Arts & Entertainment
Barnum Museum spices things up with a book signing
Book signing scheduled for May 11 @ 5:30 p.m.
"Connecticut Characters: Personalities Spicing Up The Nutmeg State", is well-known local author Lennie Grimaldi's latest effort. The historic Barnum Museumlocated on 820 Main Street in Bridgeport is pleased to host a book signing party, and a little bit of banter, on Thursday, May 11, at 5:30pm.
Grimaldi says the new book chronicles his run-ins with the famous, funky and freaky and is a career retrospective, sampling some of Connecticut's "characters".
Besides President Donald Trump, who he did work for in the late 90's, his book includes late, fallen, returned and trailblazing politicians; paranormal investigators and Westport actress Linda Blair, famous for playing a possessed child in the horror movie "The Exorcist,". They include a Mayor, a Governor, a police chief, an undercover cop, a private investigator, a Hells Angel, the mob; men successful in the boxing ring and the financial arena, including the founder of Americares - 17 chapters in all. And according to Grimaldi, the chapters of "Connecticut Characters" are taken from his work published in the defunct Bridgeport Telegram and Fairfield County Advocate newspapers, the New York Times, Connecticut Magazine, his other books and his decade-old blog, "Only In Bridgeport".
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A must evening and a must-read and must-have book for anyone interested in what made a lot of those we know tick.
ABOUT THE BARNUM MUSEUM:
Bridgeport’s Barnum Museum is one of P. T. Barnum’s many philanthropic gifts. Completed in 1893, the architecturally significant building boasts a unique combination of styles and terra cotta ornamentation, and is listed on the National Register. Today the museum proudly shares the history and legacy of the world-famous entrepreneur, showman, and museum proprietor, who was also a state legislator, mayor, real estate developer, and philanthropist. The museum is home to thousands of artifacts, many pertaining to Bridgeport native Tom Thumb and his wife, as well as the P. T. Barnum Family, and Nathaniel Wheeler Family. Their furniture, carriages, artwork and other items are currently displayed, along with a centaur and mermaid.
Since 2010, the historic building has been undergoing repair and restoration due to a series of weather events that compromised the structure. The Museum is currently open for visitors in the People’s United Bank Gallery located behind the historic building, open for viewing and tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays year-round (closed on Thanksgiving). There is no admission charge but donations are welcome.
