Renaissance House in Oak Bluffs will once again nurture the writer within as they host a series of writers’ salons this fall on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Tonight, Sept. 17, features Tom Dresser author of Women of Martha’s Vineyard, among other local historical books. Priscilla Douglas, a life coach and author of Getting There and Staying There, brings her skills to the salon on Oct. 1.

The programs are free and open to all.

Renaissance House is located at 31 Pennacook avenue in Oak Bluffs. Call 917-747-0367 or visit renaissance-house-harlem.com.

The Black Dog’s Paw-rade to benefit Angels Helping Animals Worldwide begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Black Dog General Store in Vineyard Haven, behind the tavern.

There is a $5 entry fee which the Black Dog will match. The event includes prizes, contests and treats for those doggie participants. For more information, contact 508-696-8182 or [email protected].

Ben Greenman is a novelist, short story writer and a ghostwriter who collaborates with musicians on autobiographies. He’s an editor at The New Yorker and the composer of Fake Celebrity Musicals (most recently 2011’s Weiner! The Musical). He is a popular if reluctant tweeter and the creator of charts and graphs about charts and graphs.

Adept at changing pace, Mr. Greenman’s life imitates his work: for part of each summer, he trades the bustle of Brooklyn for the relative quiet of the Vineyard, continuing his varied projects from his family’s home in Aquinnah.

Tivoli Day, the annual (37 years and counting) festival to commemorate the end of summer and celebrate the return of the off-season, returns to Oak Bluffs this Saturday, Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival takes place on Circuit avenue which is closed to traffic during the party.

Restaurants serve food at outdoor tables, vendors sell their wares outside, too, and the music keeps on choogling. Johnny Hoy, Phil DaRosa and others jam set the backbeat to the street fair.

There are also crafts for kids, animal petting, a climbing wall, the list is long and fruitful.

Author Michael Tougias likes to focus on real life adventure stories, particularly tales of disaster and rescue. One of his books, The Finest Hours, is based on what is often considered the most difficult rescue missions the U.S. Coast Guard ever attempted. His most recent book, A Storm Too Soon, recounts the journey of survival three men experienced after a northeaster ripped their boat in half 200 miles off the coast of the Carolinas in 2007.