THE SOUNDS
TIME TO JAM: They've been one of the country's biggest jam bands for years. For the first time in half a decade, Phish is back in Connecticut! Trey, Mike, Page and Fishman are playing at the Comcast Theatre in Hartford on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. The band took an extended hiatus from touring in 2004, but they're back, so check them out this weekend.
SOUL 2 SOUL: Hip Hop takes over on Saturday night when De La Soul plays at Toad's Place in New Haven. The trio has been around since the late '80s, and hit it big in 1989 with their album "3 Feet High and Rising," featuring the single "Me, Myself and I." They've continued to record and tour, becoming one of the most influential groups in hip hop. They start at 8 p.m. with Chiddy Bang and tickets cost $25.
OFF THE WALL: In the '90s, the Wallflowers were one of the biggest pop/rock acts in music. With hits like "One Headlight" and "6th Avenue Heartache," you couldn't get away from Jakob Dylan. Now, Bob Dylan's boy and his band-mates are back together (at least for now) and ready to entertain on Sunday at the Ridgefield Playhouse. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets will cost you $65.
THE SIGHTS
ON A STICK: Jeff Dunham may be the most popular vulgar ventriloquist around (or the only one) and lucky us, he's coming to Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday night. Dunham brings his bizarre cast of characters, including Achmed (a dead terrorist), José Jalapeño (a runaway vegetable on a stick), Walter (an old curmudgeon) and Peanut (who defies explanation). Tickets for his "Spark of Insanity" tour are are around $50.
A CINDERELLA STORY: The story has been around forever (yes even before Disney came along) and Norwalk's Musical Theatre of Connecticut School of Performing Arts will put on its version of Cinderella. With music and lyrics by the group's artistic director, the show is a contemporary musical adaptation of the classic tale. Friday's show is at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday's is at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 at the door.
ON THE WATERFRONT: Dragon Boat Races are back in Hartford this weekend! The Riverfront Dragon Boat Races & Asian Festival lures in more than 1,300 rowers to the city for a day filled with racing, food and entertainment and we've got all the 411 (do people say that anymore?). Here's a rundown of the day's events.
THE TASTES
A SHUCKING GOOD TIME: It's been a long-standing tradition in Milford since 1975. The Milford Oyster Festival is this weekend and attracts visitors from around the world to celebrate one heck of a tasty mollusk. Besides eating, you can enjoy live music, canoe and kayak races, more than 200 arts and crafts vendors and a classic car show. The festival is Friday from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
WALK IT OFF: Join food expert Stephen Fries on a Culinary Walking tour of New Haven that will take you to some legendary joints like "Bar", "Louis' Lunch", "Union League Café" and "The Cupcake Truck." Fries is an expert on food in the Elm City, serving as a food columnist for the New Haven Register, and has even hosted the New Haven Iron Chef Competition. The tour is free and starts at 1:30 p.m. from "Davenport's" at the Top of the Omni Hotel.
DINNER AND DRINKS: Head over to Mystic this weekend to sample some gourmet cuisine and sip on our state's finest wine. The Mystic Seaport Wine & Food Festival offers culinary tastings and cooking presentations from area chefs, fishermen, farmers vintners (they're the guys who make the wine!) and brewers (yup, they make the beer!). There's also live jazz all three days. Here's the schedule, menu and pricing. The event runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
