“Detecting Bats,” West Penjajawoc Grasslands, Bangor

July 20-23, Thursday-Sunday, 6pm/Thurs.-Sat, 4pm/Sun, “Merry Wives of Windsor,” Sir John Falstaff is up to his usual tricks. Justice Shallow and his cousin, Slender, complain to Sir Hugh Evans that Falstaff has swindled them. Evans suggests they forget their grievances and that Slender court Anne Page, Master Page’s daughter. The unrepentant Falstaff arrives on the scene, admitting to the swindle. Later, he decides to generate some income for himself. Convinced that both women are enamored of him, he writes identical love letters to Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, intending to gain access to their husbands’ wealth. This is one of the great comic plays by William Shakespeare. The themes of the play include love and marriage, jealousy and revenge, class and wealth. Sir John Falstaff first deceives the wives. The wives in turn then deceive Falstaff. Falstaff gets into trouble because he is insincere, pretending to be in love when all he is really interested in is money. The ladies turn the tables on Falstaff, and he gets his just desserts in the end. Falstaff is one of the most popular of all the characters devised by William Shakespeare, outside venue, bring blankets, folding chairs and a picnic, $10, Indian Trail Park, Indian Trail Lane, Brewer. FMI: 207-844-1030, www.tenbuckstheatre.org.
July 20-23, Thursday-Sunday, 7pm/Thurs.-Sat, 3pm/Sun, “The Addams Family, A New Musical Comedy,” a magnificently macabre musical featuring everyone’s favorite creepy next door neighbors, the Addams family! Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a (blech!) normal young man. Now Gomez Addams must face every father’s nightmare: meeting his daughter’s boyfriend for the first time…, see site for ticketing details, Penobscot Theatre, Bangor Opera House, 131 Main Street, Bangor. FMI: 207-942-3333, www.penobscottheatre.org.
July 21-23, 7am/start time, “Orrington’s Endless Yard Sale,” thousands of treasure seekers have made Orrington, Maine the best place in region to find the most incredible bargains. Be a part of the “thrill of the hunt” as you scour the bins, boxes, tables, lawns and garages at over 100 households participating in this annual extravaganza all over the town of Orrington. Past finds have included handmade canoes, antique Christmas ornaments, designer handbags, and of course, lots of furniture, books, clothing, children’s merchandise and so much more! Most sales start early in the morning and end in the afternoon. All yard sale locations, dates and times are listed on a handy treasure map, Downtown, Orrington. FMI: www.OrringtonOldHomeWeek.com.
July 21, Friday, 8pm, “Detecting Bats,” meet at Bangor Land Trust’s West Penjajawoc Grassland preserve kiosk at the end of Fox Hollow Drive on Friday, July 21 at 8:00 pm to learn how to detect bats with bat biologist, Katelin Craven. Sunset is at 8:12. We’ll have a short talk while there is still some light and then we can watch and listen for the bats in the dusk. Please be prepared to hike in tall grass, West Penjajawoc Grasslands, Fox Hollow Drive, Bangor. FMI: 207-942-1010, bangorlandtrust.org.
July 22, Saturday, 9am, “Pleasant Lake Paddle and Aquatic Plant I.D,” have you ever viewed underwater plants through an aqua scope? Now’s your chance during this leisurely paddle on Pleasant Lake in Stetson on Saturday, July 22. Aquascopes eliminate surface glare and reveal the world of undulating aquatic flora. Easy ways to identify plants will be explained by Mark Whiting, a trained botanist. Whiting worked for the Department of Environmental Protection for 23 years and serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District. A lunchtime break and aquatic show and tell will be held at Pleasant Lake Preserve. A 100-acre wooded peninsula jutting into the lake, Pleasant Lake Preserve was donated to the Sebasticook Regional Land Trust by Ken Hewitt to assure permanent public access, $5/donation, Pleasant Lake, Boat Ramp, Stetson. FMI: 207-948-3766, www.sebasticookrlt.org.
July 22, Saturday, 7:30pm, “The Skyliners,” this 13 piece Big-Band performs dance music in the tradition of Glen Miller and Count Basie. Favorite arrangements from the 40’s and 50’s as well as Swing, Jazz, Pop, Waltz and Latin numbers. Beer and wine available for purchase for those 21+, $10, Between Friends Art Center, Next Generation Theatre, 39 Center Street, Brewer. FMI: 207-989-7100, www.nextgenerationtheatre.com.
July 23, Sunday, 6pm, “Murder is for the Birds,” the Seal Cove Auto Museum will host a murder mystery dinner amid its collection of elegant early 1900s automobiles, “Murder is for the Birds” is a classic whodunit, a play in three acts written by local murder mystery authors Bob and Robin Lawton. Guests will be transported back to July of 1909, when an eclectic mix of auto racers gather in Bar Harbor for a two-day road rally. But the event goes horribly awry when a murder occurs! It is the task of the guests to unravel the mystery and identify the killer before dessert is served. Tickets include a seated gourmet dinner by Big Cat Catering, wine, beer, and the museum’s signature Rusticator Rum Punch cocktail. Guests will also have the opportunity to take short rides in the museum’s antique automobiles. Commemorative wineglasses will be given to guests to take home, and additional gifts will be awarded as prizes to those who determine the killer. While costumes are optional, guests who want to fully immerse themselves in the time of the story are welcome to dress in period attire. Three framed John James Audubon prints will be auctioned off the night of the murder mystery dinner. The prints feature three Maine seabirds: a roseate tern, puffins, and herring gulls. Valued at over $150 each, these beautiful prints were donated by Dick and Barbara Fox, $75/members, $100/nonmembers, Seal Cove Auto Museum, 1414 Tremont Rd, Seal Cove. FMI: 207-244-9242, www.sealcoveautomuseum.org.