Last night, we held our first event in our new Community Room. We wanted to open with something big...something unforgettable. What would bring folks out on a cold January afternoon? Pete Hamill!

The house was packed for this special event. Hamill was superb -- he is the perfect mix of intelligence and street-smarts, eloquence and ordinary,  philosophical and realistic, sophistication and homespun, which is probably why everyone seemed to greet him as a friend.

He talked about  his life, his work, the state of the world today, and he talked about libraries(!). His stories were full of pride, hope, humor, and history...a lot like him.  Wow. We were so fortunate to have heard him speak and to meet him!

He was thoughtful and generous with his time and his remarks throughout the afternoon and evening. After the presentation, there was a long line of people waiting to have books signed -- he thanked them for their patience and was attentive to each individual that approached him (he gave what I'm sure was precious advice to a young journalism student and a kiss to a woman that asked(!))...there were so many memorable encounters.

This event was the perfect high note in our Grand Opening crescendo.

A huge thank you to Pete Hamill. New Yorker. Gentleman. Craftsman. Icon.

Our Grand Opening Author Series Continues!

Deirdre Imus will be here today at 7 p.m. to talk about her new book.

The Essential Green You: Easy Ways to Detox Your Diet, Your Body, and Your Life (Green This!) is the third volume inThe New York Times bestselling "Green This!" series.

A book signing will follow the presentation and books will be available for purchase. Refreshments will be served. 

Pete Hamill will be the first speaker in our Grand Opening Author Series.

Date: Sunday January 25, 2009

Time: 5 p.m.

(Doors open at 4:30)

Place: Darien Library Community Room

A reception and book signing will follow the presentation. Books will be available for purchase.

The Catherine Lindsey Actors/Playwrights Workshop is excited to announce that the Actors/Playwrights Workshop, now in its 17^th year, will present a series of workshops here at the Darien Library. The playwright participants will workshop their plays at the following sessions:

The Art Gallery at the New Darien Library

January 9 - February 28

Wilson Avenue Loft Artists (WALA)

WET PAINT

Original paintings and prints by Wilson Avenue Loft Artists (WALA) will be on view in the Art Gallery from January 9 to February 28, 2009. The show, entitled “Wet Paint,” features 17 local artists, primarily from Darien and Rowayton. 

The artists represented in this exhibit are Britt Bair, Susan Crawford, Randi Davis, Georgette Diamandis, Lori Glavin, Hanneke Goedkoop, Dana Goodfellow, Ruth Ipe, Mary Manning, Lynn Stephens Massey, Claudia Mengel, Elise Mills, Margo Reynolds Packer, Grace Shanley, Vicki French Smith, and Gwynne Tibbetts. Among the many works on display, Hanneke Goedkoop, curator for the show, will show limited edition original mono-prints in the “Winged Migration Series.”

                     "Wings" by  Hanneke Goedkoop

We may have been closed, but we did not stop planning interesting and exciting Library programs. We are eager to tell you all about our upcoming events! Certainly, the Grand Opening on January 10th is our biggest event. Opening our doors to the public again will be a grand day, indeed.

We are off to a running start with a Grand Opening Author Series and the return of our Friday Film Series.

We will kick off the Author Series at 5 p.m. on January 25th with a program featuring Pete Hamill . In the following weeks and months, we'll be visited by Deirdre Imus, Michael Korda, Arthur and Pauline Frommer, Christina Pugh, Ilene Beckerman and Giulia Melucci, and Randall Jones.

Also, this month, we will begin our Friday Film Series. On January 30th at 7:30 p.m., we open with The Visitor. One of the few sleeper hits of the year, this movie is showing up on lots of "Best of 2008" lists (I know it's on mine.)

We know you won't want to miss any of these memorable events! (We're already well underway planning more spring and summer events. Whatever the season, whatever the reason, we are the place. )

We are very pleased and proud to announce the New Darien Library's Grand Opening Author Series! We are happy too, that the celebratory mood of our Grand Opening will continue for several months. Please join us for these special events which are sure to be memorable.  A reception and book signing will follow each of these presentations.(Books will be available for purchase.)

Sunday

January 25, 5 p.m.

Pete Hamill

Pete Hamill is a novelist, essayist, and journalist whose career has endured for more than 40 years. He has been a columnist for the New York Post, the New York Daily News, New York Newsday, the Village Voice, New York magazine, and Esquire. He has served as editor-in-chief of both the Post and the Daily News. He’s written several New York Times bestsellers, including the novels Snow in August and Forever, and his memoir, A Drinking Life. His most recent novel North River was published in 2007.

Thursday

January 29, 7 p.m.

Deirdre Imus

The Essential Green You!: Easy Ways to Detox Your Diet, Your Body, and Your Life (Green This!)

In The Essential Green You!,”the third volume in the New York Times bestselling “Green This!” series, Deirdre Imus shares tips on how to “green” the way you take care of yourself. Whether discussing food, clothes, cosmetics, toiletries, or hair products, she provides detailed, practical advice on how to live organically without a drastic overhaul. Deirdre Imus shows how easy and important it is for women to “buy green, eat green, and be green.”

Sunday

February 8, 5 p.m.

Michael Korda

With Wings Like Eagles: A History of the Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain (July 10 – October 31, 1940), one of the most significant conflicts of World War II and the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces, is brought to life by acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Michael Korda.

With Wings Like Eagles is the only book that describes the political maneuvering and behind-the-scenes strategizing that surrounded the Battle of Britain.

Michael Korda is the New York Times bestselling author of Ike, Horse People, Country Matters, Ulysses S. Grant, Cat  People, and Journey to a Revolution.

Sunday

March 22, 5 p.m.

 Arthur and Pauline Frommer

For over 50 years, Frommer’s® travel guides have included more than 340 titles reaching more than six million travelers each year, covering every major destination in the world.

The family tradition was started by Arthur Frommer and carried on by daughter Pauline with her own Pauline Frommer Travel Guides, an award-winning new series aimed at adult budget travelers. Arthur and Pauline Frommer co-host The Travel Show, which is broadcast to over 100 radio stations nationwide.

Monday

April 13, 7 p.m.

Christina Pugh

Award-winning poet Christina Pugh is the author of Rotary, the winner of the Word Press First Book Prize in 2004. Her second book of poems, Restoration, was published in October 2008. Her poetry has appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Poetry, TriQuarterly, Ploughshares, and other publications. In addition to her own poems, she has also published numerous articles on poetry and poetics.

Thursday

April 23, 7 p.m.

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

Ilene Beckerman and Giulia Melucci

 Ilene Beckerman’s memoir Love, Loss, and What I Wore, a runaway bestseller from the 1990s, tells her life story poignantly through the clothes that she wore. Brimming with wit and honesty, “I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti” is Giulia Melucci’s first-hand account of searching for Mr. Right. It’s laced with soulful Italian-American recipes that got her through several Mr. Wrongs. Join us for this fun evening talking love, food, and fashion – we’re calling it Girls Night Out!

Sunday

May 3, 5 p.m.

Randall Jones

The Richest Man in Town: The Twelve Commandments of Wealth

Worth magazine founder Randall Jones interviewed the richest men and women in the 100 largest towns in America -- all of them self-made financial giants. In his new book, he reveals the key common traits of these individuals and makes their success tips available to us all. Jones, a frequent commentator on numerous television shows including The Today Show, CNBC, CNN, CNNFN, and FOX News, will talk about his research and some of the surprising and extraordinary revelations.

JANUARY 30

The Visitor

Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira
Rated PG-13; 108 minutes; (2008)

Walter, a college professor, travels to New York to attend a conference and returns to find a Syrian man and his Senegalese girlfriend living in his apartment. The couple has nowhere to go and when Walter reluctantly allows them to stay with him, they return his kindness by teaching him the exuberant rhythms of the African drum and rekindling his passion for life.

FEBRUARY 6

The Express

Dennis Quaid, Charles Dutton, Rob Brown

Rated PG; 130 minutes; (2008)

Witness the inspirational true story of a real American hero. Rising from the humblest of beginnings, Ernie Davis overcame impossible odds to become the first African-American to win college football’s greatest honor, the Heisman Trophy. His fight for equality and respect forever changed the face of American sports and his story continues to inspire.

FEBRUARY 13

Ghost Town

Greg Kinnear, Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni
Rated PG-13; 102 minutes; (2008) 

Bertram Pincus dies momentarily but is revived and finds that after his near death experience, he can now see ghosts. However, annoyingly, they all want something from him, particularly Frank Herlihy, who pesters him into breaking up the impending marriage of his widow Gwen. This puts Pincus squarely in the middle of an after-life love triangle in this romantic comedy.

FEBRUARY 20

The Secret Life of Bees

Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys

Rated PG-13; 110 minutes; (2008)

Set in South Carolina in 1964, this film is the moving tale of Lily Owens, a 14-year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. Taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters, Lily finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping, honey, and the Black Madonna.

FEBRUARY 27

Man on Wire

Documentary Feature
Rated PG-13; 90 minutes; (2008) (In English and French with English subtitles.)

This is the true story of Philippe Petit, who in 1974 committed the artistic crime of the century. He had done many illegal high wire walks before, including between the towers of Notre Dame and across the Sydney Harbor bridge, but it was his walk between the then-unfinished World Trade Center towers that brought him the most notoriety. He remembers the fateful day, along with the crew who helped him pull off this once-in-a- lifetime event.

MARCH 6

Friday Film Vote!

There are so many great new films from which to choose that we want you to have a chance to be heard! Twice during our weekly series, you’ll have the opportunity to vote for your favorite of three new films. Voters will be directed to the Darien Library website, where they will be able to read about the choices, watch film trailers, and vote for their selection. The films to be voted upon will be announced at least two weeks prior to showing. 

MARCH 13

Frozen River

Melissa Leo, Charlie McDermott, Michael O’Keefe

Rated R; 97 minutes; (2008) 

Set during the Christmas season, Frozen River is the story of a struggling mother in upstate New York who is lured into the world of illegal immigrant smuggling. She meets a Mohawk girl who lives on a reservation that straddles the U.S. - Canadian border and driven by financial hardship, they form a partnership to smuggle illegal aliens across the frozen St. Lawrence River.

MARCH 20

Mamma Mia!

Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth
Rated PG-13; 108 minutes; (2008) 

In this big screen version of the stage musical featuring the songs of ABBA, Donna is the mother to Sophie, who’s on a quest to discover the identity of her father on the eve of her wedding. Donna owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island and when three men from her past arrive unexpectedly, it is a trip down memory lane that no one will ever forget.

MARCH 27

Brick Lane

Tannishtha Chatterjee, Satish Kaushik

Rated PG-13; 102 minutes; (2007) 

After an arranged marriage, a young woman leaves her family in Bangladesh to live with her new husband in London. When she finds that life is not at all what she expected, she begins an affair that forces her to take control of her own life. Set against a backdrop of escalating racial tension, Brick Lane is a contemporary love story.

APRIL 3

The Duchess

Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Hayley Atwell
Rated PG-13; 110 minutes;(2008) 

A vibrant beauty and celebrity of her time, the extraordinary 18th-century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, was reviled for her extravagant political and personal lives. Stuck in an unhappy marriage, she fell in love with a young politician and the affair caused a bitter conflict with her husband and threatened to erupt into a scandal.

APRIL 10

Encounters at the End of the World

 Documentary Feature
Rated G; 99 minutes; (2008) 

Director Werner Herzog becomes the first director to film on all seven continents as he takes his camera to the Antarctic community of McMurdo Station, where a hearty crew of eleven hundred people spends the austral summer. This group of researchers, scientists, and assorted adventurers shows us life at the bottom of the world, as we see that we are not as invincible or as dominant as we like to believe.

APRIL 17

Friday Film Vote!

There are so many great new films from which to choose that we want you to have a chance to be heard! Twice during our weekly series, you’ll have the opportunity to vote for your favorite of three new films. Voters will be directed to the Darien Library website, where they will be able to read about the choices, watch film trailers, and vote for their selection. The films to be voted upon will be announced at least two weeks prior to showing.

We are so happy to be back and right on schedule with our annual Friday Film Series! We'll meet in our beautiful new Community Room...and, yes, Jane will be here with cookies!

All movies begin at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7. Admission is free!

Usually, this spot is used to announce upcoming events at the Library, but let's face it, it's not been business-as-usual lately! We closed the building (forever!) at Leroy Avenue last week and it goes without saying that the BIGGEST upcoming event  is our Grand Opening on January 10th! We have so much to look forward to, but we also acknowledge and pay tribute to our rich past. Please reminisce with us.

Darien Library: The Great Good Place, the beautiful, inspirational retrospective, below, (goose bump alert!) was created by former Darien Library board president Alice Look.

We also shared a warm and fun Saturday evening together as we bid A Fond Farewell to 35 Leroy Avenue.

Last month was a blur for us...despite our busy preparation for the move, we kept busy on the desks, on the floor, on the web, and behind the scenes. We've queried our members with a Children's Room Survey, had an incredibly successful knit-a-thon to benefit local domestic violence shelters, offered suggestions of timeless classics and big books to read while we're closed, and had many "lasts" in this building -- the last film, the last book discussion, the last book sale, and then, finally, our last day.

Click here to watch a photo-montage of the last day at 35 Leroy.

In the days and weeks ahead, we'll be making history. We'll be announcing some exciting new programs and also celebrating the return of familiar favorites. Keep checking back right here for information about our Grand Opening Series, Friday Film Series, Spring Book Discussion Series, and Children's Programs! And please remember us when you are considering your end-of-year giving. Your support is critical to the ongoing success of the Darien Library! Every year, we rely on the generous donations given by you to purchase new books, DVDs, audiobooks, computers, and other resources. Our website presents the opportunity for you to make a donation or transfer stocks to benefit the Library. You may also call us at 203-655-1234 x153. We appreciate your continued support!

A little icy rain on Sunday morning made us remember to be wary on the roads but the colder temps also reminded us that we've got 99 hats and scarves on their way to the Domestic Violence Crisis Center. Our shout-out for helping hands for our 3rd annual knit-a-thon, brought the community together -- teens, adults, and children -- and their needles together, resulting in 52 hats and 47 scarves, which will be delivered to the shelters run by the Crisis Center. We put our hands together for you! Thank you so much! We look forward to offerering more opportunites to serve the community. Read about the enthusiasm that's already building for our new teen space!