Colorful Bridgeport

Get Fit & Lit
2026-05-16 07:00 - 09:00, 2026-05-23 07:00 - 09:00, 2026-05-30 07:00 - 09:00 (America/New_York) | Seaside Park, 1 Barnum Dyke, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
Hey Kinfolk! We’re going outside!!
We are thrilled to announce our Fit & Lit audiobook club! We’re leaving the snacks and chairs behind at the bookstore and trading them for the refreshing experience of fresh air, scenic water views, and community building as we walk and listen to audiobooks. And, in addition to getting fit, you’ll have the opportunity to win a $30 Libro.fm gift certificate! (Aww shucks!)
Here’s how it will work:
– Beginning May 2nd at 7am meet us at the entrance to Seaside Park (the Arches) for our weekly walk (earn 1 point per each weekly group walk)
– Join or maintain a Libro.fm membership* throughout the duration of the program (earn 5 points)
– Purchase a Libro.fm audiobook (earn 2 points per book purchased)
– Purchase a health/self care Libro.fm audiobook (earn 3 points per book purchased)
The person with the most points at the end of August/our last walk will win. All memberships and audiobook purchases must be attributed to Kindred Thoughts Bookstore.
*You do not need a membership to purchase the audiobooks. Find the link to our Libro.fm page on our profile and website: KindredThoughts.shop
We’re looking forward to seeing you at The Arches!

Curiosity Heals Genealogy Course 3: Intergenerational Oral History Workshop
2026-05-16 12:00 - 13:30 | Bridgeport Public Main Library – Burroughs-Saden, 925 Broad Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06604, United States
Learn what questions to ask and how to get the most out of oral history interviews with Jennifer Toro, founder of Curiosity Heals TM. Intergenerational family members are encouraged to attend.

The Princess and the Frog
2026-05-16 12:00 - 14:30, 2026-05-17 12:00 - 14:30 | Downtown Cabaret Theatre, 263 Golden Hill Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06604, United States
Pucker up for the Princess and the Frog! A Princess meets a talking frog and strikes up an unlikely friendship. But when she plants a kiss on his cheek, everything changes! Suddenly, she is transformed into a frog, too! The two adventure to find an end to the curse but what hilarious surprises will they discover along the way? Will the Princess turn back into a real girl or be stuck as a frog forever? Is the frog just a frog, or is he something more? Come find out in a princess story for all ages (and species!).

WPKN’s Herman Olivera selects
2026-05-16 15:00 - 19:00 | Berlinetta Brewing Company, 90 Golden Hill St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
WPKN’s Herman Olivera is on the system with a great mix of upbeat sounds spanning rock, soul, Latin, and Jazz.

Reading the Classics: The Wedding
2026-05-16 17:00 - 19:00 | Kindred Thoughts Bookstore, 1001 Main St, Ste #8, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
May introduces The Wedding by Dorothy West. Join us on Saturday, May 16 at 5pm as we discuss this classic as led by Cultural Historian, Michelle Black Smith.

Kountry Wayne
2026-05-16 19:00 - 23:30, 2026-05-17 19:00 - 23:30 | Vinnie Brand’s Stress Factory Comedy Club, 167 State Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06604, United States
Named one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch in 2021, Kountry Wayne (a.k.a. Wayne Colley) has garnered a loyal following from his widely popular digital sketches and hilarious standup, generating an extraordinary amount of buzz among his peers within the entertainment industry as one of comedy’s most notable rising stars.
Since his first Facebook post in October 2014 went viral, the charismatic comic has amassed millions of followers across Facebook and Instagram, where fans tune in daily to his viral sketches featuring original characters such as Drip and Buddy, with cameos from notable celebrities including Ludacris, Mike Epps, Charlamagne tha God and Lamar Odom, to name a few.
Keeping it real, mining comic gold from the everyday and applying his genius for freestyling, Wayne is a master comic storyteller. In 2017 Wayne embarked on the 150-date national “Child Support Tour,” selling out clubs and theaters across America. That wasn’t just a clever moniker – he’s the dad of ten kids and even as he builds his own entertainment legacy, he’s all about securing the future for them.
“My hashtag, my mantra, is ‘Help is On The Way!’ – that’s my slogan, I own it, because I believe God’s got my back and your back and whatever is stressing you out today, it won’t last because help is truly on the way,” says Wayne, whose endearingly funny way with English comes from growing up “Kountry” in Millen, GA (pop. 3500), between Statesboro and Augusta. He was given what became his stage name during a stint living and going to school in Savannah in the mid-2000s.
In January 2020, Wayne began his “The People’s Champ” North American tour, travelling to cities across the U.S. and Canada including Miami, Pittsburgh, West Palm Beach, Phoenix and more. In the spring of 2021, Wayne performed in arenas alongside comedy heavyweight, Mike Epps, on the “In Real Life Comedy Tour,” ranked #1 on Pollstar’s Top Global Concert Tour list. Wayne was featured on MTV’s “Wild ‘N Out” with Nick Cannon, starred in the BET original Christmas rom-com film, “Holiday Heartbreak,” and debut at #10 of The Hollywood Reporter’s Top Comedians List, which includes Ricky Gervais, D.L Hughley, and Kevin Hart. Most recently, Wayne wrapped his “Straight Out The Mud” tour presented by Live Nation
Wayne, along with Kym Whitley, currently co-hosts “I Love Us,” a new comedy clip show on BET+. Additionally, Wayne is set to release his first book “Help Is On The Way” in April 2023 – a memoir covering everything from his childhood, past struggles and path to success. Up next, he will be starring alongside Chloe Bailey, Quavo, Mack Wilds, Druski, and more, in Universal Pictures’ “Praise This,” produced by Will Packer and directed by Tina Gordon.
With his humble roots and unbridled energy, Wayne continues to build his audience with cutting edge yet clean, curse free material whose appeal transcends all cultural lines and is fit for (and often draws) the whole family. All while still posting content online daily.

Recollective
2026-05-17 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-24 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-31 10:00 - 16:00 | Recollective, 588 State Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06604
Recollective is a multi-vendor vintage and antique marketplace that takes a fresh approach to the vintage market scene. Think antiques, salvage finds, one of a kind vintage, local makers and a cozy café to fuel your treasure hunt. The spirit lives on in Downtown Bridgeport.

GCTYO Spring Concerts
2026-05-17 13:00 - 19:30 | The Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT, 06605, United States
GCTYO Spring Concerts sponsored by Masonic Lodges of Stratford. All GCTYO ensembles perform! Come to one concert or both.
Concert 1 – 1:00PM
Steel Pan Future and Junior Stars, Saxophone Ensemble, Jazz II, Prelude, String, Sinfonia, and Virtuosi Orchestras
See and hear the wide range of music that GCTYO offers young musicians!
Concert 2 – 5:30PM
Steel Pan All Stars, Percussion, Flute, Saxophone, Jazz I, Philharmonic, and Principal Orchestras
The winner of the 2026 GCTYO Concerto Competition will perform Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 on Voice with Principal Orchestra. Graduating seniors will be honored – learn what their next chapter will be!

A Year of Toni Morrison: Beloved
2026-05-17 14:00 - 15:30 | Kindred Thoughts Bookstore, 1001 Main St, Ste #8, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
Join us for an insightful journey through Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” – a year-long exploration of her powerful literary canon.
Poet Sonia Sanchez said of her friend Toni Morrison, “In order to survive, you should re-read Toni every ten years because every ten or 15 years, we have to re-imagine ourselves on this American landscape. You won’t survive if you don’t do that.” We believe now is the time. Join us on a year-long journey through Toni Morrison’s remarkable literary legacy.

Build a Solar house!
2026-05-18 13:00 - 14:30 | Bridgeport Public Main Library – Burroughs-Saden, 925 Broad Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06604, United States
An interactive STEAM program for ages 6-12. Children will learn about solar energy and build their own solar house to take home. This is a solar energy project and presentation hosted by the American Institute of Architects in CT and the Architecture Resource Center Inc.. Registration is required. Call us at 203-576-7400, ext. 408 to register.

﻿Curator's Talk & Tour
2026-05-21 17:00 - 19:00 | The Mary and Eliza Freeman Center, 25 Elm Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06604, United States
Join the Freeman Center’s curator for this series of casual cultural conversations! Bi-weekly gatherings on the first and third Thursday of the month from 5:00-7:00pm based on the works featured in our current exhibit, Turning Tides: Little Liberia & the Black Atlantic.
Thursday, May 21st: What’s on the other side of Chelsea Ramírez’s flowing, foggy landscapes? We’ll talk identity, ancestry and the natural environment with the help of her Seed Crystals series, River Echo-you & i & i & i, and River Echo infinity-xoxo.

Red Velvet Burlesque
2026-05-21 19:30 - 21:30 | Downtown Cabaret Theatre, 263 Golden Hill Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06604, United States
Red Velvet returns to the Downtown Cabaret Theatre for one unforgettable night of glamour, tease, and show stopping performances. Join us May 21, 2026 at 7:30 PM for an evening that celebrates classic burlesque style with a modern edge.
This high energy, ADULTS ONLY show features dazzling costumes, bold choreography, and performers who know exactly how to command the stage. It is playful, seductive, and packed with personality from start to finish.
Tickets are $35 all in!
Perfect for a night out with friends, a date night, or anyone looking for something a little daring and a lot of fun!

Create Night: Tumbler Making Class
2026-05-22 18:30 - 20:30 | Bridgeport Pride Center, 166 Elm St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
Join us on Friday, May 22nd from 6:30-8:30 PM at the Bridgeport Pride Center for a fun, hands-on crafting event!
Create your own custom 16oz tumbler and work with a professional instructor who will guide you step-by-step to create a unique accessory for pride!
We’ll have glitter, decals, and plenty of creative flair to bring your vision to life.
🎨 $25 per cup
📅 RSVP required by May 18th, 2025 — no walk-ins will be allowed.
Come craft, sip, and sparkle with us as we gear up for pride!
All ages
Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
*We will be sponsoring the first FIVE people who reach out to us to reserve a cup. Please send an email to info@bridgeportpridecenter.org with the Tumbler5 in the subject line.*

Rodney Laney
2026-05-22 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-05-23 19:30 - 23:30 | Vinnie Brand’s Stress Factory Comedy Club, 167 State Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06604, United States
RODNEY LANEY was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey and has always been a comedian. Even as a toddler, he would entertain at family gatherings, most of the time against his will. Years of therapy have helped him recover from these traumatic times. Thanks to Rodney’s school years, school administrators decided corporal punishment was no longer necessary in the school system; they now want capital punishment!
Laney’s comedy career started capriciously while in the Air Force. He was stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio where he accompanied a fellow airman, an amateur comic, to a comedy club. His friend bombed, but Rod took the stage and received thunderous applause. It was instant addiction. For Rodney, it was the stage, for his friend it was… Well, you know. He has executive produced and acted in the feature film Pride & Loyalty, which started as a pay per view release. He played Willie in the comedy “Tinsel Town,” created by Public Defender Pictures, which starred John Palumbo (OZ) and Johnny Williams, (GoodFellas, Honeymoon in Vegas.)
Rodney Laney has completed pilots for Comedy Central, MTV, and A&E. He has been seen on P.Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy on HBO, FOX News Channel’s Red Eye, The Late Late Show and Comics Unleashed CBS, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, and the BBC’s The World Stand’s Up, truTV’s The Smoking Gun Presents…, comedy.tv on the HD channel, and two appearances on Gotham Comedy Live AXSTV. He has also appeared at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival Montreal and LOL Lounge TBS Presents A Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs Chicago.
Determination may be Rodney Laney’s biggest asset; according to his credit report, his only asset. He is ambitious, professional, and determined. I could go on and on about me, I mean him, but I have reached the end of the page.

Photohaus Photo Walk
2026-05-23 16:00 - 18:00 | Photohaus, 1001 Main Street, Suite 2, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
ITS TIME FOR ANOTHER WALK.
This month, we’re honoring
our local bodegas and corner stores.
Up close or from far away.
These shops are more than storefronts.
They’re part of the foundation of community.
Part of the visual language of the neighborhood.
Part of how we know where we are.
Who’s at the corner?
What catches your eye?
How do we connect with our surroundings through what we see every day?
Let’s go look closer.

Old Bob: The Music of Bob Dylan
2026-05-24 15:00 - 18:00 | Berlinetta Brewing Company, 90 Golden Hill St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
Old Bob: The Music of Bob Dylan live in the taproom for Dylan’s 85th Birthday
To celebrate the 85th birthday of America’s greatest songwriter we welcome OLD BOB to the taproom. This excellent ensemble offers fresh and soulful takes on Dylan’s catalog, featuring both his iconic 60s and 70s tunes plus more recent works that you may not have heard. No cover, no reservations, two-drink minimum.

Colorful Conversations
2026-05-27 12:00 - 13:00 | NY Caffeine, 855 Main St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
Colorful Conversations are held on the last Wednesday of every month from 12:00pm to 1:00pm, this series is designed as an easy, energizing way to spend your lunch hour. Each gathering will take place at a rotating Downtown location, creating opportunities to explore local spots while connecting with others in the community.
Each session will begin with brief introductions and an engaging topic. Topics will remain light and fun, ranging from “What’s your favorite color, and why?” to “What inspires you most about this community?,” with space to shape discussions around what you want to talk about.
Our goal is to bring together residents, business owners, artists, visitors, and community stakeholders in a welcoming Downtown setting.
Our first Colorful Conversation will be held at NY Caffeine on Wednesday, May 27 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm.
Spots are limited to 20, so please register using the form below.

Color Conversation Registration

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Poetz Realm Connecticut Open Mic
2026-05-27 20:00 - 23:30 | BPT Creates, 1001-14 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
This is your stage! Poets, singers, lyricists, storytellers, and wildcard creatives—bring your fire. First-timer or veteran, your voice belongs here.

Khalid with Lauv
2026-05-28 19:30 - 22:30 | Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater, 500 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06604

Community Puzzle Night: Chi Town Chic
2026-05-29 18:00 - 21:00 | Kindred Thoughts Bookstore, 1001 Main St, Ste #8, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
Join us on Fri, May 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM for a fun-filled evening of puzzle-solving with your neighbors and friends. This month’s puzzle is an ode to the Chi, “Chi Town Chic.”
This event is a great way to relax, socialize, and challenge your brain. No experience necessary – all skill levels are welcome! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with other puzzlers in the community and enjoy a night of collaborative fun. See you there!
Snacks and beverages provided. And we’ll be spinning tunes from Chicago natives all night! Feel free to bring your favorite snack and bev! $5 gets you in on the fun!

Cabaret Comedy – Funny Fridays
2026-05-29 19:30 | Downtown Cabaret Theatre, 263 Golden Hill Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06604, United States
Get ready to laugh at the Cabaret on a Friday night! Our rotating group of Stand Ups will have you in stitches and wanting to come back and experience the belly laughs all season!

Author Talk: Africulture with Michael Carter, Jr.
2026-05-30 17:00 - 19:00 | Kindred Thoughts Bookstore, 1001 Main St, Ste #8, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
Join us on Saturday, May 30th at 5pm as we welcome 11th generation farmer and author, Michael Carter Jr, as he discusses his new book, Africulture: How the Principles, Practices, Plants, and People of African Descent Have Shaped American Agriculture.
Michael Carter Jr. is an eleventh-generation farmer and is the fifth generation to farm at Carter Farms, his family’s century farm in Orange County, Virginia, where he gives workshops on how to grow and market ethnic vegetables. In addition, he runs Africulture, a nonprofit dedicated to educating and expounding upon the principles, practices, plants and people of African descent that have contributed to agriculture. He sits on the board of directors of the Montpelier Descendants Committee, Orange County African American Historical Society, Virginia Food Systems Council, American Climate Partners, and Virginia Agrarian Trust. He also serves as a fellow for the Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation. Michael was recognized as a 2020 Audubon Naturalist Society Taking Nature Black Regional Environmental Champion, the 2020 VSU Small Farm Outreach Agent of the year and Future Harvest Casa Farmer of the Foodshed for 2021. He acquired an agricultural economics degree from North Carolina A&T State University and has worked in Ghana, Kenya, and Israel as an agronomist and organic agricultural consultant. He presently consults with numerous governments, organizations, institutions, and individuals throughout the region and nation on food access, food security/insecurity, market outreach, social and economic parity/equity/evaluation programs, racial understanding, immersion, history, and cultural training, among other areas. Michael also teaches and expounds on the contributions of Africans and African Americans to agriculture worldwide and trains students, educators, and professionals in African cultural understanding, racial literacy, empathy, and implicit bias recognition. He teaches his course on Africulture at the University of Virginia in the school of Environmental Thought and Practice.

Together We Rise: Bridgeport Pride's Annual Flag Raising & Block Party
2026-05-31 12:00 - 15:30 | Bridgeport Pride Center, 166 Elm St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604, United States
Come downtown and gear up for pride month with our annual flag raising and block party event!
