Community Calendar

Author Liv Constantine, in conversation with Tessa Wright, will discuss her new book, Promise Me Never, at Fairfield Public Library. NYT-bestselling author Constantine's newest book is an unmissable thriller about a woman who becomes embroiled in the mystery of her husband's deceased first wife.

Join us for refreshments at 5:30pm, followed by the author talk, a Q&A session, and book signing. Books will be available for purchase from Barrett Bookstore.

This event is FREE; registration is required.

Explore the beauty of our local native plants and the invasive species currently threatening their survival. Learn critical identification tips and actionable strategies to help preserve our community’s natural habitat.

We welcome back Jim Natale of Wilder Gardens.

Presented by BookHampton and Guild Hall

One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2026 at People, Esquire, TIME Magazine, Oprah Daily, Today.com, Brit + Co, Alta Journal, Barnes & Noble, Lit Hub, and The Seattle Times.

“No one writing in English is funnier or more charming than Andrew Greer. Every sentence in this novel sings.” —David Sedaris

Pulitzer Prize–winning author Andrew Sean Greer (Less) joins us to celebrate his new novel, Villa Coco.

Hailed as the “Future Undisputed Book of Summer 2026,” Villa Coco is a dazzling, sun-soaked ode to life, love, friendship—and focaccia. In this magical, madcap tale, a broke and directionless young American takes on a mysterious role at the Tuscan villa of a formidable nonagenarian baronessa known as Coco. Charged with cataloguing her vast collection, he instead navigates eccentric tasks, a parade of colorful guests, and Coco’s audacious final plan: to reunite with the lost love of her life before it’s too late.

With wit and emotional depth, Greer delivers a joyful, deeply felt story about purpose, connection, and chosen family.

Book signing will follow. Moderator to be announced.

Book included with ticket.

Stirring the Pot: Florence Fabricant—Salty, Not Sweet
with James Barron

Guild Hall turns the tables for a special Stirring the Pot with Florence Fabricant as the guest of honor, celebrating her forthcoming memoir, Salty, Not Sweet: A Life in the Food World, published by Running Press of Hachette Book Group with an October release. Interviewed by New York Times writer James Barron, Fabricant will reflect on the many decades of her life and her remarkable career, defined by an insatiable search for new dining experiences. She will trace the evolution of food and restaurant culture in the United States and abroad, share behind-the-scenes stories from her reporting, and reveal the personalities, trends, and turning points she helped bring to the public’s attention.

The morning begins with a complimentary continental breakfast at 10 AM courtesy of Citarella, offering guests a delicious start before this engaging and flavorful conversation with one of food writing’s most influential voices. Following the program, guests can meet Florence in the lobby and secure advance copies of her new book.

The white oak played an important role in our nation’s history and has contributed significantly to wildlife conservation. This presentation will emphasize the importance of this tree in Connecticut’s landscape, highlight its use by a variety of native species, define the conditions oaks need to thrive, and discuss how to perpetuate this important native species.

Course description:

College is a crucial institution in which our society works through its expectations for young people. This course explores the purposes of college education through the first great book on the philosophy of education, Plato’s Republic. We read The Republic in conversation with other thinkers including Aristotle, Confucius, John Stuart Mill, Virginia Woolf, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King. For the 325th anniversary of Yale’s founding, we also explore the changing conception of college education at Yale over the centuries and read some of the college’s and the university’s key founding documents. Themes include the development of personal character, participation in a community, preparation for citizenship, and conversation with others on intellectual matters. We also explore some of the social and economic functions of college education.

The 2026 DeVane Lecture series will be led by Pericles Lewis, Dean of Yale College and Douglas Tracy Smith Professor of Comparative Literature

The class is free and open to the public and will run on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:20 p.m., from September 2 to December 9, 2026.

Course description:

College is a crucial institution in which our society works through its expectations for young people. This course explores the purposes of college education through the first great book on the philosophy of education, Plato’s Republic. We read The Republic in conversation with other thinkers including Aristotle, Confucius, John Stuart Mill, Virginia Woolf, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King. For the 325th anniversary of Yale’s founding, we also explore the changing conception of college education at Yale over the centuries and read some of the college’s and the university’s key founding documents. Themes include the development of personal character, participation in a community, preparation for citizenship, and conversation with others on intellectual matters. We also explore some of the social and economic functions of college education.

The 2026 DeVane Lecture series will be led by Pericles Lewis, Dean of Yale College and Douglas Tracy Smith Professor of Comparative Literature

The class is free and open to the public and will run on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:20 p.m., from September 2 to December 9, 2026.

Course description:

College is a crucial institution in which our society works through its expectations for young people. This course explores the purposes of college education through the first great book on the philosophy of education, Plato’s Republic. We read The Republic in conversation with other thinkers including Aristotle, Confucius, John Stuart Mill, Virginia Woolf, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King. For the 325th anniversary of Yale’s founding, we also explore the changing conception of college education at Yale over the centuries and read some of the college’s and the university’s key founding documents. Themes include the development of personal character, participation in a community, preparation for citizenship, and conversation with others on intellectual matters. We also explore some of the social and economic functions of college education.

The 2026 DeVane Lecture series will be led by Pericles Lewis, Dean of Yale College and Douglas Tracy Smith Professor of Comparative Literature

The class is free and open to the public and will run on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:20 p.m., from September 2 to December 9, 2026.

Beekeeper and trained entomologist Chris Kelly will teach participants how to keep and harvest honey from bees in their very own backyards.

Learn about the humble honeybee, one of many pollinators, that are necessary for the existence of life (plant and animal) on earth. Using Landcraft’s very own bee colonies and pollinator-heavy gardens, Master Beekeeper and Cornell-trained entomologist, Chris Kelly, will teach participants how to better understand the importance of the bee, as well as how gardeners and wildlife lovers alike can contribute to the honey bee’s prosperity in their own backyards. Kelly will demonstrate his hands-on approach to beekeeping, capped off with a demonstration on harvesting honey straight from the source. Come join us for a special closeup of the honeybee – learn the basics of how, why and what we do to establish a hive – then taste for yourself the wonder of raw, unfiltered honey.

CHRIS KELLY is a committed Long Island beekeeping educator. As a hobbyist and professional, he is uniquely able to address the concerns of both. The onset of colony collapse disorder highlighted the critical need to bridge historical practices with current-day needs – his business, Promised Land Apiaries (PLA), is focused on providing an ethical, artisanal product responsibly made from start to finish. PLA’s primary drive is the health of the honeybee hive, without the intrusion of artificial supplements. What makes PLA distinctive is Chris’ personal relationships with professionals and academics in apiculture. What started as a Long Island Boy Scout looking for his next merit badge became a lifetime of beekeeping.

AUDIENCE: All Ages.

WEATHER: Fair Weather Only.

SPECIAL NOTES: Please dress appropriately to be outdoors: comfortable shoes and socks, wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen, insect repellent and water are recommended. To be a source of healthy insects for our birds and other insect-feeding wildlife, Landcraft does not spray the garden to manage ticks. Please take appropriate precautions.

iPhone Photography, Part Two: Making

Course description:

College is a crucial institution in which our society works through its expectations for young people. This course explores the purposes of college education through the first great book on the philosophy of education, Plato’s Republic. We read The Republic in conversation with other thinkers including Aristotle, Confucius, John Stuart Mill, Virginia Woolf, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King. For the 325th anniversary of Yale’s founding, we also explore the changing conception of college education at Yale over the centuries and read some of the college’s and the university’s key founding documents. Themes include the development of personal character, participation in a community, preparation for citizenship, and conversation with others on intellectual matters. We also explore some of the social and economic functions of college education.

The 2026 DeVane Lecture series will be led by Pericles Lewis, Dean of Yale College and Douglas Tracy Smith Professor of Comparative Literature

The class is free and open to the public and will run on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:20 p.m., from September 2 to December 9, 2026.