Membership Partner

From Cosby to Hawai’i and Back

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Wesleyan University’s Green Street Arts Center’s Homecoming/Family Weekend events were an enormous success. The building was bustling with community members and Wesleyan families, thank you to all who participated during this weekend of wonderful events.

On Friday, the entire neighborhood hummed with excitement, as jazz wafted from Green Street’s entry way out into the cool, Fall night. The space at 51 Green St. was transformed to a warm and inviting autumn oasis of rich browns and crisp oranges for a night with the one and only Dr. Bill Cosby. With the arrival of Dr. Cosby, a line quickly formed of people waiting to meet, shake hands, and take pictures with the famous comedian, actor, author, and educator. Guests were treated to delicious food, marvelous entertainment, and fine art as they enjoyed the event. After the reception, guests were treated to Dr. Cosby’s on-campus performance at the Center for the Arts.

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Saturday afternoon, Green Street hosted an Open House and welcomed over 125 attendees. Popular Wesleyan band Buru Style filled the Performance Studio with fun and entertainment, while Jocelyn Pleasant and Lovette Caesar-Johnson lead guests in the sounds and rhythms of West African drumming and dance in the Dance Studio. Later on, Green Street’s resident salsero, Jason Pepin, introduced people to the sultry sounds of salsa dance and music. The community drum circle was also a popular choice for all ages as was the visual arts projects. This event was featured in an article in The Middletown Press.

Our Sunday Salon Series continued with Professor J. Kehaulani Kauanui’s “Hawaiian Nationhood & Indigenous Rights”.  With 30 attendees, this intriguing event offered insight into the outstanding Hawaiian independence claim and persistent issue of sovereignty facing the Kanaka Maoli (indigenous Hawaiian) people. Said one participant, “This was a fascinating topic and a dynamic presentation. Kehaulani truly engaged the audience in an intellectual and passionate conversation void of pretension. I was riveted the entire time.”

Dine & Donate, Green Street’s delicious weekend-long fundraiser, provided Homecoming/Family Weekend attendees with a great excuse to sample many different Middletown restaurants. In a true show of community partnership, seven local restaurants (Esca, Fiore, Mikado, New England Emporium, Puerto Vallarta, Thai Gardens, and Typhoon) generously agreed to donate a portion of their weekend proceeds to Green Street Arts Center.

If you weren’t able to join us this weekend, don’t worry, we are already planning our next big benefit event. Be sure to mark your calendars for “A Feast for the Senses”, our second annual auction benefit, on Thursday, February 17.

Submitted by Lisa Bruno, Development Assistant

Green Street’s 6th Annual Arts Fest: from Popcorn to “Pickles”

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Popcorn Arts Fest '10On Saturday, June 12th, the Green Street Arts Center was filled with excitement.  The 6th Annual Arts Festival took place and, despite the rain, was a great success.  With performances like “Pickles” from the Songwriting class and the debut of “Middletown: Our Town”, an animated video created by the Digital Animation class, the entertainment was energetic, captivating, and certainly inspiring.

Even before entering the building, the festival’s energy was already evident.  Teaching artist Anna had a line of eager kids waiting to get their faces painted, the neighborhood ice cream truck was popular as ever, and Frank was busily handing out free popcorn.  Upon entering Green Street, you could already smell delicious food provided by our partners at Esca Restaurant & Wine Bar, Iguanas Ranas Taqueria, and Firehouse Steakhouse.  Jerry’s Pizza had a table with free pizza that was always surrounded by hungry Arts Fest attendees.  Broad Street Books brought a great assortment of arts supplies and books, and DeFabrica Therapeutic Massage was very popular, constantly providing people with refreshing massages.

Arts Fest Drumming '10
Drumming at Arts Fest '10

After satisfying their hunger, guests could choose from a variety of amusements.  The African Drumming classes were set up in the Multipurpose Room, providing hours of rhythmic entertainment.  Adults and kids alike were invited to do arts and crafts in both the Wet and Dry Arts Rooms.  Meanwhile, across the hall in the Performance Studio there was constant action, with breakdancing, musical performances, salsa dancing, animated videos, hip-hop, and more, continuously provided enjoyment for an exuberant audience.

Students in the Breakdancing class staged a breakdance battle to showcase their unbelievable moves.  Young musicians displayed their talents in solo performances, as well as collectively in the Songwriting class’s amusing song “Pickles”.  The salsa class inspired the audience to move and grove to Latin beats, and the Digital Animation class highlighted their skills with a video called “Middletown: Our Town”.  ThoroEnergy also wowed the audience with a dramatic and engaging hip-hop performance.

Breakdancer
Breakdancing Battle

When Arts Fest ended, attendees left with smiles on their faces, students left with a sense of pride in their accomplishments, and the staff were pleased with the success of the event and happy to have made new friends.

For more great pictures of the event, check out our Facebook page here.

If you are interested in learning more about how your child can get involved in one of these (or other) great classes, call us at (860) 685-7871 or email gsac@wesleyan.edu. For more information on upcoming events and classes, visit our website at www.greenstreetartscenter.org.

Submitted by Lisa Bruno, Development Assistant

Arts Fest: Thoroughly Obsessed

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Arts Fest postcardGreen Street’s Annual Arts Festival is something I, and all of Green Street’s friends, look forward to each year.  This year’s Arts Fest will take place on Saturday, June 12 and is sure to be an afternoon filled with creativity, excitement, food, and fun.  ArtsFest is a great way for our students to showcase their hard work and successes throughout the year, and for the community to join us and participate in the fun as well.

This year features performances from Fresh Obsessed

Salsa Dancers
Salsa Dancers Arts Fest '09

breakdancing crew, ThoroEnergy hip hop crew, salsa students, and music classes.  I am especially excited for the West African Djembe Orchestra- a diverse group of people ages 7 to 57 from the After School program, adult class, and Cromwell Children’s Home residency program who will be performing together.  With the strong lead of teachers Jocelyn and Aaron, the group will rock out the beats of Lamban, Makru, and Yankadi.

For the first time, our outside attractions will include delicious food from partners in our membership program.  We are pleased to welcome Esca Restaurant & Wine Bar, Iguanas Ranas Taqueria, Jerry’s Pizza, Broad Street Books, and DeFabrica Therapeutic Massage to the festivities.

Painting Green Street
Facepainting Arts Fest '09

While enjoying live performances and great food, you will also be able to meander through the building to view the artwork, stop by a classroom for a free mini-class in Salsa or visual arts.  You can enter a raffle to win a free Green Street class or even plants from Starlight Gardens in Durham.  Don’t miss out on a chance to sign up for Summer classes right on the spot.

In addition to this scintillating array of amusements, mural artist Marela Zacarias will begin painting the new mural, designed by Green Street students, across the street at St. Vincent dePaul’s Place. All community members are welcome and encouraged to help out.

By the way, have I mentioned that all of this is free?  It is!  I hope to see you there!

Green Street Arts Festival & Open House
Saturday, June 12, 2010
1-3pm
FREE
51 Green Street, Middletown, CT 06457
www.greenstreetartscenter.org

Submitted by Rachel Roccoberton Griffin, Administrative Assistant

Oh, the places you’ll go… with your Green Street Membership!

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Buffet at Tandoor

Recently the Green Street staff went out to lunch to enjoy good food, good company, and beautiful weather.  They decided to take advantage of the discounts they receive at local businesses with their Green Street membership card.  At Tandoor Indian Restaurant, Jessica, Lisa, Sarah-Jane, Rachel, and Claudia enjoyed delicious food from the lunch buffet, which offered dishes such as pattar paneer, keema curry, chicken tikka masala, and freshly baked naan; there was certainly something for everyone.

Claudia had the shrimp korma and said, “It was such a nice change of pace in my work day to be able to experience the tantalizing flavors of the Indian cuisine at Tandoor”.  For dessert they all went to Cold Stone Creamery where Rachel thoroughly enjoyed her OREO Overload.  “There’s something about Cold Stone that I really like.  They’re so friendly and it’s a very welcoming atmosphere,” she said.

Cold Stone was one of the original Green Street Membership partners.  “It’s

Enjoying Cold Stone Creamery ice cream.

amazing to see that, in just a few short months, we’ve expanded our Membership program to include over 52 partners,” marveled Jessica, “and it’s wonderful to continue to support one of our original partners as well.”  In the same day, Jessica ran to It’s Only Natural Market, one of Green Street’s newest partners, and used her membership for a 10% discount. “In a matter of minutes, I used my Green Street membership card at three different places around Middletown, and there are so many other opportunities to do so.  The Green Street Arts Center Membership Program is a great way for individuals to support local businesses, community partners, and Green Street while getting fantastic deals at the same time.”

Green Street’s membership program continues to evolve and expand.  Our most recent partners are the Cardinals Nest and Tschudin Chocolates.  Visit our membership website to see what great deals you can get at all of our partner businesses and regional organizations!

To become a member call (860) 685-7871 or email gsac@wesleyan.edu and say “Yes!  I want to become a member!”

Submitted by Lisa Bruno, Development Assistant

A Taste of Green Street’s New Membership Program

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Green Street Arts Center of Wesleyan University recently sat down with

Outside Iguanas Ranas

local business owner and Green Street partner, Polo Martinez to find out more about business at Iguanas Ranas Taqueria. As a partner in our Membership Program, the restaurant offers a free soda with every $10 purchase to our Members. Read on to learn about their fabulous dishes and community connections.

Originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, Polo came to Connecticut 20 years ago. His wife, a native of Mexico City, and children followed soon after.  After years of experience in the restaurant industry, the Martinez family decided to try their hand at business.  Iguanas Ranas Taqueria opened in 2008 and has been making a name for itself ever since.

Nestled in Middletown’s North End, Iguanas Ranas offers deliciously authentic Mexican cuisine at economy-friendly prices.  Of all their delicacies, Polo tells Green Street, the burritos and the tacos are the most popular.  The Oaxaqueña a 15-inch creation, originally called “tlayuda” in Mexico, is something you have to see to believe.   Everything is homemade and fresh, which makes all the difference when you are competing with the multitude of restaurants in Middletown.  While they do have a set menu, Polo says that Iguanas Ranas is able to make other dishes to order. So if you’re craving enchiladas or mole, just give them some notice!

“We are happy, because everybody is happy.” –Polo Martinez, owner

Polo thinks that the large Latino population combined with Iguanas Ranas’ commitment to authentic, homemade foods are key in their success.  It is clear that this taqueria is in demand; Polo routinely receives requests for other Iguanas Ranas locations around the state.  While expansion is not currently on the menu, Polo hasn’t ruled it out.  When asked how he thinks another Iguanas Ranas would fare, the owner said, “I’m not scared. You make good food, people look for you.”

Are you taking full advantage of our partnership with Iguanas Ranas? If you are a Green Street member, show your membership card and get a free drink with every $10 purchase.  If you’re not a member, call us at (860) 685-7871 or email gsac@wesleyan.edu to join! Visit http://www.greenstreetartscenter.org/members/ for a full list of membership benefits.

Submitted by Lisa Bruno, Development Assistant