Benefit events are the hoping for nice weather this weekend and figure strongly in ’s picks of the week. The fourth annual Walk for the Homeless will seeks to raise awareness of homelessness in the region and funds to address it and kicks off at 9 a.m. on Saturday. It’s a 1.5 mile ramble starting from , and the cost is $12 per person or $10 per person for groups of five or more or $15 or $13 per person, respectively, on the day of the event; all proceeds benefit the . Saturday also marks the premiere of the at , which will benefit the . Twenty dollars gets you in the door, and the dance runs between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Also on Saturday, is hosting a free ice cream social for children on the Autism Spectrum and their families; this takes place at 1 p.m. at 154 Hempstead Street.
It’s a good week for history as well. On Thursday, Friends of opens up the state park’s season at 7 p.m. , a researcher from the Connecticut State Library, will be on hand to portray the story of Revolutionary War hero Jordan Freeman. Sally Ryan finishes up her six-part History of New London series on the same day with a discussion of the city’s history from the Hurricane of 1938 to present. The lecture runs at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the . Ryan also leads a “Walk on the Water” tour of the Coit Street Historic District. The $15 price includes a tour of the , and it starts at 2 p.m. at the .
For those of you looking to start working on your green thumb, FRESH New London hosts a workshop on how to maintain your own home garden. This runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the FRESH Community Garden Center at the . With the Arboretum starting to bloom, free tours of the facility begin Sunday. Those interested at this should meet at the Olin Science Center at 2 p.m.
There’s plenty of music, of course. The is finishing their 2010-2011 season with a performance of . Tickets are $30 to $54, and the show begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday at the . Wilson Kane returns to the that day to provide musical accompaniment to your meal between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. holds an annual harp and piano concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday; it’s free, but they’d appreciate a donation to the . Finally, brings in the CBYD Jazz Quartet at 8 p.m. on Monday and the Garde welcomes TheatreworksUSA at 10 a.m. and noon on Tuesday; tickets for the latter are $8 per person for groups of 15 or more.
In the art world, a couple of exhibits open this weekend. The has an opening reception for “In the Garden: Works on Paper by Deng Guoyuan” from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday. has a reception for a display by nature photographer Frank Kaczmerak from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Continuing exhibits include Judy Dworin’s “Time In” at , the American Society of Marine Artists at , and “Life and Death” at .
Other events this week:
- Milonga tango party, 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Provenance Center; $10.
- Book reading of and , 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday at Expressiones.
- Weekly wine tasting, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday at .
- Comedy showcase featuring Dave Moon, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday at .
- Free dance lesson to prepare for a May 7 flash mob, 4 p.m. on Sunday at .
