• BENEFITS
Claddagh Mhor Pipe Band Presents “Comics for Kilts,” proceeds will go towards the purchase of equipment and uniforms for the band, Maine Irish Heritage Center, Portland. $20; two for $30. claddaghmhor.com. Cash bar opens at 7 p.m.; show at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Southern Maine Pickin’ Society Headlining Dinner and Fundraiser, music and dinner, benefits American Liver Foundation, Falmouth Congregational Church. $12; $20 per couple; $30 per family. runningfortigerlily.com. 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
“Pastabilities 4.0,” Waterfall Arts fourth annual family “fun(d)raiser” with a pasta dinner, music by Noah Fishman and a silent auction, Waterfall Arts, Belfast. $15; $5 for children under age 12. waterfallarts.org. 5 and 6:30 p.m. seatings Monday.
Rippleffect Gala, dancing, food, raffle and live auction; benefits Rippleffect Scholarship Program; Ocean Gateway Terminal, Portland. $50. rippleeffect.net. 6 to 10 p.m. March 1.
• FAIRS/FESTIVALS
Longfellow Days, monthlong celebration of readings, tours, dinners, films and more honoring Henry W. Longfellow, various locations, Brunswick. Various prices. brunswickdowntown.com/longfellowdays. Through Sunday.
Laser Fest, laser-light shows including “Laser U2,” “Laser Spirit,” “Laser Mania,” “Hypnotica” and more; University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $5, plus $1 for 3-D glasses. Call for show schedule: 780-4249. Noon, 2, 3, 7 and 8 p.m. today and Friday; 1, 3, 7 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday.
24th Annual Family Fest, outdoor winter family fun, poker run, snow volleyball tournament, pie-eating contest and ugliest ski sweater contest, Shawnee Peak, Bridgton. Free. 647-8444. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.
Longfellow Days: Cabaret Valentine Buffet, buffet of desserts, cheeses and beverages, plus music, love letters and poetry from Maine State Music Theatre; The Inn at Brunswick Station. $25; reservations required. 729-4439. 7 p.m. Friday.
Bethel Winterfest, Nordic and Alpine skiing events, snowboarding, snowmobiling, rail jams, sledding, scenic airplane rides, demonstrations and more; various locations, Bethel. bethelwinterfest.com. 5:15 to 9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to about 7 p.m. Saturday.
Signature Event, fine cocktails and confectionary creations, kickoff to Maine Restaurant Week, Portland Harbor Hotel. $35; four for $120. mainerestaurantweek.com. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Wines Around the World, Maine Restaurant Week event; culinary journey to Argentina, Italy, Spain, France and the U.S.; The Inn at Brunswick Station. $45; includes wine, food, tax and tip. 837-6565. 6 p.m. March 1.
• SPECIAL EVENTS
FRIDAY
“Search for the Solar System’s Edge,” planetarium show, University of Southern Maine (Southworth Planetarium), Portland. $4, $6. usm.maine.edu/planet. 1 p.m.
Phyzgig, with AudioBody, Randy Judkins and Norman Ng, plus lobby magic by Dan Link, Westbrook Performing Arts Center. $16; $10 for ages 12 and younger. acorn-productions.org. 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Annual Longfellow Birthday Party, readings of Longfellow poems by MPBN’s Irwin Gratz and state Rep. Herb Adams, Maine Historical Society, Portland. mainehistory.org. 10 a.m.
“Longfellow and Bull: The Poet and the Virtuoso,” illustrated talk by Charles Kaufmann, Maine Historical Society, Portland. mainehistory.org. 1 p.m.
Maine Roller Derby: Calamity Janes vs. Montreal Sexpos, Happy Wheels Skate Center, Portland. $5. mainerollerderby.com. 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Winter Family Fun Day, dog-sled rides, ice harvesting, ice-sculpting demonstrations, nature hikes and more, Aroostook State Park, Presque Isle. $1.50; free for children and seniors. parksandlands.com. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Simply Southern Italian Cooking and Wine Series, cooking and wine class presented by the Chadwick, Newfangled Eats and Wine Wine, 21-plus; Chadwick Bed and Breakfast, Portland. $75; $125 per couple. 774-5141. 6 to 9 p.m.
SUNDAY
Fort Andross Winter Antique Show, dealers from all over New England, Fort Andross, Brunswick. Free admission. 522-1977. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
MONDAY
Storytime in the Garden, hourlong stories read by Pat Jeremiah, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay. Free. 633-4333. 10 a.m.
WEDNESDAY
“The Iraq War from a Maine Perspective,” Salt Institute hosts an evening dedicated to soldiers fighting in Iraq and their families featuring the Portland premiere of the Maine-made documentary “Welcome to Lee Maine,” discussion with Portland Press Herald columnist Bill Nemitz and photojournalist Gregory Rec, Cinemagic Grand, South Portland. $6. salt.edu. 7 p.m.
MARCH 1
Maine Beer Co. Beer Dinner, four-course dinner paired with beers from Maine Beer Co., 50 Local, Kennebunk. $55, includes tax and tip. localkennebunk.com. 6 p.m.
• FILMS
TODAY
2012 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films, Space Gallery, Portland. $8. space538.org. 7:30 p.m.
“Windfall” (2012), award-winning documentary about wind power, Carrabassett Community Library, Carrabassett Valley. Free. 628-2070. 7 p.m.
“The Wind Journeys” (2009), Maine premiere of award-winning film, in Spanish with English subtitles, post-screening discussion, Rockland Public Library. Free. 594-0310. 6:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
“Windfall” (2012), award-winning documentary about wind power, New Portland Community Room. Free. 628-2070. 6 p.m.
SATURDAY
2012 Oscar Nominated Live Action Short Films, Space, Portland. $8. space538.org. 7:30 p.m.
“The Princess Bride” (1987, rated PG), Long Branch School & General Store, Bowdoinham. Free. 699-8900. 6 p.m.
SUNDAY
Annual Oscar Party, watch the Oscars live in HD on the big screen, plus red carpet and prizes, Strand Theatre, Rockland. Free. rocklandstrand.com. 6:30 p.m.
“The Debt” (2011, rated R), York Public Library. Free. 363-2818. 3 p.m.
TUESDAY
“Windfall” (2012), award-winning documentary about wind power, Unity Centre for the Performing Arts. Free. 948-7469. 7 p.m.
MARCH 1
“Windfall” (2012), award-winning documentary about wind power, Skowhegan Free Library. Free. 628-2070. 6 p.m.
“The Prep School Negro” (2011), documentary screening with outreach workshop featuring film director Andre Robert Lee, University of New England (Ludcke Auditorium), Portland. Free. friendsschoolofportland.org. 6 p.m.
• BOOKS/AUTHORS
TODAY
Luann Yetter, author of “Portland’s Past: Stories from the City by the Sea,” Maine Maritime Museum, Bath. $7; $5 for members. mainemaritimemuseum.org. 7 p.m.
Poet Carolyn Gelland, author of “Four Alarm House,” Farmington Public Library. Free. 778-4312. 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
June O’Donal, author of “The Fryeburg Chronicles: Book I — The Amazing Grace 1765-1784,” Portland Public Library. Free. portlandlibrary.com. Noon.
SATURDAY
Chris Van Dusen, author of “Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit,” and Matt Tavares, author of “There Goes Ted Williams,” Kennebooks, Kennebunk. 967-6136. 10:30 a.m.
Kristen Lindquist and Morgan Callan Rogers, birthday party for the store, Gulf of Maine Books, Brunswick. gulfofmainebooks.com. 3 p.m.
February Blues Book Bash, several independent authors read and sign their books, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick. Free. 594-0091. 12:30 to 4 p.m.
Rebekah Raye, art workshop and book reading by children’s book author and illustrator, Maine State Museum, Augusta. Free. mainestatemuseum.org. 11 a.m.
TUESDAY
Maine Historical Society Book Group, Jane Brox’s “Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light” and other selected readings, Maine Historical Society, Portland. $10 to $20 for four sessions. mainehistory.org. 7 p.m.
Port Veritas Spoken Word Night, weekly poetry reading, Local Sprouts Cooperative, Portland. Free/donation. localsprouts.coop. 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Morgan Callan Rogers, author of “Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea,” Patten Free Library, Bath. Free. 443-5141. 6:30 p.m.
• PRO SPORTS
Portland Pirates, AHL affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland. $12 to $20. portlandpirates.com. Vs. Springfield, 4 p.m. Sunday.
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