• BENEFITS
An Evening with Ginger Zee of “Good Morning America,” fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit Mount Washington Observatory offers an intimate look at the world of storm chasing, with hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and silent auction. $89, $99 preferred seating, all ages. Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland. www.portcitymusichall.com. 5:30 p.m. Friday.
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8th annual Auction & Brunch. Free. Friends School of Portland, Mackworth Island, Falmouth. friendsschoolofportland.org. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Benefit for the Corner Cupboard (non-food pantry) in Sanford. Dessert buffet and silent and live auctions. $5 at door. Sanford Unitarian Universalist Church, 5 Lebanon St., Sanford. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Windham High School presents Dancing with the Stars to benefit Project Graduation, $10, $5 students. Windham High School, Performing Arts Center, 406 Gray Road, Windham. www.windham.k12.me.us/wpac. 7 p.m. April 10.
• BOOKS & AUTHORS
Author and craftsman Peter Korn talks about his book “Why We Make Things and Why It Matters.” Free. Porter Hall Auditorium in the Skidompha Library, 184 Main St., Damariscotta. 1-3 p.m. Thursday.
Word Portland, monthly reading features Jenny Smick, Ethan Stebbins and Emily Jane Young. Free. LFK, 188 State St., Portland. www.facebook.com. 9 p.m. Monday.
Poet Betsy Sholl, reading and discussion with the author of seven collections of poetry. Free. Maine Women Writers Collection, University of New England, 716 Stevens Ave., Abplanalp Library, Portland. une.edu/mwwc/conferences/authorseries.cfm. Noon April 10.
• 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. Thursday and April 10.
Wednesday Night Stomp Swing Dance, $5 to $10 suggested donation. Acoustic Artisans, 594 Congress St. 2nd Floor, Portland. www.acousticartisans.com. Beginners swing lesson at 7 p.m., music at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Contradance, $10 adults, $7 for those under 21, $5 children 5-12. Falmouth Congregational Church Hall, 267 Falmouth Road. Instruction at 7:15 p.m.; dance 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
• FILMS
Portland Children’s Film Festival, various locations, films from around the world. www.portlandchildrensfilmfestival.com. Thursday to Sunday.
“Rising from Ashes,” award-winning feature-length documentary about Rwandan cycling team. $10 in advance, $12 day of show. The Frontier, 14 Maine St., Brunswick. explorefrontier.com. 2, 6 and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Thor: The Dark World, presented by the Bates College Filmboard. $1. Olin Arts Center, Room 104, Bates College, 75 Russell St., Lewiston. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
• FOOD & DRINK
Gulf of Maine Seafood Celebration, enjoy views of Casco Bay as you sample dishes by local culinary partners. $35 includes food, two drinks. Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 350 Commercial St., Portland. gmri.org/seafoodcelebration. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Toast on the Coast, wine tasting and sample treats from the area’s top restaurants, all proceeds to benefit Easter Seals Maine’s programs and services. $60. Ocean Gateway Terminal, 14 Ocean Gateway Pier, Portland. www.toastonthecoast14.eventbrite.com. 6-9 p.m. Thursday.
28th annual Chocolate Lovers’ Fling, to benefit Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine. $50. Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring St., Portland. www.chocolateloversfling.org. 1 p.m. Sunday.
EAT Brunswick! restaurants and culinary businesses will offer breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as treats and snacks with special pricing. $6.14-$30.14. www.brunswickdowntown.org. Monday to Thursday.
Perfection with Pastries, learn to make pate a choux and create delicious eclairs, cream puffs and swans with Samantha Cohen of the European Bakery in Falmouth, $25, $30. Freeport Middle School, 19 Kendall Lane, Freeport. 6-8 p.m. Wednesday.
Gourmet Gala, local dishes from favorite restaurants and caterers, wine, beer and a cooking competition among Maine law firms. $40. Ocean Gateway Terminal, 14 Ocean Gateway Pier, Portland. mercyhospital.org. 5:30-8:30 p.m., April 10.
• FOR KIDS
Summer Activities Fair, 40 organizations will exhibit children’s summer program information, free. Camden-Rockport Elementary School Gym, 11 Children’s Way, Rockport. www.facebook.com. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday.
Reading ROCks, family book reading workshop, crafts for toddler to age 10 with author Floyd Stokes; presented by the National Children’s Study Regional Operations Center (ROC) East. Free. Portland Public Library, Main Branch, 5 Monument Square. www.portlandlibrary.com/events/reading-rocks. 6-8 p.m. Friday.
Planetarium Show: Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope, ages 9 and up, $3, UM students free with MaineCard. Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium, University of Maine, 5781 Wingate Hall, Orono. www.GalaxyMaine.com. 7 p.m. Friday.
“Character Counts” presentation with Spider-Man, with breakfast, $10 for adults, $6 for children. Green Ladle, 156 East Avenue, Lewiston. 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday.
Play Me a Story, local, professional actors bring to life children’s tales from local authors. Afterward small actors in the audience will take part in a workshop. $50 for April, or $15 per session. Theater for Kids at Portland Stage Company, 25A Forest Ave., Portland. www.portlandstage.org. 10:30-11:45 a.m. Saturday.
Portland Ovations presents “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” Michael Rosen’s award-winning book is brought vividly and rambunctiously to the stage, set to Benji Bower’s lively score. $15. Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland. www.porttix.com. 11 a.m. Saturday.
“Character Counts” presentation with Spider-Man, along with ice cream social. $10 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under. Senator Inn and Spa, 284 Western Ave., Augusta. 1-3 p.m. Saturday.
Planetarium Show: Earth, Moon & Sun. $3, UM students free with MaineCard. Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium, University of Maine, 5781 Wingate Hall, Orono. www.GalaxyMaine.com. 2 p.m. Sunday.
Felting for kids, learn how to turn sheep’s fleece into felted-wool items. $5. Pineland Farms Education Center, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester. www.pinelandfarms.org. 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
• LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS
“Low Maintenance Gardening,” Maine Gardener Tom Atwell leads workshop about creating healthy plants and beautiful blooms without spending a lot of time on them, free. South Portland Public Library, 482 Broadway. 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
UNE School of Social Work, “How Art Meets Mission,” panel aims to highlight how artists, activists, organizations and institutions use arts in transformation. Free and open to the public. UNE ART Gallery, 716 Stevens Ave., Portland. Noon-1:30 p.m. Friday.
Native Bees, Alison C. Dibble, Ph.D, pollination ecologist from UMaine will speak about bees in Maine and their importance as pollinators. Free. Standish Town Hall, 175 Northeast Road. www.standish.org. 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Home Composting, learn which important ingredients are needed to make the “black gold” that can transform your waste and nourish your gardens. $12. Bonny Eagle Adult Education, 290 Parker Farm Road, Buxton. www.sad6.maineadulted.org. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Pressing Plants, an introduction to collection of specimens and pressing techniques by artisan Lynne Breton of Harpswell. Free. Patten Free Library, 33 Summer St., Bath. www.patten.lib.me.us. 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday.
Great Gardeners Series, “A New England Cottage Garden: Adapting a Classic Garden Style to the Northeast.” $16. St. Mary’s Church Parish Hall Auditorium, 43 Foreside Road, Falmouth. 1 p.m. Wednesday.
• OUTDOORS
Morning Bird Walk, easy stroll through Maine Audubon’s sanctuary. $5 members, $8 non-members. Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth. www.maineaudubon.org/events. 8 a.m. Thursday, Saturday and April 10.
• PETS
Adoptable Dogs, Animal Welfare Society Mobile Adoption Team will bring adoptable canines. Free. Planet Dog Company Store, 211 Marginal Way, Portland. Noon-2 p.m. Saturday.
• SPECIAL EVENTS
Portland Pillow Fight Day, BYOP(illow), presented by Dispatch Magazine. Free. Monument Square, 1 City Center, Portland. www.portland pillowfight.com. 3-4 p.m. Saturday.
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