Hey there, New Haveners! Just a short little post this week, celebrating one of the city’s summer rituals that — while contested for lots of reasons — always delights me as it brings out local talent and introduces me to new music, theater, and more. When I moved to New Haven in July 2013, the Festival of Arts & Ideas had already ended, and I wasn’t totally aware what I had missed until the following summer. Two years later, I can safely say that I’m stoked for it, reservations and all. So here are just a few photos celebrating some of last year’s highlights, before we jump into what 2016 has to offer.
A few days before A&I even started last year, Elm City Dance Collective rang in the spirit with an astounding, experimental and collaborative performance held on a closed-down Temple Street.
A variety of musical performers brought out the Elm City’s finest amateur dancers too, who grooved for two weeks straight, rain or shine.
And there were surprises that tickled New Haveners pink, like the Carrie Ashton Band — which made up for Lucinda Williams’ legitimately terrible performance, if anyone remembers — and Plena Libre, who kept everyone dancing through a two-hour downpour.
Oh, and then there are the people who make it special. Like Judy Rosenthal, a photographer who has watched the festival grow and evolve for most of its 21 years. If you see her, share a smile and a kind word. It’s people like her who keep A&I ticking, and continue the magic long after it has packed up and left town for the year.