7/1: Friends, Food and Fun

Start July off right with good friends, food, fun, and music

By ANNEMARIE CRUMBY

Updated 7:40 PM EST, Tue, Jul 28, 2009

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Philip Nealey

First stop for the first night of July: "Get HYPE'd" at Red Rock Tavern in Hartford. This casual event is from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and gives you a chance to network with other young professionals in Hartford. Don't forget to bring your business card, drop it in the raffle and pick up a discount card to use at Red Rock throughout the month of July.

If you're in the mood to dance, grab your dancin' shoes and head out to Manchester for Dance Party with Erik Sack, Mike Tierney & Friends at The Hungry Tiger. Erik Sack plays original music at more than 200 shows a year and has shared the stage with artists such as Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers Band and Mike Gordon of Phish.

Or, head to West Hartford for it's Summer Concert Series in Elizabeth Park with R&B from Latanya Farrell. (We go way back with her -- she sings a meeeean National Anthem at some local community events, too!) Bring a picnic dinner and your dancing shoes and let lose to everything from rock to Motown. If it rains, the concert will take place in the Pond House. Admission is free.

And finally on the shoreline, tick, tick...Boom! This explosive modern musical is playing at the Westport Country Playhouse. It was written by Jonathan Larson, the creator of Rent, and is about a starving artist and his dedication to live out his dream. Tickets are $30-$65.

So there you go! Kick of July in style!