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VersoFest Author Talk: Claire Dederer on ‘Monsters,’ a Look at What to Do with Great Art by Bad People
Westport, CT. - Best-selling memoirist, essayist, and critic Claire Dederer takes the VersoFest Saturday stage(1pm-2:30pm), in conversation with acclaimed journalist Hilarie M. Sheets. Dederer’s books include the national best-seller Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma, the critically acclaimed Love and Trouble: A Midlife Reckoning, and The New York Times best-seller Poser: My Life in Twenty-three Yoga Poses.
Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma is Dederer’s recent nonfiction book investigating good art made by bad people. A hybrid of essay, criticism, and memoir, Monsters is based on her globally viral 2017 essay for the Paris Review, “What Do We Do with the Art of Monstrous Men?”
Copies of Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma will be available for sale on-site.
Claire Dederer is a memoirist, essayist, and critic. Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma (Knopf, 2023) was named a New York Times Notable Book and a best book of 2023 by The Washington Post, The New Yorker, Elle, Esquire, Oprah Daily, and many other outlets.
Dederer is a longtime contributor to The New York Times. Her essays, criticism, and reviews have also appeared in The Paris Review, The Atlantic, The Nation, New York Magazine, and many other publications. She began her career as the chief film critic for Seattle Weekly. Dederer is the recipient of a Hedgebrook residency and a Lannan Foundation residency. She lives in Seattle.
Hilarie M. Sheets is a New York-based journalist and art critic, with a particular interest in public art and the stories of underrepresented artists. She covers the art world regularly for The New York Times and is a contributing editor to Galerie magazine. Her work also appears in The Art Newspaper, Elle Décor, and Cultured, among other publications.
VersoFest is The Westport Library’s annual music and media conference and festival where knowledge is shared and inspiration is discovered — a forum for media creators, artists, and fans to converge.
This year’s festival, our fifth, is shaping up to be the best yet, headlined by a February 27 kickoff concert by rising rock band The Thing, our March 6 VersoFest storytellers evening with Bangles co-founder Susanna Hoffs, the March 26 Verso Visionary conversation with folk-rock icon Ani DiFranco, and a special March 27 Friday night performance featuring Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, composer and Fugees co-founder Wyclef Jean.
VersoFest 2026 weekend guests include actress, author, and performer Gina Gershon; David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets); Adria Petty on the legacy of her dad, Tom Petty, and the legendary Heartbreakers; a VersoFest author talk with Claire Dederer on her book, Monster; a conversation with renowned music promoter Peter Shapiro (Capitol Theare, Brooklyn Bowl); an appearance by the African dance and music troupe Cumbe Dance; and an interactive art installation exhibited by award-winning, video-based artist Holly Danger.
FAIRFIELD, CT — The Moonrise Cartel has been on a steady climb — and their fans have been right there with them every step of the way. Last year, the Connecticut folk-rock band celebrated a major milestone when the New England Music Awards named The Moonrise Cartel its 2025 Rising Star: Connecticut winner . Now, just one year later, the band has earned another major recognition: a 2026 nomination for Live Act of the Year. It's a fitting nomination for a band whose reputation has been built where it matters most — on the stage and in front of its fans. The Moonrise Cartel's following has steadily grown alongside the band. Their fans — affectionately known as “Cartel Members” — aren't simply listening from afar. They're showing up. The band has sold out StageOne at Fairfield Theatre Company twice, sold out Park City Music Hall and recently performed for a crowd of more than 600 at Black Rock PorchFest. Those crowds have followed The Moonrise Cartel from venue to venue, helping turn a Connecticut band with a distinctive “Folk Rock from Black Rock” sound into one of the region's increasingly recognized live acts. And now, they're taking another big step. Next Stop: The Warehouse at FTC On Saturday, October 10 , The Moonrise Cartel returns to Fairfield Theatre Company — this time to headline The Warehouse for the first time . The larger room represents another milestone in the band's progression at FTC. After twice selling out StageOne, The Moonrise Cartel is moving into The Warehouse with the same community of fans that has helped fuel its rise. Dr. B and The Remedy will open the evening, with doors at 7 PM and the show beginning at 8 PM. For longtime Cartel Members, October 10 is another opportunity to come together and celebrate how far this band has come. And if you haven't experienced The Moonrise Cartel live yet, their first Warehouse headlining show is a pretty good time to find out why they're now nominated for Live Act of the Year. Connecticut — Let's Show Them Some Love! Voting is currently open for the 2026 New England Music Awards , with The Moonrise Cartel officially among this year's nominees for Live Act of the Year. Public voting runs through October 9 , with the winners announced November 15. Let's show The Moonrise Cartel some Connecticut love and cast a vote for LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR! VOTE FOR THE MOONRISE CARTEL Then, there's only one question left: Who's meeting us at The Warehouse on October 10? The Moonrise Cartel with Dr. B and The Remedy Saturday, October 10, 2026 Doors: 7 PM | Show: 8 PM The Warehouse at Fairfield Theatre Company 70 Sanford Street, Fairfield, CT From 2025 Rising Star: Connecticut to 2026 Live Act of the Year nominee , The Moonrise Cartel's star continues to rise — and their fans continue to rise right along with them. Grab your tickets. Join The Cartel. We'll see you at The Warehouse!
Milford, CT: Get ready to raise your glass—, the Downtown Milford Business Association is hosting its 17th Annual Wine Trail on Saturday, October 10th, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Say farewell to summer with a foodie-friendly evening stroll through Downtown Milford, all while supporting a great local cause. This year’s event benefits the Junior Major League of Milford, with proceeds from every ticket helping to support youth sports programs in the community. Guests will explore Downtown Milford’s charming boutiques and businesses, each serving a featured wine—provided by Marginetti Distributors—paired with delicious tastings from Milford’s favorite restaurants and eateries. Each attendee will receive a commemorative wine glass and a map of Wine Trail stops, the perfect guide for an evening of flavor, fun, and local discovery. The Downtown Milford Business Association is thrilled to continue this beloved tradition and share a night filled with community spirit, local flavor, and fall festivity. Get your tickets today and be part of this memorable evening in the heart of Downtown Milford!
STAMFORD, CT — Save the date! One of Stamford’s biggest holiday traditions returns Sunday, November 22, when the 33rd Annual Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular takes over the streets of Downtown Stamford. Beginning at 12 p.m. , the parade is expected to draw thousands of spectators for an afternoon filled with giant helium balloons, marching bands, dancers, floats, holiday characters and Santa. This year’s lineup includes 15 giant balloons , with favorites including Abby Cadabby, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Elmo, Frosty the Snowman, Jonathan the Husky, Mr. Potato Head, Oscar the Grouch, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Music will fill the streets with the University of New Haven Marching Band, NYPD Emerald Society Pipe & Drum Band, Fairfield County Pipes & Drums and several high school marching bands, along with dance and performing arts groups from throughout the region. The parade steps off at Summer Street and Hoyt Street and concludes near Atlantic and Federal Streets. The festivities begin a day early with the Point72 Giant Balloon Inflation Party on Saturday, November 21, from 3–6 p.m. at Hoyt and Summer Streets. Families can watch the massive balloons come to life while enjoying music, performers, characters and a visit from Santa. Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular Sunday, November 22, 2026 | 12 p.m. Downtown Stamford, Connecticut
Halloween season is creeping into Connecticut and the Hudson Valley with haunted trails, glowing pumpkins, ghostly legends, historic cemeteries and plenty of things that go bump in the night. Fairfield After Dark has rounded up some of our Hot Picks for Halloween Adventures in and around Fairfield County — from family-friendly pumpkin spectaculars to attractions made for those who really like a good scare. 👻 FAIRFIELD COUNTY Legends of Fear — Shelton One of Connecticut’s major Halloween attractions combines a Haunted Hayride with The Hallow Trail, elaborate scenes, actors and plenty of nighttime scares. Fright Haven — Stratford More than 20,000 square feet of indoor scares make Fright Haven a great choice when you want a haunted-house experience without worrying about October weather. Harvest Fair After Dark — Fairfield A local Halloween adventure featuring a haunted hayride, wooded trails and multiple nighttime attractions. A Haunting at Mill Hill — Norwalk History meets Halloween with lantern-lit encounters and chilling stories inspired by Norwalk’s past. 🎃 NEW HAVEN COUNTY Trail of Terror — Wallingford One of Connecticut’s longtime Halloween favorites sends visitors through an enormous outdoor haunted trail filled with elaborate scenes and live scares. Evidence of Evil — Middlefield Lyman Orchards gets sinister after dark with an immersive haunted attraction featuring theatrical sets, characters and plenty of surprises. Haunted Trolley — East Haven The Shore Line Trolley Museum puts a uniquely Connecticut spin on Halloween with its nighttime haunted trolley experience. 🍂 LITCHFIELD COUNTY Scarecrows in the Meadow — Litchfield | Oct. 17–Nov. 1 More than 50 creative, funny and spooky scarecrows take over the historic Tapping Reeve Meadow. Open daily from dawn to dusk and FREE to visit. This is a great choice for families looking for Halloween fun without the fright factor. 🎃🐎 FAD ROAD TRIP: SLEEPY HOLLOW COUNTRY If Halloween had a hometown, Sleepy Hollow would have a pretty strong claim to the title. For 2026, Sleepy Hollow Country has created an entire Halloween season around Washington Irving, Ichabod Crane and, of course, the legendary Headless Horseman. ⭐ FAD HOT PICK: Twilight Village at Sleepy Hollow | Oct. 2–31 Historic Philipsburg Manor transforms after dark into an immersive Halloween village filled with storytellers, fire performers, eerie encounters, a roving brass band, evening market and a dramatic encounter with the Headless Horseman . 🔎 Headless Horseman Files | Oct. 2–31 Here’s something completely different! Become part of the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Ichabod Crane. Visitors explore Philipsburg Manor, meet suspects including Katrina Van Tassel, Brom Bones and Hulda the Witch, gather clues and decide what really happened. ✨ Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country | Oct. 2–31 Illusionists Mark Clearview and Nick Wallace bring magic and the supernatural together in another new Sleepy Hollow experience centered around the legendary Horseman. 🎃 Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze — Croton-on-Hudson | Sept. 18–Nov. 8 More than 7,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns illuminate ten acres at Van Cortlandt Manor. New for 2026 is a longer trail with additional displays, movie-monster photo opportunities, storybook characters and a pumpkin dance party. This one is spooky rather than scary , making it a great choice for families. 👻 Sleepy Hollow Haunted Hayride | Oct. 17 Want your Sleepy Hollow experience a little scarier? Take a haunted hayride through the village that made the Headless Horseman famous. ⚰️ Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Explore one of America’s most famous cemeteries — and the final resting place of Washington Irving — with seasonal daytime and evening guided tours. 🏰 Lyndhurst Mansion — Tarrytown Halloween and Gothic architecture were made for each other. Lyndhurst adds seasonal Halloween programming to one of the Hudson Valley’s most dramatic historic estates. FAD TIP: There is enough happening throughout Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Irvington and Croton-on-Hudson to turn this into a complete Halloween day trip — or an overnight getaway. 👻 PUTNAM COUNTY, NY Spellbound — Carmel Head into the woods for a different kind of Halloween adventure combining a haunted trail with live entertainment, fire performances and a Mystic Market atmosphere. Putnam makes an especially easy Halloween road trip from Danbury, Ridgefield and northern Fairfield County. 🎃 DUTCHESS COUNTY, NY Kevin McCurdy’s Haunted Mansion — Wappingers Falls | Oct. 2–Nov. 1 This Hudson Valley Halloween institution celebrates its 50th season in 2026 with an expanded outdoor walk-through adventure through an eerie forest, ghost town, cemetery and monster-filled environments. Haunted Beacon Ghost Walk — Beacon Grab a lantern and explore the darker side of Beacon through local ghost stories, legends, historic locations and tales of paranormal activity. Ages 16+ due to mature subject matter. Stony Kill Farm Spooktacular — Wappingers Falls A family-oriented Dutchess County Halloween tradition bringing seasonal fun to the historic farm setting. 👻🎃 FAD’S HALLOWEEN ADVICE Whether you want glowing pumpkins, a haunted hayride, an all-out haunted attraction or an entire weekend immersed in the legend of the Headless Horseman, there is no shortage of Halloween adventures within driving distance of Fairfield County. But if you're planning one Halloween road trip for 2026, Sleepy Hollow Country deserves serious consideration. Many Halloween attractions require timed tickets, and popular October weekends can sell out. Always check dates, age recommendations and ticket availability before heading out. Happy Haunting from Fairfield After Dark! 👻🎃🐎
STAMFORD, CT: The Palace Theatre has a packed October lineup featuring live music, comedy, ballet and tribute performances. From the sounds of the Bee Gees and Prince to some of today's touring comedians and classic rock favorites, there’s plenty happening in downtown Stamford this month. October 2 – Stayin' Alive Stayin' Alive kicks off the month at 8 PM with a tribute to the Bee Gees, featuring favorites like Night Fever , How Deep Is Your Love , You Should Be Dancing and Stayin' Alive . October 9 – Brad Williams Comedian Brad Williams brings his Tall Tales Tour to The Palace at 7 PM. Williams has appeared on The Tonight Show , Jimmy Kimmel Live and numerous comedy specials. October 10 – The Purple Xperience Marshall Charloff & The Purple Xperience celebrates the music of Prince at 8 PM with a high-energy live performance featuring some of his biggest hits. October 15 – Yedoye Travis Comedian, writer and actor Yedoye Travis takes the stage at 7:30 PM. His latest hour-long comedy special, Fatherless Behavior , was released in 2026. October 16 – Anthony Rodia Anthony Rodia brings his Insanely Funny Tour to Stamford at 8 PM, delivering his signature take on family, relationships and everyday life. October 17 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Step into the magical world of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, one of the most beloved fairytales of all time, brought to life in a dazzling Broadway-style ballet production filled with beauty, humor, adventure, and theatrical magic. October 22 – Matteo Lane Matteo Lane brings his WE GOTTA CATCH UP! Tour to The Palace at 8 PM for an evening of stand-up and storytelling. October 23 – Killers of Kill Tony Killers of Kill Tony hits the stage at 8 PM featuring David Lucas, Martin Phillips, Ahren Belisle and David Jolly performing extended stand-up sets. October 30 – America: The Happy Trails Tour Classic rock favorites America arrive at 7 PM with The Happy Trails Tour . Fans can look forward to music from the band's decades-long career, including the iconic A Horse With No Name . The Palace Theatre 61 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT
NEWTOWN, CT: October is packed with entertainment at Edmond Town Hall , with live music, comedy, movies, special events and Halloween fun filling the historic Newtown theater throughout the month. October 2 – That 70’s Show 3DR Presents: That 70’s Show kicks things off at 8 PM with a celebration of the arena-rock sounds of the 1970s, including music from Queen, ELO, Chicago, the Eagles and more. October 3 – Smells Like Nirvana Smells Like Nirvana hits the stage at 7:30 PM, recreating the music and energy of one of the most influential bands of the grunge era. October 4 – Newtown Record Riot Vinyl lovers can browse thousands of LPs from 9 AM–4 PM, along with vintage clothing, artwork, food, beer and more. Proceeds benefit Edmond Town Hall. October 8 – The Lightfoot Band The Lightfoot Band performs at 7 PM, featuring musicians who recorded and toured with Gordon Lightfoot for decades. October 9 – Amanda Knox Exoneree, journalist, author and podcast host Amanda Knox comes to Newtown for a special evening beginning at 7 PM. October 10 & 11 – Movie Weekend Catch The Rocky Horror Picture Show Saturday at 7:30 PM, followed Sunday at 1 PM by a FREE matinee of Anaconda starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd, courtesy of Ingersoll Auto of Danbury. October 16 – Classic Stones Live Classic Stones Live celebrates the music of The Rolling Stones at 7:30 PM with an evening of rock & roll favorites. October 17 – The Linda Ronstadt Experience American Idol alum Tristan McIntosh and a full band celebrate Linda Ronstadt’s remarkable catalog at 8 PM. October 23 – John Oates Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Oates and the Good Road Band perform at 7:30 PM in a special concert benefiting the Connecticut Cancer Foundation. October 24 – Rocky Horror Live The Rocky Horror Picture Show returns at 7:30 PM, this time accompanied by a live shadow cast from the Come Again Players . October 25 – Music & Comedy The Waterbury Symphony Orchestra presents The Haunting of Edmond Town Hall from 2–4 PM. Later that evening, comedian Gary Gulman takes the stage for his SOLD-OUT performance. October 30 – The Grand Slambovian Halloween Ball Close out the month at 8 PM with The Grand Slambovian Halloween Ball , featuring The Slambovian Circus of Dreams and a night of rock, Americana and Halloween fun. Edmond Town Hall 45 Main Street, Newtown, CT edmondtownhall.org.