If this month’s calendar looks a bit thin, it’s because I have only published items that were submitted on time. Typically, I spend hours and hours hunting down event details. This time around, I decided to let the calendar process be more transparent by showing what it looks like if I only rely on what others provide.

 

October 1-7

October 1

  • Hispanic Heritage Month Pop-Up Art Gallery: Art by Miguel Jose Matos and Sabrina Cintron is on view at Upward Hartford (20 Church Street) through October 5. The gallery is open to the public from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

October 2

  • Meet the candidates for Lieutenant Governor at Hartford Public Library (500 Main St.). All candidates listed on the ballot have been invited to the forum. Light refreshments and mingling at 5:30 p.m.; forum begins at 6 p.m. This is organized by the Hartford Votes~Hartford Vota Coalition. Free.

 

  • Practice Qigong at The 224 (224 Farmington Ave.), 6 p.m. Suggested $5 donation.

October 3

  • Opening for Of the Landscape, featuring paintings by Joseph Byrne, Susan Bogle Finnegan, and Elizabeth Meyersohn. They say: “Though renditions of specific places, the paintings that comprise Of the Landscape are built from each artist’s sensory experiences and are charged with emotional residue and personal history. The artists manipulate light, color, and form in response to the physical and intangible qualities of landscape.  The work gives access to something that has been experienced by the artists—access to an inner landscape that becomes activated in the moment of viewing.” This is in the Widener Gallery of Austin Arts Center at Trinity College (300 Summit St.), 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. and is both free and open to the public.

 

  • Hopsy-Turvy: The Colorful History of Hartford Beer — Let Steve Thornton teach you a few things about beer at Hanging Hills (150 Ledyard St.), A beer tasting is included in the $15 ticket price.  6 – 8 p.m.

 

  • MakeHartford Open House: Tour Hartford’s makerspace to meet other creative and handy folks, and to learn about upcoming classes and workshops. Drop in anytime, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Free. 30 Arbor Street.

October 4

  • Art After Dark: “What’s on Your Dinner Table? — There will be “live music by the Sarah Rose Jazz Duo with Joe Carter, complimentary snacks, an artist talk by Bouke de Vries,” along with an art activity and film. 5 – 8 p.m. $10/$5 members. This is at the Wadsworth Atheneum (600 Main St.)

 

October 5

  • Friday Night Flavor  — 7 – 10 p.m. at Hartford Flavor Company (30 Arbor St.). There’s a $5 cover to hear the Jim Schribert Duo and You’re Not Listening Brass Band.

October 6

  • Free admission to the Connecticut Historical Society (1 Elizabeth St.) museum galleries, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The family programming (10-1) features education about Sgt. Stubby, “the most decorated dog of World War I,” and other animal heroes from Connecticut.

 

 

  • Night Fall: Putting Some Shine on Pope Park — 12 – 2 p.m. in Pope Park. Stop by the volunteer tent to grab gloves and bags.

 

October 7

  • Syllable — 6 – 8 p.m. Poets will include Benjamin Grossberg. This free event is at Little River Restoratives (405 Capitol Avenue), which is a bar for those who don’t know.

October 8-14

October 8

October 9

  • Practice Qigong at The 224 (224 Farmington Ave.), 6 p.m. Suggested $5 donation.

 

  • Trinity College is hosting China Town Hall: Local Connecticut, National Reflections in Mather Hall’s Washington Room, 6 – 8 p.m. In addition to several panelists, former Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice will join via podcast. This is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. 

October 10

  • Law and Religion in Connecticut: From Theocracy to Tolerance — UConn School of Law Professor Mark Weston Janis will discuss this topic in his lecture about how “the 1818 Constitution mandated the free exercise of religion in our state.” This free event takes place at UConn Law School in the William R. Davis Courtroom in Starr Hall, room 204, from 2-3:30 p.m. Please register by emailing rsvp@chs.org or by calling 860-236-5621 ext. 238.

 

  • MakeHartford Open House: Tour Hartford’s makerspace to meet other creative and handy folks, and to learn about upcoming classes and workshops. Drop in anytime, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Free. 30 Arbor Street.

October 11

  • History Wrapped Up In a Cape: The Story Behind Four Women’s Medical Uniforms — Mallory Warner will “present the stories of four women whose uniforms are preserved in the museum’s collections. Representing two nurses, a doctor, and a physical therapy aide, the uniforms speak both to a pride of service and a struggle for equality in the first major US conflict for women in uniform.” This is at the Connecticut Historical Society (1 Elizabeth St.), 5:30-7 p.m; visitors can view the exhibit, Facing War: Connecticut in WWI, during the half hour prior to the talk. Free, but register: rsvp@chs.org or 860-236-5621 ext. 238.

October 12

October 13

  • Friends of Colt Park — October Cleanup: 8:30 – 10 a.m. Meet by the Colt statue and bring your own gloves. There could be free coffee and doughnuts for volunteers.

 

  • Volunteer Alert — Colt Park Community Mural: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Volunteers can help paint the two murals going on the snack shack by the Roberto Clemente field.

 

  • Take a walking tour of 19th-century Nook Farm, which was home to “writers, politicians, reformers, and activists.” This is $18 per person; $12 if you’re a Hartford resident or Stowe Center member. This begins at the Stowe Visitor Center (77 Forest Street), 2 p.m., and lasts one hour. Call 860.522.9258 x317 to register.

October 14

October 15-21

October 15

October 16

  • Practice Qigong at The 224 (224 Farmington Ave.), 6 p.m. Suggested $5 donation.

October 17

  • Artists’ talk and opening reception for Of the Landscape, featuring paintings by Joseph Byrne, Susan Bogle Finnegan, and Elizabeth Meyersohn in  Widener Gallery at Trinity College’s  Austin Arts Center, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public.

 

  • MakeHartford Open House: Tour Hartford’s makerspace to meet other creative and handy folks, and to learn about upcoming classes and workshops. Drop in anytime, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Free. 30 Arbor Street.

October 18

  • The Stowe Center (77 Forest St.) will screen the short film Tobacco Burn and offer discussion with its writer and director, Justin Liberman.  They say that the film is “set decades before the Civil War” and “reveals how the actions of a brutal overseer spark the fire of revolution on a Southern tobacco farm.” This was filmed across the river in South Windsor. Free, but registration requested: 860.522.9258 X317. 5:30 – 7 p.m.

 

  • Huddled Masses: Stories of Immigration and Hope is musical theater, poetry, and song in Austin Arts Center’s Goodwin Theatre at Trinity College.  Admission is free but tickets are required: 860-297-2199. This begins at 7:30 p.m.

October 19

  • Huddled Masses: Stories of Immigration and Hope is musical theater, poetry, and song in Austin Arts Center’s Goodwin Theatre at Trinity College.  Admission is free but tickets are required: 860-297-2199. This begins at 7:30 p.m.

October 20

  • Reception for Vote, a group art exhibit at EBK Gallery (218 Pearl St.), 6 – 8:30 p.m. The exhibit will be on view through November 15th. Free.

 

  • Huddled Masses: Stories of Immigration and Hope is musical theater, poetry, and song in Austin Arts Center’s Goodwin Theatre at Trinity College.  Admission is free but tickets are required: 860-297-2199. This begins at 7:30 p

 

  • La Sala Femme: 9 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. at 56 Arbor Street #102B. Music, poetry, and dance by various local artists. $10 advance/$15 door.

October 21

  • Paper Artists Gathering: Suminagashi Workshop — MakeHartford (30 Arbor St. #B7) is hosting this paper marbling workshop led by Barbara Hocker. This is 2 – 5 p.m. and there is a $30 materials fee.

October 22-28

October 22

October 23

  • Practice Qigong at The 224 (224 Farmington Ave.), 6 p.m. Suggested $5 donation.

October 24

  • MakeHartford Open House: Tour Hartford’s makerspace to meet other creative and handy folks, and to learn about upcoming classes and workshops. Drop in anytime, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Free. 30 Arbor Street.

October 25

October 26

  • Capital Classics brings radio-theatre performances of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to The Mark Twain House & Museum (351 Farmington Avenue), 7:30 p.m. They say: “Few creatures of horror have seized readers’ imaginations and held them for so long as this anguished monster. Just like in the days of the golden age of radio, Company members use live sound effects, music and their storytelling vocal skills to tell the tale of Victor Frankenstein, a promising young doctor who, devastated by the death of his mother, becomes obsessed with bringing the dead back to life. Performances will also include radio-theatre-style readings of a Mark Twain short story to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.” Tickets are $20, with some discounts. Contact (860) 280-3130 to reserve tickets.

October 27

  • Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration at Connecticut Historical Society (1 Elizabeth St.), 10 a.m .- 6 p.m. They say:
    “Local Mexican and other Latino families will set up small altars (ofrendas) with typical Day of the Dead decorations (sugar skulls, papel picado/cut paper ornaments, flowers, photos and mementos of family ancestors and relatives) in the CHS auditorium. Artist Carlos Hernandez Chavez will create a large installation that reflects a traditional altar similar to the ones he grew up with in Mexico, and he will include some of his own art work. Along with Carlos, Mexican artist/educator Adam Romo will demonstrate how to decorate sugar skulls and make cut paper designs, then will guide children to make their own traditional art pieces. During the middle of the day we will screen the film Coco, an animated story about Dia de los Muertos in Mexico. Then there will be an interactive discussion with families telling audiences about their altars and their experiences with the Day of the Dead. Carlos Hernandez Chavez will serve as moderator and give a background on the arts and traditions of the celebration and its meaning to the community. Visitors will be encouraged to ask questions, visit each altar, and talk to the families. We will have a table available for visitors to place their own art works and mementos as a way to participate in the tradition. The event will culminate with a special concert by students from mariachi music academies based in Hartford and Wallingford. The concert will also feature a performance by the experienced adult music teachers of the academies, the popular 14-member group Mariachi Mexico Antiguo, who will present songs typical of Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico. Dancers from the group Alma de Mexico will perform special dances for this time of year, and audiences will be invited to join in.” All of this is free. There will also be food trucks offering Mexican and other Latin food for sale. To participate in contributing to the community altar or get additional information, contact: 860-236-5621 or kate_schramm@chs.org

 

  • Capital Classics brings radio-theatre performances of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to The Mark Twain House & Museum (351 Farmington Avenue), 7:30 p.m. They say: “Few creatures of horror have seized readers’ imaginations and held them for so long as this anguished monster. Just like in the days of the golden age of radio, Company members use live sound effects, music and their storytelling vocal skills to tell the tale of Victor Frankenstein, a promising young doctor who, devastated by the death of his mother, becomes obsessed with bringing the dead back to life. Performances will also include radio-theatre-style readings of a Mark Twain short story to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.” Tickets are $20, with some discounts. Contact (860) 280-3130 to reserve tickets.

October 28

  • Walk Hartford: Take a slow, social meander around Hartford starting at 10 a.m. This walk will be through a less commonly used section of Keney Park. Email realhartford@gmail.com for details about starting location. This is free, but bring cash if you want to grab a drink or snack at the nearby Tavern.

 

  • Capital Classics brings radio-theatre performances of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to The Mark Twain House & Museum (351 Farmington Avenue), 2 p.m. Tickets are $20, with some discounts. Contact (860) 280-3130 to reserve tickets.

 

  • Protecting Yourself from Cybercriminals — MakeHartford is offering this free presentation, 6 – 8 p.m. They say: “This is our annual program for the general public to learn how to create strong passwords that you can remember; good online hygiene practices; and what to do if you find out that your information or someone else’s has been compromised.” Trip Elix will be giving this talk at MakeHartford (30 Arbor St. #B7).

October 29-31

October 29

October 30

  • Practice Qigong at The 224 (224 Farmington Ave.), 6 p.m. Suggested $5 donation.

October 31

  • MakeHartford Open House: Tour Hartford’s makerspace to meet other creative and handy folks, and to learn about upcoming classes and workshops. Drop in anytime, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Free. 30 Arbor Street.

 

DISCLAIMERS

To get an event published for next month, send details to realhartford@gmail.com by October 25th.
Nothing is added after the calendar is published.

This information is accurate as of publication to the best of my knowledge. Events are sometimes cancelled or postponed. Verify with the venue if you are concerned about last minute surprises or want to know what the plan is for inclement weather.

This calendar is curated — it’s not a free-for-all. If an event is not in Hartford or kinda expensive or sketchy or unclear, it’s not going on this calendar without major convincing that it belongs here.