« January 2010 | All Events | March 2010 »

February 2010 All Events

        

February 1, 2010

Great Hall Art Exhibit: "Coastal Views—Marine Photography by Dan Murdoch"

Dan-Murdoch-Old Mill Beach.jpgFebruary 1 to March 31, 2010
The Great Hall

Dan Murdoch has a life-long passion for all things nautical, from sailing, cruising, and racing to saltwater fishing and scuba diving . A Westport resident for over 27 years, he started taking pictures as the high school photographer and has never stopped. He provides commercial photography to businesses and publications throughout the country and, in his spare time, has created a personal collection of images that convey the special flavor of our unique and diversified waterfront.

Opening reception: Friday, February 5, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.
Light refreshments served. Enter through the main level Library entrance.

| Comments (0)

        

February 1, 2010

AUTHORS @THE LIBRARY: Katharine Weber

True-Confections.jpgMonday, February 1, 2010
Noon
McManus Room

From the critically acclaimed author of The Music Lesson and Triangle, Katharine Weber, comes True Confections, the ingenious, witty, and affecting fictional story of Zip's Candies, a family-run candy factory trying to stay alive after 85 years in the business. "Alice (the narrator) is an immediately lovable narrator, and her narration eventually bears hints about its possible lack of credibility, giving readers even more of a reason to keep turning pages. This story of love, life and sweets is a genuine treat." — Publisher's Weekly.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

| Comments (0)

        

February 2, 2010

AUTHORS @THE LIBRARY: Amy Bloom

amybloom-credit-beth-kelly.jpgWhere-the-God-of-Love-Hangs.jpgTuesday, February 2, 2010
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Author Amy Bloom returns to the Library to discuss her new book, a collection of short stories, Where the God of Love Hangs Out. Love, in its many forms and complexities, weaves through this collection by this New York Times bestselling author of Away. Bloom's new work of interconnected stories illuminates the mysteries of passion, family, and friendship.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.


| Comments (0)

        

February 4, 2010

OVERCOAT FILM SERIES: Mad Hot Ballroom

mad-hot-ballroom-large.jpgThursday, February 4, 2010
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Enjoy a warm drink, a brief introduction, and a film. This is the fifth and last in the series.

Mad Hot Ballroom is a much honored, award-winning documentary about a group of New York City kids who enter a city-wide ballroom dancing contest. The kids are terrific and lovable; you'll cheer them on in this delightful and musical look at what can be done with a little talent and a lot of passion. (2005, 105 minutes)

| Comments (0)

        

February 4, 2010

AUTHORS @THE LIBRARY: Parnell Hall

Puzzle-lady.jpgThursday, February 4, 2010
7:30 pm
McManus Room

Author Parnell Hall discusses his newest entertaining and fun-filled mystery The Puzzle Lady vs. the Sudoku Lady. It’s the battle of the century when Minami, the Sudoku Lady, shows up in Bakerhaven, Connecticut, to meet Cora Felton, the Puzzle Lady, whose sudoku books have just edged Minami’s off of the Japanese bestseller list. Before the rivals have a chance to square off, a killer strikes, and a sudoku puzzle is found at the scene of the murder. Now it’s a fight to the finish to see who can unmask the killer. As well as several satisfying crossword and sudoku puzzles, the Puzzle Lady’s latest adventure makes for a good read.

Nominated for the Edgar, Shamus, and Lefty awards, Parnell Hall is the author of several popular mystery series, including the Puzzle Lady crossword puzzle mysteries, the Stanley Hastings private eye novels, and the Steve Winslow courtroom dramas. An actor, screenwriter, and former private investigator, Parnell lives in New York City.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.


 

| Comments (0)

        

February 5, 2010

Opening Reception for "Coastal Views—Marine Photography by Dan Murdoch"

Dan-Murdoch Schooner Bowsprite.jpgFriday, February 5, 2010
6:00 to 7:00 pm
The Great Hall

Opening reception for the exhibit "Coastal Views—Marine Photography by Dan Murdoch." Dan has a life-long passion for all things nautical, from sailing, cruising, and racing to saltwater fishing and scuba diving . A Westport resident for over 27 years, he started taking pictures as the high school photographer and has never stopped. He provides commercial photography to businesses and publications throughout the country and, in his spare time, has created a personal collection of images that convey the special flavor of our unique and diversified waterfront.

Light refreshments served.
Enter through the main level Library entrance.

| Comments (0)

        

February 6, 2010

Westport Library Eleventh Annual Crossword Puzzle Contest

IMG_2475.JPG Save the Date:
Saturday, February 6, 2010
1:00 pm
McManus Room

2009 finalist Erhard Konerding, Will Shortz, finalist Alice Dutton, and grand prize winner, Joon Pahk.


YouTube video of the 2009 contest on the Library's YouTube website.

| Comments (6)

        

February 7, 2010

MUSIC @THE LIBRARY: Bennett Harris Acoustic Blues Trio

Fiddle-Trio.jpgSunday, February 7, 2010
2:00 pm
McManus Room

The Bennett Harris Acoustic Blues Trio presents a lively and memorable show of Americana blues and early jazz music. The group includes vocals, guitar, harmonica, fiddle, and bass. In addition to original tunes, their spirited repertoire draws from the songbooks of Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Blind Blake...and ranges through Irving Berlin, Gershwin, Janis Joplin and Jorma Kaukonen.

Bennett Harris is an expert traditional blues guitar fingerpicker, specializing in Piedmont ragtime and Mississippi Delta-sliding styles from the pre-World War II era. He plays slide on a 1930s vintage National steel Duolian and plays a neck-rack harmonica simultaneously. Kenny Kosek is one of the most recorded fiddlers in America today. His fluid, imaginative playing draws on an extensive stylistic vocabulary which allows him to move freely between numerous musical genres. Gary Brooks has occupied the bass chair with Bennett for many years. His steady, soulful, R&B influenced “groove” style anchors the trio’s sound. Gary also plays sax and keys, and over several decades has performed as a soloist and section player with many bands throughout the northeast.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

| Comments (0)

        

February 8, 2010

AUTHORS @THE LIBRARY: Susan Abulhawa

mornings-in-jenin.jpgMonday, February 8, 2010
Noon
McManus Room

Susan Abulhawa discusses her debut novel, Mornings in Jenin, which is richly told and full of humanity, forcing a fresh look at one of the defining political conflicts of our lifetime. LIbrary Journal says, "'Every now and then a literary work changes the way people think. Abulhawa, herself Palestinian, has crafted an intensely beautiful fictionalized history that should be read by both politicians and those interested in contemporary politics."

| Comments (0)

        

February 10, 2010

Author to Speak on Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities

AnneFordauthorphoto.jpgWednesday, February 10, 2010
10:00 am
McManus Room

Anne Ford will speak about her book A Special Mother: Getting through the Early Days of a Child's Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities and Related Disorder, co-authored with John-Richard Thompson, who will also be present. Ford is the author of the memoir Laughing Allegra about raising her severely learning disabled daughter, and On Their Own: Creating an Independent Future for Your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHD. She served as Chairman of the National Center for Learning Disabilities from 1989 to 2001, and remains a committed advocate and frequent speaker on LD issues. The great-granddaughter of Henry Ford, she lives in New York City. Thompson is an award-winning playwright and novelist, who has collaborated with Anne Ford at NCLD and on her two previous books. He lives in New York City.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Items in the Library catalog on learning disabilities.
Co-sponsored with Smart Kids with LD.

| Comments (0)

        

February 11, 2010

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: What’s Happened to Wall Street, Part II?

D-Komansky.jpgMarc-Lasry2.jpg Tuesday, February 11, 2010
7:30 pm
McManus Room

As a continuation of the conversation begun last year, two veterans of the financial world will return to discuss the current state of Wall Street.

David Komansky (left), who serves on the Library’s Advisory Council, retired as Chairman of Merrill Lynch in April 2003 after spending 35 years at the firm. Marc Lasry (right), is CEO and co-founder of Avenue Capitol Group.

Community Conversations are sponsored by The Smilow Family.

| Comments (0)

        

February 11, 2010

AUTHORS @THE LIBRARY: Rafael Yglesias

happy-marriage.jpgThursday, February 11, 2010
Noon
McManus Room

In The Happy Marriage , Rafael Yglesias tells the story of Enrique Sabas and his wife Margaret, alternating between the romantic misadventures of the first weeks of their courtship and the final months of Margaret's life as she says good-bye to her family, friends, and children — and to Enrique. Spanning thirty years, the story is about what it means for two people to spend a lifetime together, capturing the maturing of feelings, the issues around sex, and the frustrations of parenthood — and what makes a happy marriage. "Maybe marriage is the oldest story in the world, but in Mr. Yglesias's tender, funny, rueful telling, the lifelong relationship is the story of life itself.”— Wall Street Journal, The Summer Book List.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

| Comments (0)

        

February 16, 2010

Pageturners: Beneath a Marble Sky

Beneath-a-Marble-Sky.jpgTuesday, February 16, 2010
10:30 am and 7:30 pm
Seminar Room

Discussion of the book Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors. 324 pages. In 1632, the Emperor of Hindustan, Shah Jahan, consumed by grief over the death of his empress, Mumtaz Mahal, ordered the building of a grand mausoleum to symbolize the greatness of their love. Against scenes of unimaginable wealth and power, murderous sibling rivalries, and cruel despotism, Princess Jahanara tells the extraordinary story of how the Taj Mahal came to be, describing her own life as an agent in its creation and as a witness to the fateful events surrounding its completion.

For copies of the book, phone 291-4821 or email Sue Madeo at smadeo@westportlibrary.org.
New participants always welcome.

| Comments (0)

        

February 21, 2010

The Usual Suspects Mystery Reading Group: Gorky Park

Gorky-Park.jpgSunday, February 21, 2010
2:00 pm
Seminar Room

Discussion of the book Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith. Moscow detective Arkady Renko must battle the KGB, FBI, and the NYPD to solve the murders of three corpses found frozen in the snow at a Moscow amusement center.

For copies of the book, phone 291-4821. New participants always welcome.

| Comments (0)

        

February 24, 2010

AUTHORS @THE LIBRARY: Cathleen Schine

schinecathleen3111.jpgWednesday, February 24, 2010
Noon
McManus Room

In The Three Weissmanns of Westport, author Cathleen Schine presents a modern-day take on Sense and Sensibility when two sisters return home to live with their recently divorced mother in a small, run-down Westport, Connecticut, beach cottage. As the sisters mingle with the suburban aristocracy, love starts to blossom for both of them, and they find themselves struggling with the dueling demands of reason and romance.

Cathleen Schine is the author of the internationally best-selling novels The Love Letter (1995), which was made into a movie starring Kate Capshaw, and Rameau’s Niece (1993), which was also made into a movie (The Misadventures of Margaret), starring Parker Posey.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Books by Cathleen Schine in the Library catalog.

| Comments (0)

        

February 28, 2010

WHEN COOL WAS HOT! Film Series

fountainhead_art_200_200804.jpgSunday, February 28, 2010
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Enjoy winter Sundays with a hot cider, a short introduction, and a film to highlight the exhibit at the Westport Historical Society, "WESTPORT MODERN: WHEN COOL WAS HOT!," from January 24 to May 2 in the Betty and Ralph Sheffer Gallery.

In The Fountainhead, starring Gary Cooper, Patricia Neal, and Raymond Massey, Ayn Rand’s monumental best-selling book is turned into a bizarre screen triumph as an uncompromising visionary architect struggles to maintain his integrity despite pressures to conform. (1949, 114 minutes)

Library catalog.
Co-sponsored with the Westport Historical Society.

| Comments (0)