System."   To quote the author: "The text discusses four of the major problems facing our current medical design: the impending death of primary care, healthcare insurance and system reform, pharmaceutical industry infiltration into the practice and science of medicine, and dilemmas in medical malpractice." Dr. Linden has been involved in primary care for over 3 decades. The event begins at 4 p.m. and is free. For more information, call 860-704-8222.

The Eternal Perks Coffeehouse, located at the Grace Lutheran Church, 1055 Randolph Road, presents an evening of music by the Grace Musicians and Joyful Noise.  For more information, call 860-346-2641.

Pianist-composer Sunna Gunnlaugs comes to The Buttonwood Tree with her Quartet.  Ms. Gunnlaugs (pictured left) hails from Iceland and has been active on the international jazz scene for almost 2 decades.  She first came to the US in 1993 to study at William Paterson College in New Jersey. Being so close to New York City, she spent many a weekend at jazz clubs in the Big Apple and then moved to Brooklyn in 1996.  She and her husband, drummer Scott McLemore, moved back to Iceland several years ago where they both teach and are raising a family.  Thanks to grants from the Icelandic government, they are "on the road" for a short tour in support of her new CD, "The Dream."  Rounding out the band is saxophonist Loren Stillman and bassist Dan Fabricatore. Opening the show at 8 p.m. will be Middletown resident Noah Baerman who will forego his usual Trio to "hit" with McLemore and Fabricatore.  To get a taste of Sunna Gunnlaugs' creative oeuvre (so far), go to www.sunnagunnlaugs.com.  Jazz fans and music lovers, call 860-347-4957 to save a seat for this fine gig.

Today at The Book Bower

A reminder from The Book Bower:


G. Scott Deshefy, a Connecticut author, will be appearing at 3:30 p.m Saturday January 30 at The Book Bower to read from and sign copies of his books of poetry "Shadow Stones and Other Poems", and "Houyhnhnms All". The Book Bower is in Main St. Market, 386 Main St., Middletown. Light refreshments will be served.


Other works include "Touch the Earth", an anthology of nature poetry of which Mr. Deshefy was editor and contributor. In 1996 Mr. Deshefy was selected by the Hartford Advocate as its literature award winner in poetry, and he has been nominated for Connecticut poet laureate. Copies of his book, "Houyhnhnms All", were given honorary placement by Hungarian President Gonz in the National Libraries of Budapest in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Hungary's fight for independence in 1848.

True to his Renaissance perspectives on life, G. Scott Deshefy's poetry and essays have appeared in a variety of literary magazines while his ecological and ethological studies have been published in such prestigious research journals as Animal Behaviour. A busy lecturer whose topics range from biology and astronomy to history, the cinema and, currently, the ethics of climate change, Deshefy weaves the quiltwork of his interests into the fabric of his poetry. Dubbed the "Rod Serling of American poets," his poems have been called "rich as the planet…an offering to the life around us and dissension from the politics of its destruction." Mr. Deshefy is a justice of the peace and actor, and he worked 26 years for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection before retiring in 2007. He ran for the U.S. House of Representatives (2nd CT Congressional District) with the Green Party in 2008 and is Green Party candidate for that congressional seat in 2010. He is currently working on a book combining scientific and philosophical syntheses in support of animal rights and ecological ethics.

For more information, call 860-704-8222. 

Much To Do on 12/05

There is so much to do in Middletown this coming Saturday that it really is mind-boggling. Want classical music? The Russell Library presents the Janaki Trio in the Hubbard Room at 3 p.m. (and it's free!) How about Gypsy-Jazz? No sweat, because, at 8 p.m. The Buttonwood Tree hosts Ameranouche, a trio that brings the music Belgian-born guitarist Django Reinhardt created in the 1930s. Maybe the soothing tones of the Wesleyan Gamelan Ensemble, I.M. Harjito, music director, is more to your liking. You're in luck as the group will present "Wayang Kulit" (Javanese shadow puppet theater) featuring puppet master Sumarsam at 8 p.m. in the World Music Hall at Wesleyan. Some people like jazz/funk with a healthy dollop of blues - they should check out the Liviu Pop Group and special guest Ray Morant (guitar) at 9 p.m. in Boney's Music Lounge above Fishbone Cafe.

Perhaps you want to take the children for Hayride down Main Street. If the weather's right, Santa and his friends will be down at the Chamber of Commerce Building from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. with a wagon (perhaps a sleigh) to offer families the opportunity to relax and see the town.

Lindy Hop or Swing Dancing more your style? Vinnie's Jump & Jive can hook you up with lessons for the former at 2 p.m. and get you moving out on the floor for the latter at 7:30 p.m. Perhaps you'd rather meet an author - The Book Bower, inside Main Street Market, welcomes Killingworth resident John Herbert who will read from his new book, "Rules Get Broken" at 4 p.m.

Need to feel the spirit of the Holiday season? First United Methodist Church, 24 Old Church Street, presents guitarist Nancy Romano and the Church choir in a "Holiday Music Festival" at 6 p.m.

And there is opera. Not just any opera, but Donizetti's "L'elisir D'Amore" ("The Elixir of Love.") The first of 2 presentations in the Greater Middletown Concert Association's Opera Series, the 1832 classic will be performed by the Connecticut Lyric Opera and the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Adrian Sylveen, music director, at 7:30 p.m in the Performing Arts Center of Middletown High School, LaRosa Lane. Starring Andrew Dorst (tenor) and Juarte Svedaite (soprano), the comedy is a favorite of fans all around the world.

The following synopsis comes courtesy of allaboutopera.com - The scene is laid in an Italian village, where a pretty and coquettish country belle, Adina, is amusing herself by keeping on tenter-hooks her two sweethearts, Nemorino, an honest young farmer, and Belcore, a recruiting sergeant from the next village. After much lively flirtation, matters are brought to a climax by a visit to the village of a quack, from whom Nemorino purchases a bottle supposed to contain "the Elixir of Love," but which is in reality only ordinary wine, since the quack, Dulcamara, not possessing the drug asked for, still desires the simple peasant's money. Being eager to put the Elixir to a good test, Nemorino swallows the whole contents of the bottle; with the result that the wine makes him half-drunk, so that Adina is shocked at his unseemly behaviour, and declares she will marry Belcore. The marriage contract is to be signed next day; and Nemorino, in despair, seeks a second bottle of Elixir from the quack, permitting Belcore to enter him as a recruit, in order to secure the bonus money, wherewith he is able to pay for the drug, the effect of which being still merely strong wine is, however, to place him still further in the black books of his ladylove. Next day, the village girls, having discovered that Nemorino' s uncle has died and left him a fortune a fact not yet known to the young manbegin to pay great attention to the now eligible farmer, who is much surprised, but takes advantage of the circumstance to rouse the jealousy of Adina who has much to the chagrin of Belcore postponed the signing of the wedding contract until evening. Seeing the girl looking dejected, Dulcamara, struck with remorse, reveals to her his deception of her sweetheart; and Adina, pleased with this proof of the true love and sincerity of the young farmer, decides to reward his faithfulness by granting him his heart's desire. Belcore reminds her that the new recruit, having spent part of his bonus money, must depart to take up his military duties; but when Adina herself repays the money, the disappointed suitor retires crestfallen, whilst the triumphant village belle bestows her hand upon the delighted Nemorino.

Ticket information can be found by going online to http://greatermiddletownconcerts.org/ticketing.htm or calling 860-347-4887 or 860-346-3369.

Contact information for the other venues:
The Russell Library: 860-347-2528, ext 135.
First United Methodist Church: 860-346-3689.
Book Bower: 860-704-8222.
Boney's Music Lounge: 860-346-6000.
Buttonwood Tree: 860-347-4957.
Wesleyan University Box Office: 860-685-3355 (online ticketing at www.wesleyan.edu/cfa.)
Vinnie's Jump & Jive: 860-347-6971, extension 3777.
Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce: 860-347-6924.

"One Book, One Middletown" Events This Week

One Book, One Middletown's celebration of "Water for Elephants" kicks into high gear this week. Tuesday, The Book Bower (inside Main Street Market) will hold 2 discussions titled "The Great Depression: Lessons for Today", the first at 12:30 p.m., the second at 5:30.

Wednesday, there will be a "Book Discussion" at 12:30 p.m. at Middlesex Community College, 100 Training Hill Road. At 7 p.m. in the Hubbard Room of The Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Rich Hanley will show the documentary "The Circus Fire." Hanley, a Professor of Journalism at Quinnipiac University, wrote, directed and produced the work for CPTV; a brief description follows.
"On July 6, 1944, the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus big top caught fire during an afternoon performance in Hartford. After less than 10 minutes of unimaginable horror, 168 spectators, mostly women and children, were either dead or dying. Hundreds were injured.Even decades later, many survivors and relatives of the dead remain haunted by what happened and why."

Thursday, there's a seminar at 12noon in Chapman Hall at MxCC titled "The Extraordinary Life of P.T.Barnum." The slide presentation is a production of the Barnum Museum, located in Bridgeport, the home of the great entrepreneur. Then at 7 p.m., it's back to the Hubbard Room of The Russell Library where Quinnipiac Professor Hedda Kopf will lead an in-depth Book Discussion.

Friday, students from Middletown High School will facilitate a Book Discussion at 6 p.m. in Javapalooza, 330 Main Street.

All these events are free and open to the public.