Category Archives: Programs

Discover Your Family History: an Introduction to Genealogy

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Presented by Claudia Breland

Sunday, June 9, 2 p.m., Mercer Island Library

Interested in tracing your family history but don’t know where to start? Claudia Breland, a professional genealogist with over 35 years of experience, will walk you through the early steps of this exciting pastime. Learn how to start filling out pedigree charts and interviewing relatives before you sit down at the computer and discover free resources available online and at the library. For beginners.

Registration opens May 17th. To register, go to http://www.kcls.org/calendar/detail.cfm?view=event&lib=26.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library

Opera Previews: The Ring of the Nibelungen by Richard Wagner

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The Ring of the Nibelungen ring-of-firewas first performed in its entirety at Bayreuth in the summer of 1876. The world had seen nothing like it-a music/drama cycle of incredible scope-four complete operas in four nights with 16 hours of performing time. That should have put off opera audiences used to a single opera and 3 hours running time. Instead Wagner’s Ring has fascinated opera audiences, more now than ever, especially in Seattle.

Norm Hollingshead will offer the following previews:

Tuesday, June 25, 7pm: Das Rheingold

Tuesday, July 9, 7pm: Die Walkure

Tuesday, July 16, 7pm: Siegfried

Tuesday, July 23, 7pm: Gotterdammerung

Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.

 

 

Reading Buddies Training for Teens

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Wednesday, June 26th, 1 p.m.

This is the mandatory orientation for teens volunteering to read with children this summer. Topics covered include scheduling and program expectations, information about child literacy ant tips for working with young readers. Teen volunteers need to have submitted a completed application to the library in order to participate in the training. Applications will be available starting May 13th and are due back by June 10th. Call the library or email Carrie with questions: clbowman@kcls.org.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.

Coming Soon…Reading Buddies

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Wednesdays in July, starting July 10th

Help your child practice reading while making a new friend! Children ages 5 to 8 are invited to stop by for a 20 minute reading session with a local teen. Teen volunteers will have literacy training. Drop in! Registration not required.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library

Spring Nature Sketching Saturday, May 11th 1:30 p.m.

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flower_clipart_violet Presented by Molly Hashimoto for all ages 8 and up.

Let the spring buds and blooms you see in Mercer Island Library’s Learning Garden inspire you to draw and paint-use pencil, pen and watercolor to capture all the beauty of the emerging season. Also learn how to keep a nature journal. Many examples of Molly’s journals as well as other published books will be shared. All supplies are provided, including fine watercolor paper.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.

Dining at Downton Abbey: A Trial by Fork

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Presented by Tames Alan.

Saturday, May 4, 1pm

Mercer Island Library

Explore a time of forgotten elegance, when one changed into dinner clothes and chose jewelry to reflect candlelight; a time where setting the table was an art and serving a meal was a well-choreographed dance. Food historian Tames Alan will demystify the manners, menu, and accoutrements of a formal 12-course dinner as would have been eaten upstairs at Downton Abbey before the outbreak of World War One.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library

 

Feast Your Eyes: Movies About Food

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Saturdays in February, March and April 2013

Each screening will include an educational lecture
and Q&A led by film historian Lance Rhoades.
Sponsored by the Mercer Island Friends of the Library.

Saturday, March 16, 1 p.m.: MONDOVINO

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mondovino
Directed by Jonathan Nossiter
Produced by Jonathan Nossiter
Emmanuel Giraud
Written by Jonathan Nossiter
Distributed by ThinkFilm
Release date(s) 14 May 2004
Running time 135 minutes
Country United States
Language English, French

Mondovino (Italian: World of Wine) is a 2004 documentary film on the impact of globalization on the world’s different wine regions written and directed by American film maker Jonathan Nossiter. It was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival[1] and a César Award.

The film explores the impact of globalization on the various wine-producing regions, and the influence of critics like Robert Parker and consultants like Michel Rolland in defining an international style. It pits the ambitions of large, multinational wine producers, in particular Robert Mondavi, against the small, single estate wineries who have traditionally boasted wines with individual character driven by their terroir.

Mondovino was originally intended to be a two-month affair as a break between feature projects upon the completion of Nossiter’s film Signs & Wonders (2000). The film gave Nossiter a chance to utilize his knowledge as a trained sommelier from his time working at Balthazar in New York as well as an opportunity to visit some of the great wine regions of the world.

 

Feast Your Eyes: Movies About Food

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Saturdays in February, March and April 2013
Each screening will include an educational lecture
and Q&A led by film historian Lance Rhoades.
Sponsored by the Mercer Island Friends of the Library.

Saturday, February 23, 1pm
Big Night
Two brothers, one a talented and uncompromising chef,
the other an eager-to-please aspiring entrepreneur,
gamble everything on the chance that their Italian
restaurant can be saved with one big night.

Big_night

Directed by Campbell Scott
Stanley Tucci
Produced by David Kirkpatrick
Jonathan Filley
Written by Joseph Tropiano
Stanley Tucci
Starring Minnie Driver
Ian Holm
Isabella Rossellini
Tony Shalhoub
Stanley Tucci
Allison Janney
Music by Gary DeMichele
Louis Prima
Editing by Suzy Elmiger
Distributed by The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release date(s) January 24, 1996 (Sundance Film Festival)
September 20, 1996
Running time 107 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $4.1 million [1]
Box office $12,008,376

Opera Previews: La Boheme

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Wednesday, February 20, 7pm
Presented by Norm Hollingshead.
Giacomo Puccini is the most popular opera composer of our time. Almost all of his operas end sadly, but that seems to attract rather than repel

opera audiences around the world. His 4th opera, La Boheme, is the saddest of all. In this opera the deadly villain is not another human,

but rather poverty and disease. Puccini’s genius at finding just the right melody to depict the happiness and heartache

of the doomed couple, Mimi and Rodolfo,draws sell-out crowds wherever it is performed.

Sponsored by the Mercer Island Friends of the Library.

La Boheme

Red Pyramid Quest Ultimate Egyptian Party at the MI Library on May 9 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

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Date and Time: Monday, May 9, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Avenue SE, Mercer Island, Washington

Fans aged 8 to 14 of Rick Riordan‘s “The Red Pyramid” are invited to take a time quest trip through ancient Egypt. Watch feats of ancient magic by magician Jeff Evans, solve clues on a scavenger hunt, take the Egyptian Trivia Jeopardy challenge, and other activities. Come dressed as your favorite god, goddess, queen, pharaoh or king if you wish, and win a prize!

Registration is a must as space is limited. Register on line at www.kcls.org.

The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.