BENEFITS

Telling Room’s Glitterati, literary ball with live music, cash bar, food and more; benefits The Telling Room’s free writing programs; Masonic Temple, Portland. $75. tellingroom.org. 6 to 10 p.m. today.

Scoop-a-Thon for Brunswick Teen Center, all sales beyond seasonal daily average will benefit the teen center, Gelato Fiasco, Brunswick. 607-4002. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today.

“SeaHorse: A Musical Collaboration for Equine and Marine Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation,” CD-release show with Harvey Reid, Joyce Anderson, Peter Black, Jerry Short, Rick Watson and others; Ship’s Cellar Pub at York Harbor Inn. Free admission; CDs cost $10. 363-5119. 7 p.m. today.

Brunswick Rotary Hometown Idol, judged talent show with audience voting the winner; benefits Brunswick Rotary Club; Brunswick High School (Crooker Theatre). $12; $10 for seniors and students; $30 per family. 978-468-1579. 7 p.m. Saturday.

Annual Spring Used Book Sale, Mid Coast Hospital Auxiliary benefit for health career scholarships, Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick. 373-6015. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12.

 

FAIRS/FESTIVALS

Edible Book Festival, with edible art referencing a book or poem, Portland Public Library (Rines Auditorium). portlandlibrary.com. 5 to 8 p.m. Friday.

Schoolhouse Arts Center Spring Fling Craft and Vendor Fair, crafts by local artisans, food and beverages, George E. Jack School, Standish. Free admission. schoolhousearts.org. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Fourth Annual Central Maine Brew Fest, Downeast Cider House, Fatty Bamkpins, Maine Brewers, food and music by The Blues Prophets, Augusta Armory. $25 in advance; $30 day of festival. centralmainebrews.com. 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

FRIDAY

Portland Performing Arts Festival Preview, music by Dead Man’s Clothes and A Severe Joy, goth vaudeville group Dark Follies, spoken word by Ann Tracy and Pippa Curran, 488 Congress St., Portland. portlandfestival.org. 5 to 8 p.m.

SATURDAY

New Gloucester History Barn Open House, with new display on the Masons and other town fraternal organizations, New Gloucester Historical Society (History Barn). Free. 926-3188. 9 a.m. to noon.

Maine Roller Derby, Calamity Janes vs. Shipyard Sirens from St. John, New Brunswick; Happy Wheels Skate Center, Portland. $5. mainerollerderby.com. Doors at 5 p.m.

Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Horse Prom, relive your prom night or have the prom you always wanted, Maine State Ballet Theatre, Falmouth. $25. madhorse.com. 7 to 11 p.m.

 

MONDAY

Storytime in the Garden, hour-long stories read by Pat Jeremiah, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay. Free. 633-4333. 10 a.m.

Eat Brunswick Week, special offerings and menus at various restaurants and culinary businesses, Brunswick. brunswicktowntown.org. Monday to April 15.

 

TUESDAY

“Titanic: A Survivor’s Story,” Karen Lemke, professor of education at St. Joseph’s College, tells the story of late survivor Marshall Drew, Maine Historical Society, Portland. Free. mainehistory.org. Noon.

Treasure Hunters Antiques Show, Days Inn, South Portland. Free admission. treasurehuntersroadshow.com. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Through April 14.

 

WEDNESDAY

Kitchen Garden Dinner Series, with chef Christopher Anderson of Wings Hill in Belgrade Lakes, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay. $90; $75 for members. 633-4333, Ext. 101. 6 p.m.

 

FILMS

“Rockland Shorts,” nine short films from around the world, Strand Theatre, Rockland. $10 for members; $12 for non-members (includes screening and after-party). farnsworthmuseum.org/rocklandshorts 8 p.m. Friday.

“Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” documentary about 85-year-old sushi chef Jiro One, Space, Portland. $7. space538.org. 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

“Paths of Glory” (1957), Dunaway Center, Ogunquit. Free. 646-7055. 7 p.m. Wednesday.

 

BOOKS/AUTHORS

TODAY

Kieran Shields, author of “The Truth of All Things,” Longfellow Books, Portland. longfellowbooks.com. 7 p.m.

Poet Dawn Potter, author of “How the Crimes Happened” and “Boy Land and Other Poems,” North Yarmouth Academy (Higgins Hall), Yarmouth. Free. nya.org. 7 p.m.

 

FRIDAY

Bill Roorbach, author of “Temple Stream” and “Life Among Giants,” Longfellow Books, Portland. longfellowbooks.com. 7 p.m.

Katherine Mayfield, author of “The Box of Daughter: Overcoming a Legacy of Emotional Abuse,” Portland Public Library. portlandlibrary.com. Noon.

 

SATURDAY

Celebration of Maine Poet and Author Lewis Turco, Unity Centre for the Performing Arts. unity.edu/uccpa. 2 p.m.

Poetry with Andrew Fersch, author of “The Rough Draft of My Life Story,” for ages 8 to 12, Portland Public Library. Free. portlandlibrary.com. 11 a.m.

 

TUESDAY

“Book Club with Michael Smerconish,” broadcast with Chris Matthews of MSNBC and author of “Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero,” Strand Theatre, Rockland. $10. rocklandstrand.com. 7 p.m.

Michael Kazin, author of “American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation,” Hills Auditorium, University of Maine, Orono. umaine.edu. 3:15 p.m.

Port Veritas Spoken Word Night, Local Sprouts Cooperative, Portland. Free/donation. localsprouts.coop. 7 p.m.

George Daughan, author of “1812: The Navy’s War,” Camden Public Library. 236-3440. 6:30 p.m.

Poet Robert McDowell, author of “Quiet Money” and “The Diviners,” University of Maine (Nadeau Hall), Fort Kent. 834-7557. 11:30 and 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Lunchtime Fireside Poetry, local high school poets, Rockland Public Library. 594-0310. Noon.

Michael Kazin, author of “American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation,” University of Southern Maine (Wishcamper Center), Portland. usm.maine.edu. 5:30 p.m.

 

APRIL 12

Diane B. Henriques, author of “The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust,” University of New England (Ludcke Auditorium), Portland. une.edu. 4 p.m.

“Words and Pictures: Maine’s Poet Laureate Wesley McNair,” author of 18 books, including “Lovers of the Lost: New and Selected Poems,” South Portland Public Library. Free. southportlandlibrary.com. 7 p.m.

Pam Flowers, author of “Alone Across the Arctic: One Woman’s Epic Journey by Dog Team” and “Big Enough Anna,” Thomas Memorial Library, Cape Elizabeth. thomasmemoriallibrary.org. 6:30 p.m.

 

SPORTS

Maine Red Claws, NBA Development League affiliate of the Celtics, Bobcats and 76ers, Portland Exposition Building, Portland. $6 to $30. 210-6655. nba.com/dleague. Vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Portland Pirates, AHL affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland. $12 to $20. portlandpirates.com. Vs. Worcester, 7 p.m. Saturday; Vs. Connecticut, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

 

PARTICIPANT DANCE

Swing Dance, music by Maine Swingin’ DJs, Wescustogo Hall, North Yarmouth. $8. 653-5012. Lesson at 7 p.m., dance at 8 p.m. Friday.

Contra Dance, live music by The Steampacket and calling my Mary Wesley; bring clean, non-street shoes for dancing; Falmouth Congregational Church. $5 to $10; free for children under age 5. 358-9354. 7:15 p.m. Saturday.

Contradance, live music by Big Moose Contra Dance Band, caller John McIntire, College of the Atlantic (Gates Center), Bar Harbor. coa.edu. Lessons at 7:30 p.m.; dance at 8 p.m. Saturday.