Middnight Buzz

With Thanksgiving behind us, and December upon us, the buzz is starting to build about Middletown's first New Year's Eve festival -- Middnight on Main.

For those of us who've been working on the event since last January, it's nice to see!

In case you've missed the news, Middnight on Main is a family-friendly day of performances and activities up and down Main Street, from 3 pm to midnight on December 31, 2011. With the purchase of a Middnight button, you can choose from over 100 shows, which will be presented at *indoor* venues like bank lobbies, churches and downtown stages. There will be rooftop fireworks at 6 pm and a drum-playing and bell-ringing countdown to 2012 at midnight.

It's a little hard to sum up the entertainment: it ranges from fringe films to choral music, with all kinds of music, dance, comedy and fun for both adults and kids - and even teenagers, as I'm not sure who else will be at the wizard rock band we've got scheduled. It's not all performances - both Kidcity and the Middletown Roller Rink will be open to button-wearers, and there are lots of unusual events, like speed chess, speed dating, winter-themed cooking demonstrations, and a cozy chat sesssion for fans of WNPR.

The event spans both the North and South ends of Main Street, i.e. St. Vincent's is hosting a ping pong tournament, and there will be a giant ice sculpture demonstration in front of Citizens Bank. With two shuttle buses running up and down Main all afternoon and evening (and free parking at all the downtown lots, including the Middlesex Garage), we hope that folks will find it easy to get around.

There are a dizzying number of people working on this event, from both arts and business organizations. In these final weeks, please forgive us if we answer texts in the middle of a conversation, or if we shout out "wait, I forgot to hang the banner!" just when you were telling us about your day. If you want to earn our undying and eternal gratitude, please consider taking a 3-hour volunteer shift during the event itself. In addition to making us happy, you'll earn a free Middnight button so you can enjoy the festivities when you're not helping out.

Last night, I made my first appearance on Bill Wilson's cable access show, "The Variety Hour" to talk about the Middnight performers. I brought a ridiculously huge map showing the Middnight venues, which Bill was nice enough to put right in front of us as we chatted. Until now, I'd really only interacted with Bill and his co-host Jon Pulino in the comments section of this blog - I found that we had this in common: a decidedly nerdy passion for Middletown. English teacher Pulino noted that we've spelled Middnight with 2 D's - cause this celebration is not just about 12 midnight - it's about Middletown!

But don't take my word for it! Go to the website, www.Middnight.org, to see what's on the schedule - I guarantee you'll see at least a few things you'd enjoy! And if you don't, let me know so we can get a jump on next year.

Hope to see you at Middnight!

Middnight buttons for sale at New England Emporium, Kidcity Children's Museum, It's Only Natural Market, and the Middlesex Chamber, as well as at www.Middnight.org.

Community Health Center Lauds Middnight on Main

From the Community Health Center
------------------------
Inaugural Event Puts Middletown on the Map for the Place to Be on New Year’s Eve
Its official – Middletown’s inaugural New Year’s Eve festival - Middnight on Main – was a huge success for the city. The sold out event brought 10,000 people into Downtown Middletown to partake in a variety of activities and performances offered in over a dozen Main Street venues.

The crowds kept growing, as 10,000 people filled Downtown Middletown on Saturday for Middnight on Main. You could hear and feel the joy and amazement. Whether it was the depth and quality of the performances and activities; the comfortable evening weather that was just right for strolling all night

Middnight On Main - Volunteering - Get Involved!

The 2nd Annual Middnight on Main event is fast approaching.


We will need more than 200 volunteers to make Middnight on Main 2013 a success! Join us for a 3-hour shift, and earn a free Middnight admission button ($20 value) which you can give to a friend or use to enjoy the entertainment when you're not volunteering. Plus, you get a free Middnight Volunteer t-shirt (priceless).

We need your help. It’s easy. Here’s what you can do.

You’ll need to make a commitment of at least 3 hours on December 31st. You can volunteer for one of three shifts: 3-6 PM, 6-9 PM or 9 PM to midnight.

During your shift you will be assigned to one of the performance or activity venues on Main Street.

Please spread the word to your civic group or business, and consider organizing a group of volunteers!


Kayla describes what it's like to get involved with Middnight On Main.



 If you'd like to get involved, Visit http://middnight.org/volunteers.php

The Early Bird Gets the Soup

You have to get up pretty early in the morning to be the first person in town working on Middnight on Main these days. My phone pinged at 4:45 am with my first text of the day, and 5:38 am brought my first email from Lucy McMillan, the coordinator for this leviathan event.

We're sweating the small stuff here. And the occasional big stuff too**.

There are charts of the 200 volunteers and where they go, maps showing where we will put signage and bus stops, and about a thousand other details that we hope to iron out in the next 3 days, 17 hours, and 25 minutes.

What that means for you, dear reader, is that Middnight on Main might just be the most music, dance, laughter and entertainment ever packed into four blocks of our Main Street. Hopefully, you'll consider joining us, if not for one of 100 events at 21 venues, then for the rooftop fireworks at 6 pm or the countdown to 2012 in front of Holy Trinity Church.

You probably already know this, but the whole schedule and info about button sales is at www.Middnight.org, or you can download the Middnight app on your iphone or droid.

But here's what I wanted to share this morning: my 4:45 am text was from the legendarily-early-riser Brian O'Rourke, who is the first presenter at a 3-hour segment of afternoon cooking demonstrations at one of the Middnight venues. I wrote up his plans for his 3 pm opener:

Feel that chill in the air? How 'bout a nice bowl of soup? Even better, what if it's made from scratch in your own kitchen, with some local ingredients to make it even fresher? Brian O'Rourke of O'Rourke's Diner is ready to share his secrets on what makes a spectacular soup, chowder, gumbo, or stew! Is it the roux? The broth? Where does the flavor really come from? Brian knows - and you can too! Part of Middnight on Main, Middletown's first New Year's Eve festival.

The sun is not even up yet, and I'm ready for broth instead of breakfast....hmm...I wonder if Brian makes a morning soup?

In case I forget to say thank you in the next few days, let me express my gratitude to all the people who've been volunteering these past 11 months to create an event that will show the whole state how much fun we can have on Main Street, Middletown. Sure, it might be cold. It's hard to know what to expect at a first-time festival. We'll make our share of mistakes. But, to quote Elsie: what good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play! It should be a good show.

**(According to Lucy's 5:38 email, we apparently put the wrong group's photo on our website for one of the performers...the first person to guess which one it was and write into the Eye comments gets a free Middnight button!)

Middnight on Main • 3 days left to save $4 each

If you're planning to celebrate New Year's Eve at Middnight on Main, you still have time to save $4 per person on your Middnight Buttons - the discount expires at midnight on Thanksgiving.


Your button is your ticket!  With the discount, buttons are $16 for adults and $6 for kids ages 2 to 12, through Thursday, November 22nd, online only at www.Middnight.org.

Regular price button sales start at several downtown locations on Friday, November 23rd, at $20 for adults and $10 for kids ages 2 to 12.

The second annual Middnight on Main will offer more than 100 shows in four blocks of Main Street, with rooftop fireworks at 6 pm and a countdown to 2013 with Japanese Taiko drums and church bells.  There's music, magic, dance, film, art & entertainment for all ages.

New attractions this year include acclaimed singer-songwriter Dar Williams, Afro Cuban music with Jose Conde, comedy hypnosis with Jim Spinnato, the Frisbee Guy, The Rooks, a Board Game parlor hosted by ConnectiCon, Middletown's own AME Zion Choir, and Roots Americana band Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem (including a set from their kids' album "Ranky Tanky").   Many of last year's favorites are returning, including The Grand Slambovians, PBS Kids' star SteveSongs, NPR's Catie Talarski, Irish step dance, Johnny Fox the Sword Swallower, and a show tunes sing-a-long with my dad, Bob Alexander.  And, as they say, much much more.

Middnight on Main is sponsored by Community Health Center, Centerplan Companies, the City of Middletown, Pratt & Whitney, The Middletown Press, CPTV, the Downtown Business District, Wesleyan University and many other local business and partners!  It's not too late to volunteer in exchange for a free button - for more info, see www.Middnight.org.

Middnight on Main Brings Eclectic Sounds to Downtown

Middnight on Main deserves to be called a huge success. The city of Middletown did a remarkable job of organizing and staging the events taking place downtown last night, and the enjoyment of local residents taking in Middnight on Main’s sight and sounds was more than evident. The quality of the event’s musical acts particularly stood out. I was pleasantly surprised by this revelation, and it bodes very well for the future if Middnight on Main becomes an annual event. If you missed some of the standout acts performing around the city on New Year’s Eve, this is a brief sketch of what audiences heard and where you could check out these acts.

Swish and Flick

Wizard rock group Swish and Flick are the side project of New York synth pop duo Cookie Galore. Backed up by an eclectic sound incorporating synth pop, dance music and old school rap, Swish and Flick performed songs about the Harry Potter universe in front of a large crowd at the Green Street Arts Center. The duo’s fun and unabashedly cheesy songs celebrated the naughtier side of the Potter universe, such as the fun of being in the evil Slytherein House and the allure of bad-boy Draco Malfoy. (Ask your kids, folks). A Lady Gaga parody called “Sorted This Way” was the strongest performance of the night and really got the crowd going. You can learn more about Swish and Flick and check out their music at http://www.myspace.com/swishandflickwrock.he Haymakers

The Haymakers are a recently formed folk music duo consisting of New England musicians Rani Arbo and Mark Erelli, both highly regarded in the folk world. Arbo and her family live in Middletown. The Haymakers played a set of classics from artists like Tom Waits and the Louvin Brothers, along with original material, for an enraptured crowd at the Buttonwood Tree. The duo’s beautiful playing and highly passionate performances demonstrated the power folk music has an art form. The Haymakers were the best act I saw at Middnight on Main and I absolutely plan on listening to their music on my own. You can learn more about the duo and listen to their music at http://www.facebook.com/Haymakers?sk=wall.

The Shinolas

The Shinolas are a roots band consisting of Hartford area musicians. The group is highly popular in the area, frequently playing in bars and clubs around Hartford, and has won the Best Country Band award from the Hartford Advocate. For their Middnight on Main performances at the Salvation Army Chapel, The Shinolas performed a number of accomplished covers of roots/Americana artists, including songs from Merle Haggard and Credence Clearwater Revival. If you enjoy great roots rock played with total expertise, then make sure to check out The Shinolas at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Shinolas-Fan-Page/372576317742?sk=wall and out around the capitol city.

Weatherstar

Weatherstar is the brainchild of Cameron Walker, a Connecticut native who plays throughout the state and the northeast at venues such as The Space in Hamden. Weatherstar, whose emo sound inspired by groups like the Starting line and Dashboard Confessional, closed out the night’s events at the Green Street Arts Center with a heartfelt set of love songs. Numbers like “Postcard and “Go” portrayed the ups and downs of young romance and obviously connected with the adolescent audience watching his set. Weatherstar frequently performs in the area, and you can learn more about his music at http://www.myspace.com/weatherstar.

More Scenes from Middnight on Main

Eye Blogger Joseph Getter posted his photos of Middnight on main here. Scroll below for more shots of the evening.

Event organizer & CEO of the Community Health Center Mark Masselli and Middnight Chair Lucy McMillan greet the crowd gathered in front of Holy Trinity Church just before midnight at the first Middnight on Main Celebration. In a Willy Wonka moment ( and I mean that as a complement to his coolness factor) Masselli asked all the children in the crowd come forward. The special surprise was confetti canons fired from an adjacent rooftop at midnight. Kaoru WatanabeTaiko Drummers drummed in the New Year and helped with the final count down outside of Holy Trinity Church.

At Matt's Lab - a storefront at 420 Main Street Mercy High School's robotic's team was on hand to demonstrate a robot. Other volunteers did science experiments with children.

Earlier in the evening sword swallower and master magician Johnny Fox gave two performances packed in the lobby of Citizen's Bank. Johnny brought along his friend a two-headed red slider turtle. The turtle did not swallow swords.
A Balinese dancer, Shoko Yamumura performed for the crowd at Citizen's bank.
2012 ice sculpture showing Middletown's sky line by ice artist Larry Siragusa.
Event coordinators Jennifer Alexander, owner of KidCity, and Rosario Rizzo of Pratt and Whitney, a key sponsor of the evening, strike up a conversation at the hat making station inside Main Street Market. Visitors were welcomed to make their own New Year's fashion top hat, sponsored by KidCity.
Can' t say if I had more fun as a spectator or a volunteer last night. Volunteers donned iconic yellow shirts- soon to be a collectors item of Middletown!

Middnight On Main 2013 Gets City And Community Support

The Finance and Government Operations Commission tonight voted to endorse a city contribution of $32,000 to Middnight on Main, the hugely popular New Year's Eve celebration on Main Street. If approved by the full Council on Monday, $25,000 of this would be a cash contribution to cover expenses, the remainder would cover police overtime.

During the portion of the meeting reserved for public comments, Mayor Dan Drew expressed his strong support for the contribution to Middnight on Main. that virtually every downtown restaurant reported that New Year's Eve was the most profitable night of the year, and he said that he expects an even bigger crowd this year.

Councilman Tom Serra used that occasion to point out that businesses should make contributions to the city to cover the annual Fourth of July Fireworks. Quentin Phipps, of the Downtown Business District, and Mayor Drew, pointed out that many of Middletown's businesses were also making large contributions to Middnight on Main, with Centerpoint, Pratt and Whitney, and the Community Health Center each contributing $25,000, and Liberty Bank and the Downtown Business District each contributing $5,000.

Try to Remember ...

or ...

Tired of Waiting for a Snowy Day

Yesterday's miserable weather notwithstanding, I've been waiting since January 2nd for a snowy day. There was one snowday—January 21st (is that right?), a Saturday. But that was the day of a memorial service for a beloved Aunt, who passed away just short of her 103rd birthday. Besides that, my computer completed failed after a malware attack before Christmas. So between no-snow, the memorial service, and the defunct computer, I have been waiting nearly two months to complete this posting about Middletown's Middnight on Main 2012.


As I began this posting on Tuesday, 22 February, I was still hoping (sort of ... theoretically anyway) for that snowy day. But now, as it's almost the end of February, I'm tired of waiting! So here it is. Perhaps you'll read it regardless of the continuing fair weather (until today). ... After all, that was a night to remember.

Middnight Special
Middletown’s New Year’s Eve celebration has been pronounced by many a resounding success; so what could be better than reminiscing about that time on Main Street? The streets bright, the sky darkening by the hour. Walkers by the dozens – big kids, little kids, strolling hand in hand, both sides and down the middle of Main Street with fancy hats, new mittens (hardly needed), little crowns flashing gold and red and green, Christmas lights, wreaths and holly, shops lit up, feeling the groove. Note: No moving cars!

A light fog creates a wisp of mystery in the balmy chill of the Eve of the New Year. And these are the reminiscences of one person in the crowd.

The Grand Slambovians
The heart of the matter for me—the places where I spent most of my time: the First Church sanctuary and Parish Hall. Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams pretty much took over the Sanctuary for a while that night—The Grand Slambovians (below, left), as they call themselves. It seems they’re from—where else? Slambovia! But perhaps via Kazakhstan, or Woodstock (NY), or Santa Cruz, or Portland, maybe with a quick detour through Pennsylvania Dutch country.

Their Amish-esque front man’s gravelly voice rises as if from Middle Earth as I assess singer Tink’s exotic head-dress (alas, not shown)—half human, half divine, then find myself looking for a camel … or at least a camel saddle! (Midnight at the Oasis?) … And I wonder, knowing about Slambovian coffee from The Buttonwood Tree menu (it’s an aromatic fair-trade variety that the group markets as a sideline), I wondered—does coffee really grow in Slambovia? I doubt it! But then, really, just where is Slambovia? Is it on this Earth? Maybe east of Eden? South of the Taklimakan Desert? Or maybe just this side of Paradise?

Note: Anyone who spends any amount of time with Senorina Sycamore (aka Anne-Marie) has heard a fair amount (or perhaps more than that) about Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams. Well, now, we have seen them perform in Middletown, and I think they are fine. Very fine.

Sock Hoppy New Year with My Friend the Witch-Doctor
Moving on to the Parish Hall, after a few minutes at the Sock Hop, I start thinking about the people I grew up with, danced at sockhops with — some are dead and some are living. I think of sweet Tom H. (aka "Kookie" because of his habit of whipping out his comb and combing his hair), who survived Viet Nam, only to die riding his Harley through the back roads of CT. (Last night I watched the film, Girl Interrupted, interesting film, with at least one memorable line: "The lucky ones went to Woodstock; the rest went to Viet Nam.")

Ok, back to the sock hop: Beach Boys (I didn’t hear their songs at the sock hop, but I wasn't there for long.... were they played? I would think so. And, Surfer Girl, Surfin’ Safari, or maybe even California Dreamin’, Blue Velvet, Kathy's Clown). Timely, to some extent ... history repeating itself somehow, at least for me.… Anyway, here we are swaying on New Year’s Eve at the First Church Parish Hall—a perfect place for dancing, actually (dare I say, better than Vinnie's?). And watching a quartette of seasoned and sweaty ladies facing off on the dance floor, going for the beat with wild abandon, I listen to strains of "My Friend the Witch-Doctor," sung by a bona fide witch-doctor type. I couldn’t decide which was scarier--the hair on his head or the hair on his chest. We may be thankful that he didn’t have a spear! (Did anyone get a picture of him?)

Looking for the Parish Halls
Moving around through the crowd that evening, twice I glimpse a diminutive woman, slight, with longish grey-white hair, hand in hand with a platinum-haired, long-haired, pony-tailed gent. Twice I turn and watch, looking to see their faces, and wonder, could they be the former First Church Pastor and his bride? …. Has he really grown a 6-month pony tail since retiring? No ... both times it’s not the pastoral pair, but another handsome couple, people I don’t recognize. Probably just as well.

Slambovians in the Sanctuary
Back to the Slambovians in the Sanctuary. They sing Pushing Up Daisies, a mysterious tale of a place where no one ever dies. Quasi-psychedelic daisies multi-morph in back of the altar on dark, polished wood beneath the rising ranks of organ pipes (below, right).

The music riffles on. I watch, feeling the beat, as the daisies come and go (did you see them?), whirling and fading. And then they glow and grow into a face. It’s a familiar face—a face I’ve seen before. Could it be?— I see a face resembling the face on the Shroud of Turin. I’m surprised at first, but then listen to the words... "where no one ever dies."... Eternal Life? Daisies? And then it seems to make sense. After all, if the face of the Virgin Mary can appear on a potato chip or a piece of toast, then why not the visage of Christ above the altar at First Church? Why not, indeed! (Did you see it, too?)

(Above right) Full-Service Sanctuary: Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams sing "Pushin’ Up Daisies" at First Church of Christ, Congregational (UCC), Middletown, CT, at Middnight on Main, 2011, Middletown’s own New Year’s Eve celebration.

Feathers and Dreds
Back at the sock hop, I see the Doorman, a tall, dignified fellow in a mask with feathers, and dredlocks—a little flamboyant, as befits the occasion (and the man!). The Parish Hall is packed, the Parish Hall is hopping, and he is calmly watching. Who is that masked man? And more importantly, did anyone get a picture of him? I wonder.

Roof-Top Light Show
Outside, earlier, I watch as blasts of roof-top fireworks play up the carnival atmosphere. Oohs and aahs. Lights show through misty branches of trees at the south side of Holy Trinity (as at left), which is exactly where I’m standing for the show. Smoky washes and blitzes of light. Mingling wisps of fog and smoke. Waves of laughter, then giggles, and waves. Little kids loving it, parents glad for a safe night on the streets of Middletown, a safe place to come home to. Safe to celebrate in, safe for now. And safe, we pray, for a long, long time.

At left: Middnight 2012's Roof-top Fireworks: So much better than last year’s rooftop drama!

Cascades of Confetti
Those who stayed around long enough were treated to a showers of confetti on the stroke of midnight!

The After Glow
The next day, New Year’s Day, parts of Middletown were still shimmering—still humming, and smiling. Maybe we all were, for a few days….

And no doubt Mr. Mark Maselli (at right), the happy organizer as someone I know called him—(you know him as the Community Health Center (CHC) President and CEO, the Chairman of the Board, as it were). No doubt Mr. Maselli is still smiling. Well, he has reason to smile: It was a fine show!

p.s. The best of management is "invisible" management, in my view. And from my viewpoint, the management of this event was virtually invisible--so smooth and so well done that I did not notice it! Which is why this little reminiscence doesn't even mention it. Invisible management and "overseers," the sign of truly superior planning and performance.

_______________________________________________
Photos from roof, balcony, street, venues, and of Mr. Maselli, courtesy of Mr. T. Davis. The photo of The Grand Slambovians is from their publicity materials.

Scenes from Middnight on Main

Middnight on Main 2012 New Year's Eve festival (http://www.middnight.org) was a terrific family-friendly event, well organized and attended, with many excellent performances and happenings. Congratulations and thank you to Community Health Center, all of the sponsors, vendors, sites, volunteers, staff and performers. Here are a few photos from some of the many events on and around Main Street in Middletown tonight (since this only covers a fraction of all that was going on, I hope others can post their accounts and photos). Click on the photos to view a larger image:

model trains at Amato's toy store:

Primate Fiasco brass band at First Church parish hall - dance party!

 A huge crowd of people watched the fireworks on Main:

 It was great to have Main Street open to pedestrians:

Mamoun's falafel was there along with several other food trucks. 

Thanks to Green Street Arts Center for providing a warm place to eat and talk inside.

 LA 8 Sixty salsa band at Church of the Holy Trinity:

2012 ice sculpture by Larry Siragusa, in front of Citizen's Bank:

Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams (http://www.slambovia.com) put on an amazing standing-room-only roots-rock show in the First Church sanctuary:

Get Free Limited-Edition Bell at Middnight On Main Kickoff

Everyone attending today's kick-off of Middletown's first downtown-wide celebration of New Year's Eve, will receive a free keepsake bell like those ticket-buyers will receive at the year-end event.  There are a limited supply of souvenir bells.

The kick-off takes place today, Thursday July 7, starting at 4:30 pm where local residents and business owners will gather at The Church of the Holy Trinity, 381 Main Street, as Community Health Center, Inc. announces Middletown’s first New Year’s Eve Festival - Middnight on Main 2012!

Performing at the kick-off will be Middnight On Main performers Steve Songs (star of Music Time on PBS).



Also performing will be renowned Taiko drummer Kaoru Watanabe.

Come on down to Middnight on Main

Middletown's first New Year's Eve Festival starts at 3 pm and the entertainment goes right to midnight. Fireworks are at 6 pm at the corner of Washington & Main (from the top of the Joe Riff's Music building). The intersection will be closed during the actual fireworks display, but Main Street is open to regular traffic for the rest of the day and evening.

For more info and for button sales, see www.Middnight.org or come down to the Chamber on Main Street.

If you're still up at 11:30 pm, everyone is welcome to join us in front of the Church of the Holy Trinity, for Japanese Taiko drumming and church bells as we ring in 2012. If you're staying home in your jammies, you can countdown with us if you download the free Middnight app for iPhone or droid.

Come celebrate the New Year on Main Street!

Concert to Feature Story of a Military Veteran

I stopped in on a rehearsal of the Greater Middletown Chorale (GMC), one of their last before their upcoming concert on November 20th. Matt McCaffery, the Chorale President, explained that the singers are very dedicated to the Chorale, and that it is a much needed creative outlet for many people. In the videos below, McCaffery and Director Joe D'Eugenio share their enthusiasm about their upcoming concert. They talk about how the concert will incorporate elements of poetry and storytelling. The concert will have three excerpts from a special production in the works and coming in 2013 - Letter from Italy, 1944: War's End, which highlights the story of the service and life of a military veteran.

Greater Middletown Chorale presents

I've Got Some Singing To Do!

featuring excerpts from:

Letter From Italy, a special work in progress

Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 4:00 pm.

First Church of Christ, Congregational, 170 Court Street, Middletown, CT

More information from the chorale:

The November 20th concert features New England music by New England composers, with the title piece, “I’ve Got Some Singing To Do” authored and set to music by Gwyneth Walker, a Connecticut native. Robert Frost’s poetry is also featured in the piece “Frostiana: Seven Country Songs.” These are put to music by Connecticut native and friend of the poet, Randall Thompson. The Chorale will also perform several new pieces, including a new commissioned work by Hartt School Graduate Colin Britt. This lineup will be performed at the First Congregational Church of Middletown on Sunday, November 20^th at 4:00PM.

Proud to call the city of Middletown its headquarters, the Chorale is lending its voice to the newly created event on New Year’s Eve, “Middnight on Main,” featuring entertainment, games and more on Main Street. For more information, visit www.middnight.org.

The Greater Middletown Chorale is a private, non-profit organization funded with the support of the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, Middletown Commission on the Arts, Aetna Foundation, Bissell Foundation, Chevron Humankind Grants, Middlesex County Community Foundation and Pfizer Foundation.

Seventy singers strong, the Chorale is an auditioned, mixed-voice chorus, focused on developing a talented group of singers and committed to excellence in performing choral masterworks and other outstanding music for all generations of listeners. The Chorale is always seeking talented new singers of all voice parts throughout the year. Those interested should send an email via the web site, www.gmchorale.org, where there is always ticket and concert information too. The Chorale’s Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/greatermiddletownchorale

Tickets are available below or through the GMC website by pressing the yellow "Get Tickets" button

I've Got Some Singing To Do! Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 4:00 pm. First Church of Christ, Congregational; Middletown, CT

online

General Admission: $30 each
Senior Admission: $25 each
Student Admission: (Age 10 to College): $15 each
Children 10 and Under: Free

The funds that the Chorale raises from ticket sales only cover about one third of their operating expenses for making the concert a reality!

Flashback dance party - at Vinnie's

This Saturday, June 9th, Vinnie's Jump and Jive on Main Street is hosting a Middnight-inspired dance party featuring nostalgic favorites by Aretha Franklin, Credence Clearwater, and much more.

The event is the brainchild of Paul Freundlich, a DJ with years of experience and a passion for 70s and 80s hit music. The set list will be organized like a concert, with several songs by one performer, and Paul acting as MC. As Paul says, it's an "event that mocks time!"

Hope you can join us! More info below.
And details on our website: www.vinniesjumpandjive.org/events.php
And Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/374784525912529/

Flashback Dance Party - an event that mocks time!

Saturday, June 9th 

8:30pm-12am

$10 admission, $5 for students and seniors

A flashback dance party featuring nostalgic favorites by Aretha Franklin, Credence Clearwater and more!

Hundreds danced all night at Middnight on Main, to welcome in 2012 - don't miss your chance to do it all again at Vinnie's! DJ Paul Freundlich brings us a night of glorious nostalgia with 70s and 80s hit music arranged as a virtual concert. Featuring Janis Joplin, the Doors, Bob Seger and the Bullet Band opening and Aretha Franklin and Credence Clearwater headlining. The songs you'll love to dance to, like "Think", "Respect," "Who'll stop the rain" and so much more. Bring friends and family, no dance experience necessary to have a great time!

Yes, Those Were Fireworks on Main Street

If you happened to be on the corner of Main and Washington Street Friday evening at about 8:30 pm, you may have noticed a very brief fireworks display launched from the roof of the building at the Southwest corner of the intersection.

You weren't imagining pyrotechnics.  This was a test and preview of rooftop fireworks that will be featured as part of the Middnight on Main celebration this coming New Year's Eve.

The fireworks vendor, and the fire department wanted to test the viability of a fireworks launch from a downtown rooftop, and the test was successful.  The display for New Year's Eve will be much longer and more elaborate.

At the Middnight on Main celebration the fireworks display will take place at 6PM so that families can celebrate the event together.

Lest we forget ...

Pushin' Up Daffodils: Bretton Road, 2008.

A Post Script
to "Try to Remember"


In my view, the best management is "invisible" management. And to me, the management of Middnight on Main 2012 was virtually invisible—it was oh-so smooth and so well done that I simply did not notice it! Which is why my little reminiscence doesn't mention it. Invisible management and supervision: the sign of superior planning and performance, the mark of a truly superior event.

Applause for Parking, Some Love for Middletown

A friend who lives in morbidly boring Farmington once accused me of being a “booster” for Middletown. I had never thought of myself as such, since my normal attitude is one of deep cynicism. Only someone brought up in Ohio during the Eisenhower era can understand how thoroughly I rejected all things boosterish.

But, inevitably, I had to admit that perhaps I am fond of my adopted home town. When I moved to Middletown in the early 70’s, there were still people who thought “going to Middletown” was a euphemism for being incarcerated at CVH. Others pointed out the lingering aroma of hot rubber, apparently a reference to a long-gone rubber factory.

For many years, I worked in other cities, such as Meriden, Wallingford and East Hartford. Rarely did I come home and announce that some fun thing was happening in one of those places. And it wasn’t laziness that led me to plays or films at Wesleyan, or music at the Buttonwood Tree. We do venture out to TheaterWorks and the University of Hartford, or even, under extreme motivation, to Northampton.

Many readers won’t remember a time when Middletown’s claim to restaurant fame was restricted to O’Rourke’s Diner, La Boca and Alfredo’s Riverside. There are still occasions, when out in the greater world, that I find myself answering queries about what the food was like at Alfredo’s – and I nearly weep at the memory of those bargain lobster nights, not to mention the marinara sauce and the escarole-and-bean soup that I have never been able to replicate at home.

Today, Middletown has a downtown that is the envy of cities and towns, not just in Connecticut, but all over New England. There is a mix of retail, albeit weighted too heavily toward food, which draws visitors from throughout the area. There is entertainment practically all the time, and it isn’t just eggheady plays at Wesleyan or bread and circuses for the motorcycle crowd.

And, although I often invite friends from other towns to join us for events such as Middnight on Main or the Open Air Market at Wadsworth Mansion, I am often surprised at how far people come to visit our town. The summer concert series at the Mansion obviously draws from out of town – there just aren’t that many people in Middletown!

All this, however, is just an extremely wordy preamble to an amazing exchange of comments heard recently on the Colin McEnroe Show on WNPR. Guests were bashing two of Connecticut’s leading cities, New Haven and West Hartford, for their regressive, even Police State tactics regarding parking. A meter maid’s action was described as one of “Dickensian malevolence.”

But Middletown – ah, Middletown! Middletown’s meters provide parkers with the first ten minutes for free.  As Colin retailed this story, his guests raved about Middletown: “West Hartford could learn something from the fine people of Middletown.”   “Middletown wants to accommodate everybody.”  “The next time I go to West Hartford, I’m going to park in Middletown.”  You can listen to the whole show here, but the discussion of Middletown happens about a half hour into the show.

I have to confess that I was only vaguely aware of the free ten minutes policy – when I put money in a Main Street meter on Friday, I saw the extra time pop up, but had no idea it was intentional. Just when I thought I had read every word ever written on Middletown’s endlessly controversial parking policy!

So, let me net out this valentine: Middletown has a thriving downtown, it has terrific – often very reasonable – food, something for absolutely everyone to do, and it has a more rational and civil parking policy than West Hartford or New Haven. A last factoid I learned from listening to the radio: both New Haven and West Hartford charge for street parking well into the evening – like 10 p.m.!

So, the next time you park downtown – for free – at 5:50 p.m., think about how much you would be paying if you had gone to one of those other cities nearby.

Thought I heard something....

Looks like it's already Christmas here in Middletown, just past midnight - I thought I heard something up on the roof, so I'm just waiting for NORAD to come up here on the laptop...

We spent Christmas Eve in our usual pursuits - first to the South Church Christmas pageant. In what may become a new tradition, South Church celebrated at 4 pm, which meant that we entered the church in daylight, and then watched the stained glass windows move from bright to rosy purple, and then to dark during the hour - it was lovely. The pageant featured Bob Englehart playing a grandfather answering his grandkids request for "the Christmas story."


The biggest laugh of the night came when Bob started: "Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house...." till the kids said "No, not that Christmas story! The other one!" I don't want to spoil it for you if you don't know how it turns out, but there were animals, twinkling stars and even some audience participation, when we were called upon to play the townspeople returning to Bethlehem. Our line was "Taxes, taxes, taxes!"

Our next stop was the annual Christmas Eve fondue party at our neighbors, with a separate pot of cheese for the growing gluten-free contingent - and my friend Melissa showed off her favorite Christmas gift so far - a friend knitted her these "texting gloves" - which I never heard of, but she wasn't the only one in the room sporting a pair.


Maybe the Eye needs to revive the idea of a fashion column, so I can stay up to date!

Finally, we put bedtime off a little longer and hit the dessert party at Clover Nook, a charming house in town which lives up to its name. The party traditionally runs late into the night, with an endearingly stable group of old friends (many with their now grown children and their friends in tow). It's a collection of musicians, teachers, writers, theater people and other creative folks who've called Middletown home since at least the mid-'80's, and it's always interesting to hear what they've been instigating. More than a few promised they were coming to Middnight on Main - and that was nice to hear!

As usual, the table at the party was packed with chocolate cakes, pumpkin muffins, cookies and other goodies. We always bring the pecan pie that my brother faithfully sends us every year from Houston - it tastes at least as sweet as it looks, but my favorite part is the box it comes in, which proclaims "You might give some serious thought to thanking your lucky stars you're in Texas!"

'Course, we can thank our lucky stars here in Middletown too ! Whatever holidays you celebrate - at whatever time of year - I hope yours are wonderful. Joy to the world! (all the boys and girls!)

Auditions at Oddfellows

Auditions are taking place this week at Oddfellows Playhouse on Tuesday September 18 and Wednesday September 19 from 7:00-9:00pm for the Oddfellows' Teen Repertory Company (Grades 9-12).  Update:  A Civil War Christmas is a multi-generational production - so actors of all ages and ethnicities are encouraged to come out Tuesday and Wednesday to audition specifically for that show.

For auditioning students:
1. Students must be able to attend rehearsals on either Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs beginning the week of September 24.
2. Students should arrive on time and plan to stay for the entire evening.
3. Dress to move.
4. Be prepared to read from the script with others, improvise and have fun!
5. There is no cost to audition.

The Teen Rep will begin with a “historical” piece by John Heimbuch, William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead: A True Account of the Zombie Plague of 1599, takes the stage from November 9-17 at 7:30pm.  This play from the NY Fringe Festival takes place backstage on the opening night of Shakespeare’s Henry V.   Dealing with drama behind the scenes becomes more complicated when an afflicted madman enters the Globe and attacks.  As the affliction spreads through London, the Globe is placed in quarantine and the survivors within must fight for their lives.   This production is being produced by the generous support of Beverley and Tony Bellisio.

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater and Connecticut Heritage Productions are joining creative forces this holiday season with a co-production of A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel.  The play will perform at Oddfellows Playhouse from December 6-15 at 7:30pm.  A Civil War Christmas received its world premiere at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven in 2008.  The play is by Paula Vogel, with music by Daryl Waters.



There are also auditions on Wednesday September 19 from 6:30-8:30pm and Friday September 21from 4-6pm for the ARTFARM/Oddfellows Playhouse circus group - Circophony: A Youth Circus Roadshow for students ages 12 and up.



CIRCOPHONY: A Youth Circus Roadshow
Auditions: Wed., 9/19, 6:30 – 8:30 pm or Friday, 9/21, 4 – 6 pm.
Rehearsals will be Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:15 – 8:45 pm beginning October 1. (No rehearsal Nov. 21. Last pre-Christmas rehearsal Wed., 12/19; January rehearsals M & W 1/7 & 9 plus Jan. 14 – 17)
(Additional rehearsals December 29 & 30 for Middnight on Main performances December 31.)
Show premieres January 18 & 19 at Oddfellows Playhouse.
Tour availability January through June.

To prepare for the audition:
1. Contact ARTFARM (860.346.4390 or info@art-farm.org) to register for one of the two audition dates.
2. Arrive on time and plan on staying for the entire two hours.
3. Prepare a one minute solo showcasing your best skills.
4. Dress to move.
5. Be prepared to dance, improvise, work hard, play nicely with others and have fun.

MIDDLETOWN ARTS... at First Church?

"The Sanctuary" at First Church of Christ, Congregational on
Court Street has a legal capacity of 895 persons. (click photos to enlarge)

Could the Sanctuary at one of Middletown's historic churches soon be hosting major arts and music events on a regular basis? 

That's the idea proposed by Trevor Davis, a member of the board of trustees of First Church of Christ, Congregational, at 190 Court Street. (Across from Klekolo coffee shop, next to Young's Printing.) Davis is also a local dealer in commercial real estate and long time musician.

Trevor Davis and Rev. Julia Burkey

On November 18th, he and church minister Rev. Julia Burkey presented the idea for "The MIDDLETOWN ARTS CENTER at First Church" to invited members of the city's arts community. 

Davis has taken the first steps to create a non-profit to organize and promote events in the historic space, with three stated goals: to bring more people and income to the church, to bring more people to downtown Middletown, and to assist local arts organizations by helping to coordinate events and then promoting them to the "downtown dining customers and arts audiences of Connecticut."

It wouldn't be the first time the church's main space, called the sanctuary, has been used as an arts venue. Davis produced a sold-out show by the famed Paul Winter Consort there in the 1980's. More recently, singer-songwriter (and '89 Wesleyan grad) Dar Williams, and The Slambovian Circus of Dreams performed there during the Middnight On Main celebrations. 

Davis told the audience that "too things many seemed perfect" once he conceived the idea. Built in 1872, the church sits just off Main Street, directly across from the city's largest parking garage. The seating capacity is listed at 895. (Hartford's new Infinity Hall seats 500.)

Guitarist Stephen Nystrup of New Haven showed off the hall's famed acoustics with a performance. Davis then opened up the floor to questions and comments. 

There were many. Most of the attendees were supportive, agreeing that such a venue would create a downtown attraction beyond Main Street's well-known restaurants, and one that could be symbiotic with them. 

Questions abounded: Should the organization and location try to develop a niche, maybe folk music? Would there be alcohol at performances? Sold or BYOB? Could an updated PA system be installed? How 'edgy' could performances be? Would there be pushback from the church about the content of the art? "Maybe not 'Oh! Calcutta!'" said Carolyn Kirsch of the Vintage Players troupe. "But what if we wanted to produce 'Agnes of God'?  Davis said he saw little chance of any conflict. "We're UCC - pretty much the most liberal denomination around." Rev. Burkey said "The fullness of being Human is welcome in this space."

How soon before the group could host its first event remains an open question. Davis said a small preliminary board has been created. "This will be a long range project to build a sustainable, vibrant organization to enhance the Middletown arts community, and contribute to the economic development of our great small city on the Connecticut River."