CALENDAR

BOOKS, POETRY, TALKS, ETC.

Clinton: Creative Writing Group monthly meeting, casual gathering to read, listen to and discuss original writings, first Monday of the month, next meeting July 2, 6 p.m., Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., 860-669-2342, sarah@hchlibrary.org, hchlibrary.org.

Essex: Christopher Buckley discussion with Sam Tanenhaus, “The Judge Hunter,” June 28, 7 p.m., The Cube at Centerbrook Architects, 67 Main St.

Guilford: Sandi Shelton (Maddie Dawson), “Matchmaking for Beginners,” June 28, 7 p.m., free, registration, Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St., 203453-8282, guilfordfreelibrary.org.

Madison: Marisha Pessl, “Neverworld Wake,” June 19, 6:30 p.m., free, registration, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203-245-3959, rjjulia.com.

Madison: Dr. Edward M. Hallowell, “Because I Come from a Crazy Family,” June 20, 7 p.m., free, registration, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203-245-3959, rjjulia.com.

Madison: Summer Reading Liftoff with Dave Roman, “Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity,” June 23, 11:30 a.m., free, registration, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203-245-3959, rjjulia.com.

Madison: Matthew Dicks, “Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling,” June 26, 7 p.m., free, registration, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203-245-3959, rjjulia.com.

Madison: Susan Kietzman, “It Started in June,” Hannah McKinnon, “Sailing Lessons,” June 27, 7 p.m., free, registration, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203-245-3959, rjjulia.com.

Madison: F. Diane Barth, “I Know How You Feel: The Joy and Heartbreak of Women’s Friendships,” June 28, 7 p.m., free, registration, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203-245-3959, rjjulia.com.

Milford: Frank Gallo, “Birding in Connecticut,” June 24, 1 p.m., free, registration, Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point, 1 Milford Point, 203-878-7440, Ext. 502, ctaudubon.org.

New Haven: Irish History Round Table PowerPoint presentation with Bob O’Brien on Irish women who joined the American Civil War, June 19, 7:30 p.m., free, Knights of St. Patrick hall, 1533 State St., irishhistoryroundtable.org.

New Haven: Citywide Youth Coalition Dinner & Dialogue Series, “Healing from the Trauma of Racism,” June 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Ives Main Library, 133 Elm St., 203-946-8130, nhfpl.org.

New Haven: Monique Jaques with “Gaza Girls: Growing Up in the Gaza Strip,” June 23, 2-4 p.m., free, Mitchell Library, 37 Harrison St., 203-389-9547, nhfpl.org.

Stratford: Maureen Boyle, “Shallow Graves,” June 19, 6:30-8 p.m., free, Stratford Library, Lovell Room, 2203 Main St., 203-385-4162, stratfordlibrary.org.

Stratford: Books Over Coffee, “Glass Houses,” June 27, noon, free, Stratford Library, Lovell Room, 2203 Main St., 203-385-4162, stratfordlibrary.org.

Wallingford: Illustrated lecture by Peter LeTourneau and Robert Pagini, “The Traprock Landscapes of New England,” June 18, 6:30 p.m., free, Wallingford Public Library, 200 N. Main St., 203-265-6754, wallingfordlibrary.org.

Wallingford: Janet Booth with “The Wide World of Astrology,” June 20, 6:30 p.m., free, Wallingford Public Library, 200 N. Main St., 203-2656754, wallingfordlibrary.org.

COMEDY

New Haven: David Cross, June 21, 8 p.m., $35, College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., 877-987-6487, manicpresents.com, collegestreetmusichall.com.

Wallingford: Bill Maher, Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m., $125-$30, Oakdale Theatre, 95 S. Turnpike Road, 800-745-3000, oakdale.com.

Westport: Nick Di Paolo, E.J. Murphy, June 23, 8 p.m., $29.50, Treehouse Comedy Club, below Bistro B, Westport Inn, 1595 Post Road, 203-2308700, treehousecomedy.com.

DANCE

New Haven: New Haven Contradancing, July 7 (first Saturday each month), beginners lesson 7:15 p.m., dance from 7:30-10:30, $12 (students $5 with ID), all dances taught and beginners welcome, 225 E. Grand Ave., 203-9800389, steveholl@aol.com.

New Haven: Hamden Academy of Dance & Music’s 16th annual recital, “Birth of a Nation,” June 24, 7 p.m., $29, College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., 877-987-6487, manicpresents.com, collegestreetmusichall.com.

EXHIBITS, SHOWS, ETC.

Essex: “The Thirsty River: 400 Years of Drink, Life, and Reform in the Connecticut River Valley,” through Dec. 31, Connecticut River Museum, 67 Main St., 860-767-8269, ctrivermuseum.org.

Hamden: “Making America: The Irish in the Civil War Era,” through Oct. 28, free, Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University, 3011 Whitney Ave., qu.edu.

Hamden: Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac University exhibit, “Frederick Douglass in Ireland: ‘The Black O’Connell,’” through Jan. 31, Lender Special Collection Room at the Arnold Bernhard Library, 275 Mt. Carmel Ave., 203-528-3713, ighi@qu.edu.

Middletown: Anything Goes Open Mic and Moments of Gratitude, Mondays, next show June 18, 7-10 p.m., $5, signup at 6:30, Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center, 605 Main St., 860-347-4957, buttonwood.org.

New Haven: War On The Catwalk — The Queens From Season 10, Sept. 16, 8 p.m., $50-$20, College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., 877-987-6487, manicpresents.com, collegestreetmusichall.com.

New Haven: SuicideGirls: Blackheart Burlesque, Oct. 12, 8 p.m., $75-$20, 18-plus, College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., 877-987-6487, manicpresents.com, collegestreetmusichall.com.

New Haven: MST3K Live! The Brain, Oct. 13, 7 p.m., $59.50-$39.50, 18-plus, College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., 877-987-6487, collegestreetmusichall.com.

New Haven: “World War I: Beyond the Front Lines,” through Dec. 30, free, Knights of Columbus Museum, 1 State St., 203-865-0400, kofcmuseum.org.

Old Saybrook: Exhibit of Susan Hayes’ Titanic memorabilia, through June 30, Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Road, 860-395-3184, oldsaybrookct.org.

FAIRS, FESTS, FOOD, FUN

Ansonia: Annual Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire, weekends June 23 through July 8, Warsaw Park, 119 Pulaski Highway, mfrenfaire.com.

Durham: Gigantic tag sale, June 30, Aug. 4, Sept. 1, Oct. 6, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Notre Dame Church, 272 Main St., 860-349-3397.

Essex: Cigar & Whiskey Cruise, July 12, 6-9:30 p.m., $95 ($85 advance), Essex Steam Train, 1 Railroad Ave., 860767-0103, essexsteamtrain.com.

Guilford: Dudley Farm Farmers Market, June 23, 30, July 7, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 2351 Durham Road, 203-4570770, dudleyfarm.com.

Guilford: Paint party, June 24, 2 p.m., $35, registration, Perk on Church, 88 Notch Hill Road, 203-435-8248, artandsoulct@gmail.com.

Guilford: Shoreline Wine Festival, Aug. 11, noon-7 p.m., Aug. 12, noon-6 p.m., Bishop’s Orchards Farm Market & Winery, 1355 Boston Post Road, 203453-2338, bishopsorchards.com, shorelinewinefestival.com.

Milford: Chair-ity Auction to benefit Milford Education Foundation, June 22, 6-10 p.m., Milford Yacht Club, 131 Trumbull Ave., milfordedfoundation.org.

Milford: Farmers Market, Saturdays through Oct. 27, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 58 River St., 203-745-4946, downtownmilfordfarmersmarket.com.

New Haven: St. Andrew Apostle Society, 118th annual Italian Festa, June 21-24, free, St. Andrew Club Grounds, 515 Chapel St., ssaanewhaven.com.

New Haven: New Haven Caribbean Festival, June 24, 2-6 p.m., Goffe Street Park, 203-509-1516, 203-494-8051, newhavencaribfest.com.

North Haven: Knitting group, 1st and 3rd Thursdays, next meeting June 21, 1-3 p.m., free, North Haven Memorial Library, 17 Elm St., 203-239-5803, northhavenlibrary.net.

FILM

Old Saybrook: Kate Classic Film Series, “Spitfire,” June 19, 7 p.m., $8, Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., 877-503-1286, thekate.org.

Old Saybrook: “Jaws,” June 25, 7 p.m., $8/$3 under 13, Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., 877-503-1286, thekate.org. Stratford: Monday Matinees, “The Shape of Water,” June 25, noon, free, Stratford Library, Lovell Room, 2203 Main St., 203-385-4162, stratfordlibrary.org.

MUSIC

Branford: Jeff Fuller, Joe Carter, every fourth Sunday, next show June 24, 5-8 p.m., Home, 1114 Main St., 203-4835896, homebranford@gmail.com, homerestaurantct.com, jefffuller.net.

Guilford: Jeff Fuller, Dr. Joe Cardinale, Ben Bilello, Donn Trenner, June 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Ayuthai, 2279 Boston Post Road, jefffuller.net.

Guilford: Roger Sprung, James Weisser, Ed Spallina, June 20, 7 p.m., free, Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St., 203453-8282, guilfordfreelibrary.org.

Hamden: Galvanized Jazz Band plays Dixieland at Aunt Chiladas, every third Sunday, next show June 17, 6-8 p.m., 3931 Whitney Ave., 203-230-4640, auntchilada.com, galvanizedjazz.com.

Hamden: Tennis, The Telle, June 17, 8 p.m., $18, Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., 203-288-6400, spaceballroom.com, manicpresents.com.

Hamden: mewithoutYou, Tigers Jaw, lowercase roses, June 20, 8 p.m., $25, Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., 203-288-6400, spaceballroom.com, manicpresents.com.

Hamden: New Haven Center For Performing Arts, Make Music New Haven Day, Zach Andersen, James Howard, Scott Danger Bravo, Julia Davis, Daniela Cardillo, Steph Serenita, June 21, 5:30 p.m., free, 21-plus, Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., 203-2886400, spaceballroom.com, manicpresents.com.

Hamden: First Flights Last Monday, Erick Northrop, Sal Nunz, Matthew Bennett, June 25, 7:30 p.m., $8 ($5 with voucher), Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., 203-288-6400, spaceballroom.com.

Hamden: Tim Barry, Roger Harvey, Christian Marrone, June 28, 8 p.m., $15, Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., 203-288-6400, spaceballroom.com, manicpresents.com.

Hamden: James Montgomery Band featuring Christine Ohlman, Cliff Goodwin and the Uptown Horns (Crispin Cioe), Tom “The Suit” Forst Band, June 29, 8 p.m., $30-$25, Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., 203-2886400, spaceballroom.com.

Hamden: Mihali (of Twiddle), Tim Palmieri, July 1, 8 p.m., $20-$15, Space