Science Center Welcomes Veterans, Comedy at Playhouse and More

Comedy Night at the Playhouse

It has to be the hardest job in the world: Stand-up comedy. On May 28, two comics and an emcee try to tickle your funny bone when West Hartford's Playhouse on Park presents Comedy Night at the Playhouse. Arriving with plenty of national credentials are: Tom Anzalone, who has opened for Jay Leno, Ray Romano and Father Guido Sarducci; and Mike Prior, who has toured with Weird Al Yankovick and Randy Travis. Emceeing the event is funny girl Latice Mitchell-Klapa, who has opened for Tony Rock, Jessica Kirson, and David Baker.

Starting time is 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15. Playhouse on Park is at 244 Park Road, West Hartford. For more information, visit www.playhouseonpark.org or call 860-523-5900 ext. 10.

Noah Webster Hosts Singles

How do you spell "matchmaker"? Got 5 Minutes LLC invites singles to a June 2 event at the Noah Webster House in West Hartford. An evening of games, contests and prizes is in store along with a wine tasting. Half the proceeds from the event help fund the Webster House's educational mission. 

The event runs 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. To register, phone Jaimy at Got 5 Minutes at 860-324-6679. The Noah Webster House is at 227 South Main St., West Hartford. For more information, visit www.noahwebsterhouse.org or call 860-521-5362.

 Rain, Rain, Go Away

Due to the endlessly inclement weather, the Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon has indefinitely postponed its Fire It Up! fund-raiser, originally scheduled for May 27. The event, which was to feature the (almost) all-attorney band the Street Vipers, will be rescheduled when the rock-and-rolling barristers can get their schedules to line up.

The Farmington Valley Arts Center is at 25 Arts Center Lane, Avon Park North, Avon. For more information, visit www.artsfvac.org or call 860-678-1867.

Jeff & Vida Bring Bluegrass to Windsor Art Center

Fresh from appearances at Merlefest in North Carolina and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in Lousiana, Nashville's Jeff & Vida arrive at the Windsor Art Center in Windsor. The pair performs a June 2 concert of acoustic bluegrass and American music. 

Concert time is 6:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $10 at the door.  The Windsor Art Center is at the corner of Central and Mechanic streets in Windsor. For more information, visit www.windsorartcenter.org. 

Kent Memorial Movies

Country Strong, which features Gwyneth Paltrow as a country singer looking for a comeback, is the free feature this week at Suffield's Kent Memorial Library. The screening is May 27 at 2 p.m. The film co-stars Tim McGraw, Garrett Hedlund, and Leighton Meester. Rated PG-13.

Admission is free. No food or drink allowed. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Kent Memorial Library is at 50 North Main St., Suffield. For more information, visit www.suffield-library.org or call 860-668-3896.

Natural Disasters at Science Center

It might be enough to read about them in the headlines, but on May 28, the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford opens Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters. The exhibition and its national tour, both developed by the Field Museum in Chicago, invite viewers to discover how Nature's forces shape our planet. 

The exhibition runs from May 28 through Sept. 5. The Connecticut Science Center is at 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford. For more information, visitwww.ctsciencecenter.org or call 860-SCIENCE (or 860-724-3623).

Science Center Welcomes Veterans, Community Servants This Weekend 

The Connecticut Science Center honors veterans and other public servants on Memorial Day Weekend by offering free admission to veterans and all who are actively serving in any branch of the military, fire, police, or EMT services. Their families receive half off admission. Honorees must bring proof of service.

The Connecticut Science Center is at 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford. For more information, visit www.ctsciencecenter.org or call 860-SCIENCE (or 860-724-3623).

Shaun Gladwell Exhibiton at Atheneum

Acts of derring 'do – from feats in skateboarding and surfing to car stunts are captured in the video meditations of Aussie-born artist Shaun Gladwell. An exhibition of his works opens this week at Hartford's Wadsworth Atheneum. Shaun Gladwell / Matrix 162 features five video installations dating from 2005 to the present.

The exhibition runs from June 2 through Sept. 18. The Wadsworth Atheneum is at 600 Main St., Hartford. For more information, visit www.wadsworthatheneum.org or call 860-278-2670.

Gay & Lesbian Film Fest at Cinestudio

Out Film CT presents the 24th annual Gay & Lesbian Film Festival at Hartford's Cinestudio. From May 26 through June 4, more than a dozen feature-length films and countless shorts are screened nightly with matinees scheduled on the weekend. Topics explored in this year's films range from the scourge of AIDS in San Francisco to a rekindled friendship between two women to a macho father's attempts to cope with his transgendered son "Vanessa." Screenings generally begin with several short films before the feature presentation starts. Most screenings are accompanied by question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers and actors. This year's festival features a silent auction with items including travel getaways, fine dining, artwork, and spa packages. (The auction runs for the duration of the festival.)

Admission is $9; $7 students and seniors. Gala opening and closing nights of the festival cost $15; $12 students and seniors. Gala tickets include the films, food, beverages, and musical entertainment. For the complete festival schedule, visit www.outfilmct.org or wwwcinestudio.org. Cinestudio is on the campus of Trinity College, 300 Summit St., Hartford. For more information, visitwww.cinestudio.org or call 860-297-2463.