« November 2007 | Main | January 2008 »

December 28, 2007

It May Be Winter, But We've Got a Spring in Our Step!

We are building such an exciting events calendar for the winter months, and we can't wait to tell you about what's coming! Our prediction for 2008? You'll want to make lots of notes on your own calendars; we'll be seeing a lot of each other. Are you ready?

We'll have authors!

On Thursday, February 28th, at 7 p.m, Michael Gates Gill, author of How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everybody Else will be here. We love his story and can't wait to meet the man!

Lee Siegel will be here on Thursday March 6th at 7 p.m. to discuss his new book, Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob. "Contrarian." "Acid-tongued." "Provocative." "Intellectually engaging." These are all words that have been used to describe the author. Sounds like fun to me!

Then, as we get closer still to the spring thaw, we're able to bring you a program focused on an always hot topic - Watergate. On Sunday, March 9th at 5:30 p.m, we'll welcome the author Ed Gray, who co-authored In Nixon's Web: A Year in the Crosshairs of Watergate with his father L. Patrick Gray III, who was the Acting Director of the FBI during the height of the Watergate scandal. This first-person account, an important and unique view into the scandal, includes revelatory tape transcripts, third-party accounts, and excerpts from previously secret documents. Shhh...tell everybody!!

And that's not all!

During the month of February, every Tuesday, at 3 p.m, we'll be hosting "Short Stories for a Short Month," Short Story discussions by the fire in the Magazine Room.

More good news: our Friday Film Series begins on February 8th at 7:30 p.m. and will run for 12 weeks!

And while it is still officially winter, we will begin our next Book Discussion Series. Led by our favorite leader, Jordon Pecile, the first discussion will take place on Sunday, March 16th at 2:30 p.m.

Keep checking back here for more details on these and other events here at the Library. We're just getting started!

Posted by BarbaraT at 09:55 AM | Comments (0)

Excuse me. How do I get to Astoria?

I'm not sure how to get there, but June Steffensen Hagen will be our expert guide. Her photography exhibit "The Astoria Line" will be our next Art on View in the Main Reading Room from January 8th through February 15th. Hagen's focus for this exhibit is on the elevated trains that run from Manhattan through Queensboro Plaza to Astoria, Queens (where she resides).

I'm a New Yorker, and like many typical New Yorkers, I know my borough (Brooklyn)...and, of course, I know Manhattan. Queens? Um. It's where Shea Stadium is. Kennedy and LaGuardia. Well, I do also know that Astoria is in Queens; Astoria (Ditmars Blvd.) used to be the final stop at the Queens end of the R line (once known as the RR, or, the "double-R"). I lived at the other end of the line....the Brooklyn end.

Hagen, like most artists, notices what we may miss. “By paying photographic attention to riders and workers, stark structures, and nuanced views, I intend to celebrate a mundane, yet often beautiful part of urban life,”

I hope that you plan to take a ride over. You won't need a MetroCard to see this fascinating exhibit.

There will be an artist’s reception at the Library on Saturday, January 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The public is invited. Refreshments will be served.

Posted by BarbaraT at 09:45 AM | Comments (1)

December 20, 2007

Meet the Author: Ed Gray

Ed Gray, co-author of In Nixon's Web: A Year in the Crosshairs of Watergate, will be our featured speaker here at the Library on Sunday March 9th at 5:30 p.m. The book, co-authored with his father, L. Patrick Gray III, Acting Director of the FBI at the height of the Watergate scandal, is considered to be the last untold story of Watergate. This first-person account, an important and unique view into the scandal, includes revelatory tape transcripts, third-party accounts, and excerpts from previously secret documents.

Mark your calendars now and keep checking back here for more information! We're the first stop on this author's tour and we couldn't be more excited!

Posted by BarbaraT at 04:18 PM | Comments (0)

December 19, 2007

The (Holiday) Spirit Still Lingers

Our Holiday Concert earlier this month was such a success. The Eastern Brass Quintet. Standing room only. And, music! music! music! Wow! Were they good! Here are some pictures from this very special event.

Happy Holidays!

Posted by BarbaraT at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)

December 14, 2007

Calendars Ready?

Ready! Set! Mark 'em up!

Here's the schedule for our 2008 Friday Film Series:

February 8

February 15

February 22

February 29

March 7

March 14

March 21

March 28
FRIDAY FILM VOTE!

April 4

April 11

April 18

April 25
FRIDAY FILM VOTE!

Posted by BarbaraT at 08:30 PM | Comments (0)

Knitting up a storm

While the snow swirled around us yesterday, we took inventory of all the hand-knitted hats and scarves (and one blanket) donated for the shelters run by the Domestic Violence Crisis Center.

Here's what was collected from our generous, talented, and industrious knitters: 20 hats, 30 scarves, and one blanket...all resulting from our Knit-a-Thon and everything will be delivered to the Crisis Center today.

Thank you knitters! We put down our needles and applaud you!

Posted by BarbaraT at 11:17 AM | Comments (0)

Our Final Foreign Film - "The Italian" (in Russian)

Our Foreign Film Series concludes tonight with the showing of The Italian. Postponed from an earlier date, we'll begin at our usual 7:30. Doors will open at 7 (and the cookies will go quickly).

I hope that you'll come and join us for this final film. It's a really wonderful story about young Vanya, a six-year-old boy in a Russian orphanage who is about to be adopted by a wealthy Italian couple. He sets off on a perilous journey to find his only remaining family. Pursued by orphanage staff and the police, the determined runaway must now face the most difficult challenges of his young life in this incredible story inspired by true events. (Also incredible is the performance from its young star.)

In Russian with English subtitles.
Rated PG
Running time is 99 minutes.

Admission is free.

Posted by BarbaraT at 10:51 AM | Comments (0)