"Leave Your Troubles On the Doorstep"

This is part 2 of my look at this very busy first week of December (part 1 is here.) Before we dive into Thursday, there's one change and one addition. This Tuesday's "Jazz at the Public" has been postponed and will return next Tuesday (12/09) from 5 - 9 p.m. On Wednesday, The Russell Library presents the CT Concert Ballet in "A Nutcracker Sweet Evening" at 6:30 p.m. in the Hubbard Room. Children ages 4 and older will hear the story of "The Nutcracker" and see excerpts from "The Nutcracker's Land of Sweets." Doors open 30 minutes before the performance and seating is limited. Call 347-2528, ext. 135, for more information.

On to Thursday.

The Friends of the Davison Art Center at Wesleyan presents its Annual Holiday Print Sale from 12noon - 7 p.m. Curated by fine print dealer Charles M. Young, the sale has an impressive selection of prints in all price ranges (including the lovely Keiji Shinohara color woodcut at the top of the posting.) It's open to the public and a portion proceeds from each sale goes to fund acquisitions for the DAC's collection. The DAC is located at 301 High Street and there's no admission charge. For more information, call 685-2500.

The Russell Library continues its "Dangerous Dreams and Wet Pavement" free film series at 12noon with the 1958 classic "Touch of Evil." Directed by Orson Welles, the "film noir" thriller stars Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh and features a number of cameo appearances by Welles' friends, including Joseph Cotten, Marlene Deitrich and Zsa Zsa Gabor. It's considered the ultimate "B-movie." Bring your lunch to the Hubbard Room and the staff will supply the drinks.

At 4:30 p.m., the Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies at Wesleyan, 301 Washington Terrace, welcomes Linda Rosenfeld Pomper who will deliver a talk titled "Chinese Porcelain: The Ubiquitous Artifact." The talk is free and open to the public. Call 685-2330 for more information.

There are 3 separate "Open Mics" taking place on Thursday. At 6 p.m., Javapalooza, 330 Main Street hosts one for singers and musicians. At 7 p.m., Bob Gotta hosts the monthly "Acoustic Open Mic" at The Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main Street. At the same time, the Green Street Arts Center of Middletown hosts "Writers Out Loud: A Literary Open Mic."

There will be a concert of Javanese Gamelan Music & Dance at 7 p.m. in the World Music Hall at Wesleyan, Wyllys Avenue. Performing will be beginning students in gamelan, the Wesleyan Youth Gamelan and students of Javanese Dance.The program is free and open to the public.