Pride and joy
New London's Pride Weekend is kicking off today, and with it will come a chance to celebrate all aspects of New London's flourishing LGBTQ scene, whether through drag shows or partying on Ocean Beach.
Head to Mohegan Sun Thursday night for Pride Kickoff at Avalon Club. There, you'll find a drag competition among some of Connecticut's most talented queens. Even more exciting? The show will be judged by “Queer Eye” fashion expert Carson Kressley, “RuPaul's Drag Race” judge Todrick Hall and transgender advocate Angelica Ross — a great networking opportunity for any emerging queen. Special appearances will also be made by former “Drag Race” contestants Phi Phi O'Hara, Miss Jade Jolie and Chad Michaels. Doors open at 9 p.m., and the competition starts at 11 p.m. A $10 cover charge will benefit OutCT, a non-profit serving southeastern Connecticut's LGBTQ community.
On Friday, get over to O'Neill's Brass Rail for the New London Pride Pre-Party, where you can simply hang out with friends on the bar's beautiful back deck or catch drag performances throughout the night. Drag shows will be hosted by New London's very own Bella Daleadho and will feature up-and-coming Norwich queen Miss Jay alongside visiting queens Kira Stone and Tiana Maxim Rose. The party starts at 9 p.m. Drag shows will commence around midnight.
On Saturday, hit up Ocean Beach for the big event as OutCT hosts its 6th annual Pride Festival. Carnival performers, who will include hoop dancers and fire spinners, will set a festive atmosphere as New London Mayor Michael Passero opens the event at noon. From there, non-stop entertainment will continue until 9 p.m., featuring appearances by Hartford's Gay Men's Chorus and all-female band Sister Funk. There will also be an evening dance party; a Diva Center where people can have their hair and nails done; a Kid Zone TIM COOK/THE DAY with games for youngsters; and face painting with TDP Studio. The event is free. Beach parking is $23.
After three nights of fun, the weekend will conclude Sunday with an Interfaith Service at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church at 19 Jay St., New London, and a People of Color Cookout in Groton's Washington Park. New London Pride Festival Weekend, tonight through Sunday at various locations; NewLondonPride. com. Crazy Rich Asians
In a year where “Black Panther” made Hollywood realize that, yes, a movie with an all-black cast can be a blockbuster, we now have a film that should teach Tinseltown the same thing about an all-Asian cast. (Now, if only the powersthat-be would remember these lessons …) “Crazy Rich Asians” is a thoroughly entertaining romantic comedy, light and brisk. Director Jon. M. Chu takes audiences on a deep dive into the fantastically opulent world of Singapore's wealthy. The biggest revelation of the whole production is Henry Golding. He has his first acting role as the guy who hasn't told his girlfriend that his family in Singapore is ridiculously rich. Golding has a natural ease onscreen and a powerful charisma; simply put, he's a star. Santa Jaws
Sy Fy Network
Sometimes, all it takes in Hollywood is “the pitch” wherein the Creative Folks go to the Money Folks — millions of dollars on the line here — and say something like: “Imagine ‘Goodfellas' crossed with ‘Marley and Me.'” “Green light! Do it!” To you and me, that might sound insane. But it clearly happens a lot, and never has this been more apparent than in a Kurosawa-like new film airing on the Sy Fy channel called “Santa Jaws.” Someone actually came up with that pun and made the pitch — probably “Ho ho ho” meets “You're gonna need a bigger boat” — and, yep, now it's a horror movie. The plot concerns a burgeoning teenage comic book artist who just wants to be left alone at Christmas and not have to deal with family and festivities. And that's when one of his comic book characters — a homicidal, Spielbergian Great White Shark — comes to life and kills the kid's relatives. Outstanding! It was commissioned by the network for their popular “Shark Week” schedule, but I can't imagine it won't pop up nightly when December rolls around.