Tuesday, April 16 at 7 p.m.
Join in on the discussion and share your thoughts about Lev, Kolya, and Vika’s journey through Leningrad to obtain the coveted dozen eggs.
Library staff members will lead the discussion.
This program is part of our One Book, One Community series. The book selected for the town-wide read is City of Thieves by David Benioff, who will be speaking at the Library Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. The book selected for young readers is Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).
Wednesday, January 16 at 1:30 p.m. - Liberal Arts (2012); Starring Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olson, and Zac Efron; Rated PG-13; 97 minutes. Closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
When 30-something Jesse returns to his alma mater for a professor's retirement party, he falls for Zibby, a college student, and is faced with a powerful attraction that springs up between them.
"An artful blend of tenderness and sharp, clear-eyed observations. Its characters talk like real people -- who also happen to be smart, appealing and thoughtful." -- Claudia Puig, USA Today
For more information, please view the film's trailer.
March 18, 2013 - March 29, 2013
This Spring, why not try your hand at Evernote, MailChimp, Pixlr, or Vine? Or, better yet, refresh and refine your Excel, Photoshop, or InDesign skills. Registration for our Spring 2013 curriculum starts this Monday.
Friday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – Robot and Frank (2012) Starring Frank Langella, James Marsden, and Susan Sarandon; Rated PG-13; 89 minutes; Closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
Set in the near future, Frank, a retired cat burglar, has two grown kids who are concerned he can no longer live alone. They are tempted to place him in a nursing home until Frank’s son chooses a different option: against the old man’s wishes, he buys Frank a walking, talking humanoid robot programmed to improve his physical and mental health. What follows is an often hilarious and heartwarming story about finding friends and family in the most unexpected places.
"'Robot & Frank' hits all the right notes - romantic, fantastic, tragic and sweet." -- Tom Long Detroit News
For more information, please watch the film's trailer. Check out the rest of our Friday Night Features in March.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).
Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m.
In City of Thieves, Colonel Grechko tells Lev and Kolya that he will give them their freedom if they bring him a dozen eggs for his daughter’s wedding cake. Well, we are hosting our very own cake challenge. Bring a homemade cake to our Darien Library Cake Baking Competition for a chance to win $100. Special guest judges will rate cakes based on taste, appearance, texture, creativity, and name.
In the end, we are all winners though, as participants are invited to sample the entries.
The contest will be judged by representatives from OmNomCT.com and CTBites.com.
This program is part of our One Book, One Community series. The book selected for the town-wide read is City of Thieves by David Benioff. The book selected for young readers is Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen’s).
Friday, February 1 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – Declaration of War (2011) Starring Valérie Donzelli, Jérémie Elkaïm and César Desseix; Not Rated; 100 minutes; In French with English subtitles.
This exuberant and deeply moving film follows a new couple, Romeo and Juliette, who must face the ultimate test when they discover their newborn child is very ill. Gathering their friends and family together, they confront this ordeal together as a form of warfare. Donzelli infuses the story with unexpected verve using a host of cinematic techniques, music and heartbreaking performances that results in a film about a contemporary couple who surprises even themselves with their ability to fight not only for the life of their child but for each other.
"The subject matter is as serious as can be, yet the style is vibrant, energetic and engaging -- often tense, but without a trace of woe-is-me." -- Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
For more information, please watch the film's trailer. Check out the rest of our Friday Night Features in February.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).
Wednesday, February 13 at 7 p.m.
Perfect for Valentine's day, join Emily Bryan in a lively discussion of some favorite Shakespearean moments as she provides insight into some of the most iconic moments of love in the canon. Bring your favorite Shakespearean text on LOVE as well (2 lines, 10 lines, a scene or a sonnet) and we will invite you to share. Shakespeare ON is a FREE educational series provided by Shakespeare on the Sound, local professional theater company. This year, they will be presenting "As You Like It" in Rowayton in June.
Emily Bryan is a Darien native and a former Shakespeare professor. She has taught at Dominican College, West Point, Northwestern and Brown. Prior to writing her dissertation on the lives of boy actors on the Shakespearean stage, Emily worked for the Public Theater / New York Shakespeare Festival as the assistant to the Executive Producer and as a Casting Assistant. She has also worked as a dramaturg for the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab and gave pre-show lectures for the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. MA, The Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-Upon-Avon; PhD, Northwestern.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).
Wednesday, January 16 at 7 p.m.
As the New Year begins, join Emily Bryan, Shakespeare Scholar and Director of Education for Shakespeare on the Sound, in a lively discussion of some favorite Shakespearean moments as she provides insight into some of the most riveting transformations that take place in Shakespeare's plays and characters.
Bring your favorite Shakespearean text on your idea of Transformation as well (2 lines, 10 lines, a scene or a sonnet) and we will invite you to share and open up discussion about the moments that stand out most for you!
Emily Bryan is a Darien native and a former Shakespeare professor. She has taught at Dominican College, West Point, Northwestern and Brown. Prior to writing her dissertation on the lives of boy actors on the Shakespearean stage, Emily worked for the Public Theater / New York Shakespeare Festival as the assistant to the Executive Producer and as a Casting Assistant. She has also worked as a dramaturg for the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab and gave pre-show lectures for the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. MA, The Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-Upon-Avon; PhD, Northwestern.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).
Darien Library Music Series Presents
JIM CLARK QUARTET
Thursday, January 17 at 7 p.m.
Jim Clark is a world-class saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. He performs and records in a wide variety of musical settings and styles. Whether he is in the recording studio, performing in a small local venue or on stage at Carnegie Hall, his goal is the same – to play from the heart with the highest level of musical excellence.
The Jim Clark Quartet features Tracey Marble on vocals, Chris Coogan on keyboards and John Mobilio on upright bass. Their ongoing Memory Lane Concert Series has featured shows such as: Great American Songwriting Teams, Songs from Classic American Films, Songs from the Broadway Stage, as well as entire shows giving tribute to a single composer or songwriting team: Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Cole Porter and George & Ira Gershwin. Through themed performances of story and song, the quartet pays tribute to those who created the Great American Songbook.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs available on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).
Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
Please join us in welcoming Fred Hart as he explores the background of the earliest settlers of coastal Fairfield County. Darien Library and The Middlesex Genealogical Society Present, Cruising Long Island Sound—Tracing Its Early Families with a Regional View. Hart's talk will include beautifully illustrated maps, depictions of various migrations throughout the region, and much, much more. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to learn about the people who first inhabited our little neck of the woods!
In addition to being a charter member of the Middlesex Genealogical Society, Mr. Hart is also a member of Connecticut Ancestry Society, the Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council, and several other historical and genealogical organizations. Fred has been a Certified Genealogist since 1993 and was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists in 2007.