James Blackstone Memorial Library

Enjoy discussing a great book with your neighbors! Download <a href="https://br.catalog.lionlibraries.org/GroupedWork/0465b6a0-6935-ada6-ba00-de691c042dc5/Home?searchId=184982033&amp;recordIndex=1&amp;page=1&amp;searchSource=local" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://br.catalog.lionlibraries.org/GroupedWork/df33f5f0-0cc2-4a2f-9612-6f24565c2741/Home?searchId=184982153&amp;recordIndex=1&amp;page=1&amp;searchSource=local" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Beautiful Ruins</a> by Jess Walter on Hoopla (free with your Blackstone Library card), then meet up with us for a lively book discussion.
Attendees can join us on Zoom, or in person at the Blackstone Library.
Registration is required to receive a link to this HYBRID event.

Local Event: First Friday Book Discussion: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

New Haven County

Branford

Connecticut

First Friday Book Discussion: Beautiful Ruins...

Enjoy discussing a great book with your neighbors! Download Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter on Hoopla (free with your Blackstone...

First Friday Book Discussion: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, pupiled by Andrés Segovia’s protégé, and driven to obsession by Eddie Van Halen—Gladius is an award-winning composer and "accomplished classical/flamenco style guitarist" who soulfully “shreds on the electric" (Phil Keaggy), sharing the bill with Grammy winners and mesmerizing audiences nationwide with his electrifying live act since 2016. Inspired by the great composers, Spanish guitar maestros, and much more, this award-winning ‘musical mad-scientist’ fuses the elements into a refreshing formula, evoking the Spanish spirit, yet distinctly original.
Registration is required to attend this IN-PERSON event.Sponsored by the Friends of Blackstone Library.

Local Event: Gladius Flamenco Guitar Concert

Gladius Flamenco Guitar Concert

Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, pupiled by Andrés Segovia’s protégé, and driven to obsession by Eddie Van Halen—Gladius is an...

Join author and Producing Artistic Director Rebecca Goodheart 
in four fascinating discussions about how the world looked to 
Shakespeare and his audience and how that worldview shaped the plays. 
Each evening will look through a different lens at Shakespeare’s world, 
accompanied by mini-performances of Shakespeare’s poetry and lively 
discussion about their meaning today.
Correspondences –Everything is connected, not metaphorically but in actuality. What happens if we adopt the early modern belief that every thing can be understood by how it corresponds to something else on the great chain of being. Explore Shakespeare’s poetic language that makes King’s into roses and lovers into oysters.

Local Event: Shakespeare’s World : Seeing the Plays through Elizabethan Eyes (Part IV)

Shakespeare’s World : Seeing the Plays through...

Join author and Producing Artistic Director Rebecca Goodheart 
in four fascinating discussions about how the world looked to...

Shakespeare’s World : Seeing the Plays through Elizabethan Eyes (Part IV)

Confused
 about your new iPhone or iPad? Need help formatting a Word document? 
Drop in to the library between 10:30am &amp; 12pm to get a tech question
 answered. First come, first served. Sessions will be limited to 15 
minutes per person.
Registration is not required to attend this IN PERSON event.

Local Event: Tech Help Tuesday

Tech Help Tuesday

Confused
 about your new iPhone or iPad? Need help formatting a Word document? 
Drop in to the library between 10:30am & 12pm...

This course offers real world strategies and methods designed for those who are preparing for retirement or are in the early stages of retirement and planning on filing for Social Security benefits. It is designed to take the confusion out of the many different options available to begin receiving Social Security income and help you determine which option is best for you. Whether married or single, upon completion you will know how to properly file for your Social Security benefits and choose the best filing option for your circumstances. You will also learn how income from other sources will affect the amount you are able to receive from Social Security and the tax implications involved.&nbsp;
Learn everything that you need to know about Medicare and how to determine the best options for your current situation. This course will remove all of the confusion about the different parts of Medicare, what it covers and does not cover, and clearly explain the upcoming changes to Medicare and how they will affect you. Whether you are currently on Medicare or about to begin your benefits, this course will provide you with valuable information you need to know.
About AFEA:
    The American Financial Education Alliance (AFEA)&nbsp;is one of the fastest growing non-profit financial wellness programs in the country! Our unique No Selling&nbsp;approach, coupled with strategic alliances, will change the way you think about financial education! As an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, AFEA's mission is to inform and empower Americans to take control of their finances by providing comprehensive financial education in communities nationwide. AFEA specializes in providing high-level financial education.
Registration is required to attend this IN-PERSON event.

Local Event: Navigating Social Security & Medicare

Navigating Social Security & Medicare

This course offers real world strategies and methods designed for those who are preparing for retirement or are in the early...

Take a tour of the Blackstone, learn historical tidbits, and get an&nbsp;insider’s look into a day in the life of a Blackstone Library employee.&nbsp;Tour meets in the Rotunda by the Reference Desk. Registration&nbsp;encouraged, but drop-ins welcome!

Local Event: Blackstone Library Tour

Blackstone Library Tour

Take a tour of the Blackstone, learn historical tidbits, and get an insider’s look into a day in the life of a Blackstone...

Join
 us for a casual monthly puzzling group. Various jigsaw puzzles will be 
available to work on as a group or individually. Feel free to bring your
 own puzzle to solve, or participate in a puzzle swap with other 
attendees!
Registration is not required to attend this IN-PERSON event.

Local Event: Piece by Piece: A Community Puzzling Group

Piece by Piece: A Community Puzzling Group

Join
 us for a casual monthly puzzling group. Various jigsaw puzzles will be 
available to work on as a group or individually....

Are you a gardener? Come join Library staff and volunteers from the Branford Garden Club for an Autumn Seed Swap! We will swap any seeds you’ve already saved and learn how to save seeds, if you’re new to the process. If you will be bringing seeds to the event, be sure they are mature and dry and not from hybrids or invasives. All ages and experience welcome!
Registration is required to attend this IN-PERSON event.

Local Event: Autumn Seed Swap

Autumn Seed Swap

Are you a gardener? Come join Library staff and volunteers from the Branford Garden Club for an Autumn Seed Swap! We will swap...

Join us for an evening with Maine-based singer/songwriter Pete Kilpatrick, whose music bridges folk, rock, and Americana!
About Pete:
Pete Kilpatrick is a Maine-based singer-songwriter known for his heartfelt lyrics, magnetic live performances, and genre-blending sound that bridges folk, rock, and Americana. Over the course of a two-decade career, Kilpatrick has become one of New England’s most respected independent artists, releasing multiple acclaimed albums and performing more than 1,800 shows across the country.
A natural storyteller with an unmistakable voice, Kilpatrick has shared stages with artists including Dave Matthews Band, Ray LaMontagne, Guster, Blues Traveler and Barenaked Ladies. His music has appeared on hit television shows such as The Office&nbsp;and&nbsp;Parks and Recreation, helping introduce his songs to audiences well beyond the Northeast.
Beyond the stage, Kilpatrick has built a reputation for connecting deeply with audiences through songs that balance emotional honesty, sharp observation, and a sense of place rooted in coastal New England. His catalog moves effortlessly between anthemic rock songs, intimate acoustic ballads, and reflective storytelling, earning praise for both its craftsmanship and sincerity.
Whether performing solo or with the Pete Kilpatrick Band, his shows are driven by authenticity, connection, and a deep love of songwriting. Rooted in Maine but resonating far beyond it, Kilpatrick continues to build a loyal following through honest music, relentless touring, and a reputation as one of the region’s most enduring live performers.
Registration is required to attend this IN-PERSON event.
Sponsored by the David J. Hughes Memorial Fund.

Local Event: Pete Kilpatrick Concert

Pete Kilpatrick Concert

Join us for an evening with Maine-based singer/songwriter Pete Kilpatrick, whose music bridges folk, rock, and Americana!
About...

(Re)discover the oldies but goodies of classic Hollywood. A 
monthly screening followed by discussion. Showtime is at 10:00am every 
third Thursday.

This month we’re watching <a href="https://br.catalog.lionlibraries.org/Record/.b23714967?searchId=184757888&amp;recordIndex=1&amp;page=1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Desk Set</a> (1957), a&nbsp;romantic comedy&nbsp;starring&nbsp;Spencer Tracy,&nbsp;Katharine Hepburn, Gig Young, Joan Blondell, and directed by Walter Lang. Hepburn and Tracy play&nbsp;two extremely strong personalities who clash over the computerization of a television network's research department. This film was the eighth screen pairing of Hepburn and Tracy, and was a first for them in several ways: the first non-MGM film the two starred in together, their first color film, and their first&nbsp;CinemaScope&nbsp;film.&nbsp;
Running time- 103 minutes
Closed Caption available
Registration is required to attend this IN PERSON event.
Sponsored by the Friends of Blackstone Library.

Local Event: Third Thursday Movie Matinee: Desk Set (1957)

Third Thursday Movie Matinee: Desk Set (1957)

(Re)discover the oldies but goodies of classic Hollywood. A 
monthly screening followed by discussion. Showtime is at 10:00am...

A monthly, weeknight diversion for guitar and music 
enthusiasts! Connect with others and explore where the classical music 
world and the guitar world overlap. In classical guitar music we find 
guitar music's deepest roots which can open a path to a &nbsp;deeper 
understanding of the guitar world&nbsp;in general. Before there was jazz, 
folk, &nbsp;pop, country, and rock guitar there was classical guitar. Neal 
will present&nbsp;a program every month featuring music from&nbsp;the vast and 
magnificent body of work for the classical guitar as well his own 
original music for guitar. The series centers on performances, 
discussions, instruction, and more! Led by local guitarist and teacher 
Neal Fitzpatrick.&nbsp;
About Neal Fitzpatrick Neal Fitzpatrick, a Connecticut native,&nbsp;received his BM degree from the Hartt School-University of Hartford&nbsp;and
 his Masters degree from the Yale School of Music. He is an active 
soloist and chamber musician, and has performed at diverse venues such 
as Yale Art Gallery, Woolsey Hall with the New Haven Symphony, and 92nd 
St. Y in New York City. He teaches out of his studio in Branford,CT 
where he teaches all styles and levels of guitar. He also teaches banjo,
 mandolin, bass guitar and pretty much anything with strings and frets. 
When taking a break from music Neal can be found reading about American 
and world history or watching auto sports and the New York Rangers.
Registration is required to attend this IN PERSON event.

Local Event:  Evening of Guitar at the Blackstone

 Evening of Guitar at the Blackstone

A monthly, weeknight diversion for guitar and music 
enthusiasts! Connect with others and explore where the classical music...

Schuyler Bailar, internationally renowned inspirational speaker and inclusion advocate, will be joining us to tell his groundbreaking journey as the first transgender athlete to compete on an NCAA D1 men’s team in an engaging and uplifting presentation and discussion. Schuyler is also the bestselling author of He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters and Obie is Man Enough.&nbsp;
About Schuyler:
Schuyler Bailar (he/him) is an internationally renowned speaker, educator, and best-selling author. Recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, the Out100, the Olympic Channel, and The Ellen Show, Schuyler was the first transgender athlete to compete on an NCAA D1 men’s team, competing for Harvard's winningest team in 50 years. He has given nearly 600 gender literacy and inclusion trainings across the country and beyond. Schuyler is also a life coach, fitness coach, and facilitates monthly support groups for the LGBTQ+ community. Schuyler’s works include his novel, Obie Is Man Enough, his best-selling book, He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters, and his nonprofit, the Transgender Inclusion and Education Foundation.
Registration is required to attend this IN-PERSON event.
Sponsored by the John Loeb Lecture Fund.

Local Event: An Afternoon with Schuyler Bailar

An Afternoon with Schuyler Bailar

Schuyler Bailar, internationally renowned inspirational speaker and inclusion advocate, will be joining us to tell his...

Join us for a musical afternoon with pianist Pavlo Gintov!&nbsp;
Registration is required to attend this IN-PERSON event.
Sponsored by the Daro Foundation.

Local Event: Musical Arts Society Presents: Pavlo Gintov

Musical Arts Society Presents: Pavlo Gintov

Join us for a musical afternoon with pianist Pavlo Gintov! 
Registration is required to attend this IN-PERSON event.
Sponsored...

Movie magic, now at Blackstone! Join us for Saturday Cinema and see a highly anticipated new release on our big screen in the auditorium. This month we're watching a special double feature of <a href="https://br.catalog.lionlibraries.org/GroupedWork/51acd749-399c-e71e-e00e-aa743e8aaebd/Home?searchId=184760480&amp;recordIndex=1&amp;page=1&amp;searchSource=local" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Devil Wears Prada</a> (2006, PG-13) and <a href="https://br.catalog.lionlibraries.org/GroupedWork/a28850d6-4366-4503-6037-c67de790df5b/Home?searchId=184759384&amp;recordIndex=1&amp;page=1&amp;searchSource=local" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Devil Wears Prada 2</a> (2026, PG-13).
The Devil Wears Prada (starts at 11am): 
Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway star in this film about a college graduate who goes to work for the boss from hell at a fashion magazine.
Running time - 109 mins.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (starts at 2pm): 
Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) returns to Runway magazine as the new features editor where she finds her formidable former boss Miranda (Meryl Streep) facing threats to her glossy print empire. Familiar frenemies and fresh faces join the catwalk in this stylish sequel.
Running time - 119 mins.
Registration is required to attend this IN PERSON event.
Sponsored by the Friends of Blackstone Library.

Local Event: Saturday Cinema: The Devil Wears Prada Double Feature

Saturday Cinema: The Devil Wears Prada Double...

Movie magic, now at Blackstone! Join us for Saturday Cinema and see a highly anticipated new release on our big screen in the...

Saturday Cinema: The Devil Wears Prada Double Feature

Have you ever thought about joining a book club? It’s a fun way to get connected, make new friends, and read more books! In the Best Seller Book Club, we read and discuss newly released, highly rated books from a wide variety of genres. This month we're reading <a href="https://br.catalog.lionlibraries.org/Record/.b2817267x?searchId=184982442&amp;recordIndex=1&amp;page=1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Partita</a> by Barbara Kingsolver.
Registration is required to receive a link to this ONLINE event.
Sponsored by the Friends of Blackstone Library.
The
 Blackstone Library has a limited number of copies of these titles 
available for book club participants. If you are interested in obtaining
 a library copy, please call us at (203) 488-1441 ext. 318 or email 
programs@blackstonelibrary.org. Copies are first come, first served.

Local Event: Best Seller Book Club: Partita by Barbara Kingsolver

Best Seller Book Club: Partita by Barbara...

Have you ever thought about joining a book club? It’s a fun way to get connected, make new friends, and read more books! In the...

Best Seller Book Club: Partita by Barbara Kingsolver

Enjoy&nbsp;engaging
 conversation and explore your creativity at our&nbsp;adult coloring group! 
Coloring is a great way to keep the brain engaged and the body 
relaxed–plus it’s a great place to make new friends. All materials 
provided, but feel free to bring your own supplies too.&nbsp;
Registration is not required to attend this in person event.

Local Event: Color & Conversation

Color & Conversation

Enjoy engaging
 conversation and explore your creativity at our adult coloring group! 
Coloring is a great way to keep the...

James Blackstone

Ellyn Santiago

Hartford Metropolitan Area

East Haven

Rich Kirby

North Branford

Richard Kaufman

Guilford

New Haven

Vincent Salzo

North Haven

West Haven

Alfred Branch

Madison

Hamden

Orange

Wallingford

Middletown House Concert Series presents

The trio of artists that is The Refugees emerged on the music scene as a verifiably unmatched force of talent, diversity, and experience. Each successful in their own right as a solo artist, Cidny Bullens, Deborah Holland and Wendy Waldman formed their unique and innovative group in 2007 and since that time have been wowing audiences, radio DJs, and music critics alike with their soaring harmonies, indelible musicianship, and unforgettably humorous stage presence.
Individually, The Refugees have logged almost five decades in the industry, with more than twenty solo albums and multiple Grammy Award nominations to their credit, featuring musical styles that blend country, rock, folk, blues and Americana. To describe them as eclectic would be an understatement. These three artists have utilized their intense drive and relentless passions to create an entirely new sound. They have produced four critically acclaimed albums—Unbound, Three, How Far It Goes, and 2024’s gem California. To commemorate The Refugees 20th anniversary, they are releasing a “best of” album that will include several new songs in January 2027.
They continue to tour around the country and together have become a songwriting force sought after by some of music’s top artists and songwriters.Suggested donation: $35
For reservations and directions, please call Jody Cormack 860-983-7963
or email jcormack@wesleyan.edu

Local Event: The Refugees

Middlesex County

Middletown

The Refugees

The trio of artists that is The Refugees emerged on the music scene as a verifiably unmatched force of talent, diversity, and...

Faith United Methodist Church 81 Clintonville Road, North Haven

FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HOSTS ITS ANNUAL FALL FAIR ON SATURDAY, NOV. 7 FROM 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM:&nbsp;Faith United Methodist Church at 81 Clintonville Rd, North Haven will host its annual Fall Fair.&nbsp;&nbsp;This popular event will feature homemade apple, apple crumb and pumpkin pies, jams, our popular Cookie Walk, Farmer’s Market and a large assortment of unique handmade crafts made by the ladies in the Craft Group.&nbsp;We will also be selling our homemade Chicken Pot Pie and apple pie, unbaked and ready to go from our freezer to your oven just in time for the holiday season.&nbsp;&nbsp;Craft vendors selling unique crafted items will also be featured.&nbsp;&nbsp;Breakfast sandwiches will be available in the morning and a lunch menu of hot dogs, chili dogs, hamburgers, homemade chili, mac ‘n cheese and baked potato will be available to eat in or to go.&nbsp;&nbsp;Come get some of your holiday shopping done and enjoy some great food.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is primarily a cash sale event.

Local Event: Annual Fall Fair at Faith UMC North Haven

Annual Fall Fair at Faith UMC North Haven

FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HOSTS ITS ANNUAL FALL FAIR ON SATURDAY, NOV. 7 FROM 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM: Faith United Methodist...

Wilton Quaker Meeting

HFFC is honored to welcome Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association and Executive Director of its advocacy arm, the Center for Freethought Equality, to Wilton, Connecticut. Fish will&nbsp;highlight AHA’s successful American Empathy Project and Creator Fund, takeaways from the midterm election, and what to look forward to in AHA’s upcoming strategic plan.&nbsp;HFFC is a chapter of the American Humanist Association. &nbsp; Fish took over the helm of the 85-year-old organization in 2024 and is responsible for bringing a new energy into the humanist movement. Stark is an organizer, educator, social entrepreneur, and lifelong humanist who has spent his career turning big ideas into bold action in service of belonging, flourishing, and social justice for all people. He holds a Master’s in Education from Harvard and a Bachelor’s from Yale University. He serves on several nonprofit boards.&nbsp;And yes, he is also an award-winning comedian!&nbsp; (In the spirit of Jordan Klapper, 2026 Humanist of the Year and Ricky Gervais).&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; The meeting is free and open to all. Register here for meeting details <a href="https://bit.ly/AHAExDirFishStark" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">bit.ly/AHAExDirFishStark</a> If you will&nbsp;be attending IN-PERSON you are encouraged to arrive at the venue at 6:40 PM for socializing before the program starts.&nbsp;
BY ZOOM: Upon registering,&nbsp;you will receive an email from Zoom containing a “Join Meeting” button to use when the event start time approaches. 6:45 PMcheck-in;&nbsp;7:00 PM program

Local Event: Why Humanism Is Essential Today And Always : Navigating A Changing World 

Fairfield County

Wilton

Why Humanism Is Essential Today And Always :...

 HFFC is honored to welcome Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association and Executive Director of its...

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Posting Activity

First Friday Book Discussion: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

NOV

6

11:00 AM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Gladius Flamenco Guitar Concert

NOV

8

2:00 PM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Shakespeare’s World : Seeing the Plays through Elizabethan Eyes (Part IV)

NOV

9

5:00 PM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Tech Help Tuesday

NOV

10

10:30 AM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Navigating Social Security & Medicare

NOV

11

6:00 PM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Blackstone Library Tour

NOV

14

10:00 AM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Piece by Piece: A Community Puzzling Group

NOV

14

11:00 AM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Autumn Seed Swap

NOV

14

2:00 PM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Pete Kilpatrick Concert

NOV

15

2:00 PM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Tech Help Tuesday

NOV

17

10:30 AM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Third Thursday Movie Matinee: Desk Set (1957)

NOV

19

10:00 AM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Evening of Guitar at the Blackstone

NOV

19

6:00 PM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

An Afternoon with Schuyler Bailar

NOV

21

2:00 PM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Musical Arts Society Presents: Pavlo Gintov

NOV

22

2:00 PM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Tech Help Tuesday

NOV

24

10:30 AM

James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St, Branford, CT

Saturday Cinema: The Devil Wears Prada Double Feature