Dirty Words; A Literary Encyclopedia or Sex

On campus tomorrow and looking for something to do other than Trivia Night at La Boca? Check out another sweet-sounding event at Green Street Arts Center:

Dirty Words; A Literary Encyclopedia of Sex
Our favorite contemporary authors on an irresistible subject: sex. From sexual relationships to sexual positions, from the classics to contemporary twists, Dirty Words collects the most provocative definitions of the most outlandish sexual terms, as defined by some of today's most exciting writers. Editor Ellen Sussman is joined by the region's "literati" for an evening of readings that step in where time-honored discussions of the birds and the bees fall short. Featuring live readings by: Sussman and Sam Brumbaugh, Rand Cooper, Thaisa Frank, Dan Pope and Mary-Ann Tirone Smith. Due to mature content, this event is recommended for people age 18 and up. Advanced Reservation is recommended.

When: 7 pm on June 24th, 2008
Where: Green Street Arts Center at 51 Green Street
$$$: $5 suggested donation

"The Exonerated" at Green Street this weekend

This weekend, there will be a performance of "The Exonerated" as part of the Green Street Art Center's In The Limelight Series. It's a fascinating portrayal of the real-life stories of five individuals who were convicted of terrible crimes and sentenced to death row - and then were exonerated. If you're interested at all in justice (or in these certain cases, the lack of it) in America today, I recommend this play highly.

Only $8 for a ticket, and $5 for members, seniors, and students.

North End Grid Project Reception

The ever-so-arty Lex Leifheit sends in info about a reception for a pretty cool new display:

This Friday, the Green Street Arts Center is celebrating the culmination of the North End Grid Project—a photographic essay of the (oft-maligned) North End neighborhood. Over the summer, more than 30 photographers explored the North End, which was divided into a “grid” of four parts. Some of these photos are online. More are on display throughout downtown at the Buttonwood Tree, Forest City Gallery and Vinnie’s Jump and Jive. Green Street will host a Grid reception on Friday at 6pm. There will be free food. Come on time, or come at 7:30 for our open mic, featuring improv comedy by the New Haven Theatre Company. Admission is free to performers!

Date: Friday, September 7
Time: 6pm
Place: Green Street Arts Center

Green Speak: open mic Friday night

GLSP student Lex Leifheit is itchin' to tell you about an open mic night at Green Street Arts Center:

The Green Street Arts Center has teamed up with New Haven Theater Company’s improv comedy news group for its monthly open mic. [...] For their debut performance, another local group called Off the Cuff is coming out to play. Comedy Showdown? Improv Extravaganza? You decide!

Open Mic signup begins at 7:30 PM and is free to performers. $5 for those who just like to watch.

Don’t be afraid to bring your super-serious poetry, ballad or dramatic monologue—we like to mix it up.

Date: Friday, May 4
Time: 7:30 PM
Place: Green Street Arts Center (51 Green Street)
Cost: Free for performers, $5 otherwise

There'll be light refreshments. Yum!

Busted Roses Talk

At his week's Green Street Sunday Salon Eric Aaron, Louise Brown, Steve Burkholder, Barry Chernoff, Evan Glass, Marc Goldstein, Paul Horton and Gil Skillman of Busted Roses play rock, blues, and some music at the edge of swamp or country. Between numbers members of the band will talk music with attendees. Chemistry Professor and artist David Beveridge hosts!

Refreshments and snacks will be served. $5. Reservations recommended, (860) 685-7871.

Date: Sunday, April 15
Time: 2-4pm
Place: Green Street Arts Center
Cost: $5

The Green Street Song

Our pal Lex Leifheit sent us this song written by Green Street kids ages 9 to 11 about their favorite Arts Center (EDIT! You can listen to it here):

"Green Street Arts Center"
(the song, rec. 2007, Green Street Recording Studio)

Chorus
Green street arts center
Is where we go after school
cause there's always something fun to do
Green Street Arts Center
Dancing, audio, music class, video, painting, art is what we know

Green street arts center
Is where we go after school
cause there's always something fun to do
Green Street Arts Center
Dancing, audio, music class, video, painting, art, Let's Go!!!

Verse 1
We celebrate when there's a holiday
We celebrate when there's a birthday
Hip Hop dancing on a Friday
I wish I could come everyday

I get help with my homework
When I'm done I do my artwork
I learn how to use teamwork
We show love and care when someone's hurt

Verse 2
I learn how to respect
Self-control shows intellect
Peace and harmony is what you get
When we work together we connect

We learn how to express ourselves
With our gifts and talents you can tell
If we're happy or sad, if we're feeling well
To love others we must love ourselves

Professor Finn's Omelets

Government Professor John Finn this weekend showed off his "Finn Flip" at Green Street while demonstrating the proper way to cook an omelet. That's pretty legit. I'd probably get it stuck to the ceiling somehow.

Singer/Songwriters Wanted!

The Green Street Arts Center is seeking one more singer/songwriter group or solo musician to round out its Green House Music Series this Friday night.

Green House is a monthly series for emerging musicians, co-sponsored by WESU and organized with the help of Middletown High School students. We provide a great space to perform in, publicity (WESU helps with this), cool posters, a warm & welcoming house staff, SNACKS and a security guard. You provide the talent.

If you are interested in performing, please contact Lex Leifheit at (lleifheit@wes). We have one spot left for Friday so it's first come, first serve ... but there will be future opportunities.

Also featured this Friday is Matt Gouette and an MHS duo.

Date: Friday, February 9
Time: Doors open at 7:30pm, Performance at 8pm
Place: Green Street Arts Center, 51 Green Street, Middletown
How much: $5 includes bands and snacks.

So You Know You Can't Dance?

The Green Streets Arts Center is offering two ten-week dance classes, Salsa and Belly Dancing, for the spring:

BELLY DANCING I
(Age 18+)
Instructor: Joan “Natalia” Downing
Thursdays 7–8pm
10-week session: January 31–April 4 The ancient art of belly dance is a sacred expression of spirit, emotion and sensuality. This course embraces isolations, shimmies and undulations of different parts of the body. Women of any shape, size, age and ability can enjoy this art form!
Tuition: $100

SALSA
(Age 21+)
Instructor: David Polon
Tuesdays 6:30–7:30pm
10-week session: January 30—April 3 Learn the sultry rhythms of salsa, and make new friends in this fun and active class. Beginners will master all the basic steps, those with more experience can refine their moves with support from teaching artist David Polon. Bring a friend or come by yourself
Tuition: $100

Call 860-685-7871 to register by phone. 10-week class registrations must be received no later than Thursday, January 25th.

Getting a head start

Back on campus early? Good news: the Green Street Arts Center has events going on THIS WEEKEND!

Green Street's joins forces with 88.1 WESUfm and Middletown High School students for an eclectic monthly series featuring high school and college-age musicians. Prepare yourself for a big variety of sounds- folk, emo, punk, jazz, bluegrass-up to three bands are featured each night. This weekend, performers are Ivy Drive, The Tycho Treaty and Three Summers Stronger. Admission is $5 at the door.

Date: Friday, January 12st
Time: Doors @ 7:30pm
Location: Green Street Arts Center (51 Green Street)

Green Street Arts Center this week

The Green Street Arts Center has two unplugged-y events this weekend--an open mic on Friday and a Moth-like reading on Saturday. Poetry, spoken word, comedy routines, rants & short stories welcome. Janis Astor del Valle, Green Street's director, is a veteran performer at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

Name: Open Mic
Date: Friday, October 6th
Time: 8pm

Free for reader/performers, $5 suggested donation for the rest. Hosted by Janis.

Name: Reading: Give It Up!: Stories about Sacrifice
Date: Saturday, October 7th
Time: 7:30 pm

The High St. Writers Collective began at the Downey House and includes writers who have been pulished in: Best of Tin House, Glimmertrain, Best New American Voices, the Hartford Courant etc. etc. Some of them met through the Graduate Liberal Studies Program in Anne Greene's class.
Featuring original works by: Janis Astor del Valle, Jennifer Warner Cooper, Michael Gannon, Michael Hilliard, Lex Leifheit, Howard Luxenberg and Carolyn Moreau

Jesus and Matzo Balls: The Algebra of Sacrifice
Mirror Image
Lake Moriah
The Last Supper
The Burning
The Face of My Father
The Himalayan Weight Loss Plan

Light refreshments will be served. Suggested donation: $5

Green Street Arts Center
51 Green St.
860-685-7871

The Long Way Home

On Sunday, Wesleyan faculty member (perhaps not teaching this semester?) Kate Rushin will perform poetry/spoken word at the Green Street Arts Center. This is a new Sunday Salon Series. $5 suggested donation includes a modest wine & cheese reception. Not sure if wine can be served to students or not but there will be other beverages.

Name: Kate Rushin--THE LONG WAY HOME
Date: Sunday, September 24,
Time: 2–4pm
Venue: Green Street Arts Center

Rushin traces her relationship between her poetry and her creative process from childhood prayers to snapshots of her Black working class community to social commentary—her poems are “ways of seeing” and understanding her world. The reading will consist of a variety of poems including excerpts from her most recent project, Stand, which uses improvisation, humor, wordplay and sampling. It is inspired in part by the music of Nina Simone and Sly Stone and the poetry of Harryette Mulle.

How to get to Green Street: If you come down Church to Main St., Green St. is 5 blocks down on your right and you can see the Center from Main St.

Green Street Arts Center Courses

The Green Streets Arts Center, affiliated with Wesleyan, is offering a whole bunch of interesting 10 week courses if you're interested. The deadline to register is September 14 for these classes:

BELLY DANCING
Instructor: Joan “Natalia” Downing
Thursdays 7–8pm

The ancient art of Belly Dance is a sacred dance
of spirit, emotion, sensuality and artistic
expression. This course embraces isolations,
shimmies, and undulations of different parts of
the body. Women of any shape, size, age, and
ability can enjoy this art form! ($100)

ADVANCED GUITAR TECHNIQUE
Instructor: Lance “Kamau” James
Wednesdays 8–9pm

Learn to work the guitar strings in the jazz,
pop and Latin styles with James. Students
with previous guitar experience will learn
techniques for fingering and playing with this
new group class. ($100)


For information on other classes or how to register, check out their downloadable brochure. If you sign up a friend to join you, you both save 15%.

They're also looking for musical instruments, equipment, supplies and volunteers. If you're interested call (860) 685–7871.