Trunk Show, Swan Lake, and MS Walk

Music is again the dominant force in New London this week, according to the picks of the week by . It’s not too late to catch the second Bonsai Concert in the Violin Gymnasium of 300 State Street; that show starts at 6 p.m., and donations are welcome. Richard Shindell comes to the on Friday at 8 p.m. for their Friday Night Folk event; tickets are $20 in advance, $23 at the door, and $10 for students. He’ll be competing with the Michael Varekamp Quintet, a Dutch trumpet group performing a celebration of Louis Armstrong’s music at the same time. That show takes place at the , and tickets are $25. The CBYD Jazz Quartet visits their stomping grounds at the for Monday night jazz at 8 p.m.

Several educational gatherings are also running this week. Sally Ryan’s series on the history of New London continues at the , with discussions at and on Thursday The is hosting Crafty Math & Science activities for eight to 10-year-olds from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday. offers a guided walk in the Arboretum from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to examine the remains of the Bolles farm. A different sort of walk is taking place at on Sunday, as the sends teams strolling through the neighborhood as part of a fundraising effort for multiple sclerosis research; registration starts at 8 a.m. and the walk begins an hour later. Finally, the screens the film about people who refuse to pay taxes to support war, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

In the art world, the main event is the premiere of an exhibit entitled "Life and Death" by tattoo artists Tommy Slocum and Jared Dale at the . The reception runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday. New London Main Street is also recognizing a continuing show by the American Society of Marine Artists at the . On the crafts side, launches a line of Little Pinc Shoreline products, including prints and decor, with a ceremony running from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The Garde Arts Center hosts a couple of performances besides the Louis Armstrong tribute. At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, the Russian National Ballet Theatre visits to perform the ballet . Then at 2 p.m. on Sunday, the Garde holds a followed by "Changing Shoes," a one woman show by Guiding Light star Tina Sloan; tickets are $30.

Other events taking place this week:

• Comedy night featuring Frank Vignola and five other comedians, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight at .
• Argentine tango at the Provenance Center, 7 p.m. on Thursday; $10.
• Wine tasting at , 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday.
• Vinyasa yoga, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at ; $15 drop-in.