Get out your lawn chair, picnic basket, sunnies, mosquito repellant, trainers and outdoor concert gear ready. With all of the scheduled events, it’s impossible for my fellow Connecticut residents to continue with their old and tired complaint about how boring it is here. There is actually plenty to do and see, especially during the warmer months.
The array of free events and the abundance of green spaces where these events are held is one of things that I love the most about living in this state. For some reason, music and poetry just sounds better when it’s being blasted outside to a crowd of enthusiastic and appreciative patrons. Follow me on instagram to see photos from the events and also pictures of volkswagons (I’m obsessed), my lovely cat (yes, I am one of those), and of course what I will be wearing.
Free Events In Greater Hartford This July
- July 1, 2012 - Annual Ferrari & Friends Concorso, West Hartford, CT
- July 4, 2012 – Elizabeth Park Summer Concert Series featuring First Company Governor’s Foot Guard in Hartford, CT
- July 7, 2012 – Red Dress Run For Women at Elizabeth Park Rose Garden Lawn in Hartford, CT
- July 7, 2012 – Riverfest (fireworks, vendors and free music all day) at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in downtown Hartford, CT
- July 9, 2012 – Monday Night Jazz featuring the Emery Smith Trio and Winard Harper Sextet at Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT
- July 11, 2012 - Elizabeth Park Summer Concert Series featuring River Slim (zydeco – folk music with roots in Louisiana) at Elizabeth Park Rose Garden Lawn in Hartford, CT
- July 11, 2012 poets Sunken Garden Poetry Festival featuring poets Natasha Trethewey and Sue Burton at Hillstead Museum in Farmington, CT
- July 12, 2012, Sounds of Summer Concert Series featuring Le’Mixx (Motown) on Alumni Town Green in East Hartford, CT
- July 16, 2012 – Monday Night Jazz featuring Lumie Spann and Katie Bull Quintet at Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT
- July 18, 2012 – Elizabeth Park Summer Concert Series featuring Fiesta Del Norte (Mexican) at Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in Hartford, CT
- July 19, 2012 Sounds of Summer Concert Series featuring Bird n’ Boys (rock, country, blues) on Alumni Town Green in East Hartford, CT
- July 20, 2012 – Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz featuring Layla Angulo and the Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra at Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT
- July 21, 2012 - Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz featuring Matt Marshak, Elan Trotman w/Gerald Veasley, Jeff Golub, The Sax Pack and Motown Dance Party featuring the Jus’ Us band at Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT
- July 22, 2012 – Dixieland Jazz Mass 10 am at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Hartford, CT
- July 22, 2012 - Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz featuring Destiny Africa Children’s Choir, Dana Lauren, Afro-Semitic Experience and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra Jazz & Strings featuring Jimmy Greene at Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT
- July 23, 2012 – Monday Night Jazz featuring Dave Palla and Onaje Allan Gumbs Quintet at Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT
- July 25, 2012 – Elizabeth Park Summer Concert Series featuring Latanya Farrell (R&B) at Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in Hartford, CT
- July 25, 2012 - Sunken Garden Poetry Festival featuring poet Donald Hall at Hillstead Museum in Farmington, CT
- July 25, 2012 – Music at the Mansion featuring Eight to the Bar at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown.
- July 26, 2012 – Sounds of Summer Concert Series featuring Undercover & Dr. Diamond (classic rock and Neil Diamond) Alumni Town Green in East Hartford, CT
- July 26, 2012, -Rockville Bank Summer Concert Series featuring Latanya Farrell and the Bookman Styles Band (R&B) at Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk
- July 26, 2012 – Concerts in Blue Back Square featuring Frank Vignola Duo
- July 26, 2012 – X-Treme Scramble 6 pm at the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford. spectators. Enjoy good food and live music under the stars on the Riverfront. Free to spectators. For more information: visit the Hartford Marathon website.
- July 27, 2012 – Summer Sizzle Under The Stars featuring “My Man Godfrey” at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Free Jazz at 6 pm. Movies start at 8:15. Admission $9, $8 seniors and students.
- July 27, 2012, Music Among The Memorials Jazz Concert at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, CT
- July 27, 2012, Free lunchtime concert at Old State House in Hartford featuring Fiesta del Norte
- July 27, 2012 Movies in the Park Series 7 pm “Anchorman” at Bushnel Park in Hartford.
- July 28, 2012 Vintage Baseball at Colt Meadows 8 Hendricxsen Avenue in Hartford. For more information visit Friends of Vintage Baseball.
- July 28, 2012 - Ray Gonzalez Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in downtown Hartford, CT
- July 28, 2012 – Jamaica 50th Experence featuring Jamaica vs. World Cricket match at Kenney Park in Hartford.
- July 28, 2012 – Community Reception for the Jamaica Reggae Boyz at the West Indian Social Club in Hartford.
- July 28, 2012, Family Day At the Carousel in Hartford 11am – 5pm. Free rides all day.
- July 30, 2012 – Monday Night Jazz featuring Bob Paskowitz and Latin Quarter | Ed Fast and Conga Bop at Bushnell Park
I am wearing:
*This outfit was inspired by Tavia from NineToFly blog*
Wrap – Souvenir gift creatively styled.
Trainers -Converse All Stars (from Nordstroms Rack)
Purse – Gifted (I carry this thing ever day, every where)
lawn chair not pictured….
FYI, the photos were taken on the beautiful campus of the University of Connecticut School of Law.
You will get to see the LBD that I am wearing under the wrap in the August events update.
Ossie took these photos
XoXo, Natasha
If you enjoyed this post, please share and subscribe to my RSS feed!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Man I wish someone from Colorado would do this! Maybe I should research it . . . thanks for the idea! It’s amazing what you can unearth if you put the effort forth! Well done Natasha–great post! I loooooove this look too! The scarf and the black Converses were a great touch!
Robin recently posted..Hopscotch at Noon
Hi Robin.
I was actually surprised at the number of events that are available here in Connecticut but the problem is that the marketing efforts for most events are directed at a very narrow demographic. I am certain that it’s the same in Colorado. The info sharing thing is very Natasha. I did a lot of grass roots marketing when I was active in the community and as a matter of fact, the first blog I launched last year was supposed to serve as a central place where people could find all of the happenings in Greater Hartford. I have a pretty broad range of interests so a few of the events I stumbled on while doing the research and the rest, I was already aware of.
You look so summery and comfortable. It’s such a smart outfit…smart as in functional and stylish. I especially love the shoes!
Lisa Walter recently posted..Stormy Weather
Hi Lisa…
I can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful and comfy those converses are. Unfortunately, I’ve been wearing them with just about everything (skirts, dresses, shorts) etc. And of course outdoor events (especially on grass surface) call for “smart” shoes like a wedge or sneakers. (-;
Twitter: styleagent909
June 30, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Natasha, now I know what to do with my tropical wrap. That was super creative. I’m sure you’re gonna look gorgeous at all your summer events!
Sheila, Style Agent 909 recently posted..BFSC: Heels with Short Shorts
Hi Sheila:
Thanks for your wonderful comment. The temperature usually drops in the night here (of course that hasn’t been the case this summer) but I’ve been to too many outdoor concerts where I actually have to huddle with people, just to stay warm. There is style and function in that wrap. (-:
NATASHA!!!! Guuuuuurllllll…I LOVE this!!! Then I scrolled down to see that I inspired this?!? I can’t imagine that. Nope this is allllll you! The use of this wrap is ingenious and I am definitely inspired! I have been working on my wardrobe for my next trip to Myrtle beach for my family reunion and this is definitely in there!
This made my morning!
Tavia recently posted..Short Shorts (BFSC) & Bright Blazer
Hi Tavia. Yes, you actually inspired this. I have a few of these that I either picked up on vacation or was gifted to me. I don’t go to the beaches up here and I figured why let it sit here waiting for my next trip to Florida or the islands… (-: