Special events

2008 FirstWorks Festival, through Nov. 9. Spans theater, dance, music, new media, and family while highlighting Providence as a 'First City of the Arts.'

Abraham Lincoln Was Here?: Stories of Taunton and the U.S. Presidency, through Feb. 12, Old Colony Historical Society, 66 Church Green, Taunton. 508-822-1622 or oldcolonyhistoricalsociety.org.

Thanksgiving for beginners, Nov. 6, 6 p.m., Sebastians Interactive Kitchen, 157 Seaport Blvd., Boston. Offering contemporary twists to traditional Thanksgiving Dishes. $75. 888-563-8334 or email interactivekitchen@sebastians.com

Christmas Bazaar, Nov. 7, 4 to 9 p.m., Nov. 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Rehoboth Congregational Church, 139 Bay State Road, Rehoboth. Also in Goff Hall. Silent Auction, Country Store, baked goods, cookie walk, and caricaturist. Sat. Luncheon 11:30-2. Turkey Supper Fri., 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. seatings, $10 adult, $6 kids under 12. Turkey Supper reservations a must. 508-252-4545. MOMIX, Nov. 8, 8 p.m., Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. Movement magicians fool the naked eye using light, shadow, humor, and the human body.

In Honor of Those We Lost Fundraiser, Nov. 8, 12 p.m., Fusion 5/Gridiron Steakhouse, Route 1, Foxboro. Proceeds from the all-day benefit concert will help the DARE program in Foxboro and other local communities. There will be nine bands plus a DJ. $10 donation. The concert is for all ages until 8:30 p.m., then 12-plus event.

Autumn Craft Fair, Nov. 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tiverton Middle School, 10 Quintal Dr, Tiverton, RI. Benefits TIverton Middle School Woodturning Club. Over 30 crafters. 50/50 drawings every hour and a drawing featuring items donated by crafters. Breakfast and lunch available. Free. 508-674-5132.

Polar Express, Nov. 8-9, 15-16, 23, 10:45 and 1:45 p.m., Blackstone Valley, Tours depart from Ann and Hope parking lot in Cumberland, RI, along the Providence and Worcester Railroad. family fun journey to the "North Pole". Reservations strongly encouraged. Passengers gets a presentation of the book Polar Express and hot chocolate, cookies, holiday coloring book with crayons, visit from Santa, sing-along, and special Christmas Remembrance. $35. tourblackstone.com or 401-724-2200.

Sports Card Show, Nov. 11, 8:45 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., Holiday Inn, Forbes Blvd. and Rte. 140, Mansfield. Patriot legend Stanley Morgan will be signing autographs from 10:15 to 12:45, starting at $10 for 1 and $7 for each additional autograph. Providence Bruins Brad Marchand, Ronnie Lippett, and Mikko Lehtonen will be signing free autographs. $1. Free admission after 5 p.m. On Dec. 28, 8:45 a.m. to 2:14 p.m., another card show will be hosted, annd participates will receive free admission pass to a future card show and 2 free packs of cards. Hourly door prizes include Boston Bruins tickets. Show a grade of "A" on your report card and get 6 free packs. $1.

BSC Observatory, Nov. 12, 19, 7 to 9 p.m., Bridgewater State College, Summer St., Bridgewater. Open to public weather permitting. Children as young as 6 and adults of all ages. Free. 508-531-327 or bridgew.edu/observatory.

Day One, Nov. 13, 12 p.m., Westin Hotel, 1 West Exchange St., Providence. Mariska Hargitay from Law and Order: SVU is keynote speaker. Rhode Island Rape Crisis Center commemorating its 35th anniversary with a fundraising luncheon. $125. $500 meet Hargitay and have your photo taken with. www.dayoneri.org or 401-421-4100 x108

Holiday Fair, Nov. 14, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Nov. 15, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 North Main St., Attleboro. Will be cookies, pies, gifts, a children's craft activity area, Fair Trade Coffee products, and a huge raffle. Lunch, dinner, snacks, and carry-out available. Locally crafted products include tools; nature photography; jams and preserves; and handmade books. 508-222-0505, or murrayuuchurch.org.

Annual Quilt Show, Nov. 15, 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Arnold Mills Community House, 75 Hillside Road, Cumberland, RI. Presents handmade quilts from local crafters. 401-333-6080.

Massachusetts Animal Coalition Meeting, Nov. 16, 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd., North Grafton. Information on animal control, law enforcement, advocacy, rabies vaccination and identification. For professionals and volunteers interested in becoming involved with helping homeless animals. $20 for MAC members affiliated with organizational members, students with school ID, $30 for individual members, $40 general. www.massanimalcoalition.org Eat Your Heart out Boston, Nov. 16, 6 to 8 p.m., Church, 69 Kilmarnock Street, Boston. Celebrity chefs from 6 to 8, followed by bands. Benefit for The Food Project. 21+. $40 chefs, $20 for bands, $50 for both. rockonconcerts.com or 866-468-7619

The Fabric of Learning, Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m., Slater Mill Historic Site, 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI. Hosting the Grand Opening of the new Jenks Education Center and Community Guild Studios, a fiber arts center. 401-725-8638 or slatermill.org.

Boston Globe Ski and Snowboard Expo, Nov. 20, 21 from 4-10 p.m.; Nov. 22 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Nov. 23 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Bayside Expo Center, Boston. $12. onthesnow.com.

Holiday Singers and Musicians to perform, Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5-7, Dec. 12-14, Dec. 19-21, Emerald Sq. Mall, Rte. 1, North Attleboro. Small groups that have performed for large crowds before, including dance troupes, school bands, choirs, soloists, ballet, tap and jazz dancers. 30-45 minute per act. Sound system, microphones, and CD player provided. All performances unpaid. 508-699-4100 or ayust@simon.com.

Santa's Parade, Nov. 29, 11 a.m., Walpole Center. Annual Tree Lighting and Caroling on the Common with the Walpole Community Chorus at 7 p.m. with Santa, hot chocolate, and radio station WROR.

Home for the Holidays, Dec. 7, 1 to 5 p.m., Mansfield Historical Society House, 53 Rumford Ave., Mansfield. Tours include five unique and festive Mansfield homes and the Mansfield Historical Society House. Wreaths available for purchase. Refreshments and holiday tea served at MHSH. Reservations required, tickets limited. Proceeds to DIC Fuel Assist Fund, Mansfield Historical Society, and Women of Today projects. $25. Purchase at Mansfield Bank or Glee Gifts, N. Main St., Mansfield, or call Jeanne at 508-337-4552.

Seaside Holiday: Narragansett- Not Just For Summer, Dec. 13, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Registration for the house tour, boutique, and cafe will be held at the historic Narragansett Towers on 35 Ocean Road in Narragansett, R.I. Self-guided tours of several coastal homes decorated for holidays in Narragansett's south end. $30/adv., $35/dos. or a donation of three non-perishable food items. 401-331-9302 or jlri.org.

Chuck Klosterman, March 25, 7 p.m., The Cavern Club At Hard Rock Cafe, 22 Clinton St., Boston. A evening of spoke word, music, and Q and A. 21+. $15 advance, $20 day of. 617-424-7625 or rockonconcerts.com

Craft fairs/festivals

FirstWorks Providence Festival, through Nov. 9, Providence. A number of events will be hosted through the city: dance ensembles, vocal pyrotechnics, object theatre, family activities, digital arts, hip hop theatre and special projects from Rhode Island artists. 401-421-4278 or first-works.org.

Christmas Bazaar, Nov. 7, 4 to 9 p.m., Nov. 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Rehoboth Congregational Church, Rehoboth. Two locations: church and Goff Hall. Silent Auction, Country Store, Baked Goods, Cookie Walk, Caricaturist, and more. Turkey Supper Fri. 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. seatings, $10 adult, $6 kids under 12. Sat. luncheon 11:30-2. Turkey Supper reservations required. 508-252-4545.

CraftBoston Holiday 2008, Nov. 14-16, The Westin, Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston. Featuring 110 contemporary craft artists. 617-266-1810 or craftboston.org.

Artists Market 2008, Nov. 15 through Dec. 31, DeCordova Art Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 781-259-8355 or decordova.org.

CraftBoston Spring 2009, March 27-29, The World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd., Boston. Featuring 175 contemporary craft artists. 617-266-1810 or craftboston.org.

Lectures

Tuesday Talks Lecture Series: Glass, through Dec. 9, 1 p.m., Michael P. Metcalf Auditorium, Chace Center, RISD, Providence. $15 per lecture, free to members. 401-454-6530. RACHEL BERWICK, Nov. 4; TOOTS ZYNSKY, Dec. 9

Chinese Blue-and-White Porcelians of the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Nov. 12, 2 p.m., Danforth Lecture Hall, RISD, Providence. Traces evolution of the porcelian from the Yuan to the Ming. Free with museum admission.

The Deborah and Martin Hale Visiting Artists Lecture: Sally Mann: A Personal View, Nov. 20, 7 to 8 p.m., Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston. Sally Mann discusses her photographs. $18 seniors, students, MFA members, $22 general and non-members.

Psuedo-Archaeology: Supermarket Aisle Archaeology and the Bible, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Geological Lecture Hall, Harvard University, 24 Oxford St., Cambridge. Includes three presentations: A Tale of Two Tombs: Looking for Jesus and Herod's Burial Site; There Were Giants in the Earth in Those Days (Gen 6:4): The Sad Tale of the Cardiff Giant; Raiders of the Faux Art: From Noah's Ark to the Ark of of the Covenant and Beyond. Open house follows. 617-496-1027.

Outdoor/gardens

Burrage Pond State Wildlife Management Area, free walk through northern sections, Nov. 9, 10 a.m., sponsored by Mass Audubon, The Wildlands Trust, MassWildlife. Meet at Division of Fisheries and Wildlife parking lot on Hawkes Road off Pleasant Street in Hanson. Pre-registration requested. Contact pchapman@massaudubon.org or 508-828-1104.

Borderland State Park, 259 Massapoag Ave., Easton/Sharon line. 508-238-6566 or www.mass.gov/dcr/events.htm.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walk, 8 to 10:30 a.m., every Tues. Meet at the Charlestown Mini-Super on Route 1-A. Led by Phil Budlong. Free.

The Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. Open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues. through Sat. and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sun. $10/adults, $8/children 3-18. $5/Planetarium admission. $2.50/Explorer Express Train. $9/Tree Canopy Walkway (seasonal only) 508-929-2700 or www.ecotarium.org. Preschool Mornings, every Wed., 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Garden in the Woods - New England Flower Society, through Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; 180 Hemenway Rd., Framingham. One of New England's famous private gardens. $8/adults, $4/kids3-18; $6/seniors and students. 508-877-7630 or newenglandwild.org.

Big Bugs Exhibit, through Oct. 31, New England Wild Flower Society, Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Rd., Framingham. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Oct. 31. Sculpture exhibition features 1,500 kinds of native plants, 200 rare and endangered species on 45 acres of land. Guided walks at 10 a.m. on weekdays, 2 p.m. on weekends. $8/adults, $4/youths 3-18; $6/seniors, $6/students. 508-877-6553 or newenglandwild.org.

Poetry

Readings by the Writer, Nov. 13, 5 p.m., Ellison Lecture, Watson Fine Arts, Wheaton College, Norton. Marie Howe, poet. Free.

Arts & crafts

Rag and Bone Bindery Studio Open House, 1088 Main St., Pawtucket. 401-728-0762 or ragandbone.com.

Community Quilting, every Thurs., 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck St., Lowell. 978-452-4207 x19.

Fiber Art Basketry, Tues. and Thurs. 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River. $100/4 to 5 week session or 2 baskets. 508-678-0039 or www.ncfta.org.

Teen and Adult Drawing Classes, Tues. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River. $50/includes some materials. 508-678-0039 or www.ncfta.org.

Children's Drawing Classes, Sat. 10-noon, Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River. For ages 7- 12.508-678-0039 or www.ncfta.org.