3 book signings, Cormac McCarthy, The Blind Boys: 12 things to do this weekend

The temperatures have dipped and darkness falls earlier, but there's still plenty going on this weekend on the Seacoast. There are three opportunities to meet authors at various book signings, and many great musical concerts and events. Take the time to experience one of these events with a family member or friend this weekend.

Portsmouth 400 book release party

There'll be a book-signing event to celebrate the publication of "A History of Portsmouth NH in 101 Objects" on Thursday, Nov. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Portsmouth Public Library. The keepsake, 224-page, softbound book presents full-color images of 101 objects important to Portsmouth history matched with texts from 80 different local authors to celebrate Portsmouth’s wide-ranging history and 400th anniversary. More than 50 of those contributors will be available to autograph books throughout the library during the event.

RiverRun Bookstore will have books for sale at the event at the pre-publication price of $24.99 ($5 off the cover price). The Portsmouth Public Library is located at 175 Parrot Ave., Portsmouth.

Black Matter is Life Poetry Series begins

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire presents its third annual Black Matter is Life Poetry Series with four events, this first of which is Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at The Players' Ring Theatre. The first event is a special program with Seacoast Outright and is the first partnership between these two organizations.

The program “We Go On Loving” will explore the poems of four Black LGBTQ+ poets and will include host Courtney Marshall, professor of English at Phillips Exeter Academy, and two student poets Ki Odums and Lydia Osei. The guest poet for this event is John-Francis Quiñonez (Q). Q of Providence, Rhode Island is a writer and multimedia artist, works with the Queer.Archive.Work. project and has a new collection of poems soon to be published.

For more information on the series, including poems to be discussed and registration, visit blackheritagetrailnh.org or call (603) 570-8469, or send an email to info@blackheritagetrailnh.org.

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'A Safe Passage' at Players' Ring

Local actress and producer Emily Karel is once again teaming up with acclaimed playwright Irene Kelleher to present the U.S. premiere of "A Safe Passage," produced by Glass Dove Productions, running through Nov. 13 at The Players’ Ring in Portsmouth.

It is New Year's Eve in Ireland. The year is 1979. Christy, a lonely lighthouse keeper, is not entirely certain he wants to see 1980. But when he sees a young woman on the rocks poised to jump into the sea, he races into the storm to pull her back from the brink. But Christy is about to realize that the woman is not what she seems and this final rescue is much more than he bargained for.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $27 and $24 for students and seniors, and available at www.playersring.org.

Comedian Jim McCue performs

Comedian Jim McCue will perform at his McCue’s Comedy Club inside the Roundabout Diner, 580 Portsmouth Traffic Circle, Portsmouth, on Friday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. McCue went viral this year with his DryBar special “nothing personal” which has had over 4 million views. He also founded and runs the Boston Comedy Festival. Tickets are $20 and available at portsmouthnhtickets.com. There is free parking and dinner is available in the restaurant before showtime. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Cormac McCarthy at the Press Room

Local legend Cormac McCarthy, who has performed for more than three decades, will play the Press Room on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. His concerts are a mix of ballads, biting humor and country blues guitar picking. Tickets for this 21-plus show are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and available at pressroomnh.com.

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Author Patrick Radden Keefe to speak at Lounge

The Literary in the Lounge: Talks series presents New York Times best-selling author Patrick Radden Keep talking about his new book, "Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty," on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at The Music Hall Lounge.

"Empire of Pain" is a generations spanning-tale of the Sackler family and its role in the modern-day opioid crisis. The eventincludes an author discussion moderated by Brittany Wason, The Music Hall’s Literary Producer, followed by an audience Q&A. Tickets are $35. The package includes a signed copy of the book, beverage, reserved seat, author discussion, audience Q+A, and post-show meet-and-greet, and can be purchased online at TheMusicHall.org, over the phone at 603-436-2400, or at the box office at the theater.

NH Jazz Orchestra at Rockingham Ballroom

The NH Jazz Orchestra will perform at The Rockingham Ballroom in Newmarket on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 7 to 10:30 p.m. It'll be a tribute to the Big Band Era. Period dress is encouraged. There'll be prizes and a free dance lesson. Tickets are $25 and available at rockinballroom.club.

Show + Tell session on book illustration

On Sunday, Nov. 13 at 10 am, illustrator Gina Perry will lead a workshop entitled “Read, Draw, and Discover” as part of the Show + Tell series being presented by the Portsmouth Historical Society. This program is designed to teach children ages 5 and up how illustrated books are made through a series of drawing games. The Show + Tell will be on view at the Portsmouth Historical Society through Friday, Dec. 30. Exhibition admission is free; programs are ticketed. Visit www.portsmouthhistory.org or call 603-436-8433 to learn more about Sunday's program and to purchase tickets.

Meet Bob Lister at book signing for his new book

Bob Lister, the former superintendent of Portsmouth schools, has written a chapter book, "The Adventures of Bobby and Jimmy," about his childhood growing up with his cousin Jimmy. He will be doing a book signing at G. Willikers on Market Street in Portsmouth on Sunday, Nov. 13 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. You can meet the author and tell him some of your own adventures, and have him sign a copy of the book for you. This event is free.

Erin Harpe to perform at Stone Church

On Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m., Erin Harpe, who was recently named New England’s Blues Artist of the Year, returns to the stage at The Stone Church in Newmarket with her Country Blues Duo featuring the award-winning singer-guitarist and husbandJim Countryman. This special performance, “The Road to Memphis,” is a fundraiser for the International Blues Challenge. Erin Harpe Country Blues Duo is representing the Granite State Blues Society in the IBCs in January 2023 in Memphis. For more information on the Granite State Blues Society, visit granitestateblues.org. Admission is a $10 donation for this all-ages show.

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Michael Feinberg at the Press Room

One of the New York jazz scene's premier artists, Michael Feinberg is coming to Portsmouth on Sunday, Nov. 13 and will perform upstairs at the Press Room at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets for this all-ages show are $10 in advance; $15 at the door and available at pressroomnh.com.

Blind Boys of Alabama in concert

The Blind Boys of Alabama with Charlie Musselwhite will perform at The Music Hall in Portsmouth on Sunday, Nov. Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators, according to the Music Hall website. They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions; the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st. Tickets are $52.50 to $79 and available at themusichall.org.

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Cormac McCarthy, The Blind Boys: 11 things to in Portsmouth NH area