THURSDAY, JAN. 17
EMPTY BOWLS DINNER PARTY BENEFIT, at St. John’s Prep, 72 Spring St., Danvers, 6 p.m., in Memorial Dining Hall. The evening is open to all and proceeds benefit Haven from Hunger in Peabody. Handmade, one-of-a-kind bowls created by students at St. John’s may be purchased at the event to fill with soups donated by local restaurants and food shops, minimum $10 donation per bowl. SwingTown!, the St. John’s a cappella group, will provide musical entertainment; stjohnsprep.org.
SATURDAY, JAN. 19
WOMEN’S SPIRITUALITY, an afternoon of reflection, fun, sharing and making self portraits using different mediums. No art experience necessary to participate, led by Director of Religious Education, Thea Shapiro of Andover, UUCiA, 6 Locke St., Andover, $10- UUCiA Member, $20 non-members. Cost to cover refreshments and materials. RSVP by Jan. 12; Dre@uuandover.com, 978-475-4454.
FREE LIVE PIANO CONCERT, the Phillips Academy Music Department will present a Faculty Piano Recital featuring Stephen Porter performing works by Debussy and Chopin, 7:30 p.m., Cochran Chapel located on the Phillips Academy campus; Music Department, 978-749-4260, music@andover.edu.
LIVE FOLK MUSIC, Cliff Eberhardt performs at the New Moon Coffeehouse, 8 p.m. The coffeehouse is located in the Universalist Unitarian Church, 16 Ashland St, Haverhill. Admission is $20; $10 for those ages 18 and under; newmooncoffeehouse.org, 978-459-5134.
MODEL TRAIN SHOW, the Northeastern Region of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) share their expert knowledge of model railroading in a classic HO-scale model train layout with trains traversing bridges, through tunnels and around fine-scale towns and cities. Get expert advice on building a model train layout and simple scenery from model train engineers, $6-8, Wenham Museum, 132 Main St., Wenham, 978-468-2377, wenhammuseum.org.
SUNDAY, JAN. 20
PAINTING DEMONSTRATION, The Andovers Artists Guild is hosting a painting demonstration by artist Deirdre Grunwald, 2 p.m., at the East Mill Art Space, 21 High St., North Andover, (Davis and Furber Complex). Guests are welcome for a $5 donation, free to Guild members; andoversartistsguid.org.
FREE LIVE CHAMBER MUSIC, Julie Scolnik of Andover, flute, her son, Sasha Scolnik, cello, and her daughter, Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano, Longy School of Music, Bard College, 23 Garden St., Cambridge.
LIVE QUINTET, The Phillips Academy Music Department presents The Solar Winds Quintet, 3 p.m., with special guest Krista River, mezzo-soprano. This concert, free and open to the public, will take place in the Timken Room at Graves Hall on the Phillips Academy campus, 180 Main St., Andover. Graves Hall is handicapped accessible; 978-749-4260, music@andover.edu.
LIVE CHILDREN’S CONCERT, The Reading Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Roland Vazquez, hosts, 2 p.m., Parker Middle School in Reading, $5-8; 617-962-5520. (Snow date, Jan. 27).
TUESDAY, JAN. 22
WINTER BIRDS TALK, Winter Birds of New England with John Rockwood of Winter Birds of New Englandshow, will feature a mix of incredible photos and video clips of typical New England Winter birds, 7 p.m., Memorial Hall Library, Andover; register for this program at mhl.org/eventcalendar or 978-623-8401, Ext. 31. Snow date Jan. 29.
FRIDAY, JAN. 25
MILITARY CHALLENGE, first annual townwide Troop Challenge to benefit the Run for Troops 5k/Homes for Troops, 7 to 9 p.m., Yang’s Fitness Center, 5 Dundee Park. Do you have what it takes to compete in a military showdown? Come compete or cheer. $25 per person, registration and tickets are on sale now; YangsFitnessCenter.com, 978-475-2020.
FREE MOVIE, “Happy,” 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover, 6 Locke St.; 978-475-4454, uuandover.org. The screening will be followed by a discussion. Please feel free to bring a portable chair (e.g., a lawnchair) for more comfortable seating.
SATURDAY, JAN. 26
TASTES & TREASURES BENEFIT, this auction supports local schools learning town history, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Town House, 20 Main St., Andover. Tickets are $35 and sponsorship opportunities range from $50 to $500; Andover Historical Society, 978-475-2236.
LIVE MUSIC, the Phillips Academy Music Department will present senior students performing in seven concertos with piano accompaniment. This concert, free and open to the public, will take place in the Cochran Chapel on the Phillips Academy campus, 180 Main St., Andover. Cochran Chapel is handicapped accessible; 978-749-4260, music@andover.edu.
LIVE MUSIC, the Ivy Chord Coffee House located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, 239 Woburn St., Reading, presents an evening with internationally acclaimed John Gorka, $25, seniors or students $23. Doors open at 7:15 p.m., and the concert starts at 8 p.m. (open seating); uureading.org/concerts.
CHILI CONTEST, (snow date Jan. 27), noon to 4 p.m., the Brush Art Gallery & Studios, 256 Market St. (behind the Nat’l Park Visitor Center), Lowell. Sample from a variety of delicious pots of chili in two categories: professional and amateur. Vote for your favorite, $10; thebrush.org.
SUNDAY, JAN. 27
ISRAELI FOLK DANCING, Beginner’s Night, 7 to 8:15 p.m., 1580 Osgood St., North Andover (Osgood Landing). Open to all ages and levels, no partner needed, $2 per person; Anne Schwartz, 781-942-3659, anne.israelidancer@gmail.com.
LOCAL HIKE, Rafton Reservation, Andover, 10 a.m., AVIS’ 44th annual snowshoe and X-C ski trek. Park near leaf composting area. No pets. Hike if no snow, rain cancels. Leader, David Dargie, 978-996-4475, david@dargie.com.
TUESDAY, JAN. 29
KEURAC TALKS & READINGS, The UMass Lowell Libraries will host a free five-part reading and discussion series focusing on three of Jack Kerouac’s Lowell-centric novels: “The Town and the City,” “Visions of Gerard” and “Maggie Cassidy,” with UMass Lowell English Prof. Todd Tietchen leading discussions. All programs run from 7 to 9 p.m. and, unless otherwise noted, will be held at O’Leary Library Learning Commons at 61 Wilder St. on UMass Lowell’s South Campus. Advance registration is not required, but highly encouraged. Those who pre-register will receive a copy of “The Town and the City” by mail. Free copies of the other titles will be distributed at the program. To obtain program materials or to register, go online to libguides.uml.edu/kerouac or contact Marks at 978-934-4581.
THURSDAY, JAN. 31
JOB SEARCH TALK, The Boomer’s Top Ten Daily Checklist, a program about the job search process as it relates to Baby Boomers, will be presented, 7 p.m., the Flint Memorial Library, 147 Park St., North Reading. Presenters Kevin Walsh, Steve Buell and Tom Procopio know it’s hard to get up in the morning when you have the hardest job in the world: Getting a Job. They will share what they have learned from their own experiences, free and open to the public; 978-664-4942.
LIVE STRING QUARTET, Brooklyn Rider, Rogers Center, Merrimack College, 7:30 p.m., $25; 978-837-5355, merrimack.edu/rogers.
