Chester, Essex & Deep River's Full Weekend Guide: Essex FilmFest Returns With Producer Scott Macaulay

ESSEX, CT — The second annual Essex FilmFest takes over Centerbrook this weekend, with producer and Filmmaker magazine co-founder Scott Macaulay on hand for four of the independent films he produced. Little House Brewing in Chester has oysters and live music, and a Deep River studio teaches stained-glass soldering on Sunday.

This Weekend's Arts & Entertainment

• Essex FilmFest, Friday, Nov. 6, from 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9:30 a.m. The Essex Library's festival opens with a reception at the library Friday at 5:30 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner "What Happened Was..." in the Centerbrook Architects auditorium, with a conversation featuring Karen Sillas and Macaulay. Saturday starts with Macaulay's free one-hour producing masterclass at 9:30 a.m., then screenings of "Raising Victor Vargas," "The Assistant" and "Gummo," running until 9:30 p.m. Admission is free, with optional donations to the library; reserve seats through the festival's ticket page. Centerbrook Architects, 67 Main St., Centerbrook
• Cool-ology: Fossils, Rocks & Minerals, Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. Kids ages 5 to 12 make a sedimentary "rock" and fossil imprints in a hands-on geology session. It's free, but registration is required. Essex Library, 33 West Ave., Essex
• Visible Mending Workshop, Saturday, Nov. 7, 1 p.m. Cathy Carp teaches six or seven basic stitches for mending almost any textile in this three-hour, adults-only class. Materials are provided; it's free, but space is limited and registration is required. Essex Library, 33 West Ave., Essex
• Stained Glass Candle Votives, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2 to 4 p.m. Dawn of DAB Stained Glass Artistry teaches soldering as participants make their own candle votive. The $78 fee covers instruction, materials and precut glass. shell&bee studio, 500 Main St., Deep River

This Weekend's Restaurants & Bars

• Pop-Up: Tucker Oyster Co., Friday, Nov. 6, 5 to 7 p.m. Tucker Oyster Co. shucks fresh local oysters in the upper beer garden for First Friday. Little House Brewing Company, 16 Main St., Chester
• Live Music: Steve Harz, Friday, Nov. 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The solo acoustic performer plays the taproom. Little House Brewing Company, 16 Main St., Chester
• The Free Meat Raffle, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2 to 5 p.m. Little House runs eight rounds of raffles for select cuts from Sycamore Farm. Little House Brewing Company, 16 Main St., Chester
• Live Music: Rick Gagnier, Saturday, Nov. 7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Gagnier plays Saturday night at the brewery. Little House Brewing Company, 16 Main St., Chester

Four independent films and their producer, a few stitches, some stained glass and a dozen oysters: the lower valley has a full weekend.

You can post your local event here.