10:00 am

Dear Santa, I Want All Paintings Great and Small

Cooley Gallery, 25 Lyme St., Old Lyme, CT

This special 30th anniversary holiday exhibition combines two favorite shows: All Paintings Great and Small, started 25 years ago, with Dear Santa, featuring variety and visual discoveries. “Dear Santa, I Want All Paintings Great and Small” will open with a reception on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 5-8 p.m

9:00 am

Heart Gallery

Crystal Mall, Route 85, Waterford, CT

annual traveling exhibit by the Connecticut Department of Children & Families to raise awareness about children who are available for adoption; through Jan. 1; (617) 488-2876.

2:00 pm

The Connecticut River Artisans' Annual Holiday Show

Connecticut River Artisans Cooperative, Inc., 5 West Main Street , Chester,

opening reception 2-5 p.m. Nov. 5; ;show runs through Dec. 30; The show will continue through December 30, with a Friday, December 2 Reception at 5-8pm. This reception will be in conjunction with Chester's Townwide Holiday Night, which includes the Annual Tree Lighting and Caroling. Some of this year's Holiday exhibitors include Lucille Scelfo of North Branford. Lucille designs Hand painted, Marbled 100% Silk scarves, men's ties and other accessories. Amber Golanski, of East Hampton, is a new Holiday exhibitor with her original, hand-dyed toddler clothing. The Bunny Barn designs are all originals. Barbara Delicata, of Higganum, is a returning Pottery exhibitor. Her bowls and plates have been popular items.


(860) 526-5575 www.ctriverartisans.org

11:00 am

It’s A Wonderful Price: Walls of Small Treasures by Twenty-five Gallery Artists

Kehler Liddell Gallery, 873 Whalley Avenue, New Haven, CT , 06515

Kehler Liddell Gallery presents “It’s A Wonderful Price,” a holiday exhibit featuring fine art for every palette and every purse. The Walls of Affordable Treasures include paintings, photographs, sculptures, and drawings by twenty-five diverse Connecticut artists. Artwork is “priced to move” so shop for yourself while shopping for gift giving.

Opening Reception: Sunday, November 20, 3-6 p.m.

10:00 am

Deck the Walls

Lyme Art Association, 90 Lyme St., Old Lyme, CT , 06371

The Lyme Art Association’s annual show and sale featuring more than 200 works of art in all sizes and mediums by member artists. On View: Nov. 18 through Jan. 7. Opening reception: Friday, Dec. 2, 5 - 7 p.m.; Free, with contributions greatly appreciated.

10:00 am

CINDY STEVENS "WINTER WONDERLAND OF ART" EXHIBIT

SIMPLY PEARLS THE GALLERY AND MORE, 1587 BOSTON POST ROAD, SHOPS AT WATER'S EDGE RESORT, WESTBROOK, CT , 06498

Featured Artist Cindy Stevens will be extending her current exhibit through January 31,2012. Using oils, her landscapes, expecially those of water and rocks, are usually "au plein air". By painting on location, Cindy works to capture light effects and intensity of color in a fresh way. Cindy retreats annually to Monhegan Island for that Peace, Serentity and Inspiration that we find in her fresh new work.
Also exhibiting their work will be Sister Joan Bernard and Susan Oehl,also members of the Clinton Art Society. Other Artist in this exhibit include John Malenda (Ledyard), Edward Kardys (Niantic), Ralph Acosta (Stonnington), B.J. Taylor (Essex), Yvonne Gordon (Branford), Richard Malinsky (Madison). Ron Tonelli (Milford), and Stained Glass by Marsha Vasiloff (Old Lyme).

9:00 am

IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas, a Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit

Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, 110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket, CT

The exhibit, which opens Saturday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m., explores the seldom-told history of African-Native culture and identity. The exhibit continues through Dec. 30.

8:30 am

Toys for Tots Drive

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 752 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT , 06443

The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in Madison has been designated a local drop site for the Toys for Tots program, an annual event sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and local Marine Corps detachments.

The Madison office, located at 752 Boston Post Road is currently accepting donated toys and will continue collecting until Dec. 16th. Once the reception area of the office is full of toys, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage staff and sales associates will give the items to the local Marine Corps for distribution. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has been participating in the Toys for Tots drive for more than a decade.

5:00 pm

Holiday Toast: A Wine and Spirit Tasting Fundraiser

Water's Edge Resort & Spa, 1525 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook, , 06498

held by Westbrook Youth and Family Services; raffle items, holiday gifts, appetizer samples from local restaurants; $25 donation benefits WYFS requested; (860) 399-9239.

9:00 am

Book Sale

Mystic and Noank Library, 40 Library St., Mystic, CT

9860) 536-7721

2:30 pm

Free Senior Yoga at Windham Falls Estates

Windham Falls Estates, 425 Drozdyk Drive, Groton, CT

Some Tai Chi and bonus back rubs; RSVP to (860) 446-2889.

7:00 pm

Adult Children of Alcoholics - Thursdays

Union Baptist Church, 119 High St., Mystic, CT

Adult Children of Alcoholics meetings

1:00 pm

People with Arthritis Can Exercise

East Lyme Senior Center, 37 Society Road, Niantic, CT

16-week session beginning Nov. 3; a gentle fitness class to increase strength and cardiovascular system; $30; call to register (860) 739-5859

12:30 pm

Seniors Pickle Ball, Thursdays, Groton

Groton Senior Center, 102 Newtown Rd., Groton, CT

open play every Thursday; (860) 441-6785.

2:00 pm

English Conversation

Public Library of New London, 63 Huntington St., New London, CT

English Conversation

3:00 pm

Senior Zumba Gold - East Lyme Senior Center

East Lyme Senior Center, 37 Society Road, Niantic, CT

fitness program with Donna Neaton, designed for the active older adult utilizing Latin and International dance rhythms and steps to music; held Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Nov. 1, for 8 weeks; $30; $35 non-residents; call to register (860) 739-5859

9:00 am

WARM COATS FOR CHILDREN

Warm Coats for Children, 955 Poquonnock Road/Groton Shoppers Mart, Groton, CT , 06355

ALONG WITH TOYS THIS CHRISTMAS, KIDS NEED WARMTH. LIBERTY TAX IN GROTON HAS TEAMED UP WITH ONE WARM COAT.ORG
TO COLLECT CHILDRENS COATS FOR LOCAL CHARITIES. DROP OFF YOUR GENTLY LOVED OR BRAND NEW COATS TO LIBERTY TAX~GROTON
(AGES INFANT TO TEEN).
DONATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL DEC 23RD AT:

LIBERTY TAX
955 POQUONNOCK RD, GROTON SHOPPERS MART
GROTON, CT
860-448-2937
www.libertytax.com

7:00 pm

Madison - Roxanne Recommends OPEN HOUSE

RJ Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., madison, CT , 06443

Join Roxanne Coady, owner of RJ Julia Booksellers & Just the Right Book, for an evening of great food, wine and conversation! Bishop's Orchards is sponsoring the evening of community. Hear Roxanne talk about her favorite books of 2011, and get personal help for all on your list. All are welcome!

11:00 am

World AIDS Day

Provenance Center, 165 State Street, New London, CT

join Alliance for Living for a community event to bring awareness to the community about HIV/AIDS; every year this day serves as a way to remember those who have passed and also share the message with others that people are still living today with HIV/AIDS. The global message for World AIDS Day this year is “Getting to Zero 2011 – 2015.”

4:00 pm

Adult Fitness Classes - Pilates

Black Bear Traditional Martial Arts Center, 163 S. Broad St., Pawcatuck, CT

session begins Oct. 27 through Dec. 22; every Monday and Thursday

9:00 am

Restoring an Icon: The Charles W. Morgan

Mystic Seaport, Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic, CT

Last fall saw the hauling ashore of the mighty Charles W. Morgan in the Museum's Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard for a planned three-year restoration. Climb aboard the world's last wooden whaleship and learn more about the unprecedented restoration of this American icon in the Shipyard Gallery's newest exhibit, Restoring an Icon: The Charles W. Morgan.

10:00 am

Community Knit

Public Library of New London, 63 Huntington St., New London, CT

Community Knit

11:45 am

New London Senior Center, Dec. 1, 8 & 15

New London Senior Center, 120 Broad St., New London, CT

soup & sandwich lunch; $3; reservations and payment due at time of sign up; (860) 447-5239.

7:00 pm

Mark Schenker presents "Imagined Women: Emma, Hedda, Lily, Blanche"

Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT , 06443

Mark Schenker, Dean of Academic Affairs, Yale College returns for a series about four classic heroines: Emma Bovary of Flaubert's Madame Bovary on Nov.3rd; Hedda Gabler of Ibsen's play of the same name on Nov. 17th; Lily Bart of Wharton's 'The House of Mirth'on Dec. 1st; and Blanche Dubois of Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire on Dec. 15th.The series, which covers a range of time periods and countries, will consider the characters both as women in the cultural context of their times and as fictional creations of their authors. Books available for circulation. For further details, please call Scranton library at 203-245-7365 or register online www.scrantonlibrary.org/eventscalendar

4:30 pm

Japan After The Tide: The Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Tohoku, Japan

Connecticut College, Blaustein Humanities Center, Hood Dining Room, New London, CT , 06320

discussion/lecture focused on how the region and victims inflicted by the earthquake and tsunami shall reconstruct physical infrastructures, and rehabilitate culturally, emotionally and socially. Speakers will include East Asian Professor, Sayumi Harb, Government Professor, John Tian and Psychology Professor, Ruth Grahn; free; (860) 439-2500.

10:30 am

Bilingual Story Time

Public Library of New London, 63 Huntington St., New London, CT

Cuentos preescolar en ingles y espanol. Storytime for preschoolers in English and in Spanish.

10:00 am

Preschool Stories with Miss Tracy

Groton Public Library, 52 Newtown Rd., Groton, CT

This class is designed for children ages 3 and up and a parent or caregiver. Each week will include stories, singing and a simple craft. SIBLINGS ARE WELCOME, with the understanding that the focus of the books and activities are for preschoolers.

10:30 am

Preschoolers

Children's Museum, 409 Main St., Niantic, CT

ages 3-5; $15, $9 member; 691-1111

10:00 am

Fantastic Friends

Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, CT , 06385

Thursdays, December 1, 8, 15 (10-10:45)
This story time features music, stories, and crafts.
Age 3 and up.

10:00 am

Fantastic Friends

Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Rd., Waterford, CT

This story time features music, stories, and crafts.
Age 3 and up. Free. No class Nov. 24

9:00 am

Scholastic Book Fair at Gales Ferry School

Gales Ferry Elementary School, 1858 Route 12, Gales Ferry, CT , 06335

Holiday Shopping ~~ Benefitting the JWL/GFS PTO!

4:00 pm

Kids Yoga at Public Library of New London

Public Library of New London, 63 Huntington St., New London, CT

participants should be able to use scissors and follow simple direction; free

11:00 am

Diana - A Celebration

Foxwoods Resort Casino-Great Cedar Exhibition Area, 39 Norwich Westerly Rd., North Stonington, CT

Direct from the Althorp Estate in England comes an award-winning exhibition featuring more than 150 personal objects celebrating the life and work of Diana, Princess of Wales, including her royal wedding gown, 28 designer dresses, family heirlooms, personal mementos, and rare home movies. This will be the only Northeastern engagement.

6:30 pm

Preston Board of Selectmen

Preston Town Hall, 389 Ct 2, Preston, CT

Preston Board of Selectmen meeting

7:00 pm

Norwich Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission

Norwich planning office, 23 Union St., Norwich, CT

Norwich Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission meeting

4:00 pm

Eastern Connecticut Ballet Company Visits the Old Lyme PGN Library

Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, 2 Library Lane , Old Lyme, , 06371

dancers from ECB will arrive in full costume to read their Nutcracker storybook with photos of the production as the pages; meet and greet as well as a question and answer period at the end of the program; free; registration required; www.oldlyme.lioninc.org.

8:00 pm

Krapp's Last Tape

Long Wharf Theatre, 227 Sargent Drive, New Haven, CT

starring Brian Dennehy