Early September is a kind of in-between season -- not quite Fall, but not quite Summer, either. But other than a possible lashing from some tropical-storm leftovers, our stretch of lovely weather seems likely to keep on coming. Here are a few events coming up this weekend, and a few to mark on your calendar for later in the month.

Tonight, you can explore the Woonasquatucket River through Providence via kayak, with the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council. Click here for all the details. Or you can join the crew at Newport Green Drinks tonight, for a special book-signing event at Newport Vineyards - click for info. Friday night, Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown invites families in to learn about bats. Find details for all these events and more at NNN's Community Calendar.

Saturday, you can learn to use a map and compass at Audubon's refuge in Smithfield, take a "taste of Tuscany" cruise out of Wickford, paddle across Secret Lake in North Kingstown, create a nature journal in a Prudence Island workshop, check out a photo exhibit in Bristol -- find details for all these events and more at NNN's Community Calendar. 

This weekend is also a great time to visit a local Farmers Market or farm stand. Traffic at these markets tends to decline in September, but if you go, you'll find an abundance of fresh, local food, from apples and peaches to potatoes and carrots and more, and help support our local farms. Find details for where to find your local Market, and more, at NNN's Community Calendar.

URI's global-change speaker series launches on Tuesday, Sept 9, with a talk by New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert.  Click here for details and the full schedule.

Coming soon -- Audubon's awesome Raptor Weekend, Sept. 13 & 14 in Bristol (click here for more info, and click here for a photo slideshow from last year's event). URI's Fall Gardening School starts Sept 22 at RWP Botanical Center, click here to sign up now. REI in Cranston spends a day to introduce you to the kayak life, Sept. 27, click for info.