Historian, author, and essayist Jill Lepore will discuss the challenge of writing American history during a time of division on November 30, in McCosh Hall’s Room 50.

The David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History at Harvard University, Lepore has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2005. Her books include The Name of War (1998), which won the Bancroft Prize; New York Burning (2005), which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in history; The Story of America (2012), which was short-listed for the PEN Literary Award for the Art of the Essay; Book of Ages (2013), a finalist for the National Book Award; The Secret History of Wonder Woman (2014) and Joe Gould’s Teeth (2016). more

Nancy MacLean and Anastasia Mann will be at Labyrinth Books on Wednesday, November 29 at 6 p.m. discussing MacLean’s new book, Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America (Viking 2017).

The Atlantic calls it a “vibrant intellectual history of the radical right …. What we think of as dysfunction is the result of years of strategic effort.” more

As Morven Museum and Garden prepares to reinstall its permanent collection galleries for the first time since it opened 2004, the museum is seeking to capture oral histories and anecdotes from former residents, guests, employees, and the community. Part of this effort is to accurately reflect that the nationally registered historic landmark was more than a single family household and encompassed many people in its daily operations.

According to Jill Barry, Morven’s executive director, “We have been collecting oral histories and anecdotes from former residents and guests and suspect that there are more people out there with wonderful information we want to document. As time passes, we risk losing these valuable stories that will enhance our visitor’s imagination about what it was like to live or work here when Morven was a private residence.” more

On Thursday, November 30 at 7 p.m. the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System will host classical guitarist Stanley Alexandrowicz, who will present an evening devoted to Romantic and Contemporary Virtuoso Masterpieces for the classical guitar. Nineteenth Century Virtuoso Guitar works from France, Italy, and Vienna, will be followed by contemporary compositions by some of America’s greatest living composers. more

Formation unicycling, acrobatic basketball, aerial antics, juggling, and trick bicycling are just some of the treats in store at the Trenton Circus Squad’s upcoming performances, December 5 and 7. Entry is free, donations are welcome. Trenton Circus Squad kicked off its fundraising season with benefit performance Step Right Up! in October. They will finish up their 2017 season by sharing their top tricks with the local community. Donations help support the program that provides leadership and life skills training to area teens, free of charge. On December 5 and 7, doors open at 5:45 p.m., performance at 6 p.m. To be held at Roebling Wire Works, 675 S Clinton Avenue, Trenton.

Through a partnership between Jewish Family and Children’s Service and the YWCA Princeton Breast Cancer Resource Center, New York City-based writer and performer Amy Marcs brings her critically acclaimed, autobiographical one-woman reconstructive comedy, Nice T!ts to Rider University’s Spitz Theater on Thursday, November 30 at 7 p.m.

The performance is hosted by Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County, YWCA Princeton Breast Cancer Resource Center, and Sharsheret. more

The Princeton University Orchestra (PUO) continues its celebratory 120th season together with the 40th anniversary of director Michael Pratt, in two concerts on Thursday and Friday, December 7-8 at 7:30 p.m. Returning to their performance home in Richardson Auditorium at Alexander Hall, the orchestra will present — as Maestro Pratt puts it — “a meal of rich and beloved core repertory works:” Gioachino Rossini’s William Tell Overture, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy with guest conductor DG Kim ’18, and Antonín Dvořák’s monumental Seventh Symphony. more

YWCA Princeton’s St. Nicholas Project is looking for community members, individuals, families, and businesses to help provide holiday gifts to help local families in need celebrate Christmas in their own homes.

The St. Nicholas Project was founded in 2000 by Princeton resident and long-time YWCA supporter Jill Jachera, who saw the need to help families in Princeton. “With limited resources, many parents, especially those new to this country, struggle to make the holidays special for their children,” she said. “My husband and his family moved to the USA when he was four, with no money and no English speaking skills. But he still remembers the acts of kindness from strangers that made his family feel welcome. We want to pay it forward and do the same for immigrant families and those in similar situations throughout Princeton.”  more

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve bestows its Land Ethics Award upon recipients who demonstrate the creative use of native plants in the landscape, sustainable and regenerative design, and ethical land management and construction practices. The Preserve is now accepting nominations for this award.

Nominees can be private individuals, businesses, design professionals (including landscape architects and site engineers), conservation and preservation organizations and local, state, and federal agencies involved with environmental protection. School groups may also be nominated for relevant team projects. Individuals, non-profit organizations, government agencies, community groups, and business professionals are encouraged to apply. Application projects must be a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years old. more