ESSEX, CT — Guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola headlines a lower Connecticut River Valley weekend that also brings a Vietnam War drama to the Ivoryton Playhouse, a costumed 5K and a twilight cemetery tour in Essex and live music in the Griswold Inn's Tap Room, from Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18.
This Weekend's Arts & Entertainment
- "A Piece of My Heart" — Thursday, Oct. 15, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 17, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 18, 2 p.m. Shirley Lauro's play follows six women who went to Vietnam as nurses, military personnel and volunteers; it runs through Oct. 25. Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton
- Ivoryton Pumpkin Chase — Saturday, Oct. 17, check-in 8 a.m., races at 9 a.m. A 5K run and a 2-mile walk benefit the Ivoryton Library, and the best costumes win prizes. Ivoryton Library, 106 Main Street, Ivoryton
- Twilight Tour of Riverview Cemetery — Saturday, Oct. 17, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Essex Historical Society director Melissa Josefiak leads a walk through the 300-year-old cemetery, from the town's first pastor to "a traitorous sea captain," and traces gravestone art from death's heads to obelisks; advance registration through the historical society is required. Riverview Cemetery, Essex
- Art of the Guitar: Frank Vignola with Vinny Raniolo — Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 p.m. Vignola, who holds a weekly residency at New York's Birdland and has played with Les Paul, Ringo Starr and the Boston Pops, is joined by rhythm guitarist Raniolo; advance tickets are $35 through AcousticMusic.org. Chester Meeting House, 4 Liberty Street, Chester
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This Weekend's Restaurants & Bars
- Live music in the Tap Room — The Cherry Pie Band (swing, rockabilly and Latin-style music with Jillian Grey), Thursday, Oct. 15, 8 p.m.; "Cocktail Piano" with Francine, Saturday, Oct. 17, 4 p.m.; folk and rock singer-songwriter Mike Clifford, Sunday, Oct. 18, 4 p.m.; and the Martin Kelly Acoustic Trio, Sunday, 7 p.m. The Griswold Inn, 36 Main Street, Essex
See "A Piece of My Heart" in Ivoryton, run the Pumpkin Chase in costume Saturday morning, walk Riverview Cemetery at dusk and end the night with Frank Vignola in Chester, then settle into the Griswold Inn's Tap Room for Sunday's music.
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