THINGS TO DO ON MOUNT DESERT ISLAND THIS WEEK
And in the near future.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden.
THINGS TO DO
It’s our weekly round-up, and we may have missed some things, so apologies! If you have something you’d like in here, please let me know.
Also, you may have to click through to see everything. There are so many things that this email is a bit long for a lot of inboxes.
We hope you have some great adventures this week!
To check out our news stories from the past week. Click on the archive section and you’ll see them in chronological order.
WHAT IS OPEN FOR RESTAURANTS?
This list is constantly updated by Jennifer Cough at First Express and she lets us share her latest version. This often changes and tweaks throughout the week, so for the absolute latest version, head to that First Express page or Jennifer’s page, which are on Facebook.
ARTWAVES CLASSES AND EVENTS
ArtWaves often has classes, a variety every week. For the updated selection, check out its website here
JESUP EVENTS
For a full list of Jesup Memorial Library events, click through to its calendar here.
EVENTS AT THE GILLEY
For a full list of Gilley events, click here.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE SCHEDULE
The calendar is here.
MDI YMCA
Events are here and the gym schedule is here. You can peruse its website for other schedules.
NORTHEAST HARBOR LIBRARY
A list of events is here.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR LIBRARY
A list of events is here.
SOMESVILLE LIBRARY
A list of events is here.
THE COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC
A list of events is here. Make sure to choose “open to the public” on the side bar.
MDI HIGH SCHOOL
A list of events is here.
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A list of events is here.
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND ADULT EDUCATION
A list of classes and events is here.
MONDAY, JANUARY 6
AUDITIONS FOR ACT’S HOLIDAY SHOW - Wizard of Oz
NORTHEAST HARBOR—Acadia Community Theater will be holding auditions for its musical, Wizard of Oz, on Monday, January 6 and Thursday, January 9 from 6-8 p.m. at the Northeast Harbor Library.
Auditions will be held on both nights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., but it is suggested that those auditioning arrive early to register and warm up. Roles are available for all ages. Children must be 7 years or older before May 2025 to audition. Audition materials can be found in advance on ACT’s website at acadiacommunitytheater.net.
The show will be directed by Matt and Angel Hochman and produced by Kate Young. For more information contact acadiacommunitytheater@gmail.com. Rehearsals will start the week of January 13, and the show will be performed in the spring.
The Wizard of Oz is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatrical Licensing. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by Concord Theatricals.
LEGO CLUB!
Divine Play Yoga at the Neighborhood House
Mon/Wed; 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Cost: $15/class
with Mike Bouscaren
Dear Yogis,
You’ll recall that our flow yoga classes progressively tease out more body aliveness and mental acuity in you. And they’re fun!
For one hour you alone as do others around you, return to the grounded center that is the unburdened original self. Freer in every way.
You’ll walk away feeling more open, calmer, and sharp. And mightily prepared for whatever the day throws at you.
Divine Play yoga invites you to shine, to be your best, to transform into a Beacon of Joy. It works!
Register: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19801383
Monday events via the Bar Harbor Chamber:
None are listed
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7
Play Reading of Reef Point about Beatrix Farrand’s Lost Garden by Carolyn Gage
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Join us at the Southwest Harbor Public Library on Tuesday, January, 7 from 5:30-7:00 p.m., experience “Reef Point”, the debut play reading by local playwright Carolyn Gage. “Reef Point” is a new, one-act play about the Bar Harbor estate of the legendary landscape architect Beatrix Farrand and about her sudden decision in 1954 to dismantle her home and sell off the gardens. The reading will take place in the library with online viewing available.
To register to attend in person or online, visit https://tinyurl.com/y4vb6ep5, call 207-244-7065, or email programs@swhplibrary.org. For more info about Carolyn Gage, visit https://carolyngage.weebly.com
OPEN TABLE MDI!
Open Table MDI is at 116 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor.
Move Free Run Club
BAR HARBOR—The runs take place every week of the year and meet Tuesdays at 6 p.m. from the Bar Harbor Village Green and Sundays at 7:30 a.m. from Choco Latte.
TWO SHOES LINE DANCING!
Tuesday events via the Chamber:
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8
PFAS IN TREMONT
BOOK GROUP!
UNDERSTANDING BULLYING
GUIDED MEDITATION
CHRONICLES OF YARNIA
BLOCK PARTY!
Baby Storytime at Southwest Harbor
10:00 a.m. Southwest Harbor Public Library. Stories, songs, rhymes, bubbles. www.swhplibrary.org. 207-244-7065.
Library hours 9-5, Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri., 9-8 Wed., 9-1 Sat.
Wednesday events via the Chamber:
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9
AUDITIONS FOR ACT’S HOLIDAY SHOW - Wizard of Oz
NORTHEAST HARBOR—Acadia Community Theater will be holding auditions for its musical, Wizard of Oz, on Monday, January 6 and Thursday, January 9 from 6-8 p.m. at the Northeast Harbor Library.
Auditions will be held on both nights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., but it is suggested that those auditioning arrive early to register and warm up. Roles are available for all ages. Children must be 7 years or older before May 2025 to audition. Audition materials can be found in advance on ACT’s website at acadiacommunitytheater.net.
The show will be directed by Matt and Angel Hochman and produced by Kate Young. For more information contact acadiacommunitytheater@gmail.com. Rehearsals will start the week of January 13, and the show will be performed in the spring.
The Wizard of Oz is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatrical Licensing. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by Concord Theatricals.
CHICKADEE BOOK CLUB
STITCHES KNITTING GROUP!
Stitches Knitting & Crochet Group meets weekly at the Trenton Town Office (59 Oak Point Rd), Wednesdays 3-5pm. All levels are welcome. FMI contact Christina Heiniger at fernhousestudio@outlook.com
FIGURE DRAWING AT ARTWAVES
Thursday events via the Chamber:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10
Gilley Winter Session Opens with Raptor Drawing, Paint ‘n’ Sip
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—The Wendell Gilley Museum kicks off its Winter Session with two different art workshops. First up is a Paint ‘n’ Sip of chickadees on a snowy branch on Friday, Jan. 10 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with instructor Erika Rosso. She will guide students step by step through the process, explaining each step along the way. Sip on wine, tea or seltzer as part of this adults-only class, which is suitable for artists of all levels who are at least 21 years old. All materials and beverages provided.
To sign up for any program, or for more information, visit the Gilley’s website at www.wendellgilleymuseum.org or call us at 207-244-7555.
FUN FRIDAY!
Family Storytime at Southwest Harbor
10:00 a.m. Southwest Harbor Public Library. Interactive books, puppets, songs, movements, bubbles.
Library hours 9-5, Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri., 9-8 Wed., 9-1 Sat.
Friday events via the Chamber:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11
BOOM CONCERT!
BAR HARBOR—Heidi Powell, baroque violin & Max Treitler, baroque cello of Baroque Orchestra of Maine (BOOM) will present a concert on Saturday, January 11 at 4pm at Bar Harbor Congregational Church.
Baroque Orchestra of Maine or BOOM will present a concert on Saturday, January 11 at 4pm at Bar Harbor Congregational Church. Heidi Powell, baroque violin and Max Treitler, baroque cello will perform baroque music on period instruments. The concert will feature the popular work 'Autumn' from the 4 Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi, as well as a Concerto from 'La Stravaganza' by Vivaldi and sonatas by George Frederick Handel, Heinrich Biber & Archangelo Corelli. Tickets are available at the door by cash or check or on the group website by Paypal. Adults are $25, students are free. For more information about the performers or the concert call 207-479-2845, e-mail fiddleheadheidi@hotmail.com or visit: baroqueorchestraofmaine.org
ARTIST AT THE GILLEY!
On Saturday, Jan. 11, wildlife artist and Maine Master Naturalist Michael Boardman will lead a two-hour workshop on learning to field sketch with a focus on birds of prey. He will guide students through work on body shapes and details specific to raptors, with a concentration on drawing with students’ own favorite tools. Class will be part lecture, part demo and part hands-on using mounted specimens. If time allows there may be a watercolor demo at the end. Some basic drawing skills coming in will be helpful but are not absolutely necessary. Supplies will be on hand but feel free to bring your own as well.
To sign up for any program, or for more information, visit the Gilley’s website at www.wendellgilleymuseum.org or call us at 207-244-7555.
PRAYER SHAWL MISSION GROUP
Welcoming all knitters and would be knitters…and crocheters! The Welcome and Care Team at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church UCC is hosting a weekly Prayer Shawl Mission Group every Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church UCC. The intention of the group is to create a sense of community and a flow of Prayer Shawls for distribution to those in need of comfort due to illness, loneliness, or loss. Supplies and instruction will be provided to those with skills for knitting and/or crocheting and for those with a desire to learn.
There are no costs to the participants.
For more information contact Pat by calling (203) 770-0063 or email: pgdizazzo@yahoo.com.
Saturday events via the Chamber:
SUNDAY, JANUARY 12
Sunday events via the Chamber:
None listed
FUTURE EVENTS:
JANUARY 14 PEOPLE NATURE ART
The Gilley Museum’s monthly People-Nature-Art series continues each month, beginning with Amy Pollien on Tuesday, Jan. 14. And there are two new art exhibits up: in the Special Exhibits Gallery we have works by woodblock printer Dan Miller, and in the Main Gallery we are featuring works by Islesford painter Rick Alley, Jr. who has won the Maine Duck Stamp Contest more than any artist in the contest’s history.
To sign up for any program, or for more information, visit the Gilley’s website at www.wendellgilleymuseum.org or call us at 207-244-7555.
CONTRA DANCING AT THE JESUP
JANUARY 25 AUTHOR TALK
FEBRUARY 8 SUGAR SHOWDOWN
JANUARY 23 BOOK CLUB
JANUARY 30 BOOK CLUB
JANUARY 27 CRAFTERNOON
JANUARY 18 STICKER SWAP
FEBRUARY 14 CRAFTERNOON
Advance Screening and Discussion of Free for All: The Public Library – Wednesday, January 22 at 5:30pm in person
The Northeast Harbor Library will host an advance public screening of the documentary Free for All: The Public Library on Wednesday January 22nd at 5:30pm. A discussion with Northeast Harbor Library Director Amy Wisehart will follow the screening. This free public screening is made possible by Indie Lens Pop-Up, a national community series that brings people together for film screenings and conversations. The film will air on PBS in April.
Free for All: The Public Library tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all.
FEBRURARY 8 FROST FAIR
JANUARY 16 Author Talk: Loving the North Woods, 25 Years of Historic Conservation in Maine
Thursday, January 16, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
BAR HARBOR—In the upcoming book talk Loving the North Woods, Karin Tilberg, one of Maine’s experts on Maine’s vast woodlands and highly regarded past-president/CEO of the Forest Society of Maine, will outline the difficult challenges that led to tremendous conservation successes during a remarkable period of activity from 1990 to 2015.
WINTER FARMERS AND MAKERS MARKET
JANUARY 13—Unlocking the Secrets of Vision Restoration
Online event via Zoom
5 p.m.
Zebrafish have a superpower: the ability to regenerate damaged tissues—eyes included! New groundbreaking research explores how we can apply these remarkable healing mechanisms to humans. Could this lead to real treatments for vision loss?
Join Dr. Romain Madelaine and his team at MDI Biological Laboratory for an exciting look into how zebrafish are revolutionizing our understanding of eye diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Don’t miss out on this online-only journey into the future of vision science. Together, we might just unlock the secrets to better sight for all.
JANUARY 18—JOEL RAYMOND TRIBUTE PARTY
JANUARY 30—JOY EXISTS! SAILHOUSE DISPLAY BY REBECCA BRUGMAN
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Visit the Southwest Harbor Public Library during the month of January to view a unique display documenting the creation of Rebecca Brugman’s Sailhouse, first conceived during the pandemic as quiet shelter in the woods made from the repurposed sail into what has become a mentored wellness experience. Through a series of photo books and video of the structure assembled with the wind breathing life into the sail, Rebecca brings the Sailhouse experience out of the woods and to our community. View original art pieces by local artists that accompany Rebecca’s Sailhouse fable. The Sailhouse will be exhibited in the library’s display case through Thursday, January 30th during library hours: 9-5, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9-8 Wed; and Sat 9-1.
FEBRUARY 4 & 5 ACADIA WINTERLUDE AND THE PINE TREE FLYERS
It may be cold outside, but the first-ever Winterlude is our way of giving back to the local community that has given our flagship June festival such a warm welcome. In addition to fulfilling our 501(c)(3) nonprofit mission by bringing traditional music into local schools, all door proceeds from both evening events will go to Open Table MDI, an organization dedicated to alleviating hunger and food insecurity on Mount Desert Island and beyond.
There’s no advance registration or RSVP required to attend either evening event. But to let us know you’re coming, ask a question or sign up to volunteer, please contact the leaders of our community outreach committee, Adam McLean, Eloise Schultz or Troy Jordan.
The Pine Tree Flyers are heading to Bar Harbor for the first-ever Acadia Trad Winterlude, February 4-5, 2025 – and you’re invited too!
The Pine Tree Flyers’ two-day residency on Mount Desert Island will consist of daytime educational visits to four local elementary schools, as well as two exciting evening events open to the public. Are you within range of Bar Harbor? You won’t want to miss these…bring your family and friends!
Community Tune Workshop & Open Jam with the Pine Tree Flyers
Tuesday, February 4th at 6:30-8:30pm
Jesup Memorial Library, Bar Harbor, ME
$10-$20 suggested donation
All instruments and experience levels welcome
Pine Tree Flyers Concert & Contradance (Chrissy Fowler calling)
Wednesday, February 5th at 7:00pm (doors 6:30pm)
Gates Auditorium, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME
$10-$20 suggested donation (free for COA students and staff)
Open band, all instruments and experience levels welcome
New Saturday Storytime every other week
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Looking for a fun and engaging experience with your family? Drop in to the Southwest Harbor Public Library on Saturdays, every other week at 10:00 a.m., for a new family storytime with Ms. Lia ana. Listen to stories, sing songs, pop bubbles and more. Be sure to also join us for our weekly storytimes on Wednesdays (babytime) and Fridays (family storytime) at 10:00 a.m.
ONGOING:
GET YOUR HERO ON!
ICE QUILTING DERBY
BAR HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
To check if Bar Harbor Fire Department is currently hiring, please go to the town’s jobs page.
But even if it isn’t, you can become a call member
Becoming a call force firefighter requires extensive training, hard work, and dedication to the community. We rely on call force firefighters to respond quickly to emergencies, to perform firefighting duties, and to provide assistance and support to career firefighters. To be a fall force firefighter is to have a chance to aid and serve the community, which is an extremely rewarding experience.
Get Your Knowledge On!
ASC Racial Justice Book Group
Are you interested in joining us? We are open to new members who want to share in the reading and the hard work that ensues as we examine the underpinnings of systemic racism and its effects on society and on each of us individually, in the ultimate hope that our studies can work toward change.
We have been meeting once a month on the second Tuesday of the month from 10:30- 12:15.
We started with the basic readings of How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee. We then spent many months delving deeply into The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones.
Since then, we’ve read some James Baldwin, Colon Whitehead, Zora Neale Hurston, Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., Clint Smith and many others. We look forward in the next few months to reading some James McBride and Bryan Stevenson. We also share articles of interest that deal with the issues we’re facing.
If the truly hard, but most meaningful, work we are doing to examine our society, culture and ourselves sounds like something that interests you, please contact me at rjbg2021@gmail.com or 207-664-9954.
Read more about the book group
GET YOUR VOLTA ON!
Volta, in Trenton, has a ton of things always going on. You can check that out here.
GET YOUR FITNESS, DANCE AND WELLNESS ON!
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE!
The Neighborhood House has a slew of classes to help you get your fitness on. Descriptions are at its website.
MDI YMCA!
The MDI YMCA’s program guide is here.
DOWNEAST COMMUNITY DANCE
Downeast Community Dance
Free form dance, conscious or ecstatic, not facilitated. Come drop into your own joyful movement.
This is now held the first, third, and fifth Sunday of the month at 10 a.m. at ArtWaves Dance Studio. For more information, contact Susan at 207-801-9023, or susan.sassaman@proton.me
Location:
Dance Studio at ArtWaves, 1345A State Highway 102, Bar Harbor
GET YOUR MUSIC ON!
THE FINBACK ALEHOUSE
The Finback has entertainment most nights in Bar Harbor. The schedule is posted every Tuesday.
THE NOR’EASTER
The Nor’Easter has music every Saturday night from 8-10 in the summer and 7-9 in the winter in Northeast Harbor.
QUICK NOTE
“Things To Do” is mostly curated by me looking for things happening in the upcoming week, which takes a lot of time and I truly do not know all that is going on.
If there’s something in Bar Harbor (or MDI or Trenton or Ellsworth) that you’d like me to mention, please let me know, because I’m definitely always missing some events every week.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here.
If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR COMMUNITY