"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.

Arts: Reminders & An Addition

Even with Wesleyan on Spring Break, there's much to do, see and hear this weekend. Here's a reminder of the lineup.

Vintage Players presents "The Torch-Bearers" tonight (7:30), Saturday (8 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.) in the main auditorium/Social Hall of Congregation Adath Israel, 8 Broad Street. Refreshments will be served and laughter will be in abundant supply. For reservations, call 632-1067 or 346-1377.

Friday night at 7:30, Connecticut State Troubadour Lara Herscovitch (pictured) performs at The Buttonwood Tree. Joining her willbe pianist Noah Baerman. The 2 met recently at a benefit performance and had such a fun time, she invited the jazz pianist to add his intelligent phrasings to her highly personal music. Sounds like fun. Call 347-4957 for more information.

When Lara and Noah conclude, stroll over to Boney's Music Lounge and catch the fine jazz vocalist Giacomo Gates. His first set begins at 9 p.m.

Saturday: One Book, One Middletown begins its appreciation of Sara Gruen's "Water for Elephants" with a 3 p.m. performance by Oddfellows Playhouse Instant Circus troupe. The free event takes place in the ION Market space inside Main Street Market.

The addition to the list takes place Sunday from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Brew Bakers, 169 Main Street. Folk singer/guitarist Darrell Gagnon will play 2 sets and chances are good you'll get to sing along. Relax and enjoy the sounds.

Busy Week & Spring Around the Corner

Tuesday Jazz at Public Bar & Grill, 337 Main Street, presents the Latin Jazz Collective from 6 - 9:30 p.m. The Quintet, founded in 1997 by saxophonist Bob Paskowitz, features the excellent Nicki Mathis (vocals), Jason Schwartz (bass), Woody Floyd (drums) and one of the finest pianists on the creative music scene, Warren Byrd. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with corned beef & cabbage and a healthy serving of sambas and bossa novas (novae?) For more information, call 343-8850.

CT State Troubadour Lara Herscovitch will appear at The Buttonwood Tree this coming Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. Joining her will be pianist Noah Baerman. On Wednesday, she'll be appearing on EYE editor Ed McKeon's radio show ("Caterwaul") on WWUH-91.3 FM at 8 a.m. and then head down to Middletown to chat with Don DeCesare on "Best of the Valley-Shore", heard at 12:30 p.m.on WMRD-AM 1150 (simulcast on WLIS 1420 AM in Old Saybrook.)

Thursday at 12noon, The Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, welcomes visual artist Amy Ordonez for its "Lunch & Learn" program. Ms. Ordonez, an Older Adult Specialist at Russell, designs jewelry, creates encaustic paintings (hot wax painting) and is a docent at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford. The title of her presentation is "The American Sublime: Manifest Destiny & the Hudson River Valley School" - it's free and open to the public. Bring your bagged lunch and the Library staff will supply beverages and dessert. For more information, call 347-2528, extension 135.

On Saturday, The "One Book, One Middletown" festivities begin with a 3 p.m performance by Oddfellows Playhouse "Instant Circus" in the open ION Market space in Main Street Market. This year's selection, "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen, covers a many diverse topics, from treatment of animals to issues with the elderly. There will be a number of events around town between the 21st and March 30, including discussion groups and films. The EYE will print the entire schedule later this week. For more information, go to http://middletownct.clubwizard.com/OneBook2009.cfm.


Here's Lara Herscovitch in action (she sounds better in person but this will give you an idea of her performances are like):