Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore

For anyone interested in exploring ideas, asking questions, and digging into the thinking in our lives, this event is for you! The focus is on group discussion, with various formats possible. Some nights, we will discuss questions posed by participants. Other nights, we will read short passages from a philosophical text and discuss them. In all cases, no prep or philosophy background necessary. Join us!

Local Event: Philosophy Night

Middlesex County

Middletown

Connecticut

Philosophy Night

For anyone interested in exploring ideas, asking questions, and digging into the thinking in our lives, this event is for you!...

As a parenting educator with a deep history of working with high-needs children, award-winning author Kate Maupin introduces us to a neurodivergent family finding their place in post-pandemic Connecticut in a book talk about her first foray into fiction, Dead Batteries.

Local Event: Kate Maupin, "Dead Batteries"

Kate Maupin, "Dead Batteries"

As a parenting educator with a deep history of working with high-needs children, award-winning author Kate Maupin introduces us...

Love to read? You’re invited to the Wesleyan RJ Julia Silent Book Club! Join us each month at the bookstore for an hour of companionable silent reading. Feel free to bring your current read from home or ask our booksellers for a recommendation! We also provide time for optional mingling before and after the hour for those who’d like to get to know their fellow readers.
<ul><li>4:00-4:30pm: Optional Mingling Period</li><li>4:30-5:30pm: READING!</li><li>5:30-5:45pm: Optional Mingling Period</li></ul>
You’ll love Silent Book Club if:
<ul><li>You’re particular about what you read. (Choose your own book!)</li><li>You’re too busy for a traditional book club. (No deadlines here!)</li><li>You’re a little nervous about meeting new people. (Mingling is always optional!)</li><li>You want to schedule dedicated time on your calendar for reading. (Our Silent Book Club is a recurring monthly event!)</li></ul>
Invite your friends, peruse our shelves, and make yourself at home! Comic books, novels, audiobooks—every kind of reader is welcome. Whatever story you choose, we can’t wait to host you for a cozy night of bookish community at the Wesleyan RJ Julia Silent Book Club.

Local Event: Silent Book Club

Silent Book Club

Love to read? You’re invited to the Wesleyan RJ Julia Silent Book Club! Join us each month at the bookstore for an hour of...

Join Fredrik deBoer, local author and academic, as he presents a searing account of the ways in which mental health culture and online discourse distort our understanding of mental illness in a book talk discussing his latest work, All in Your Head.

Local Event: Fredrik deBoer, "All in Your Head"

Fredrik deBoer, "All in Your Head"

Join Fredrik deBoer, local author and academic, as he presents a searing account of the ways in which mental health culture and...

Help yourself to an ample serving of belly laughs at this deliciously humorous book talk! Together with Wesleyan's own Shapiro Center, the WRJJ Bookstore has set the table for critically acclaimed New Yorker cartoonists Roz Chast and Jason Adam Katzenstein to discuss their comic conversation, The Two Saddest Kitchens, in which they open the lid on the kinds of kitchen conundrums that may have fermented a tad too long.

Local Event: Roz Chast & Jason Adam Katzenstein, "The Two Saddest Kitchens"

Roz Chast & Jason Adam Katzenstein, "The Two...

Help yourself to an ample serving of belly laughs at this deliciously humorous book talk! Together with Wesleyan's own Shapiro...

Roz Chast & Jason Adam Katzenstein, "The Two Saddest Kitchens"

Tijae Pelletier

Chris Dehnel

Hartford Metropolitan Area

Rich Kirby

Durham-Middlefield

East Hampton-Portland

New Haven County

Vincent Salzo

Meriden

Hartford County

Rocky Hill

Michael Lemanski

Berlin

Wallingford

Newington

Wethersfield

The Haddams-Killingworth

Glastonbury

This is a weekly Open meeting of Gambler’s anonymous for anyone who is experiencing harm from Gambling. An open meeting includes those who gamble as well as those adversely affected by other persons Gambling. Your attendance and what is said in the meeting is kept in strict confidence.
 Enter “Rockfall Building” parking lot from Washington St. Enter building, door facing parking lot. Hallway to left, first room on right

Local Event: CT Gambling Harm - Hope & Help

CT Gambling Harm - Hope & Help

This is a weekly Open meeting of Gambler’s anonymous for anyone who is experiencing harm from Gambling. An open meeting...

Oct.24th St. Pius X Church Fair, Tag Sale & Free Hayrides

Fun Holiday Fair, Tag Sale, &amp; FREE Hayrides. Oct. 24, 9-3pm Rain or Shine!
St. Pius X&nbsp;Church. 310 Westfield St., Middletown, CT
Holiday crafts, local vendors selling their jewelry, jams, and more make perfect gifts. Fantastic raffle prizes and fun games too.&nbsp;
(Please.... purchases in cash or checks only.)
Why bake when you can stock up your freezer for the holidays with homemade breads, cakes, pies, &amp; cookies!
Pumpkins for sale and lunch too.
FREE children hayrides (weather permitting), free pumpkin painting, crafts &amp; games in the children's activity center.&nbsp;

Local Event: Oct. 24, St. Pius X Church Fair, Tag Sale & Free Hayrides

Oct. 24, St. Pius X Church Fair, Tag Sale &...

Fun Holiday Fair, Tag Sale, & FREE Hayrides. Oct. 24, 9-3pm Rain or Shine!
St. Pius X Church. 310 Westfield St., Middletown,...

Oct. 24, St. Pius X Church Fair, Tag Sale & Free Hayrides

The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center

The Mark Kaplan Jazz Quartet, one of New England’s premier jazz ensembles, will perform at The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center on Friday, October 23rd, from 7 - 9 p.m.&nbsp; The Buttonwood Tree is located at South Congregation Church, 9 Pleasant Street in Middletown, CT.&nbsp; General admission is $15; Student Discount, $10. Advanced tickets can be purchased at: &nbsp;<a href="https://buttonwood.networkforgood.com/events/96545-mark-kaplan-jazz-quartet" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://buttonwood.networkforgood.com/events/96545-mark-kaplan-jazz-quartet</a>

Local Event: The Mark Kaplan Jazz Quartet At The Buttonwood Tree

The Mark Kaplan Jazz Quartet At The Buttonwood...

The Mark Kaplan Jazz Quartet, one of New England’s premier jazz ensembles, will perform at The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts...

The Mark Kaplan Jazz Quartet At The Buttonwood Tree

Teaching artists working with young people know the moment well: a student acts out, goofs off, or simply shuts down, and there's no clear playbook for what to do next. Teaching artists need practical, trauma-informed tools to understand and effectively respond to the wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges that show up in their classrooms — and PAUSE is that tool.
And the way to truly learn PAUSE, and to be able to share it with others, is to first gift it to yourself. This highly experiential, interactive, and creative workshop invites teaching artists to experience and practice PAUSE for themselves — discovering the pathways to their own self-leadership amidst the many stressful circumstances they juggle in their roles — before considering how to bring it to their work with young people. Rather than a lecture on trauma-informed practice, this is an embodied, dynamic session — participants will move, reflect, share, role-play, and imagine together as they learn, practice, and embody a trauma-informed process.&nbsp; Experience how to access and operate from your inner source of calm, compassion, and confidence while interacting and leading your students.
PAUSE is informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), infusing best practices from the field of psychotherapy into a practical, everyday model for interactions, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. Rather than asking teaching artists to add one more separate protocol to their work, PAUSE offers a trauma-informed practice that can simply be infused into everything they're already doing.This workshop is made possible thanks to a grant from The Fund for Greater Hartford and is co-sponsored by The Teaching Artist Hub CT. The training will be led by Joanna Curry-Sartori and Dr. Julie Faude of the Self Leadership Collaborative.
Saturday, October 24&nbsp;from 1pm-5pm&nbsp;Cost: FREE with a Suggested Donation of $20. Program will be held in Middletown, CT.&nbsp;Application Required for Admission:&nbsp;<a href="https://forms.gle/nmKK6H1CMDzh4ifDA" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">forms.gle/nmKK6H1CMDzh4ifDA</a>

Local Event: Pause Within to Lead Without: Trauma-Informed Training for Teaching Artists

Pause Within to Lead Without: Trauma-Informed...

Teaching artists working with young people know the moment well: a student acts out, goofs off, or simply shuts down, and...

Pause Within to Lead Without: Trauma-Informed Training for Teaching Artists

First Church in Middletown, UCC, Congregational

Phantom of the Opera - the original silent movie - will be shown with live organ accompaniment by Shari Lucas, who's accompanied silent movies all over Connecticut over the past two decades. &nbsp;Ice cream social at 6pm in the parish hall , Phantom begins at 7pm. Suggested donation $5-$20.&nbsp;

Local Event: Silent Movie with Live Organ accompaniment by the amazing Shari Lucas

Silent Movie with Live Organ accompaniment by...

Phantom of the Opera - the original silent movie - will be shown with live organ accompaniment by Shari Lucas, who's...

Silent Movie with Live Organ accompaniment by the amazing Shari Lucas

The deKoven House

Join Artists for World Peace for a special screening of the 1928 silent version of The Fall of the House of Usher, featuring live musical accompaniment by The Flying Particles. This evocative evening includes free treats, an optional costume theme, and a $15 suggested donation to benefit the Children of Peace Project and Amazing Grace Food Pantry.

Local Event: The Fall of the House of Usher

The Fall of the House of Usher

Join Artists for World Peace for a special screening of the 1928 silent version of The Fall of the House of Usher, featuring...

Jay Estate

<img src="https://jayheritagecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Balloon-300x200.jpg">Jay Day is our classic fall family festival held annually at the 23-acre award-winning Jay Estate with offerings for everyone! Join us on Sunday, October 25 from 11am - 3pm. New this year in honor of the Montgolfier Brothers invention of the hot-air balloon in 1783 - you guessed it - learn all about the thermodynamics of these beautiful aircrafts from <a href="https://www.libertyballoon.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Liberty Balloon Company</a>. Enjoy outdoor activities and old-fashioned entertainment as we commemorate America 250 with a very special chance to see authentic centuries-old artifacts of the Revolutionary War at the historic first home of patriot and peacemaker John Jay. <a href="https://youtu.be/1-5rBwbfv08?si=7Y61Jf0fiNcaNAr2" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Watch a video from last year's festival here.&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/b5a7d988-48ca-4a56-bb9b-28da36e2bc0e" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">REGISTER HERE TO AVOID THE LINES.</a>
<img src="https://jayheritagecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Revisit-the-Rev-300x300.jpg">
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
* Silhouette artist <a href="https://www.sweet-silhouette.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Varin Acevado</a> will create heirloom portraits. * Stilt walkers &amp; jugglers ensure super photo ops for the whole family! * Professional facepainters from <a href="https://www.jamesdaniel.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">James Daniel Entertainment </a>will create butterflies and dragons with deft dabs of paint and glitter! * Join the <a href="https://www.ryetroop2.org/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Rye Boy Scouts Troop 2</a> for boat racing in the reflecting pool * Create your own take-home origami animals with talented volunteers from our Japanese community partners in Harrison. * Try your hand at special geocaching activities in honor of America at 250 highlighting John Jay's role as spymaster during the Revolutionary War. * Make a self-portrait with artist <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ellenjingxu/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Jing (Ellen) Xu </a>and ColorWorld. * Learn about robotics and STEAM with <a href="https://www.makeinspires.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">MakeInspires.</a> * Don't miss the rocket show with <a href="https://newyorkcity.madscience.org/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Mad Science!</a> * Pony rides and the petting zoo are family favorites!

ALL AGES
* Self-guided tours of<a href="https://parks.ny.gov/history/rev-war?utm_campaign=NYSOGS+Parks-RevWar250&amp;utm_source=Google&amp;utm_medium=Search&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23972741403&amp;gbraid=0AAAABD-CRbX_77SLGE4f5AlYAwtMckwIS&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwlsfWBhD4ARIsACL7p1GnNW59-3sZb1eG8wDrPXmniU0OpY52GakfKQTDy-DZfXtRno0_JBwaAnZYEALw_wcB" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> Revisit the Revolution Exhibit</a> at the Jay Mansion. * Self-guided tours of the award-winning Jay Estate Gardens (2022 NYS Nonprofit Excellence, 2023 ICAA Landscape Design, 2026 GCA Historic Preservation). * Nibble on savories from food trucks and local favorites like Cousins Lobster Roll, Jimmy's Soft Serve, Crazy Taco Mex, Food Truck Refinery, Westchester Burger and Mangones Market. * LIVE Music from <a href="https://www.brooklynbluegrass.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Brooklyn Bluegrass Collective</a>. * Horse-drawn Carriage Rides by Pelham Bit Carriages. * Shop for the holidays early or for any occasion - explore gorgeous jewelry, sweaters, fine art photographs, handcrafted Japanese pottery from <a href="https://nslifestyles.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">NS Lifestyles</a>, <a href="https://shopthebeehive.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Beehive</a>, <a href="https://www.crichlowfineart.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Crichlow Fine Art</a>, <a href="https://hirokosceramics.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Hiroko's Ceramics</a> and many more bespoke offerings from our vendors * Learn about 10,000 years of archaeology beneath our feet with Dr. Eugene Boesch.
More activities being added every day! Admission is $50 per family and $20 individual.
Thank you to our Jay Day Co-Chairs Lindsay Bello Martin, Claire Weschler, Jennifer Soliman and Julia Thalhammer and 2026 RCDS Community Engagement Fellow Ellora Shah.&nbsp;
More volunteers welcome! Contact us at <a href="mailto:jayheritagecenter@gmail.com">jayheritagecenter@gmail.com</a> to sign up for a shift.
The Jay Heritage Center (JHC) is a dynamic nonprofit which manages the Jay Estate in Rye, New York. The 23-acre park that they have preserved and interpreted since 1992 is an award-winning culture hub and wildlife refuge on Long Island Sound. Located in the heart of Westchester’s only National Historic Landmark District, the site welcomes visitors April through November to learn about our nation’s flawed yet precious democracy through indoor and outdoor public programs. Offerings about American History feature prominent writers and educators. Free horticulture and birding workshops teach guests about native plants and wildlife. Family-friendly concerts draw hundreds for old-fashioned fun and unplugged enjoyment. The site is a member of NY State's Path Through History and Westchester County's African American Heritage Trail. Sign up to volunteer or access all they offer at <a href="https://jayheritagecenter.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.jayheritagecenter.org</a>
<img src="https://jayheritagecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Vendors-300x300.jpg">

Local Event: Jay Day - Fall Family Festival

Westchester County

New York

Jay Day - Fall Family Festival

Jay Day is our classic fall family festival held annually at the 23-acre award-winning Jay Estate with offerings for everyone!...

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Tijae Pelletier, Neighbor

Posting Activity

Philosophy Night

OCT

24

5:30 PM

Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St, Middletown, CT

Kate Maupin, "Dead Batteries"

OCT

28

6:00 PM

Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St, Middletown, CT

Silent Book Club

NOV

1

4:00 PM

Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St, Middletown, CT

Fredrik deBoer, "All in Your Head"

NOV

2

6:00 PM

Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St, Middletown, CT

Roz Chast & Jason Adam Katzenstein, "The Two Saddest Kitchens"

NOV

19

6:00 PM

Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St, Middletown, CT

CT Gambling Harm - Hope & Help

Oct. 24, St. Pius X Church Fair, Tag Sale & Free Hayrides

The Mark Kaplan Jazz Quartet At The Buttonwood Tree

Pause Within to Lead Without: Trauma-Informed Training for Teaching Artists

Silent Movie with Live Organ accompaniment by the amazing Shari Lucas

The Fall of the House of Usher

Jay Day - Fall Family Festival