Arts & Entertainment
Ring in the New Year With Collinsville's Robot IQ and More
Arts Week: A roundup of events around Canton in art, music, theater, film, dance, comedy and more.
New Year's Eve with the Jeremy Wallace Trio and Robot IQ
Collinsville's own Robot IQ has helped put together a night of off-kilter Americana, on short notice, for a free New Year's Eve Party at the Fireplace Cafe on River Street. The Jeremy Wallace Trio of Montclair, N.J., rounds out the bill.
Jeremy Wallace, the trio's guitarist and vocalist, is joined by Tom Costagliola on drums and Matt Gruenberg on upright and electric bass for a long set of what they call "consciously unpolished" rock, country and blues.
Jeremy first appeared in Collinsville in 2002 after an email from a local fan pointed out that the bar featured on the cover of his 1998 album on Palmetto Records, My Lucky Day, looked a lot like the Fireplace. He headlined a show at the larger , also in Collinsville, in May 2011. Along the way, the band has picked up a loyal Farmington Valley fan base that grows with every local show.
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Robot IQ, self-described as "riot folk," is also a trio, albeit an unconventional one, comprised of Jonny Cote on guitar, vocals, harmonica and ukulele; Randy Kane on drums, percussion and vocals; and Peter "Schmawy" Everett on mandolin and cello, which he usually plays standing up.
Performers at the Fireplace traditionally play "for the bucket," so be sure to bring plenty of bills to show your appreciation for our hometown boys and out-of-town musical guests alike.
Find out what's happening in Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
After such a guaranteed wild night, it's no wonder the Fireplace will be closed on New Year's Day.
Also at the Fireplace Cafe
Tonight, Friday, The Beaner Band perform a mix of covers and originals at the Fireplace from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Acoustic Open Mic Night, hosted by singer-songwriter "GrimFacts" Ed Hoyer, Jr., continues each Tuesday starting at 8:30 p.m.
La Trattoria's New Year's Eve Dinner Dance
Mark Bettera at knows how to pull out all the stops for any special occasion. Saturday night's New Year's Eve Party is no exception and includes fine dining in the venue's ballroom with musical entertainment by the Night Moves Band, a rock and dance act from the Torrington area.
A party package available for the evening includes an Italian four-course dinner and a midnight champagne toast along with music and dancing. The price per person is $85. The party is planned for 8 p.m. to around 2 a.m.
Due to the party, the usual piano music in the bar on Saturday night is cancelled this week. Sunday's Champagne Brunch, which does not usually have live music, is on for New Year's Day, when the restaurant will be open for their normal hours.
Prix Fixe at the Crown & Hammer Restaurant & Pub
The has also planned a special New Year's Eve Party with two seatings for a four-course prix fixe dinner for $50 per person plus tax and tip, party favors included.
The seatings are at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., with Top Shelf, a duo playing cover songs, providing music during the later seating.
Highlights from the eclectic prix fixe menu, which promises an appetizer, soup or salad, entree and dessert along with a glass of champagne, include barbecued jumbo white shrimp wrapped in pancetta, corn and scallop chowder and braised lamb shank with root vegetables in a Merlot demi-glace.
Dessert choices will be tiramisu, chocolate mousse, chocolate decadence cake, cherry pie or red velvet cake.
Call the Crown at (860) 693-9199 for more information and reservations.
While the only food available after lunch on New Year's Eve will be the prix fixe dinner, the bar will be open as usual for customers interested in drinks, musical entertainment and the chance to ring in the new year with neighbors and friends.
The Crown will be open regular hours on New Year's Day.
Tonight, Friday, Chris Lynch returns to the Crown for a solo acoustic set of "folk 'n' roll."
LaSalle Market
The popular Open Mic Night held at each Friday night at 6 p.m. is on for this weekend as usual. The weekly event is hosted alternately by Eric Paradine and Con "Coyote" Doty, and the the sign-up sheet fills up fast.
LaSalle will be open the day of New Year's Eve from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are closed on New Year's Day.
The monthly Band Night on the last Saturday of most months will resume on Jan. 28.
Flatbread Company
The is open normal hours this weekend despite the holiday. In other words, stop in for lunch or dinner on New Year's Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on New Year's Day from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Flatbread's entertainment on Thursday, Jan. 5, is provided by Paul Shlien.
Dish 'n Dat
Members of the Slacker's Union appear at Dish 'n Dat tonight, Friday, at 8 p.m. for an acoustic duo show billed as a New Year's Eve-Eve Party. With the talented Mike Oken on guitar and Keir Hansen on vocals, this is a stripped-down version of one of the area's most entertaining cover and party rock acts. According to a Facebook event for the gig, the guys invite yelled-out requests but add, "Just don't call us 'Dude.'"
On Wednesday at 7 p.m., solo acoustic guitarist Robert Fullerton will play a bluesy rock set at Dish 'n Dat.
Hub Bar & Grille
In observation of the New Year holidays, no live music or karaoke is planned this weekend at the , but they will be open each day anyway. Tonight, Friday, regular hours will be observed, and on New Year's Eve, Saturday, owner Cindy Johns plans to close a bit early, probably around 11 p.m.
On New Year's Day, the restaurant's full menu is available from 2 to 9 p.m.
The Hub hosts Karaoke Night each Wednesday starting at 9 p.m. Saturday's weekly Karaoke Night will resume next week.
Valley Ballet and Dance Fitness
Early 2012 classes at on Rt. 44 include an Urban Spirit dance workshop on Jan. 7 blending elements of hip hop, breakdancing, popping, ticking and house dancing together.
Visit http://valleyballet.org for a list of all the classes being offered and to find sign-up information.
