March 1

  • Dr. Mary Washington will be giving a lecture on Intersectionality and the Reconstruction of Identity and Social Action at the University of Hartford. This will take place at 1:30pm in Regents Commons, located within the Shaw Center of Hillyer. This is free and open to the public.
  • It’s a tradition. Knox Parks will again be holding a fundraising party inside of a greenhouse on Laurel Street. It will be heated to 75 degrees and decked out in a rainforest theme. Besides food and drink, there will be a DJ, silent auction, and exotic animals. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 7-11pm.

March 2

  • Free admission to the Connecticut Historical Society museum galleries, 9-5. There will be a Dr. Seuss-themed activity for children from 10-1 and a NEADS dog visit from 1-2.
  • Want to play some good, old-fashioned base ball? The Coltsville Vintage Base Ball League is holding a recruiting session today at the Dutch Point Community Center from 10am-noon.
  • Writers, Pitchapalooza is today! It’s free to participate in this American Idolesque event. The winner gets an introduction to an agent or publisher. This begins at 1pm in the Hartford Public Library. Register by sending an email to the library.
  • American Women in Song: a free performance in Berkman Recital Hall at the Hartt School on the University of Hartford campus at 5pm. The invitation for this event is complicated and my summary will only water it down:

Co-sponsored by The Hartt School Community Division, “American Women in Song” features music by CT composer Elizabeth Austin, Boston Victorian Amy Beach, Tony-nominated musicals “Secret Garden” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and jazz greats “God Bless the child”, “Twisted”, “Women Be Wise”.

Hartt Community Division singers include Allison Holst-Grubbe, who has released her second album on Delos; Carolyn Bell, jazz stylist; Sydney Weiser, who has soloed in Ravello, Italy; Tess Roiter, Music Management major; Kelly Wyszomierski, West Hartford music teacher; Olivia Thompson and Dean Marino, well-known for his Broadway roles. HCD alumni Erica Maas and Taylor Link, Hartt voice majors, are joined by alumna and Hartt MT student Katherine Mclellan and Michael Buckhout. HCD Faculty and staff performers include Meghan Ryan; Dr. Susan Mardinly, Program Director; Alex Nakhimovsky and Michael Korman. Obligatos are performed by Hartt violinist Selena Walker.

Catch all that?

The performance is listed as lasting for 90 minutes.

  • Today is also the last chance to catch Anna Karenina at Cinestudio. (not free)

March 3

Free jazz is still happening in the Hartford Public Library’s atrium on Sunday afternoons. Jeff Weiselberg will have the spotlight today at 3pm.

March 4

  • Every year, when it seems like spring is still months away, Elizabeth Park opens its greenhouse for the Spring Flower Show. The structure is open from 9:30-3, today through March 15th. Free.
  • The Hartford Jazz Orchestra will be playing at Arch Street Tavern. 8pm and free.

March 5

  • To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Park branch of the Hartford Public Library will be holding an event for those ages six and up: Hooray! Michelle Obama. From 3:45-4:45pm, learn about Obama and women formerly filling the role of First Lady.

March 6

  • Drop by the Hartford Public Library to learn about City services. This program is designed to help residents understand the Department of Public Works, the entity responsible for snow removal, trash collection, and more. Kevin Burnham, the Director of Public Works, will be present to share his “vision” for the DPW. This is free. Refreshments are available at 5:30; the program begins at 6pm.
  • Get HYPEd: the monthly networking event for young professionals and entrepreneurs will be at Real Art Ways from 5:30-8:30pm. No registration is required. Bring your business cards!

March 7

  • Scholars Lois Brown and Joan Hedrick — who contributed to the PBS series, The Abolitionists — will be giving a presentation on Women, Slavery, and Abolition at Trinity College from 12:15-1:30pm in Mather Hall’s Rittenberg Lounge. To rsvp for lunch, contact Trinity College.
  • The Wadsworth Atheneum’s monthly Art After Hours party includes opera, harp, and improv. If you wear orange you can get in for free; $5 for everyone else. This starts at 5pm. Il Postino will be screening in the theater at 8pm.
  • Shulchan Ivrit: “Hebrew Table” — a casual opportunity to practice conversational Hebrew — is happening again at the Panera in at 2534 Albany Avenue in West Hartford. Just show up! 6-7pm

March 8

  • The Peril and the Potential: How the new housing market could affect towns, residents, and revenue-raising — the Partnership for Strong Communities along with the UConn Department of Economics and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities will be sponsoring a free forum at the Lyceum on Lawrence Street. Presenters for this event include Dr. Steven P. Lanza and Orlando Rodriguez. A panel discussion will follow. From 9:30-10 there will be breakfast and networking; the forum follows, wrapping up at noon. This is open to the public, but an RSVP is requested.
  • Hartford’s literary offerings continue to grow. Other People’s Stories started up in the past year. These free (donations accepted) events require the storytellers to use no notes and not tell stories they have been involved in firsthand. You can simply come by to listen if the idea of talking in front of a crowd freaks you out. 7:30pm at La Paloma Sabanera, on the corner of Capitol Avenue and Babcock Street.

March 9

  • Is the extent of your Thomas Hooker knowledge related to the parade? There will be a lecture about him at the Center Church (60 Gold) from 10:30-noon. This is $7.
  • The Greater Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off at 11am. If you’ve never been, it seems to last forever. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring snacks if you plan to stay for the entire parade. It starts near the State Capitol  on Capitol Avenue, turns down Main Street, up Asylum, and then wraps up by the Arch near Bushnell Park.

If you want a family-friendly/non-drunkard experience, station yourself away from the bars.

The parade happens even if it rains.

March 10

  • Latin Quarter Jazz Collective will give a free performance at 3pm in the Hartford Public Library.
  • Knife Fight with Rob Lowe at Real Art Ways. It will be playing through March 14th.

March 11

Celebrate Women’s History Month at the Hartford Public Library, downtown. This program, for youth 7 and up, is free and runs from 4-5pm.

March  12

At 5pm, stop by the Kitchen at Billings Forge to learn how to cook Irish dishes like soda bread and shepherd’s pie. There is a fee.

March 13

March 14

  • Youth ages 6+ can learn about “all things Irish” at the Blue Hills branch of the Hartford Public Library. This free, hour-long event begins at 4:15pm.
  • The Feminist Seder at the Charter Oak Cultural Center has become a tradition. There is a full dinner and a fee. Space is limited, so make reservations. 7pm.

March 15

  • A free seminar will be offered for ESL, Civics, and Citizenship teachers and immigrant service providers. This program will teach about the naturalization process and test, as well as how to prepare those going through these steps. This will take place in the Center for Contemporary Culture at the Hartford Public Library from 8:30-3:30. Beverages and dessert will be provided, but participants will need to supply their own lunches. The registration deadline for this is March 5th.
  • Liquid Lounge at the Connecticut Science Center is a chance for adults to enjoy the space without tripping over rugrats. Given the proximity to St. Patrick’s Day, you can guess the theme for this cocktail party. There is always music, special drinks, games, and access to the exhibits. The venue tends to get filled to capacity for these events, so if you really want to go, get the tickets in advance. 6-10pm; $12 if tickets are purchased in advance.
  • The House I Live In begins screening at Real Art Ways. This film looks into the American “War on Drugs.” Also opening today at this venue, Let My People Go!, which is described as “a sweet and hilarious fusion of gay romantic comedy, Jewish family drama and French bedroom farce.”
  • The Trashion Fashion Show, scheduled for April, is seeking artists to help create an “enchanted forest” from recycled items inside City Hall. Today is the deadline for artists to commit.

March 16

  • The Spring Flower Sale will be happening today in Elizabeth Park. Go to the greenhouse between 10-2.
  • Create poetry by altering existing books in this Found Poetry Workshop at StudioN111. This runs from noon until 3pm. The $20 fee covers all materials. 75 Pratt Street #301.
  • The Jill & Julia Show: Jill Sobule. Julia Sweeney. Mark Twain House. Go. (not free, sorry) 7:30pm.

March 17

  • Dane Scozzari will be performing as part of the Baby Grand Jazz series at the Hartford Public Library. 3pm, free.
  • Sea Tea Improv’s Sketch Writing Round Table happens twice each month. Show up with a sketch and receive feedback from other writers. This is held in the Sea Tea Improv Studio at 75 Pratt Street, Suite 500. 4:30-6:30pm; $5.

March 18

Happy People: A Year in the Taiga, a film directed and narrated by Werner Herzog, will be playing at Cinestudio from yesterday, actually, through March 23rd.

March 19

  • Saying that it is “seeking input from the public at a series of CTfastrak open house meetings to help refine the CTfastrak service plan,” the Connecticut Department of Transportation is holding two meetings today in Hartford. The first will be from 11:30-1:30 and the latter will be held from 5:30-7:30. Both meetings will present the same information. These will take place in the Hartford Public Library.
  • HartBeat Ensemble has moved into the Carriage House Theater at 360 Farmington Avenue. There will be a welcome reception from 5:30-6:30pm, with the program starting at 6. Light refreshments will be provided.
  • Free screening of Tomboy at the Charter Oak Cultural Center. This French film is presented as part of Girlcott 2013. 7pm.
  • This is the last day to help fund the Connecticut Historical Society’s community cookbook project.

March 20

Hartford Votes presents Women Behaving Badly in the Center for Contemporary Culture at the Hartford Public Library. This community program is from 4:30-8pm. Free.

March 21

Want to learn how to make gnocchi and other stuffed pastas? There is an Italian cooking class tonight at the Billings Forge Kitchen. There is a fee. This starts at 5pm.

March 22

New Seeds Music Showcase at the Artists Collective on Albany Avenue. 6pm. Contact the organization for more details.

March 23

March 24

March 25

Among entrepreneurs and the self-employed, it seems co-working spaces are all the rage. Tonight, HYPE is hosting a co-working event at MetroHartford Alliance’s 5th floor space at 31 Pratt Street. This is not the time to make service pitches. Free for HYPE members, $10 for non-members. 5-9pm.

March 26

WNPR is hosting a Small Business After Hours event in Studio A at 1049 Asylum Avenue in the CPTV building. Are we adequately preparing young people for the work force? That question will focus the discussion which will be taped for future broadcast on Where We Live. This is free and open to the public, but RSVP due to limited seating. Snacking starts at 5pm and will be followed by a buffet dinner; the discussion should begin around 6:15.

March 27

Knitters Anonymous: Drop in to StudioN111 at 6:30pm. There is a suggested $10 fee. StudioN111 is located at 75 Pratt Street #301.

March 28

Every Thursday from 11-2, the Farmers’ Market at Billings Forge takes place in the Studio during winter months. You can blow it off, but you’re missing out on honey, microgreens, sprouts, goat cheese, bread, knit items, and more.

March 29

On the Road starts screening at Real Art Ways today. Another film option is Silver Linings Playbook at Cinestudio.

March 30

Harmon Steiner’s cello students will be giving a free performance from 3:30-5pm in the Bliss Music Room of University of Hartford’s Fuller Music Center.

March 31

  • At 5pm drop by the Firebox for live bluegrass. Free.

Is there anything that should be on this list but isn’t? Events that cost more than a studio apartment are intentionally excluded.