Here’s your curated Hartford event calendar for March 2023

What makes this list? Events that I would either attend or recommend to a good friend.
Check with each venue for information about Covid protection procedures and to verify that an event is still happening.

ADD TO CALENDAR 

  •  BLACK AND BROWN AND QUEER: The Free Center (460 New Britain Avenue) hosts a support group for youth 13-19 who identify as Black or Brown and queer. This month, the group meets on March 1, 15, and 29 from 6-8 PM. Bike parking is located by the front door; take the 37, 39, 41, or 63 bus –it’s free.
  • DEATH BY TRIVIA: Like trivia, but want it a little darker than whatever is offered at the closest sports bar? Welcome to Curioporium (1429 Park Street). This will be hosted by the Grim Reaper on March 1, be a bit more on the vanilla side on March 8, and . . . wait for it . . . be retro style on March 15. Each one begins at 7 PM and tickets are $10 per night. Register! Bike parking is on side of building near brewery; take the 31, 33, 101, 102, 121 or 128 buses–the bus is free.
  • LGBTQIA+ HISTORY: There is an ongoing bitter joke about how historians have often interpreted, say, two women who owned a house together as being “close friends.” This virtual talk about Katharine S. Day’s sexual identity will serve as a way to discuss: “How do historians interpret historical relationships that appear to our 21st-century eyes as LGBTQIA+ if the people in question did not self-identify?  How do we design responsible guidelines for museum storytelling keeping in mind the complexity of suppressed and hidden histories—as well as the wishes of the subjects?”. This program is free and takes place 12-1:30 PM on March 2, 2023. Register online.
  • EVERY LITTLE THING: Come to Real Art Ways (56 Arbor Street) to hear Rashmi Talpade talk about her photo collages on view in the gallery. This is on March 3, 2023 at 6 PM. Bike parking is located by the entrance; take the 31, 33, 69, 101, 102, 121 or 128 buses (all less than a 5-minute walk from venue). The bus is free.
  • OTHER PEOPLE’S POEMS: They say: “read a poem – which someone else wrote – that you love, so that we can all feel better together.” You can also show up to listen without reading. If you went to the endless open mics in the 90s, you’ll appreciate this format that steps away from ego and mic-hogging. If you want to read, sign up begins on March 3, 2023 at 6:30 PM; the reading itself starts at 7:30. This is at Hartford Flavor Company (30 Arbor Street, Suite 107). The closest bike parking appears to be at neighboring 56 Arbor Street; take the 31, 33, 69, 101, 102, 121 or 128 buses (all less than a 5-minute walk from venue). The bus is free.
  • GREENHOUSE SHOW: Warm up and breathe in some flowers in the greenhouse at Elizabeth Park. There will be tulips, hyacinths, and more. This is free; 10 AM to 4 PM from March 5 through March 10, 2023. There is bicycle parking next to the greenhouse; use the 72 bus Monday-Friday to access Elizabeth Park. The bus is free.
  •  RAW FLOW: Opening reception for art exhibit by Miguel Jose Matos at The 224 EcoSpace (224 Farmington Avenue) on March 9, 2023 from 5-8 PM. There does not seem to be any designated bike parking at this venue; take the 60-66 buses or use any bus that stops at the Sigourney Street CTfastrak station –it’s free.
  •  SPECIFIC MATTER: If you’ve been to Real Art Ways (56 Arbor Street) in recent months, you’ve seen the banana peels. The artist responsible for them, Howard el-Yasin, will be giving a talk on March 9, 2023 at 6 PM about his work. Bike parking is located by the entrance; take the 31, 33, 69, 101, 102, 121 or 128 buses (all less than a 5-minute walk from venue). The bus is free.
  • BUELLER: Honestly, in the true spirit of the movie, this should be shown in the middle of a workday, but you can skip creating fantastical excuses for your boss and just watch it at 10 PM on March 10, 2023 at Cinestudio (300 Summit Street). General admission is $10. Bike parking is close to the entrance; take the 37, 39, 41, or 61 bus to reach the Trinity College campus. The bus is free.
  • BULB & PLANT SALE: All those plants in the greenhouse at Elizabeth Park? For sale. They will be selling: “French hyacinths, Muscari, tulips, daffodils, amaryllis, scented geraniums, pansies, trellised sweet peas, culinary herbs, hanging baskets, and Spanish oregano, Alpine strawberries, Dianthus, and a collection of tropical plants and succulents.” This is from 9 AM to 2 PM on March 11, 2023. Check and credit card accepted, cash is not. There is bicycle parking next to the greenhouse; there are no buses running within a 5-minute walk of the park on the weekend.
  •  ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE: This begins at 11 AM on March 11, 2023. The parade starts at the State Capitol Building, going east on Capitol Avenue, north on Main Street, west on Asylum Street, and then turning toward the Memorial Arch in Bushnell Park. Tip: to experience this without the hassle of drunks ruining the day, pick a viewing spot that is not right next to the bars or massive parking lots. There is bike parking at multiple locations along the route; the parade impacts bus service, but pretty much any bus headed for downtown Hartford will take you within a few blocks of the route. P.S. — if you are planning to be one of these drunks hassling everyone, have the human decency to walk, bike, or take transit. The bus is free.
  • CAROUSEL: After being closed for a few months, the Bushnell Park carousel is scheduled to reopen on March 11, 2023. From then until the end of the month, it will run on Saturdays and Sundays, 12-5 PM. $2 per ride. There is bike parking on the west side of the carousel; almost any bus destined for downtown is a short walk. The bus is free.
  • CREATIVE COCKTAIL HOUR: Hang out, look at the art, and enjoy live music by La Banda Chuska, a cumbia and surf band. This is March 16, 2023 from 6-10 PM. Tickets are $15; it’s $10 if you ride your bicycle. Bike parking is located by the entrance; take the 31, 33, 69, 101, 102, 121 or 128 buses (all less than a 5-minute walk from venue). The bus is free.
  • HARRIET: Watch a film about Harriet Tubman featuring Cynthia Erivo and Janelle Monae. There are multiple screenings of this at Cinestudio (300 Summit Street) from March 17-22, 2023. General admission to this movie is $5. Bike parking is close to the entrance; take the 37, 39, 41, or 61 bus to reach the Trinity College campus. The bus is free.
  • HARTFORD JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL: While none of the in-person screenings are in Hartford, most films are available for streaming from March 27 – April 3, 2023. One of these is Hartford Jews 1900-1925, a documentary from 1975. A few other interesting choices include Dead Sea Guardians, Xueta Island, The Narrow Bridge, and One More Story. Tickets are $12 per movie and streaming is only available to those in Connecticut. See website for full list of films and ticket options.
  • CRITICAL MASS: Join other cyclists for a 5-7 mile slow ride beginning by the carousel in Bushnell Park. Gather at 6:30 PM; ride starts at 6:45 PM on March 31, 2023. There is no fee to participate. Almost any bus headed downtown will take you within a few blocks of the park; you can take bikes on the bus. Oh, and in case you missed it, the bus is free.

CULTURAL ASSETS
For ongoing free education, entertainment, public art, and resources — like 24/7 food pantries and libraries — check out this map. Zoom in and click on the icons for more information. More sites have been added since February.