Arts in Town as August Rolls Around

Before I get to the events listings, today's Middletown Press (8/03/10) includes 2 fine editorials. One comes from the pen from EYE-ditor Ed McKeon on the lack of locally produced campaign commercials (especially from candidates bemoaning the lack of jobs in the state (read it here) and the other from Chris Powell of the Manchester (CT) Journal-Inquirer on the Connecticut gubernatorial candidates and their "baggage" (read that one here.) Those articles made me think and I appreciate seeing such insightful writing in our local "print" paper.

Then I turned the page and saw this headline - "Obama: The End is Near." I laughed quite heartedly. The prophetic statement was atop a national news article about President Obama's speech on the United States withdrawal from the war in Iraq. Think if pundits such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck or Andrew Breitbart or any of those who choose to misinterpret many of the Administration's actions to feed the maw of the 24-hour news cycle got ahold of that headline. Well, they just might stop calling the President a Socialist and tar him with the tag of "Mayan Prophet" (those who believe the world will end on December 21, 2012.)

Enough of that.

Today August 3:
The Summer Sounds Series on the South Green welcomes the Sam Vinci Band for a 7 p.m. concert.  The long-time bandleader plays a delightful variety of musical selections so grab your beach chair and head for the Green.  In case of rain, the fun moves indoors to South Church.

Wednesday August 4:
It's "Kids Arts Creative Arts Reveal!" day in Middletown.  The Buttonwood Tree hosts this event at 5:30 p.m., an opportunity to see what many of the children did on their summer vacation.  Anne-Marie Cannatta is your guide and the kids are the stars. For more information,  call 860-343-6620, ext. 201.

The Cypress Grill & Restaurant, 1265 South Main Street, presents a "Wednesday Night Blues Jam" at 7:30 p.m.  Providing the musical refreshments will be Steve Hatch and The Redliners - bring your guitar, your "harp" or voice and join the fun.  For more information, go to www.cypressgrill.com.

Thursday August 5:
Bob Gotta hosts the monthly Acoustic Open Mike at 7 p.m. at The Buttonwood Tree.  Sing a song, play guitar, be part of the action.

Friday August 6:
It's time for the 22nd Kids Arts' Children's Circus Performance - "Eats All Good" takes place at 5 p.m. on the grounds of Macdonough School, located on Pease Avenue, Stack and Spring Streets in Middletown.  Acrobats, jugglers, tumblers, clowns, unicyclists and more, all under the supervision of the Oddfellows Playhouse Circus crew, will dazzle and delight you.  In case of rain, the program will take place on Saturday, same time and place.

This week also features the Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival in East Hartford (go to www.podunkbluegrass.net/ for more information) as well as the Litchfield Jazz Festival in Kent (go to www.litchfieldjazzfest.com/ for more information.)