Black-owned businesses | Culture & Community | Economic Development | Arts & Culture | Mill River District | WineDown CT
Ashleigh Huckabey Photos.
House music flowed from the speakers, getting attendees up onto their feet to dance. A giant Connect Four game sprouted beneath a tent, people all smiles as they spotted it. Hosts Avery “Slay” Washington and Tia Smith struck a pose at a photo booth and bounced around the space. Everywhere someone looked, a mixture of patterns and bright colors filled Bear’s Smokehouse. It was a dream brought to fruition one sip and conversation at a time—that even the rain couldn't outdo.
That joyful gathering marked the long-awaited ”Dear Summer” edition of WineDown CT, originally scheduled for late September. After two rain postponements, the event rolled into Bear’s Smokehouse last Sunday, drawing hundreds of people in the early fall weather. Organized by WineDown co-founders Thema Haida and Loren Jefferson, the event was a celebration of Black artists and makers, good wine, friendship, and creative networking.
“Wow, this is our fifth event, and it feels so good to see everyone looking so fresh and fly,” Jefferson said. “We’re happy with the weather today, and we are looking forward to seeing the amazing artists and entertainers that will be present today.”
This year, Jefferson, Haida and their team brought the vibes, with more wine selections, close to 20 vendors, food trucks , life-sized games, and live entertainment. Throughout the afternoon and evening, attendees poured in from not just New Haven and Connecticut, but across the region, including Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.
While both founders are based in New Haven, this was the event’s first time at Bear’s: WineDown is held semi-annually in locations across the city. Its itinerancy is part of the charm.
Vending for their third WineDown in a row, New Haveners Laurren Robinson and Maxine Harris of Je T’aime Cupcakes said they were excited to return to the event and promote their brand and story. The two have been building the business, which combines sweet cupcakes with a cocktail-infused kick, for over three years now.
“Business has been amazing and we are excited to be here today,” said Robinson, who is the chief financial officer, co-founder and marketing director of Je T’aime. “My best friend, Maxine, and I have been in business since 2020, and we never thought that it would expand to where we are today.”
Robinson described WineDown CT as a way to reach new customers and support the venture’s growing team, which she and Harris have done faithfully for the past three years. Sunday, Robinson and Harris displayed cupcakes inside and outside the restaurant.
Fellow New Haven vendors such as Herbal Jones Tea, Threads by Tea, Black Goat Milk Clothiers, More Amour Boutique, and Brenton Shumaker of DeadBY5Am joined vendors who were part of the “Upgraded Experience,” a ticket option through which guests were able to access champagne, signature cocktails, charcuterie and wine tasting with an experienced sommelier.
“After five years, WineDown is setting standards, shifting the culture,” Haida said. “Especially at a time when people are worried about being indoors because of Covid-19, we wanted to create safe spaces for Black and Brown professionals from the tri-states and New England to be able to enjoy life.”
Hosts Washington and Smith kept the energy going throughout the evening. As guests moved around, they buzzed between Bear’s cozy interior, multiple pop-up bars and an outdoor courtyard where entertainers Ru Love, Malado and Dorren Pierre provided the guests with live music. Stage Managers Jaquese Patterson and Frank Brady kept the show and operations under control from the day into the night.
Several attendees said that it was well worth the trek. Tracey Holmes, a Rhode Island resident, traveled to New Haven for the first time with a friend despite the new date. She was glad she had.
“A friend told me about an event that was happening in Connecticut, and even though it was the day before originally, we still came and I am so happy we did,” Holmes said. Holmes added that she plans on returning to the next event, whenever it may be.
As the sun set, the energy increased, and the crowd danced in unison to hip hop classics mixed with contemporary hits. Glowing hula hoops and dancers appeared, using glow sticks that accompanied various DJs. One of them was Jefferson herself, who deejays under the sobriquet “DJ Too Much.”
The crowd cheered and clapped as DJ Too Much played classics, then moved into hits that conjured a sense of nostalgia from early 2000s hip hop. Dance battles formed across the space, and strangers became friends all in the name of music.
“Loren, Lo Too Much and I were on the school bus together since we were five years old, “said Katie Jones, who has attended WineDown for all five years that the event has existed. “We need to festival [in] our lives, they are providing a festival. The smiles, the styles—I love those two, and I wanted to make sure I always support them in all they do.”
“I love that the team encourages everyone attending to come with love, or not to come at all,” she said, echoing a mantra from team member Justin Hernandez. “It’s a daily reminder for me to apply to my life.”