June 1

  • As part of Connecticut Trails Day Weekend, there will be a free educational hike through Keney Park from 10am-1pm.  The Connecticut Forest & Park Association writes, “Participants will venture out for a 1.5- to 4-mile hike to some possibly forgotten sections of the Capital City’s largest park. Refreshments will be provided at the Keney Park Golf Course and participants will have the opportunity to learn about the City’s Parks and Open Space Plan. Meet at the Keney Park Pond House (383 Edgewood Street). Sponsored by City of Hartford (hartford.gov). Rain cancels. Pre-registration is appreciated. Questions and to pre-register: contact leader Thomas E. Deller, oneplan@hartford.gov.”
  • If you want to learn about trees, there is a second Connecticut Trails Day event in Hartford. Meet at Cedar Hill Cemetery for a Tree Buffs Tour starting at 10am. The Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation says: “Tree experts Ed Richardson and John Kehoe will lead this 3-mile walk featuring Cedar Hill Cemetery’s rural landscape design, rare and notable trees, and a smattering of notable memorials. Visitors will walk through the ornamental foreground, historic memorial sections, and selected newer sections. This slow-paced walk includes several stops. Wear appropriate walking shoes, bring water and pack a bag lunch for a Hillside picnic.” This is free.
  • Today is Collectible Car Day at the Connecticut Historical Society from 10a.m. until 2p.m. Check out the classics and hot rods, or listen to auto historian Robert Staneslow give a talk about automobile manufacturing in New England. Free! (Rain date: June 22)
  • A third Connecticut Trails Day event is a walking tour that begins in the Butler-McCook garden (Main Street and Capitol Avenue) and goes through Bushnell Park. This is a short, one-mile walk. This is free, but if you want a tour of the Butler-McCook House, there is an admission fee for that. 1-2:30pm.
  • At 1pm, there will be a multicultural rally in Bushnell Park to fight for immigration rights. This will be a show of support for HB 6659 (Trust Act) among other changes to legislation.
  • Gardens Around the West End: This self-guided tour, sponsored by the West End Civic Association, will take place from 1-4pm. Maps will be available at the Central Supermarket (400 Farmington Avenue) beginning at 9 on the morning of the tour. Gardeners will be available to talk about their work. If there are heavy rains, the tour will be rescheduled for June 2nd. This is free, but donations will be accepted.
  • Also from 1-4pm, the West Hartford Garden Club will be holding its flower show at the Butler McCook House & Garden. $7 admission.

June 2

  • The Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade steps off at noon from the corner of Wawarme and Wethersfield, toward Main Street. It ends near the Arch in Bushnell Park. The parade is followed by The Festival del Coqui at the Bushnell Park Pavillion. There will be a domino tournament this year in the park from noon until 6pm. If you’re thinking that you shouldn’t go because you aren’t Puerto Rican, ask yourself this: did not being Irish stop you from putting on some green and watching the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March?
  • Hartford Opera Theater presents Little Women at the Charter Oak Cultural Center. If you were at the parade, you can walk over to this venue. General admission is $10. Doors open at 1:30; performance begins at 2pm.
  • Southeast Expressway will be performing at the Firebox as part of the free Bluegrass Sunday series. Music starts at 5pm, but if you want to sit in the tavern, plan to get there not at the last minute. Wraps up around 8pm.

June 3

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? will be screening at Cinestudio as part of the 26th Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Cinestudio describes this film:

In this lighthearted comedy, introverted optometrist Weichung questions his marriage after his wife states that she wants another baby. When Weichung bumps into an old friend, a (married) wedding photographer who secretly enjoys the life of a single gay man, dormant emotions are awakened in Weichung – setting him off on a search for true romance and desire.

The festival began on May 31st and wraps up on June 8th. See the festival website for show times, venues, and ticket info.

June 4

  • Take a free tour of the Rose Garden at Elizabeth Park. Meet at the Rose Garden’s entrance at 10am.
  • Opening day for the West End Farmers’ Market. This will be its 11th season. The annual kickoff salad toss will be at 5pm. The market operates from 4-7pm on Tuesdays and Fridays at the corner of Farmington Avenue and South Whitney Street. Tuesday vendors are slated to include Hartford Baking Company, Lemke Valley Farm, Little Acres Farm, Rose’s Berry Farm, Shadow Valley Farm, and Sweet Acre Farm. The Friday market includes these vendors: DiFiore Pasta, Hartford Baking Company, Lemke Valley Farm, Little Acres Farm, and Shadow Valley Farm.
  • Stop by the Carriage House Theater (360 Farmington Avenue) for HartBeat Happy Hour and the new reading series Truth & Power: A to Z. Food, drink, and conversation begins at 5pm. A reading of The Adding Machine by Elmer Rice will start at 6pm. $5.
  • Real Art Ways will be hosting its free evening of board games. Show up between 6-10pm.

June 5

  • Interested in starting a nonprofit? From 9am-noon, the Hartford Public Library will host a free workshop about building and sustaining nonprofits. The HPL writes: “This workshop is offered in partnership with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. This workshop will cover the basics of building a board, budgeting, operational planning, marketing, and fundraising – all the building blocks your nonprofit organization needs. It will also provide you with the tools, templates, and references for taking the action steps to effectively structure your nonprofit organization and enhance your ability to achieve the mission.” This will be held in the Downtown Youth Program Room.
  • Get HYPEd at the Russian Lady. Bring your business card and network with other young professionals and entrepreneurs from 5:30-8:30pm. No need to register– just show up.
  • StudioN111 will be hosting another Life Drawing class tonight. This time, the focus will be on draping. The $15 fee includes materials and better instruction than you probably got in a high school art class. All skill levels are welcome. This starts around 7pm in 75 Pratt Street, Suite #301. This time, the model will be a yoga instructor.
  • Ed Fast & Conga Bop will be performing at the Firebox, for free, at 8:30pm.

June 6

  • Today marks the start of the “summer market” at Billings Forge, which seems almost ridiculous to mention because this farmers’ market does take place year round. The main difference is that the market will be outside instead of in The Studio. The market is open on Thursdays from 11-2.
  • Queers Without Borders will be holding an informational picket line outside of the Abraham Ribicoff Federal Building (450 Main Street), calling for the release of Bradley Manning. This will take place from 4-5:30pm After the action, the group will reconvene in the Media Room at Hartford Public Library from 6-8:30pm to view a video montage and discuss the issue. Free.
  • From 5-7pm there will be an open house at The Linden (One Linden Place). There will be refreshments and a chance to see the Linden Garden, in addition to the building’s units. Free.
  • The Wadsworth Atheneum’s Art After Hours will be “Renaissance Faire” themed this month. $5; free if you wear “Renaissance clothing.” From 5-8pm you can access all museum exhibits, or go outside to check out the jugglers, jesters, and minstrels. At 8pm, head inside to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

June 7

The 14th annual Black-eyed and Blues Fest takes place in Bushnell Park from 5-11pm. This year’s acts will include: Rich Badowski Blues Band, Barrence Whitfield & the Savages, Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez, and Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood. Free.

June 8

  1. Sketchcrawl:Meet at the picnic tables behind ArtSpace (555 Asylum Street) and meander from there through Hartford, including stops in Bushnell Park, State House Square, and the Riverfront. Bring your own sketchbook and art supplies. Artists will rejoin for lunch and again at ArtSpace to look at each others’ sketches. This goes from 10-3ish. This is an informal event.
  2. Also starting at 10am– Sporting Chance for Youth Day at the Riverfront. Youth of all ages can participate in a number of activities like rowing, orienteering, climbing, and cricket — regardless of their experience-level. This ends at 3pm.
  3. Happy Connecticut Open House Day! Though only a handful of us treat this as a High Holy Day, more should. This is when those of us on a tight budget can gain access to cultural institutions for free, or at least at a discount. There are events coordinated throughout the state, but here are some of the things planned for Hartford proper:
  • free ride on the Bushnell Park carousel to the first 100 visitors. Carousel runs from 11am-5pm.
  • free admission to the Butler McCook House & Garden from noon until 4pm
  • there will be a garden dedication at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Here, there will also be “‘Elizabeth Colt and Coltsville Contribution to America’s Pastime,’ a tribute to Hartford’s base ball history and the women who helped make it possible.” Want to show some local spirit? Coltsville Vintage Base Ball caps will be sold at a 20% discount. 9:30am-2p.m.
  • free admission to the Connecticut Historical Society from 9-5; Dennis Barone will give a poetry reading here at 2p.m.
  • free admission to Old State House from noon until 4pm. The Old State House has an exhibit on Hartford’s history. It also is home to the Museum of Curiosities.
  • free admission at the Isham-Terry House from noon until 4p.m.
  • Italian Ice will be served on the patio of the Governor’s Residence from 10a.m. until 2 p.m.
  • free admission to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center from 10a.m. until 4p.m. There will be house and garden tours, carriage rides, plein air painting, crafts, and more.
  • from 10-6,Watermark Press will be giving printmaking demos at its 30 Arbor Street location.
  • the Mix Us exhibit at 233 Pearl Street will be open from 10am-2pm; artists will be available to talk about their works.

June 9

  • Free yoga near the playground in Goodwin Park, 11am-noon. This is led by Downtown Yoga. Bring a mat or towel, some water, and clothes you can move comfortably in. Those between 13-18 years old may participate, but parental permission will be needed. Call 860.278.7088  or email (hello@downtownyogastudios.com) to get the permission form.
  • Take a watercolor workshop at Studio N111 this afternoon. This is an introduction to the fundamental techniques of watercolor, including step-by-step process of building from a sketch. Landscape and still life subjects will be present; materials are all included in the $30 fee. This goes from 1-4pm at 75 Pratt Street, #301.
  • Free bluegrass at the Firebox from 5-8pm. The featured band this week will be String Fingers.

June 10

The Camille Thurman Quartet will be performing at Black-Eyed Sally’s at 8pm. Free.

June 11

Today is Greens Day at the West End Farmers’ Market. Drop by from 4-7pm.

June 12

Take a guided (or self-guided) tour of the Connecticut State Capitol. Stop in today, or any weekday, during regular business hours and wander about. Even if you’re not much into history or patriotism, aren’t you a little curious about what’s inside the fancy building?

June 13

  • The Event on Main: The Butler-McCook House & Garden‘s Second Thursday event includes exhibit openings, garden concerts, and wine from Sharpe Hill Vineyard. Refreshments are included in the suggested $5 donation. 5:30-7:30pm.
  • While MECA (Marketing, Events, and Cultural Affairs — City of Hartford) is sponsoring a free films outside series, WECA (West End Civic Association) is doing its own version. Tonight, Batman will be shown at Elizabeth Park on the East Lawn of Elizabeth Park around 8pm. Bring a blanket or chairs and picnic. Free.

June 14

1. The Connecticut Science Center celebrates its fourth birthday with a “rootin’-tootin’ shindig”: Liquid Lounge. Their entertainment will include:

* Live Bands: Little Ugly and Washboard Slim and the Blue Lights

* DJs: DJ Jay Free and PowerStation DJ Chris Vignani
* Games: Mechanical Bull ride, Potty Toss, Can Smash,
Cow-Milkin’ ContestPLUS:
* Live Science
* Special guests “Mae West” and “John Wayne”
* A magical sleight of hand artist
* Line dancers and Swing dancers
* “WANTED” photo booth
* Temporary tattoos
…and more!SPLASH Saloon + Liquid Lounge
7-10:30PM (limited capacity)
Includes admission to Liquid Lounge as well as access to the SPLASH Saloon including:
* One FREE drink
* Full cash bar
* FREE food and passed hors d’oeuvres
* Music by Local Motion
2. MECA presents a free screening of Back to the Future at sunset in Bushnell Park

June 15

  • Help clean up and beautify the garden beds in Bushnell Park. Show up between 9am-1pm to pitch in.
  • Catch a lecture on old-timey infectious diseases at Cedar Hill Cemetery. They say: “Cholera infantum, the bloody flux, ague, putrid fever, filth disease, consumption – and the treatments sometimes sounded just as scary. Evelyn Bollert leads a walking tour that explores the fearsome infectious diseases that afflicted Cedar Hill families as germ theory slowly supplanted the miasmas theory of disease.” 10-11:30am. Free for Let’s Go Arts and Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation Members; $5 for everyone else.
  • Catch a double-header of Vintage Base Ball at Colt Meadows (Colt Park near Hendricxsen Avenue). The first game, following 1865 rules, starts at 11am. This will be followed by a game using 1861 rules. This is free! Bring a lawn chair or blanket, sunblock, and cash for refreshments.

June 16

  • Downtown Yoga will be leading another free yoga class, this time(11am-noon) in Pope Park near the playground. Bring a mat or towel, some water, and clothes you can move comfortably in. Those between 13-18 years old may participate, but parental permission will be needed. Call 860.278.7088  or email (hello@downtownyogastudios.com) to get the permission form.
  • Sea Tea Improv performs at City Steam Brewery from 7-8:30pm. There’s no cover. Because alcohol is served here, youths need to be accompanied by parents or legal guardians.

June 17

  • The DEEP will host a discussion on installing electric vehicle charging stations at the workplace. This will be on the  5th Floor – Phoenix Auditorium  at  79 Elm Street, 10am. Free.
  • The Kris Allen Quartet will play Black-Eyed Sally’s. 8pm. $5 cover.

June 18

  • Billings Forge will be hosting a cupcake decorating class in the Kitchen at 5pm. Not free. Register.
  • Want to get involved in civic life? The monthly Frog Hollow NRZ meeting begins at 5pm at the Center for Urban and Global Studies at Trinity College (70 Vernon Street). Free.
  • Bradley Campbell of Rhode Island Public Radio will be hosting *the ear cave* at La Paloma Sabanera (405 Capitol Avenue) tonight. *the ear cave* is usually an hour’s worth of audio followed by discussion. This one will feature stories from “an investigative journalism project Bradley’s working on with a reporter from the Boston Globe. All the stories come from FOIA requests. The series will be launched in June with support from PRX.” Free, 7:30pm

June 19

The Partnership for Strong Communities will be holding a free forum all morning at the Lyceum on Lawrence Street. Creating Pathways to Economic Security for Those Who Are Homeless begins at 9am and ends just before noon. Breakfast and networking happens from 8:30-9:00am. Pre-registration is suggested.

June 20

Free tours of the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch take place every Thursday from noon until 1:30pm, through October.

June 21

  • Show up at the West End Farmers’ Market and be handed a bowl of strawberry shortcake. Yes, it’s the annual Strawberry Shortcake Festival at the WEFM. Free dessert as long as supplies last. The Sawtelles will be performing. The market operates from 4-7pm.
  • Vertigo will be shown at Riverside Park. Pre-show activities begin at 7pm; movie starts at sunset. Free.

June 22

  • It’s Rose Weekend, and that’s great, but that’s not the only game in town. This morning, you can go on a free
    “butterfly hunt” at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Nearly twenty species of butterfly have been spotted on the premises. Go see how many you can find. It’s advised that participants wear long pants, bug repellent, and appropriate hiking shoes. 10-11:30am.
  • Hey, scrappy riders! The Hartford Hellraiser is tonight! The Alley Cat Bike Challenge begins near the carousel in Bushnell Park at 6:30pm. There is an entry fee of $7. The top ten finishers will receive prizes. The official word is that this is a “fixie/single speed event,” but upon being pressed a little, it sounds like anyone who wants to participate will be welcome. Registration begins at 6pm. Helmets are suggested, but not required.
  • It’s worth going on the Full Moon Tour of Elizabeth Park at least once. Meet in front of the Pond House at 7:30pm. Wear comfortable walking shoes. You might want to bring a flashlight. Free.
  • The Beat City Beauties present Viva Las Hartford at The Hartford Room (257 Asylum Street). Burlesque show at 9pm. For ticket details, call 860.246.7904.

June 23

  • Today is the second day of Rose Weekend (10am-4pm) at Elizabeth Park. This is typically when the roses are in full bloom. If you just want to see the flowers and don’t need the crowds or other festivities, you can just go at another time during regular park hours.
  • PROCREATION: Alphonso McGriff III will be hosting this conversation at the Kabbalah House (1023 Albany Avenue): “Life, its Meaning, Purpose, and Journey start long before Birth. Pre-Conception, the Moment of Conception, Post-Conception, and Reincarnation are four essential components in PROCREATION.” This is free. Doors open at 4, conversation starts at 5pm.

June 24

Stephen “King” Porter will be playing at Black-Eyed Sally’s at 8pm. Free.

June 25

Stop by the Park Branch of the Hartford Public Library for Knitting with Las Comadres/Tejiendo con Las Comadres. This knitting group meets every Tuesday at 1pm for an hour. Basic knitting skills are required.

June 26

  • Today is the opening (for the season) of the North End Farmers’ Market at 80 Coventry Street, 10am-1pm.
  • The Homestead Farmers’ Market also opens for the season at 3pm! It will now happen every Wednesday from 3-6pm until October 2nd. Location:  55 Homestead Avenue at the Chrysalis Center (near Woodland).
  • Eight to the Bar will be giving a free performance on the Rose Garden Lawn at Elizabeth Park, 6:30-8pm.

June 27

Take part in the Hanging with Harold learn-by-doing drop-in improv jam. Stop into the Sea Tea Improv studio (75 Pratt Street, #500) from 9-10pm. $5. The “Harold”, by the way, is the name for longform improv.

June 28

June 29

  • Want to improve your photography skills? Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation says: “Join professional photographer Craig Norton for this inspiring workshop for all ages, cameras and skill levels. The workshop will begin with a short lesson on useful camera settings and how they affect your photos. Then the class will explore Cedar Hill to learn about composition and to practice new found skills. Workshop size is limited. Please call (860) 956-3311 to reserve your spot.” $25 general/$20 CHCF/Let’s Go Arts members. Reservations are required. 10am-noon.
  • The Ray Gonzalez Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival is tonight! This free event at the Riverfront runs from 6-10p.m.

June 30

Free yoga from 11am-noon outside of the Pump House in Bushnell Park. Bring clothes suitable for exercise, a mat or towel, and some water. Those between 13-18 years old may participate, but parental permission will be needed. Call 860.278.7088  or email (hello@downtownyogastudios.com) to get the permission slip.

If your organization would like an event included in an upcoming calendar, send details before the 25th of the month preceding the event. Preference given to events that are affordable to the widest range of Hartford residents, located in Hartford proper, and culturally enriching.