Author and cross-stitch artist Shannon Downey will discuss her book “Let’s Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives and Makers” at Mechanics’ Hall in Portland at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. The event is free, registration required, and part of Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance’s Maine Lit Fest, running through Oct. 13. Contributed / Back Cove Books
Comedy
Friday 10/4
“Gals and Pals Spooky Evening of Comedy”: 7:30 p.m., Newscapes Brewing, 163 Washington Ave., Portland. $10. humanitix.com/us
Friday 10/4 & Saturday 10/5
Caitlin Peluffo: 7 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Empire Comedy Club, 575 Congress St., Portland. $29.44-$39.82. 21-plus. empirecomedyme.com
Friday 10/11
Ryan O’Flanagan: 7 p.m., Empire Comedy Club, 575 Congress St., Portland. $24.25. 21-plus. empirecomedyme.com
Trey Galyon: 9:30 p.m., Empire Comedy Club, 575 Congress St., Portland. $19.07. 21-plus. empirecomedyme.com
Ongoing
“Crowd Source”: Improv with topics from audience members, 7 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays, Empire Comedy Club, 575 Congress St., Portland. $5 or free with topic suggestion. 21-plus. empirecomedyme.com
Exhibits/Galleries
Friday 10/4 through November
“Feast Your Eyes”: AIGA Maine creative poster exhibition celebrating culinary artistry and cultural resonance, opens 5:30 p.m., Portland Media Center, 516 Congress St., Portland.
Through 10/6
“The Photography of May Pang”: 4-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Cove Street Arts, 71 Cove St., Portland. Free. covestreetarts.com
Through 10/19
“10×10 Show”: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, Meetinghouse Arts, 40 Main St., Freeport. Free. meetinghousearts.org
“Still Moments”: Liz Hoag and Anne Ireland, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, Elizabeth Moss Galleries, 100 Fore St., Portland. elizabethmossgalleries.com
Through 10/30
“Scenes of Maine”: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, Richard Boyd Art Gallery, 15 Epps St., Peaks Island. Free. richardboydpottery.com
Through 11/2
“Meditations: Water and Woods”: Roy Germon and Jimmy Viera, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, to 5 p.m. Saturday, Greenhut Galleries, 146 Middle St., Portland. greenhutgalleries.com
Through 11/23
“Here and There, Now and Then” and “If You want to Be My Lover”: Marguerite Robichaux and Annika Earley, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, Elizabeth Moss Galleries, 251 Route 1, Falmouth. elizabethmossgalleries.com
Through 1/4
“7”: By the Yarmouth Art Alliance, Merrill Memorial Library, 215 Main St., Yarmouth. yarmouthlibrary.org
Film
Friday 10/4
“The Giver” (2014): Rated PG-13, 3 p.m., Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road. Registration required. falmouthmemoriallibrary.org
“Reel Voices: Telling Room Stories on Screen” (2024): 6 p.m., followed by filmmaker talk, Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square. Free. portlandmuseum.org
Friday 10/4-Sunday 10/6
“Paris, Texas” (1984): Rated R, 2 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, noon and 3 p.m. Sunday, Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square. $6. portlandmuseum.org
Saturday 10/5
“In The Bedroom” (2001): Rated R, 3 p.m., Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square. $10, $7 students. portlandmuseum.org
Tuesday 10/7
“Arthur the King” (2024): Rated PG-13, 1 p.m., Scarborough Public Library, 48 Gorham Road. Registration required. scarboroughlibrary.org
“October Sky” (1999): Rated PG, 2 p.m., South Portland Public Library, 482 Broadway. southportlandlibrary.com
“Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut”: 7 p.m., SPACE, 538 Congress St., Portland. Free, registration required. space538.org
Tuesday 10/8
“Eno” (2024): 6 p.m., Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square. $10, $7 students. portlandmuseum.org
“Salem’s Lot” (2024): Rated R, 7 p.m., Novel Book Bar and Café, 643 Congress St., Portland. Free, registration required. novelmaine.com
Wednesday 10/9
“The Devil’s Ball” (1933) and “Häxan” (1922): 7 p.m., Kinonik, 121 Cassidy Point Drive, Portland. $10. kinonik.org
“Good Night and Good Luck” (2005): Rated PG, 7 p.m., Merrill Memorial Library, 215 Main St., Yarmouth. yarmouthlibrary.org
Friday 10/11-Sunday 10/13
“Girls Will Be Girls” (2024): Indian English and Hindi with English subtitles, 2 and 6 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday, noon and 3 p.m. Sunday, Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square. $6. portlandmuseum.org
Ongoing
Apohadion Theater: 107 Hanover St., Portland. facebook.com/TheApohadionTheater
Merrill Film Society: Watch movies on your own and join a Zoom discussion. Email mcarnes@yarmouthlibrary.org for an invitation. yarmouthlibrary.org
Music
Friday 10/4
Asa Meyer’s Chord-less Quarter; El Malo: 6 p.m., Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland. Entry by donation. 21-plus. blueportlandmaine.com
Dance party to benefit Planned Parenthood: 7 p.m., Aura, 121 Center St., Portland. $25. 18-plus. auramaine.com
Lotus: 8 p.m., State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland. $25 advance, $27 at door. statetheatreportland.com
Louisa Stancioff; Eliza Edens; Molly Parden: 8 p.m., One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland. $25 advance, $35 at door. onelongfellowsquare.com
Pete Kilpatrick Band performs Dave Matthews: 9 p.m., Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland. $15 advance, $20 at door. 21-plus. portlandhouseofmusic.com
Saturday 10/5
Kathie and the Kooltones: 7 p.m., Cadenza, 5 Depot St., Freeport. $23 advance, $28 at door, $10 students. cadenzafreeport.com
Laszlo Gardony: 7 p.m., Meetinghouse Arts, 40 Main St., Freeport. $25 advance, $30 at door, $15 students. meetinghousearts.org
Chromeo; The Midnight: 8 p.m., State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland. $49.50 advance, $55 at door. statetheatreportland.com
Larry Campbell; Teresa Williams: 8 p.m., One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland. $30 advance, $40 at door. onelongfellowsquare.com
Wake Up Mama: Allman Brothers tribute, 8 p.m., Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland. $10 advance, $15 at door. 21-plus. portlandhouseofmusic.com
Tuesday 10/8
Low Cut Connie: 8 p.m., Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland. $25. 21-plus. portlandhouseofmusic.com
Panopticon; Exulansis; Primeval Well: 8 p.m., SPACE, 538 Congress St., Portland. $20 advance, $25 at door. space538.org
Wednesday 10/9
Asking Alexandria: 6:30 p.m., Aura, 121 Center St., Portland. $47.50. 18-plus. auramaine.com
Birdtalker; King Kyote: 8 p.m., Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland. $15. 21-plus. portlandhouseofmusic.com
Marcus King: 8 p.m., State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland. $36-$61. statetheatreportland.com
Seán Dagher: 8 p.m., One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland. $20 advance, $25 at door. onelongfellowsquare.com
Thursday 10/10
James Fernando: 7 p.m., Cadenza, 5 Depot St., Freeport. $23 advance, $28 at door, $10 students. cadenzafreeport.com
WMPG Bluegrass Spectacular: 7 p.m., One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland. $25 advance, $35 at door. onelongfellowsquare.com
Rosier; Otis.: 8 p.m., Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland. $12 advance, $15 at door. 21-plus. blueportlandmaine.com
Yarn Tickets: 8 p.m., Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland. $20. 21-plus. portlandhouseofmusic.com
Friday 10/11
POPS! Concert: Portland Symphony Orchestra, 5:30 p.m., Allagash Brewing, 50 Industrial Way, Portland. Free. porttix.com
Antje Duvekot: 7 p.m., 317 Main Community Music Center, 317 Main St., Yarmouth. $25. 317main.org
Boyscott: 8 p.m., SPACE, 538 Congress St., Portland. $20 advance, $24 at door. space538.org
Glimmer; Declaw; Dowsing Rod: 8 p.m., Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland. $10. 21-plus. blueportlandmaine.com
The Sweet Remains; Jeffrey Gaines: 8 p.m., One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland. $35 advance, $45 at door. onelongfellowsquare.com
Jake Blount; Mali Obomsawin: 9 p.m., Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland. $20. 21-plus. portlandhouseofmusic.com
Ongoing
Musicians Circle: 3-5 p.m., Wednesdays, Scarborough Community Center, 418 Payne Road, Scarborough. 730-4150, comserv@scarboroughmaine.org
Open jazz session: 7 p.m., Wednesdays, Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland. blueportlandmaine.com
Flask Retro Party: 8 p.m., every last Saturday, Flask Lounge, 117 Spring St., Portland. $5. flasklounge.com
“Monday of the Minds”: Hip-hop open mic, 8 p.m., Mondays, Flask Lounge, 117 Spring St., Portland. 21-plus. flasklounge.com
Stereo Dreams: Open mic, 8 p.m., every first Wednesday, Sun Tiki Studios, 375 Forest Ave., Portland. suntikistudios.com
Open DJ Night: 8:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Flask Lounge, 117 Spring St., Portland. flasklounge.com
Live music: 9 p.m., Fridays, Sea Dog Brewing Co., 125 Western Ave., South Portland. seadogbrewing.com
Karaoke: 10 p.m., Thursdays, Sea Dog Brewing Co., 125 Western Ave., South Portland. seadogbrewing.com
Theater/Dance
Friday 10/4 & Saturday 10/5
“Burlesque, Drag and Flow”: 7 p.m., Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland. $20 advance, $23 at door, $35 weekend pass, pay-what-you-can available. 18-plus. mayostreetarts.org
Through 10/5
“The Dating Go-Round”: By performer Andrew Pinard, 7 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Footlights Theatre, 190 Route 1, Falmouth. $20. thefootlightstheatre.com
Through 10/6
“Now That You’ve Seen Me Naked”: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, The Hill Arts, 76 Congress St., Portland. $24 advance, $28 at door. thehillarts.me
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Lyric Music Theater, 176 Sawyer St., South Portland. $30, $25 ages 65-plus and students 17 and under. lyricmusictheater.org
Sunday 10/6
FLOR launch party: Launch of nonprofit flamenco organization with dance, 4-7 p.m., Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland. Free, registration required. mayostreetarts.org
Wednesday 10/9-Saturday 10/19
“Kevin O’Leary’s God Less America”: 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, The Studio Theatre, 25A Forest Ave., Portland. $25. eventbrite.com
Thursday 10/10 & Friday 10/11
“Jekyll and Hyde”: By Tophat Miniature Stage Productions, 7 p.m., Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland. $15 advance, $18 at door, pay-what-you-can available. 18-plus. mayostreetarts.org
Thursday 10/10-Sunday 11/3
“Witch”: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Mad Horse Theater, 24 Mosher St., South Portland. Pay-what-you-can. madhorse.com
Through 10/13
“Conscience”: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 3:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Portland Stage, 25A Forest Ave., Portland. $35-$75 Saturday and Sunday, $30-$67 others. portlandstage.org
Ongoing
Balderdash Academy On The Air: 7-9 p.m., monthly, The Hill Arts, 76 Congress St., Portland. thehillarts.me
Teller’s Garden First Friday Performances: 6:30 p.m., first Friday, Portland Media Center, 516 Congress St., Portland. $15, $10 seniors. facebook.com/TellersGarden
Writing/Authors
Friday 10/4
Michael Connolly and Matthew Jude Barker authors talk: “Seated by the Sea” and “The Irish of Portland, Maine,” 7 p.m., Novel Book Bar and Café, 643 Congress St., Portland. Free, registration required. novelmaine.com
Saturday 10/5
“Everything Everywhere All at Once”: Info on the publishing industry, part of Maine Lit Fest, 6 p.m., Novel Book Bar and Café, 643 Congress St., Portland. Free, registration required. novelmaine.com
“Terrible Writing by Great Writers”: Part of Maine Lit Fest, 6:30 p.m., Mechanics’ Hall, 519 Congress St., Portland. Free, registration required. mainewriters.org
“Minds of All Kinds: Neurodivergence in Picture Books”: Presented by authors Samara Cole Doyon, Meghan Wilson Duff and Steve Asbell, part of Maine Lit Fest, 7 p.m., virtual, hosted by Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance. Free, drop-in. mainewriters.org
Sunday 10/6
Shannon Downey author talk: “Let’s Move the Needle,” part of Maine Lit Fest, 4 p.m., Back Cove Books, 651 Forest Ave., Portland. Free, registration required. backcovebooks.com
Victoria Dalpe, Morgan Sylvia and Emma J. Gibbon authors talk: About horror writing, 5 p.m., Novel Book Bar and Café, 643 Congress St., Portland. Free, registration required. novelmaine.com
Monday 10/7
“Co-Conspirators Presents Stories Told Live”: 7 p.m., Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland. $15 advance, $20 at door. 21-plus. blueportlandmaine.com
Lena Valencia author talk: “Mystery Lights,” 7 p.m., Print: A Bookstore, 273 Congress St., Portland. printbookstore.com
Wednesday 10/9
Brigadier Gen. Greg Smith author talk: “Confessions of a Weekend Warrior,” 5:30 p.m., Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Drive. freeportlibrary.com
“Liberating Latin America Genre Fiction”: Presented by author Silvia Moreno-Garcia, 7 p.m., virtual, hosted by Topsham Public Library. libraryc.org/topshamlibrary
“Showcase of Black Poets Laureate”: 7 p.m., SPACE, 538 Congress St., Portland. Free, registration required. space538.org
“Proud Mary” queer authors reading: 8-10 p.m., Cocktail Mary, 229 Congress St., Portland. Free. printbookstore.com
Thursday 10/10
“The Art of Penobscot Bay” book talk: By Carl and David Little, noon, Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square. portlandlibrary.com
Mary Fleming author talk: “Civilisation Francaise,” 6 p.m., Novel Book Bar and Café, 643 Congress St., Portland. Free, registration required. novelmaine.com
Bill Roorbach author talk: “Beep,” 7 p.m., Scarborough Public Library, 48 Gorham Road. Registration required. scarboroughlibrary.org
Friday 10/11
Marjorie Liu author talk: “Wingbearer” series, 5:30 p.m., Back Cove Books, 651 Forest Ave., Portland. backcovebooks.com
Ongoing
Blurb Club in Mechanics’ Hall: Noon, every other Thursday, Congress Square Park, or Mechanics’ Hall, 519 Congress St., Portland, in bad weather. Informal book discussions for adults and seniors. Hosted by Portland Public Library. portlandlibrary.com
Books a la Carte: 2 p.m., third Tuesday, book and author discussions, no assigned reading. People Plus, 35 Union St., Brunswick. peopleplusmaine.org
Books and Brews: 6 p.m., first Wednesday, Flight Deck Brewing, Brunswick Landing, 11 Atlantic Ave., Brunswick. curtislibrary.com/book-groups
Books on Tap: 4:30 p.m., third Monday, Sea Dog Brewing Co., 3 Cabela Boulevard, Scarborough. Hosted by Scarborough Public Library. tcorbett@scarboroughlibrary.org, scarboroughlibrary.org
Civil War Book Club: 7 p.m., Monday, monthly, People Plus, 35 Union St., Brunswick. peopleplusmaine.org
Free e-Books: Free military history, African-American history and Latino history downloads at ebooksforstudents.org.
Great Books Discussion: 10 a.m. to noon, second Saturday, Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Road. emma@topshamlibrary.org, topshamlibrary.org
Guerilla Poetry Whoop: 6:30 p.m., second Thursday, virtual via Zoom. Registration required. Hosted by Thomas Memorial Library. thomasmemoriallibrary.org
Just Desserts Mystery Group: 6:30-7:30 p.m., second Tuesday, Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St., Brunswick. curtislibrary.com/book-groups
LGBTQ+ Book Group for adults: 6 p.m., second Monday, Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St., Brunswick. Registration required. curtislibrary.com/book-groups
Monday Afternoon Book Group: 1 p.m., first Monday, hybrid via Zoom and at Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St., Brunswick. curtislibrary.com/book-groups
Preservation Pages: 6 p.m., monthly, various locations in Greater Portland. portlandlandmarks.org
Social Topics in Literature Book Group: 6:30-8 p.m., second Wednesday, virtual via Zoom. Registration required. Hosted by Prince Memorial Library. princememorial.org
South Portland Public Library Writers’ Group: 2-4 p.m., first and third Saturdays via Zoom. No experience necessary. Registration required. southportlandlibrary.com/writers-group
Thursday Afternoon Book Group: 3-4:30 p.m., last Thursday. To register, email emanning@cumberlandmaine.com. Prince Memorial Library, 266 Main St., Cumberland. princememorial.org
Write On Writers: 1 p.m., Wednesdays, People Plus, 35 Union St., Brunswick. peopleplusmaine.org
To contribute an item to the Arts Calendar, go to theforecaster.net, click the Calendar heading and click Add Event.
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