MINIPNG Live Presents an In-Store Takeover Experience
with Special Guest Scarlet House
MINIPNG
New Haven
May 17, 2026
The typical meet and greet for a recording artist can consist of a long wait in line only to be hurried through the briefest of encounters. Over in East Rock, MINIPNG is working to change that by curating more intimate experiences that are big on allowing time with the artist, not only to hear them perform their music but to also hang out with them, all while enjoying snacks, mocktails, handmade limited-edition merchandise, and a stellar array of vintage items.
MINIPNG is not just the name of a store, but also the name of the artist/designer (AKA Eiress Hammond) who has been bringing vintage clothing and accessories primarily from the late ‘90s/early 2000s as well as her own designs to New Haven since 2022, first on Audubon Street and now on Edwards Street. At the end of 2025 she moved to her current location and brought with her a continued drive to offer an eclectic mix of clothing as well as events to her customers. Sunday afternoon saw the first of her intimate MINIPING Live events with special guest Scarlet House (aka Kameron Odums), a Charlotte, N.C.-based musician.
Scarlet House — who later that evening would also be opening for Violent Vira at Toad’s Place – stayed for the entirety of the event, hanging out, talking to attendees, and taking photos with them. He also performed. Before and after his acoustic performance attendees were able to partake of free snacks from Fruit Riot!, a New York-based snack company that specializes in candy coated frozen fruit. Some of the flavors offered on this day were strawberry peach, Sour Mango and a Sour Grape mix. (Both had a sour candy coating.) On sale were also mocktails created for the event made by MINIPNG’s new neighbor, XOLO Snack Bar. Special merchandise available for the day included a shirt designed by MINIPNG (you can see the style being worn by Hammond herself in the photos) and screen printed by New Haven based artist Hello Killme, who attended his own merch as well as on site screen printing.
And there was the clothing, of course. Attendees India Garcia and West Johnson of Meriden perused the outside rack after she had already purchased the perfect summer ready strapless floral dress inside. Garcia, who said she had known Hammond since high school, then headed over to XOLO and ordered a Bellini mocktail over at XOLO while this reporter ended up with an Aperol Spritz. It was so refreshing, I honestly did not even miss the alcohol.
The sidewalk was bustling for the whole two hours with attendees and a wealth of East Rock Sunday street traffic, the weather balmy and beautiful. Buttery leather jackets hung next to cashmere sweaters on the same wall as lacy camisoles and handkerchief hemmed sundresses while on the opposite wall a green satin Hamden jacket kept a UCONN basketball shirt company. Items flew off the racks, including Scarlet House’s own merch, as smiling shoppers made their purchases and conversation about art and music.
The main part of the event, the music, came about an hour in. Odums was born in Meriden and lived for a time in New Britain as well before moving to North Carolina, but he had never played a show in Connecticut. He described his music as “heartfelt” and said he writes a lot about “love and loss.” He a new album set to be released this August and a wealth of songs already garnering a multitude of repeated streams.
“Have you tried the Fruit Riot?” he asked the audience before he began. “That’s good stuff,” he added, mentioning the mango in particular. His five-song set was also good stuff, the warmth of his voice and his guitar, soft yet strong, melding to convey songs with titles such as “Ghost,” “Slowing Down,” “T-Shirt.” “Too Hot,” and “Over,” which was his last song, appropriately, though he laughed and said “I didn’t mean to do that.” Not unlike the aesthetics of the store itself, Scarlet House had a distinct late ’90s/early 2000s0tinged vibe, calling to mind the music of that era, particularly alternative and grunge (think Nirvana Unplugged). There was also something wholly distinct about Scarlet House, as if Odums was offering a brief glimpse into his private diaries, just enough to make you feel less alone as you dealt with your own loves and losses. Some may call it shoegaze. I like to think of it as introspective. That kind of introspection shared lends itself to its listeners feeling less lonely. What’s better than that?
Scarlet House ended by thanking everyone, especially MINIPNG, and told everyone to “support what she’s doing.” She plans to do a lot more of the same. Hammond already has MINIPNG Live events booked once a month through September. The next one, on June 7, will feature guest performer Juliet Ivy, a makeup station, and more mocktails, fruit snacks, and limited-edition merch.
“I wanted to create an outlet for rising artists to hang out with fans,” she said, calling it “less awkward” and “not a typical meet and greet” where they can “experience them [the artist] as a person.”
Then there’s the next MINIPNG X Thrift To Death event in August, one of the biggest thrifting events in the area. It includes live music, food, visual art…you get the picture. The most recent one in March was heavily attended.
It was the ideal way to spend the first true summer-like day of the year. Music, mocktails, creating connections, and finding the ideal pieces to making yourself even more beautiful, all with the sun shining down upon us all: I can’t wait for the next one.
For more information about and tickets to future MINIPNG Live events please follow their Instagram page or visit their store on 9 Edwards St.
