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 Aug. 6, 6 p.m., Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke., 860-669-2342, sarah@hchlibrary.org, hchlibrary.org.

Derby: Tony Renzoni, “Connecticut Rock ’N’ Roll: A History,” July 9, 6:30 p.m., $23.39, Derby Public Library, 313 Elizabeth St., 203-736-1482, derbypubliclibrary.org.

Guilford: Steven Stoll, “Ramp Hollow: The Ordeal of Appalachia,” July 18, 7 p.m., Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St., 203-453-8282, guilfordfreelibrary.org.

Guilford: Carl Zimmer, “She Has Her Mother’s Laugh,” July 31, 7 p.m., free, registration, Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St., 203-453-8282, guilfordfreelibrary.org.

Madison: Cristina Alger, “The Banker’s Wife,” and Beatriz Williams, “The Summer Wives,” July 11, 7 p.m., free, registration, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203-245-3959, rjjulia.com.

Madison: Tom Santopietro, “Why To Kill a Mockingbird Matters,” July 12, 7 p.m., free, registration, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203245-3959, rjjulia.com.

Madison: Fatima Farheen Mirza, “A Place for Us,” July 17, 7 p.m., free, registration, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203-245-3959, rjjulia.com.

Madison: Joanna Luloff, “Remind Me Again What Happened,” July 18, 7 p.m., free, registration, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203-245-3959, rjjulia.com.

Madison: Books on the Menu with Lori Fazio and Andrew Brennan, July 19, noon, $15, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203-245-3959, rjjulia.com.

Madison: Cara Black, “Murder on the Left Bank,” July 19, 7 p.m., free, registration, R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, 203-245-3959, rjjulia.com.

New Haven: Gail B. MacDonald, “Morton F. Plant and the Connecticut Shoreline,” July 8, 2 p.m., free, PardeeMorris House, 325 Lighthouse Road, 203-562-4183, newhavenmuseum.org.

New Haven: “LEAP Read-In on the Green,” July 13, 10 a.m.-noon, New Haven Green, 203-773-0770, leapforkids.org.

Seymour: Paul Coburn with “Coyotes in Connecticut,” July 8, 2 p.m., $5 (members free), Seymour Historical Society, 59 West St.

West Haven: Monthly used book sale, July 21, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., First Congregational Church, 464 Campbell Ave., 203-934-6291.

COMEDY

Branford: Funny 4 Funds Comedy Night Fundraiser to benefit Community Dining Room, Billy Winn, John Romanoff, July 21, 7 p.m., $30, Thimble Island Brewing Company, 16 Business Park Drive, 203-488-9750, tree house come annual dy.com.

New Haven: Craig Ferguson, Dec. 5, 8 p.m., $50-$30, 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.

West Haven: Motts Pelazza, Shawn Murray, Dan Kalwhite, Stosh Mikita, Andrew Manning, Jerry Morgan, Kevin Fitzgerald, Chris Cyr, Craig Taylor, Rob Santos, Dan Madsen, Lauren Kratzert, July 14, 8 p.m., $17.50, Randall’s, 236 Platt Ave., 203-230-8700, treehousecomedy.com.

Westport: RC Smith, Doug Key, Rafi Gonzalez, July 14, 8 p.m., $22.50, Treehouse Comedy Club, below Bistro B, Westport Inn, 1595 Post Road, 203230-8700, treehousecomedy.com.

Westport: Tom Cotter, Kevin Ryan, Mike Keegan, July 21, 8 p.m., $25, Treehouse Comedy Club, below Bistro B, Westport Inn, 1595 Post Road, 203230-8700, treehousecomedy.com.

DANCE

Branford: Dance in Rhythm open dance party, July 21, 7:30-10 p.m. (group lesson at 7), $15, 19 S. Main St., 2nd floor, 203-481-1333, danceinrhythm.com.

Middletown: Connecticut Tango Festival, opening tango social “Milonga” with Dale Ellison, July 13, 7:30-11 p.m., $15 ($25 with class), First Church of Christ, 190 Court St., cttangofest.org.

Milford: Connecticut Tango Festival, tango boot camp for beginners with Dale and Gem, July 14, 2:30-5:30 p.m., $50, Milford Center for the Arts, 40 Railroad Ave. S., 203-584-4480, cttangofest.org.

Milford: Connecticut Tango Festival, tango passion show, July 20, 8 p.m., $42-$38, Milford Center for the Arts, 40 Railroad Ave. S., 203-584-4480, cttangofest.org.

Milford: Connecticut Tango Festival, tango workshops with Jesús and Mariana, July 21, 1-5:30 p.m., $75, Milford Center for the Arts, 40 Railroad Ave. S., 203-584-4480, cttangofest.org.

Milford: Alison Cook Beatty Dance presents RAW, Aug. 5, 4 p.m., $30/$28 seniors/$15 under 22, Milford Arts Council, 40 Railroad Ave. S., milfordarts.org.

New Haven: New Haven Contradancing, Aug. 4 (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., 203-980-0389, steveholl@aol.com.

Old Saybrook: Swing dance series, Johnny and the East Coast Rockers, July 12, 7 p.m., $12, First Church of Christ in Saybrook, Congregational, 366 Main St., 860-388-3008, info@firstchurchsaybrook.org, firstchurchsaybrook.org.

Old Saybrook: Swing dance series, George Manstan Big Band July 19, 7 p.m., $12, First Church of Christ in Saybrook, Congregational, 366 Main St., 860-388-3008, info@firstchurchsaybrook.org, firstchurchsaybrook.org.

Old Saybrook: Swing dance series, Johnny and the East Coast Rockers, July 26, 7 p.m., $12, First Church of Christ in Saybrook, Congregational, 366 Main St., 860-388-3008, info@firstchurchsaybrook.org, firstchurchsaybrook.org.

Stratford: CT ConTacts singles dance party, July 21, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m., $30, Top 40, buffet, no jeans, Vazzano’s Four Seasons, 337 Kenyon St., 203468-1144, ctcontacts.com.

Wallingford: CT ConTacts singles dance party, July 14, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m., $27 includes buffet, no jeans, Zandri’s Stillwood Inn, 1074 S. Colony Road, 203-468-1144, ctcontacts.com.

EXHIBITS, SHOWS, ETC.

Deep River: Magically Christina, July 11, 5:30 p.m., free, Deep River Public Library, 150 Main St., 860-526-6039.

Essex: “The Thirsty River: 400 Years of Drink, Life, and Reform in the Connecticut River Valley,” through Dec. 31, The 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 July 9, 7-10 p.m., $5, signup at 6:30, Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center, 605 Main St., 860-347-4957, buttonwood.org.

Milford: Open mic summer nights, Wednesdays July 11-Aug. 15, 7 p.m., $5, Milford Arts Council, 40 Railroad Ave. S., 203-878-6647, milfordarts.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: The Magic of Lyn Jr. Experience, July 11, 1 and 7 p.m., $20$12, Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., 877-503-1286, thekate.org.

FAIRS, FESTS, FOOD, FUN

Ansonia: Annual Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire, weekends through July 8, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m., $15, Warsaw Park, 119 Pulaski Highway, mfrenfaire.com.

Durham: Gigantic tag sale, Aug. 4, Sept. 1, Oct. 6, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Notre Dame Church, 272 Main St., 860-3493397.

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: Club Corvette of CT, 26th corvette sho p.m., $5/free 12 and Performance Produ Drive, clubcorvettec

Guilford: Virtual rea July 12, 26, 2-4 p.m., a.m.-noon, Guilford Park St., 203-453-8 freelibrary.org.

Guilford: Dudley Fa ket, July 14, 9 a.m.-12 Durham Road, 203leyfarm.com.

Guilford: Shoreline 11, noon-7 p.m., Aug. Bishop’s Orchards F Winery, 1355 Boston 453-2338, bishopso shorelinewinefestiva

Milford: Milford Art annual Sand Sculpt July 21, 10 a.m., free, 203-878-6647, milf

Milford: Farmers M through Oct. 27, 9 a. St., 203-745-4946, farmersmarket.com

North Haven: Knitt 3rd Thursdays, next p.m., free, North Hav brary, 17 Elm St., 203 havenlibrary.net.

Stratford: Fright Ha in Summer: Friday t July 13-15, $20 ($15 a Square Shopping Pl Ave., 203-799-3327,

FILM

Milford: Downtown Association summe “E.T.” July 12, 6 p.m. free, Fowler Pavilion 203-745-4946.

Milford: Downtown Association summe “Ghostbusters,” July starts at 8), free, Fo Shipyard Lane, 203

Milford: Downtown Association summe “Home Alone,” July 2 starts at 8), free, Fo Shipyard Lane, 203

Milford: Downtown Association summe “Jurassic Park,” Aug starts at 8), free, Fo Shipyard Lane, 203

Old Saybrook: “Gre $8-$3, Katharine He Arts Center, 300 Ma 1286, thekate.org.

Old Saybrook: “Sp 7 p.m., $8-$3, Katha Cultural Arts Center