In-Person   

One hundred and sixty years ago, Portland was struck by a disaster that would forever change the city’s landscape. The fire, considered the worst urban conflagration at the time, swept across the peninsula, leaving more than 10,000 people homeless and destroying 1,500 buildings. By the time the flames subsided, a third of the city was reduced to smoking ruins. On this walk, we’ll explore the Old Port, an area that was among the most severely affected by the Great Fire of 1866. We’ll hear firsthand accounts from individuals who lived through the devastation, and learn about the nationwide response and the swift rebuilding of the area making the Old Port one of the few intact historic Victorian waterfronts on the East Coast.

New in-person workshop. Format includes lecture and movement.

Romance is currently the highest-grossing fiction genre, generating over 1.44 billion in annual revenue (in 2023). We have a bookstore here in Portland devoted entirely to romance: Grump and Sunshine, at 40 Free Street. Notable themes and subgenres include spicy/contemporary, queer romance, YA romance, and historical (among others). In this workshop we’ll bring the books we’ve read and/or would like to read (or just a list of authors and/or titles), and discuss why we are drawn to this genre and who are our favorites.

New in-person workshop. Format includes discussion.

Let’s step outside the traditional Sci-Fi portrayal of the android/robot and watch a few films that imagine the “humanoid” (as they’re now called) in more “life-like” situations. In these films, where society looks much like today, our interaction with humanoids is normalized. The films will be supplemented with video clips and comments from real scientists and their humanoid creations — which begs the question, how close are the imaginations of the filmmakers with the rapidly evolving humanoid technology? More importantly, to what extent will we become emotionally attached? Just to be clear, this is not a Sci-Fi course or a technical class on current robotics.
Note: This class runs 2 ½ hours from 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. New in-person course. Format includes film and discussion.

Mathematics is often taught with the focus on skills and techniques without much discussion of the “big ideas” of math, which are often strange and wonderful. This course will consist of six sessions with separate topics, activities, and discussions for each session. There is no required math knowledge, the only requirement is an interest in ideas. Students will need access to the internet for readings and videos as class preparation or “homework.”

New in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, film, and hands-on learning.

• Session 1: Numbers
• Session 2: Geometry
• Session 3: Algebra
• Session 4: Calculus
• Session 5: Fractals
• Session 6: Probability and Statistics

In science, the term sex refers to the features infants display at birth. Gender more properly relates to impulses any person reveals across a spectrum from feminine to masculine. The evidence for physiological and behavioral differences between sexes is overwhelming. Our sexpartner preferences do not reveal our affinities across the range of related behaviors. There are masculine, feminine, or androgynous-leaning: straight, gay, lesbian, trans, or bisexual people. Newer research confirms that crucial differences in gender roles affect our families, culture, and planet. This course provides a straightforward review of the latest biological and neuropsychological research on gender roles.

 New in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Caregivers spend their days supporting others — but who supports the caregiver? This one-time interactive workshop is designed to provide caregivers with the space, tools, and encouragement they need to care for themselves with the same compassion they offer others. Whether you are a family caregiver, healthcare professional, or anyone in a helping role, this workshop will help you recognize the signs of stress and burnout, understand compassion fatigue, and develop practical strategies for sustainable self-care.

New in-person workshop. Format will include lecture and discussion.

Did you grow up playing and/or singing folk songs? Think of what Baez, Dylan and Guthrie sang, plus much older folk songs that your parents knew and maybe some international ones. This course will feature lecture, discussion, lots of videos, and some singing. No text is required, just interest in learning. Books may be suggested and there will be handouts. Piano and accordion will
be used.

Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

Real democratic participation is under threats from authoritarian efforts. This course will explain the main threats, their historic origins, voter suppression, claims of fraud, gerrymandering, federalism, campaign finance laws, social media effects, Christian nationalism, Islamophobia: all explained and possible solutions to all threats.

Repeat in-person course with new content. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Classic noir short stories — darkness, crime, the bleak side of the city on the Liffey. Come discuss the usual and unusual suspects, the aspects of crime and punishment in what once was known as the eye of the Celtic Tiger, Dublin. Stories by Ken Bruen, Laura Lippman, Olen Steinhauer, and others display that unique Irish blend of cynicism, humor, and despair. “To be Irish is to dance on the Titanic; laughter is indeed the best revenge, it’s our way of evening the score. You won’t find many leprechauns here.”

New in-person course. Format includes discussion.
REQUIRED BOOK: Dublin Noir: The Celtic Tiger vs. The Ugly American; Ed. Ken Bruen; ISBN 139781888451924

This hands-on course guides participants through designing and building an original tabletop or puzzle-based game they can take home to share with friends and family. Using simple materials and optional digital tools, we’ll explore game mechanics, storytelling, puzzle design, graphic layout, and the fundamentals of playtesting. Each session blends creativity with accessible technology, showing how to shape an idea into a playable experience, whether a card game, board game, or mini escape-room-style puzzle. No prior experience required. All materials provided. By the final class, each participant or team will complete a personalized take-home game.
New in-person course. Format includes hands-on learning.

Today, armed conflicts are ongoing around the world. At times, it may seem that there are no rules in war. Fortunately, there are rules in war, and they can make a difference. Even War Has Rules is a dynamic discussion of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and how it governs armed conflict. It will address topics such as:
• The sources of law and rules that apply to armed conflicts
• The fundamental principles of IHL that guide the development of these rules
• How IHL protects people and places during armed conflicts.
By the end of the class, participants will achieve a general understanding of IHL and will be better able to evaluate the actions of parties to armed conflicts. New in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Enjoy six narrated walks through Portland’s historic neighborhoods exploring the city’s history, architecture, and people since Europeans arrived. Discuss historic structures, immigrant populations, and locally and regionally famous architects and view their works. The longest walk will be two miles in two hours. The greatest elevation change will be between Congress Street and the waterfront. All walks will be on pavement, with optional side trips into two grassy cemeteries. Wheelchair accessible. Rain or shine. The instructor will contact students about the meeting place prior to each class.

Repeat in-person course. Format includes movement.

Like short stories? Always been wary of them? Avoid them
because they’re not novels? Join a group of enthusiastic
readers and thinkers to explore the short story from a
slightly different angle than we’ve pursued in the past.
This term’s text is Pushcart Prize XLIX - Best Of The Small
Presses. Although it includes much more than short stories,
we will focus on the short stories — and you’ll have quite
a large set of additional things to explore after class
is over (the book numbers 442 pages with an additional
90 or so pages of references!).

New in-person course. Format includes discussion.

REQUIRED BOOK: Pushcart Prize XLIX Best of the Small Presses;
Ed. Bill Henderson, ISBN 9798985469769

Discover the world of model railroading! Would you like to get to know this hobby? You might think it’s about running toy trains in a circle, but depending on what you like it can be building, wiring, electronics, modelling, painting, researching, and more! It can involve computers and 3D printing if you want. We’ll look at history, terminology, skills, and the big questions to ask yourself. Rod Stewart once said, “I’m proud to be a railway modeler. It means more to me to be on the cover of Model Railroader than to be on the cover of a music magazine.”

New in-person workshop. Format includes lecture.

Curious about honey bees and beekeeping, but not ready to start a hive yourself? This engaging seminar offers an inside look at the fascinating world of honey bees through the eyes of a Master Beekeeper. Learn how a hive works, how bees communicate and produce honey, and why they are essential to our environment and food supply. You’ll discover what beekeepers actually do, see how colonies change through the seasons, and gain a deeper appreciation for these remarkable insects. No prior knowledge required—just curiosity about the hidden life inside the hive. Includes a field trip to a local beekeeper’s apiary TBA.

 New in-person workshop. Format includes lecture and hands-on learning.

We are beginning a global energy transition away from fossil fuels and toward electricity in homes, transportation, and business. We will look briefly at the science around energy usage and examine the new technologies which make electrification attractive. The advantages of electrical energy usage will be highlighted, with focus on our homes and transportation. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar will enable our energy usage to become much more planet friendly. Participants are invited to bring their own concerns and questions to the workshop. The instructor sells no products or services, and is not connected with anyone who does. New in-person workshop. Format includes lecture and discussion.
SUGGESTED BOOK: Energy: A Beginner’s Guide, Vaclav Smil, ISBN 978-1786071330

We will be looking at governments that rule through the use of terror: arbitrary imprisonment, random killings, and kidnapping. These governments cause widespread fear and a reluctance to speak-up or protest. We will look at the tactics and methods of how this type of government establishes its rule and maintains power.

New in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

“The best camera is the one that’s with you.” — Chase Jarvis. For many of us, that camera is the iPhone we carry in our pocket every day. This course will cover setting up your iPhone for shooting better photos, focusing and composition techniques, editing photos on your iPhone (or iPad if you have fat fingers like me), and how to find your way to shooting in black and white on the streets
of Maine. You will need a relatively up-to-date iPhone and the Snapseed app (free in the App Store). Join the international iPhone photography community.

This is an iPhone-only class; Android or Google phones are not supported.

Repeat in-person workshop. Format includes lecture, discussion, and hands-on learning.

Lucid dreaming, the practice of oneironautics, is a way of bridging the gap between waking states and sleeping states, creating opportunities to explore the deeper realms of the mind. In this course, we will explore, didactically and experientially, ways in which we can access these deeper states and the nature of mind and reality, through videos, writings, lecture, discussion, and experience. We will learn and practice techniques to enter dream states from daytime wakefulness, and to bring dream awareness during nighttime sleep.

New hybrid course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

SUGGESTED BOOK: Dreams of Light, Andrew Holecek, ISBN 9781683644354

Maine has a long literary tradition, past and present. This workshop will highlight some of the well- and lesserknown Maine writers from the 19th and 20th century, including John Cole, Robert P. Tristram Coffin, Sarah Orne Jewett, and Elizabeth Coatsworth. We’ll learn biographical information about each writer, dip into short readings by each, and discuss. Come find your new/old favorite Maine writers!

New in-person workshop. Format includes lecture and discussion.

Mel Brooks is a comic, writer, actor, director, and producer, and has been a mainstay in American comedy for nearly eight decades. From his earliest days with Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows, his creative partnership with Carl Reiner, his co-creation of Get Smart with Buck Henry, and his many films, Mel has never taken his foot off the accelerator in making us laugh. As he turns 100 this June, let’s celebrate and revisit six of his films to remind ourselves of the work of this comedy icon.

New in-person course. Format includes film.

Protest songs inspire and energize us. We’ll listen to songs from Joe Hill to Joan Baez, from Woody Guthrie to, yes, Dolly Parton. We’ll become better acquainted with these singer-songwriters and the conflicts of their (and our) times. We’ll focus in the second class on more recent protest songs. Tell me your favorite and I’ll be sure to include it!

New in-person workshop. Format includes discussion and film.

Always liked verse? It could be much worse. When rhyming, the timing is key. With meter and form, we mess with the norm — you never know what you might see. We will spend a couple of hours exploring verse, meter, and rhyme, with access to several volumes of Ogden Nash as backup. Come ready to play with words!

Repeat in-person workshop. Format includes discussion and hands-on learning.

You probably have a favorite poem or two or twelve that have stayed with you like a loyal friend over the years. Would you like to share these with like-minded classmates? Read them out loud? Discuss what they meant and still mean to you? Hear what others have for favorite poems and what they mean to them? We will loosely divide our favorites into subgroups such as: poems that entrance, poems that teach, poems that protest, poems that intoxicate, poems that soothe broken hearts, and poems that delight. No one’s a poetry expert! We’re just sharing what we love. 

New in-person course. Format includes discussion.

This course investigates the effect of Supreme Court decisions on our nation. Emphasis on how the court was established and how it has changed over the years. Emphasis on the current efforts of the Supreme Court and the effects of those decisions. Close explanation of efforts to reform the Supreme Court. 

Repeat in-person course with new content. Format includes lecture and discussion.

One of Christianity’s best kept secrets is the “pure prayer” of silence originating from the time of Jesus, the
early Desert Fathers and Mothers, and the 6th century monasticism of Benedict of Nursia. This six-part series explores this re-emerging contemplative tradition through the prayer of Christian Meditation by the Benedictine monks John Main and Laurence Freeman and is now practiced in over 100 countries. The historical roots, characteristics of Benedictine Christian contemplative tradition and current practice will be the focus of this series.

Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

SUGGESTED BOOK: The Hunger for Depth and Meaning, ed. Peter Ng, ISBN 9781933182636

Victoria Mansion, also known as the Morse-Libby House, was constructed between 1858 and 1860 as a summer home for Ruggles Sylvester Morse and his wife, Olive. Today the house is open to the public, preserved with over 90 percent of the original furnishings and a full complement of decorative wall paintings throughout the house. This workshop will offer an in-depth tour of this amazing residence, as well as a short walking tour in the Mansion neighborhood to discuss “what the Morses saw” during their time in Portland.

Repeat in-person workshop. Format includes lecture and movement.

Learn music and social dancing from late Victorian to Ragtime era. Learn step and style combinations to wonderful old melodies: waltzes, two steps, one steps, cake walk, polkas-gallops, mazurkas, etc. Fun, fascinating, historical dances to many treasures of musical history.

Repeat in-person workshop. Format includes movement.

In this very playful gathering, you will join Delilah on her journey to enlightenment with her humorous stories and songs. Then you’ll have the opportunity to participate in some fun, easy, group exercises to share your own personal growth stories and wisdom. Which you do have! You will leave feeling refreshed and “enlightened” — about something, we don’t know what! Or at least have a good time trying!

 New in-person workshop. Format includes lecture and discussion.

“Writing Outside the Box” is a two-hour workshop designed to help writers refresh their approach and discover new possibilities in their work. Through guided exercises that encourage writing from physical sensation, intuition, and playful language exploration, participants will loosen creative blocks and gain fresh perspectives. Writers of all kinds — fiction, poetry, memoir, journaling, or other forms — are welcome. Suitable for both new and experienced writers, the workshop offers a supportive, low-pressure space to broaden and deepen one’s writing practice.

New in-person workshop. Format includes hands-on learning.