n Benefits
The Theater Project, silent and live auctions to support programming for young people, black tie optional, with hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and music, $20. The Inn at Brunswick Station, 4 Noble St., Brunswick. www.theaterproject.com. 6 p.m. Friday.
Additional Photos
South Portland High School Project Graduation Car Wash, NAPA Millcreek, 65 Market St., South Portland. alextanous@myfairpoint.net. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
Ham and Bean Supper, benefit for the Head Tide Church. Adults $7, $4 for under 10. Alna Fire House, Route 218. 586-5099. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Otto fundraiser for Levy Day School, Otto, 225 Congress St., Portland. ottoportland.com. 5-9 p.m. Tuesday.
n Books and Authors
Susan Conley will discuss her book, “Paris Was the Place,” free. Maine Women Writers Collection, Abplanalp Library, University of New England, 716 Stevens Ave., Portland. www.une.edu/mwwc/conferences/authorseries.cfm. Noon-1 p.m. Thursday.
Paul Betit talks about his series of mystery-suspense novels, including the recently published “The Man In The Canal.” Topsham Public Library, 35 Republic Ave., Topsham. topshamlibrary.org. 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Lowry’s Lodge Poetry Series, hosted by Jim Donnelly and Anna Wrobel, featuring poets Annie Finch and David Moreau. Refreshments, $3 suggested. Saccarappa Art Collective, 861 Main St., Westbrook. 591-7300. 7-9 p.m. Saturday.
n DancING
Salsa Dancing with DJ Baulio, Latin, merengue, salsa, reggaeton, bachata and Latin hits. Dance lessons included. $5, 21-plus. Pearl Lounge, 444 Fore St., Portland. www.pearloldport.com. 8 p.m. Thursdays.
Contradance, music by Twisted Strings, Kim Roberts calling. Family dance from 6:30 to 7:30 precedes regular dance. Dances taught, beginners welcome, no partner necessary. $6 adults, $5 students, $15 family. Farmington Grange, 124 Bridge St., Farmington. starleft.org. 8-10:30 p.m. Saturday.
Mid-Coast Mom Prom, hosted by Broadreach Family & Community Services. $30. The Boathouse, 34 Commercial St., Belfast. broadreachmaine.org. 7:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday.
Dance featuring Sounds Unlimited with John Plummer. $5; no smoking. Downstairs at VFW Post 1285, Water Street, Waterville. 453-2089. 7-11 p.m. Saturday.
Ballroom Latin Dance Party, Aquarius Ballroom Dance Studios, 62 Forest Ave., Portland. Contact for prices, aquariusballroomdance.com. 8 p.m. Saturday.
n Film
After School Movie for Teens, “Ender’s Game,” free. Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland. www.portlandlibrary.com/audience/teens/. 3-6 p.m. Friday.
n Food and drink
Beer and Cheese Tasting featuring Allagash Brewing, free. Maine Beer and Beverage Co., 28 Monument Square. 228-2024. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Piemonte’s Unknown Wine Treasures, legendary Italian winemaker will lead a tasting of unique and offbeat north Italian wines, with small-plate dishes. $27, 21-plus. Rosemont Market, 5 Commercial St., Portland. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/676247. 7-10 p.m. Saturday.
Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet with live soft jazz. Seatings at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. $25.95 plus tax. Fireside Inn & Suites Portland, 81 Riverside St., Portland. zackerysrestaurant.com/?area=Special_Events. Sunday.
n For kids
Mother’s Day gift making, thumbprint pendant necklace, $7 member, $8 visitor, plus admission. Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine, 142 Free St., Portland. kitetails.org. 11 a.m.-noon Thursday.
Audition Workshop, prepare and learn all about auditioning with this free workshop. Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine, 142 Free St., Portland. kitetails.org. 3-5 p.m. Thursday.
Puppet Showplace presents “Robin Hood,” get ready to occupy Sherwood in this rollicking retelling of the classic tale. $7 to $10. The Freeport Theater of Awesome, 5 Depot St., Freeport. www.theaterofawesome.com. 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday.
“Touch a Truck,” $5. Joyful Noise PreSchool, 142 Sea Road, Kennebunk. 985-3244. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Deering Players Drama Club, “Folk Tales from Around the World,” based on nine folk tales from England, Fiji, Japan, Norway, Peru, Somalia, Sudan and Thailand. $5 advance; $7 day of show. Deering High School Auditorium, 370 Stevens Ave., Portland. www2.portlandschools.org/news/deering-players-present-folk-tales-around-world. 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday.
Improv Games with Children’s Theatre actors; we aren’t sure what will happen, but we guarantee you’ll laugh. $3, $4 plus admission. Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, 142 Free St., Portland. kitetails.org. 4 p.m. Saturday.
PSO Discovery Concert: “Harry Potter and the Magic of Music,” spotlights the magical mood-setting music featured in the movies. $10. Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland. portlandsymphony.org. Pre-concert activities start at 1 p.m. Concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Garden Growing Club: Greens and Peas, ages 5 and up are invited to dig, learn and make their own planters. $22 members, $25 visitors. Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine, 142 Free St., Portland. kitetails.org. 3 -5 p.m. Sunday.
Stories on the Staircase at Victoria Mansion, ages 3 to 5 are invited for story hour and tour. Free. victoriamansion.org. Victoria Mansion, 109 Danforth St., Portland. 9-10 a.m. Monday.
KinderKonzert: Brass: What a Wonderful World of Music! The PSO brass quintet takes you on a journey to explore the many places we hear music in our lives. $4. East End Community School, 195 North St., Portland. portlandsymphony.org. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The Road to Hope: An Elephant’s Story, sneak peek of new show, actors read scenes from the original play. Free, but register ahead to read a part. Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine, 142 Free St., Portland. kitetails.org. 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday.
Good Night, Nature, gentle moonlit hour based around a bedtime story about animals of the night. We will play, sing and create art. Child members $10, non-members $15. Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth. www.maineaudubon.org/events. 6-7 p.m. Tuesday.
Frogs, Fish and Fun, explore life around the farm pond looking for amphibious friends and learning about their habitat. Open to all ages. $5. Pineland Farms Education Center, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester. www.pinelandfarms.org. 10 a.m. Wednesday.
n Lectures and workshops
She Speaks, an evening of storytelling hosted by SheChanges that explores the places we go to inspire, inform and ignite change for ourselves. $15 in advance, $20 door. Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland. mayostreetarts.org. 7-9:30 p.m. Thursday.
Paleo Diet lecture with Diana Rodgers, author of “Paleo Lunches & Breakfasts on the Go,” admission includes autographed book and paleo goody bag, $20. Whole Foods Market, 2 Somerset St., Portland. www.wholefoodsmarket.com. 5:30-7 p.m. Friday.
Civil War Legacies in Maine Symposium, join the Maine Historical Society and Maine Humanities Council for a public half-day symposium. $10; $7 students. Morgan Hill Event Center, 82 Morgan Hill Lane, Hermon. www.mainehumanities.org/special-programs/civil-war/symposium.html. 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday.
What Is It about Opera? informal and occasionally lighthearted exploration of the who, what, when, where and why of opera, led by Jack Riddle. Free. McArthur Public Library, 270 Main St., Biddeford. mcarthur.lib.me.us. 3 p.m. Sunday.
Max Slabotsky, Auschwitz concentration camp survivor, will give inspiring talk as part of the Lloyd Hunt Lecture Series. Free. Hyde Library at Thornton Academy, 438 Main St., Saco. thorntonacademy.org. 6 p.m. Monday.
Step Into History, presentation on the history of Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, free. South Portland Public Library, 482 Broadway. southportlandlibrary.com. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
n Outdoors
Migratory Fish Day, Head Tide Dam, Head Tide Road, Alna. svca@sheepscot.org, 586-5616. 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Wind Over Wings, meet and photograph a golden eagle, kestrel, screech owl and raven. Sponsored by Main Line Fence. $5-$7. Maine Wildlife Park, 56 Game Farm Road, Gray. www.maine.gov/ifw/education/wildlifepark. Noon Saturday.
Sundays on the Boulevard, Baxter Boulevard by Payson Park in Portland will be closed every Sunday through the summer. trails.org. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
Wildlife Walk and Plant Stroll, a spring evening stroll to learn about the birds, the bees and May flowers, $7 suggested donation. Center for Wildlife, 385 Mountain Road, Cape Neddick. www.yorkcenterforwildlife.org/news.htm. 6 p.m. May 15.
Kayakers, introduction for anyone interested in learning about the activities of the Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network. Members of the network organize paddles that are free to members. Free. Falmouth Public Library, 5 Lunt Road. www.meetup.com/Southern-Maine-Sea-Kayaking-Network. 7 p.m. May 15.
n Special Events
Girls and Gears, fashion show, giveaways, raffle, $15 donation. Gorham Bike & Ski Shop, 693 Congress St., Portland. gorhambike.com/articles/girls-and-gears-womens-event-pg930.htm. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday.
May Celebration and Medieval Faire, family day of festive activities, including maypole dancing, games, delicious food and drink. Medieval garb encouraged. Free. Merriconeag Waldorf School, 57 Desert Road, Freeport. www.merriconeag.org. 10 a.m. Saturday.
National Train Day, rail safety exhibit, train rides, rail memorabilia. Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum, 58 Fore St., Portland. www.mainenarrowgauge.org. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
National Train Day, tours of Amtrak’s Downeaster including complimentary goodies from the cafeteria car, starting at 12:30 p.m. Event also features information about Maine’s tourist trains and museums. Free. Brunswick Station Visitor Center, 16 Station Ave., Brunswick. www.nationaltrainday.com. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Annual Kitten Shower, festive event including a raffle and kids crafts helps prepare for the many kittens who will need care this year. Animal Welfare Society, Old Holland Road, West Kennebunk. 985-3244. Noon-3 p.m. Saturday.
Open House and film debut, featuring the Quasimodal Chorus singing short sets of their favorite environmental songs, Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 9 Water St., Rockland. www.maineseabirds.org. 5-8 p.m. Saturday.
Open House for adult, transfer and graduate students, free. Abromson Center, USM Portland Campus, 88 Bedford St. usm.maine.edu/admit/open-house-adult-transfer-and-graduate-students. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A Full Moon Ghost Tour, join fellow thrill-seekers and history lovers for a romp through Portland’s past. $12-$17, Bell Buoy Park next to Flatbread, 72 Commercial St., Portland. www.wickedwalkingtours.com. 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Massage for Couples, bring your partner or a friend and learn the secrets of giving (and receiving) a massage, $25-$30. Freeport Middle School, 19 Kendall Lane, Freeport. 865-6171. 6-8:30 p.m. May 15.
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