Category Archives: Adult Event

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Suburban Safari: A Backyard Wildlife Adventure

Join us for a special documentary screening of Suburban Safari: A Backyard Wildlife Adventure with filmmaker and Rowayton resident James Porter. Suburban Safari is a 1-hour and 34-minute documentary exploring the vibrant wildlife sustained in a small patch of woods in a suburban neighborhood. Over a ten-year period, the documentary follows the lives of recurring visitors to the filmmaker’s own backyard in Rowayton, including a 75-year-old box turtle that appears annually for over a decade. Could this be the last box turtle in Rowayton? Come to the film screening and find out!

A Q&A session with James Porter will follow the film. Refreshments will be provided. Register here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have eight cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual December session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have eight cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual December session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have eight cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual December session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have eight cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual December session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have eight cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual December session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

On Pulse-Pounding, Family Driven Mysteries: A Conversation with Laura Dave

Join us for a captivating conversation with #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave, as she chats with us online about her newest book The Night We Lost Him.

The Night We Lost Him focuses on estranged siblings who discover their father has been keeping a secret for over fifty years, one that may have been fatal…

Liam Noone was many things to many people. To the public, he was an exacting, self-made hotel magnate fleeing his past. To his three ex-wives, he was a loving albeit distant family man who kept his finances flush and his families carefully separated. To Nora, he was a father who often loved her from afar – notably a cliffside cottage perched on the California coast from which he fell to his death.

The authorities rule the death accidental, but Nora and her estranged brother Sam have other ideas. As Nora and Sam form an uneasy alliance to unravel the mystery, they start putting together the pieces of their father’s past—and uncover a family secret that changes everything.

With Laura Dave’s trademark combination of soulful suspense and evocative family drama, The Night We Lost Him is a riveting page-turner. Register now to learn about this book and so much more!

About the Author: Laura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including The Last Thing He Told Me and Eight Hundred Grapes. Her novels have been translated into thirty-eight languages, and six of them, including The  Night We Lost Him, have been optioned for film and television. She resides in Santa Monica, California.

 

Unearthed: Exploring the Smithsonian National Gem Collection with Dr. Jeffrey Post

Join us for an absolutely dazzling presentation with the emeritus curator of the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection, Dr. Jeffrey E. Post as he talks about The Smithsonian National Gem Collection Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels.

The Smithsonian’s Unearthed explores the scandals, mysteries, and human stories behind the world’s greatest gems. In this original book, the surprising stories behind this world-renowned gem collection are brought to life by Dr. Jeffrey E. Post, curator of the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection for over 30 years. In this webinar, fact is separated from fiction and Dr. Post will reveal fresh information and regale the viewers with anecdotes and tales of some of the world’s greatest and most famous gemstones. Inside the illustrious pages of Unearthed, Dr. Post tells the stories of the Smithsonian’s most famous gems, including the Hope Diamond, Star of Asia Sapphire, Carmen Lucia Ruby, Hooker Emerald, and Blue Heart Diamond and presents the tales, details, and fascinating facts surrounding rarely displayed gems from the Smithsonian vault and recent additions made to the collection.

Shine bright with us this holiday season and register here!

About the Author and Presenter:

Dr. Jeffrey Edward Post, a native of Wisconsin, received Bachelor of Science degrees in geology and chemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, and his Ph.D. in chemistry, with a specialty in geochemistry, from Arizona State University.  Prior to joining the Department of Mineral Sciences at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History in 1984, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for three years in the Department of Geological Sciences at Harvard University.  He was Chairman of the Department of Mineral Sciences 1989-1994 and 2014-2019, and from 1991 to 2023 served as Curator-in-Charge of the U.S. National Gem and Mineral Collection. Dr. Post was the lead Curator for the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals that opened in 1997. In May 2023 he was appointed research curator, emeritus.

His areas of research interest include mineralogy, gemology, and geochemistry.  He has published more than 150 scientific articles in these fields.  He is the author of The National Gem Collection, and the recently published: The Smithsonian National Gem Collection—Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels.

Chair Dance with Claudia

Using many different styles of music, Claudia’s motivating, high energy dance class includes a classic dance movement warm-up using a chair, light weight strengthening exercises, and a full body stretch, using the mind-body connection to make this class both inspirational and fun.

Sing a little, dance a lot, move to your fullest potential, while getting a light aerobic workout, as well as gaining strength, flexibility, and energy. Posture awareness is the focus of this combination of standing, dance and chair stretch. Work out at your own pace while gaining benefits of the group energy.

Join us for this 45 minute workout that is guaranteed to make you feel great!

Register for each individual December session below:

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Chair Dance with Claudia

Using many different styles of music, Claudia’s motivating, high energy dance class includes a classic dance movement warm-up using a chair, light weight strengthening exercises, and a full body stretch, using the mind-body connection to make this class both inspirational and fun.

Sing a little, dance a lot, move to your fullest potential, while getting a light aerobic workout, as well as gaining strength, flexibility, and energy. Posture awareness is the focus of this combination of standing, dance and chair stretch. Work out at your own pace while gaining benefits of the group energy.

Join us for this 45 minute workout that is guaranteed to make you feel great!

Register for each individual December session below:

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Cookbook Book Club

Enjoy trying out new dishes?
Interested in sharing tips on how to tweak a recipe?
Want to swap cooking or baking suggestions over a delicious meal?

then this Book Club is for you!

Come join us for a potluck celebration of comfort food, conversation, and cocktails. Each season, we will hold a session where participants select recipes from a few chosen cookbooks in the library’s collection.

Then, make the dishes to bring to the library for a potluck dinner full of wonderful culinary delights, both savory and sweet.

This session, Ruth Freeman and Kerry McFarlin welcome all participants to join us in having some fun at this potluck dinner, full of wonderful culinary delights, both savory and sweet, and maybe learn a trick or two in the kitchen! As the weather gets cold and the winter season begins, we’re drawn to cozy, comforting dishes to bring warmth and cheer to our seasonal feast.

The cookbooks selected for this session include:

  • Modern comfort food : a Barefoot Contessa cookbook by Ina Garten
  • Food Gifts : 150+ irresistible recipes for crafting personalized presents by Elle Simone Scott
  • Well Plated Every Day : recipes for easier, healthier, more exciting daily meals by Erin Clarke
  • Ottolenghi Comfort by Yotam Ottolenghi

What you need to do:

  • Register here.
  • Come to the library and select a recipe and let us know which one you will bring to the potluck. Participants may make free copies of their chosen recipe at the library.
  • Bring your dish and a copy of your recipe (annotated, if applicable) on the evening of the event. We can reheat in a microwave, but please have food table-ready and bring the appropriate serving utensil.

We will supply liquid refreshments and paper supplies.

Questions? Contact the library at library@rowayton.org.

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

The New Yorker Discussion Group: Fall 2024 Session

Extra session on Wednesday, November 6 

Maybe you already have a subscription but only consistently glance at the cartoons? Or perhaps you yearn for in-depth reporting, written well without the prefab soundbites of TV news? Or you might just like to meet up with interesting individuals to talk about current events, the latest big hit on Broadway, upcoming museum exhibits worth a look all while enjoying a sip of wine and savory bites on a crisp fall evening.

The magazine issue is on us. Selected articles for the November 6 meeting:

From the November 4 issue: 

  • Page 20 – The Last Mile: How aid workers risk their lives in Gaza by Dorothy Wickenden
  • Page 26 – The Convert: Is J.D. Vance the new face of MAGA? by Benjamin Wallace-Wells
  • Page 36 – The Big Deal: What Bidenomics is building by Nicholas Lemann
  • Page 60 – Books: The Enlightenment’s great female intellect by Adam Gopnik
  • Page 66 – Dancing: Compulsion, complicity, and the art of Bunraku by Jennifer Homans

Register here!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Learn to Play Mah Jongg

Friday, October 4, 11, 18, 25, and November 1

Learn to play American Mah Jongg, a fun and fascinating tile game. Over these three sessions, new players will be taught the basics of understanding the tiles and the Mah Jongg card. You’ll soon be throwing out phrases like 6Bam! 2Crak! Green Dragon! and Mah Jongg! Rules and strategies of play as well as game etiquette will be covered.

**THIS IS AN INTRODUCTORY SERIES FOR BEGINNERS ONLY**

Space is very limited for this program so please register here .

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Chair Dance with Claudia

Using many different styles of music, Claudia’s motivating, high energy dance class includes a classic dance movement warm-up using a chair, light weight strengthening exercises, and a full body stretch, using the mind-body connection to make this class both inspirational and fun.

Sing a little, dance a lot, move to your fullest potential, while getting a light aerobic workout, as well as gaining strength, flexibility, and energy. Posture awareness is the focus of this combination of standing, dance and chair stretch. Work out at your own pace while gaining benefits of the group energy.

Register here for this 45 minute workout that is guaranteed to make you feel great!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Native Rights and Culture in Fiction–A Conversation with Mona Susan Power

You’re invited to join us as Mona Susan Power chats about her newest novel A Council of Dolls. This conversation highlights how her work explores Native Rights and Native American culture, in particular using an important symbol that anchors comfort and companionship in Native life: dolls.

From the mid-century metropolis of Chicago to the windswept ancestral lands of the Dakota people, to the bleak and brutal Indian boarding schools, A Council of Dolls is the story of three women, told in part through the stories of the dolls they carried….

Sissy, born 1961: Sissy’s relationship with her beautiful and volatile mother is difficult, even dangerous, but her life is also filled with beautiful things, including a new Christmas present, a doll called Ethel. Ethel whispers advice and kindness in Sissy’s ear, and in one especially terrifying moment, maybe even saves Sissy’s life.

Lillian, born 1925: Born in her ancestral lands in a time of terrible change, Lillian clings to her sister, Blanche, and her doll, Mae. When the sisters are forced to attend an “Indian school” far from their home, Blanche refuses to be cowed by the school’s abusive nuns. But when tragedy strikes the sisters, the doll Mae finds her way to defend the girls.

Cora, born 1888: Though she was born into the brutal legacy of the “Indian Wars,” Cora isn’t afraid of the white men who remove her to a school across the country to be “civilized.” When teachers burn her beloved buckskin and beaded doll Winona, Cora discovers that the spirit of Winona may not be entirely lost…

A modern masterpiece, A Council of Dolls is gorgeous, quietly devastating, and ultimately hopeful, shining a light on the echoing damage wrought by Indian boarding schools, and the historical massacres of Indigenous people. Mona Susan Power weaves a spell of love and healing that comes alive on the page. Register here to join the conversation!

Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Mona Susan Power is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Her novel, A Council of Dolls, was longlisted for the National Book Award and the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction. She is the author of three previously published works of fiction, The Grass Dancer, which won the Pen/Hemingway Prize, Sacred Wilderness, and Roofwalker. Her short stories have been published by The Atlantic Monthly, The Paris Review, The Best American Short Stories, and more. Mona is a graduate of Harvard and the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

On Childhood Migration from Central America–In Conversation with Javier Zamora

Tune in for a special conversation with New York Times bestselling author Javier Zamora as he chats with us about his riveting tale of survival and perseverance as told in his award-winning memoir Solito.

Zamora’s adventure is a three-thousand-mile journey from his small town in El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, and across the U.S. border. He will leave behind his beloved aunt and grandparents to reunite with a mother who left four years ago and a father he barely remembers. Traveling alone amid a group of strangers and a “coyote” hired to lead them to safety, Javier expects his trip to last two short weeks.

At nine years old, all Javier can imagine is rushing into his parents’ arms, snuggling in bed between them, and living under the same roof again. He cannot foresee the perilous boat trips, relentless desert treks, pointed guns, arrests and deceptions that await him; nor can he know that those two weeks will expand into two life-altering months alongside fellow migrants who will come to encircle him like an unexpected family.

Solito provides an immediate and intimate account not only of a treacherous and near-impossible journey, but also of the miraculous kindness and love delivered at the most unexpected moments. Solito is Javier Zamora’s story, but it’s also the story of millions of others who had no choice but to leave home. Register today to learn more about this gripping and moving story!

Register here! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Javier Zamora was born in El Salvador in 1990. His father fled the country when he was one, and his mother when he was about to turn five. Both parents’ migrations were caused by the U.S.-funded Salvadoran Civil War. When he was nine Javier migrated through Guatemala, Mexico, and the Sonoran Desert. His debut poetry collection, Unaccompanied, explores the impact of the war and immigration on his family. Zamora has been a Stegner Fellow at Stanford and a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard and holds fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have eight cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual November session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have eight cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual November session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have eight cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual November session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have eight cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual November session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Sobre la migración infantil desde Centroamérica–En conversación con Javier Zamora

(Solamente en Español) – (Event ONLY in Spanish)

Sintoniza una conversación especial con el autor más vendido del New York Times Javier Zamora mientras conversa con nosotros sobre su fascinante historia de supervivencia y perseverancia, tal como se cuenta en sus memorias premiadas Solito.

La aventura de Javier es una travesía de tres mil millas desde su pequeño pueblo en El Salvador, a través de Guatemala y México, hacia la frontera de Estados Unidos. Dejará atrás a sus queridos abuelos y su tía para reunirse con una madre que se fue cuatro años atrás y con un padre al que prácticamente no recuerda. Al viajar solo, a excepción de un grupo de extraños y un coyote contratado para guiarlos a salvo, Javier debía tardar solo dos semanas en llegar.

A los nueve años, todo lo que Javier puede imaginar es correr a los brazos de sus padres, acurrucarse en la cama entre ellos y vivir bajo el mismo techo otra vez. No puede prever los peligrosos trayectos en bote, las interminables caminatas por el desierto, las armas apuntándole, los arrestos y los engaños que le esperan. Tampoco sabe que esas dos semanas se alargarán hasta dos meses y le cambiarán la vida, junto a un grupo de extraños que acabará por cobijarlo como una familia improvisada.

Solito no solo nos ofrece un recuento íntimo e inmediato de un viaje sinuoso y casi imposible, sino la milagrosa bondad y el amor que se entrega en los momentos más inesperados. Solito es la historia de Javier, pero es también la historia de millones más que no tuvieron otra opción más que irse de casa.

¡Regístrese hoy para obtener más información sobre esta apasionante y conmovedora historia!

Sobre el autor: Javier Zamora nació en El Salvador en 1990. Su padre huyó del país cuando él tenía un año y su madre cuando él estaba por cumplir cinco. Las migraciones de ambos padres fueron causadas por la Guerra Civil Salvadoreña financiada por Estados Unidos. Cuando tenía nueve años, Javier emigró por Guatemala, México y el desierto de Sonora. Su primera colección de poesía, Unaccompanied, explora el impacto de la guerra y la inmigración en su familia. Zamora ha sido Stegner Fellow en Stanford y Radcliffe Fellow en Harvard y posee becas del National Endowment for the Arts y la Fundación de Poesía.

Chair Dance with Claudia

Using many different styles of music, Claudia’s motivating, high energy dance class includes a classic dance movement warm-up using a chair, light weight strengthening exercises, and a full body stretch, using the mind-body connection to make this class both inspirational and fun.

Sing a little, dance a lot, move to your fullest potential, while getting a light aerobic workout, as well as gaining strength, flexibility, and energy. Posture awareness is the focus of this combination of standing, dance and chair stretch. Work out at your own pace while gaining benefits of the group energy.

Register here for this 45 minute workout that is guaranteed to make you feel great!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

A Navajo Investigator’s Search for the Unexplained: In Conversation with Stanley Milford, Jr.

You are welcome to join us in conversation with Navajo Ranger, Stanley Milford, Jr. as he chats about the chilling and clear-eyed memoir of his investigations into bizarre cases of the paranormal and the unexplained in Navajoland.

As a Native American with parents of both Navajo and Cherokee descent, Stanley Milford, Jr. grew up in a world where the supernatural was both expected and taboo, where shapeshifters roamed, witchcraft was a thing to be feared, and children were taught not to whistle at night. In his youth, Milford never went looking for the paranormal, but it always seemed to find him. When he joined the fabled Navajo Rangers—a law enforcement branch of the Navajo Nation who are equal parts police officers, archeological conservationists, and historians—the paranormal became part of his job. Alongside addressing the mundane duties of overseeing the massive 27,000-square-mile reservation, Milford was assigned to utterly bizarre and shockingly frequent cases involving mysterious livestock mutilations, skinwalker and Bigfoot sightings, UFOs, and malicious hauntings.

In The Paranormal Ranger, Milford recounts the stories of these cases from the clinical and deductive perspective of a law enforcement officer. Milford’s Native American worldview and investigative training collide to provide an eerie account of what logic dictates should not be possible. Register now to expand your own worldview and be ready for a chill to run down your spine!

Register here! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Stanley Milford, Jr., graduated from the United States Indian Police Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, New Mexico, and worked continuously as a sworn law enforcement officer for over twenty-three years. He served as the delegated Chief Navajo Ranger for over two years through March of 2019. While with the Navajo Rangers, Stan oversaw a section called the Special Projects Unit (SPU), whose responsibilities included the investigation of cases that did not fit within everyday parameters of law enforcement or criminal investigation, many of which involved reports of the paranormal or supernatural. After leaving the Navajo Rangers, Stan served as the senior investigator for the Navajo Nation’s White Collar Crime Unit.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Three Artists, Six Hands Art Exhibition

Join us for The Drop Out Gallery’s first exhibition of original art and photographs.

We’ll have live music in the courtyard around 3 p.m. and, if we’re lucky, Cynthia may be bringing down homemade cookies from Vermont! We welcome any other bakers to bring goodies, too, if you’d like but refreshments will  also be served. This exhibition is a fun, kid-friendly event filled with good vibes. You may be so inclined to buy a piece of art so be prepared, and we look forward to seeing you there!

A sneak peek at our featured artists:

Cynthia Rosen is a Vermont, palette knife, oil painter whose stunning work has many collectors. Check out her mind-blowing archive of sold work on her website www.cynthiarosen.com. Wow!

Meighan Morrison is a Connecticut-based abstract painter whose paintings are off the charts original, mesmerizing, and simply everywhere! Find her online at www.mmorrisonart.com or on Instagram @morrisonmeighan.

Kevin Keaney is a San Franciscan mixed-media specialist whose complex and beautiful works are a sight to behold. And own! Visit him on Instagram @kevkeaneyart.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: Examining the Truths and Fictions we Tell Ourselves with Lori Gottlieb

Every year, nearly 30 million Americans sit on a therapist’s couch—and some of these patients are therapists. In her remarkable book Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, Lori Gottlieb tells us that despite her license and rigorous training, her most significant credential is that she’s a card-carrying member of the human race. “I know what it’s like to be a person,” she writes, as a crisis causes her world to come crashing down.

Enter Wendell, the quirky but seasoned therapist in whose office she suddenly lands. With his balding head, cardigan, and khakis, he seems to have come straight from Therapist Central Casting. Yet he will turn out to be anything but. In her book, Lori explores the inner chambers of her patients’ lives—a self-absorbed Hollywood producer, a young newlywed diagnosed with a terminal illness, a senior citizen threatening to end her life on her birthday if nothing gets better, and a twenty-something who can’t stop hooking up with the wrong guys (even one from the waiting room)—she finds that the questions they are struggling with are the very ones she is now bringing to Wendell.

With startling wisdom and humor, Gottlieb reveals our blind spots, examining the truths and fictions we tell ourselves and others as we teeter on the tightrope between love and desire, meaning and mortality, guilt and redemption, terror and courage, hope and change.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is revolutionary in its candor, offering a deeply personal yet universal tour of our hearts and minds and providing the rarest of gifts: a boldly revealing portrait of what it means to be human, and a disarmingly funny and illuminating account of our own mysterious lives and our power to transform them.

We invite you to join us as Gottlieb shares her wisdom on examining the truths and fictions we tell ourselves to help us breakthrough what is holding us back and getting in the way of living the life we desire. Register here now to start your journey! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, which has sold over two million copies and is currently being adapted as a television series starring Kristen Bell. In addition to her clinical practice, she co-hosts the popular “Dear Therapists” podcast produced by Katie Couric and writes The Atlantic’s “Dear Therapist” advice column. She is a sought-after expert in media such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, CNN, and NPR’s “Fresh Air” and her TED Talk was one of the Top 10 Most Watched of the Year. She is the creator of the Maybe You Should Talk To Someone Workbook: A Toolkit for Editing Your Story and Changing Your Life and the Maybe You Should Talk To Someone Journal: 52 Weekly Sessions to Transform Your Life. Learn more at LoriGottlieb.com or by following her on Instagram @lorigottlieb_author and X @LoriGottlieb1.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

Liberating Latin American Genre Fiction: In Conversation with Bestselling Author Silvia Moreno-Garcia

You’re invited to free your mind with the highly acclaimed Silvia Moreno-Garcia, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of several novels including Mexican GothicThe Daughter of Doctor MoreauGods of Jade and Shadow, and many more!

Moreno-Garcia’s most recent novel, The Seventh Veil of Salome, is set in 1950s Hollywood. Vera Larios, an unknown Mexican ingénue, has just won a star-making role in a big budget movie about the legendary woman whose story has inspired artists since ancient times–Salome. Vera quickly becomes the talk of the town and an object of envy for Nancy Hartley, an actress whose career has stalled and who will do anything to win the fame she believes she richly deserves.

The Seventh Veil of Salome follows two actresses, both determined to make it to the top in Golden Age Hollywood—a city overflowing with gossip, scandal, and intrigue—makes for a sizzling combination. But this is the tale of three women, for it is also the story of the princess Salome herself, consumed with desire for the fiery prophet who foretells the doom of her stepfather, Herod. Salome is a woman torn between the decree of duty and the yearning of her heart. Before the curtain comes down, there will be tears and tragedy aplenty in this sexy Technicolor saga.

Join us as Moreno-Garcia chats with us about Latin American Genre fiction, her writing process and journey, as well as her newest book The Seventh Veil of Salome. Register here! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author:  Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of a number of critically acclaimed novels, including Gods of Jade and Shadow (Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic, Ignyte Award), Mexican Gothic (Locus Award, British Fantasy Award, Pacific Northwest Book Award, Aurora Award, Goodreads Award), Velvet Was the Night (finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Macavity Award), The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, and The Seventh Veil of Salome. She writes in a variety of genres including fantasy, horror, noir and historical.

Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination. Cachanilla and Canuck, originally from Baja California, she now resides in Vancouver. She has an MA in Science and Technology Studies from the University of British Columbia.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

A Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats with Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Join us in kicking off October as we welcome three Smithsonian-affiliated scientists to teach us about the remarkable world of tropical bats!

For decades, scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have studied the remarkable biodiversity of bats on Barro Colorado Island in Panama, where an astonishing seventy-six species coexist. Now, for the first time, Smithsonian scientists’ expertise pairs with the stunning photography of National Geographic contributor Christian Ziegler for a captivating visual journey into the fascinating world of these elusive night creatures, to bring you the book Bat Island: A Rare Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats.

Bats are unique among mammals: they have acquired true flight, they provide essential ecosystem services, and represent the ecologically most diverse group of mammals worldwide. Synthesizing decades-worth of intensive study, Drs. Rachel Page, Dina Dechmann, Teague O’Mara, and Marco Tschapka provide authoritative insight alongside 150 photographs that showcase bats’ extraordinary environmental adaptations and rich natural history.

This presentation will cover topics from the book, such as the diverse sensory abilities of bats, their foraging strategies, roosting ecologies, and social systems. Bat Island presents decades of study of the hyper diverse bat population on Barro Colorado Island in addition to the most comprehensive and long-term datasets on tropical bats. The book and this presentation highlights how bats are threatened by habitat fragmentation and land degradation, and communicate the initiatives needed to ensure the survival of these animals, which are critical to maintaining healthy, balanced ecosystems.

And let’s not forget, the award-winning photojournalist Christian Ziegler’s photography as the images within the book illuminate the unique beauty and allure of bats and the tropical rainforest in Panama. Register here now for this rare look into Bat Island! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Presenters

Dr. Rachel A. Page is a staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, where she leads the Smithsonian Bat Lab (www.noseleaf.org). She is broadly interested in animal behavior, but her focus is understanding the sensory and cognitive tools bats use to navigate their worlds and interact with each other. After completing a BA at Columbia University and a PhD at the University of Texas at Austin, Page conducted postdoctoral research as an Alexander von Humboldt fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen, Germany. Page has studied bats on Barro Colorado Island and the surrounding areas for over two decades. She has a passion for understanding rich, tropical ecosystems and the myriad species interactions they encompass. In addition to conducting her own research, Page mentors a large group of students. Page lives at the edge of the rainforest in Gamboa, Panama.

Dr. Dina K. N. Dechmann is a group leader at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (www.ab.mpg.de/dechmann) and a research associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. An evolutionary ecologist by training, her main research interest is how animals adapt to fluctuations in the resources upon which they depend. She is fascinated by how tiny mammals with fast metabolisms, such as bats and shrews, adapt their morphology, physiology, and behavior to deal with the bottlenecks created by changes in the food landscape. She works in ecosystems across the world, but since her first visit to BCI in 2000, she has been struck by the diversity of the tropical bat community, which remains a cornerstone of her research. She received her master’s degree at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich followed by a PhD at the University of Zurich and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin. Since she was hired by Max Planck in 2009, she has had the good fortune to supervise a group of brilliant young minds, several of whom now run their own projects in Panama. Dechmann lives in the medieval town of Stein am Rhein in Switzerland.

Dr. M. Teague O’Mara is the Director of Conservation Evidence at Bat Conservation International, where he works on data-driven strategies for the conservation of global bat populations. O’Mara has studied animal behavior, movement, and physiology across the globe, with an emphasis on bats in Panama. He is a research associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, and an adjunct professor at Southeastern Louisiana University. He received his PhD from Arizona State University studying lemur development and social behavior, and then switched to research with bats during postdoctoral work at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the University of Konstanz, and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany. He lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

A Deep Dive in Character Development with Global Sensation Liane Moriarty

If you knew your future, would you try to fight fate? If you were told you only had a certain amount of time left to live, would you do things differently? Would you try to dodge your destiny? Join us as we chat with mega-bestselling author Liane Moriarty about her newest novel Here One Moment. Moriarty’s Here One Moment is a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world.

In Here One Moment, aside from a delay, there will be no problems. The flight will be smooth, it will land safely. Everyone who gets on the plane will get off. But almost all of them will be forever changed. Because on this ordinary, short, domestic flight, something extraordinary happens. People learn how and when they are going to die. For some, their death is far in the future—age 103!—and they laugh. But for six passengers, their predicted deaths are not far away at all.

How do they know this? There were ostensibly more interesting people on the flight but none would become as famous as “The Death Lady.” Not a single passenger or crew member will later recall noticing her board the plane. She wasn’t exceptionally old or young, rude or polite. She wasn’t drunk or nervous or pregnant. Her appearance and demeanor were unremarkable. But what she did on that flight was truly remarkable.

A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as she predicted. Then two more passengers die, again, as she said they would. Soon no one is thinking this is simply an entertaining story at a cocktail party.

A modern-day Jane Austen who humorously skewers social mores while spinning a web of mystery, Moriarty asks profound questions in her newest I-can’t-wait-to-find-out-what-happens novel. Be sure to register now here! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Liane Moriarty is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Truly Madly GuiltyBig Little LiesThe Husband’s SecretThe Hypnotist’s Love StoryWhat Alice Forgot, Apples Never Fall, and Here One Moment. She lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two children.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

Living with an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World–with Nate Klemp, PhD

Join us as New York Times bestselling author and philosopher Nate Klemp helps us explore pathways back to openminded living when he talks to us about the core tenets in his new book Open: Living with an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World.

With the avalanche of information we get every day, closing down our minds and hearts seems to be the only way to survive. We close off to ourselves by compulsively checking our devices. We close to each other by getting caught in echo chambers of outrage. But what if there’s another way? In this climate of distraction and division, Nate Klemp’s Open offers a path back to a way of living that is expansive, creative, and filled with wonder.

Drawing on personal stories, scientific findings, and traditional wisdom, Klemp explores why we close down when faced with stressors or threats―then reveals why training ourselves to fully engage even with discomfort, pain, and sadness leads to greater well-being in the long run.

Register here! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Nate Klemp, PhD, is a philosopher, writer, and mindfulness entrepreneur. He is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Start Here, the New York Times critics’ pick The 80/80 Marriage, and his newest book, Open: Living with an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World. His work has been featured in the LA TimesPsychology Today, the Times of London, and more, and his appearances include Good Morning America and Talks at Google. He’s a cofounder of LifeXT and founding partner at Mindful. For more, visit nateklemp.com or @Nate_Klemp on Instagram.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

Capturing the Human Drama Through History with Garrett Graff

Don’t forget to register for this incredibly moving virtual chat with New York Times bestselling author Garrett Graff! An expert at capturing the human drama, Graff will speak about his body of work with particular focus on his oral histories, The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 and When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day.

Much has been written and said about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the profound impact they had on America and the world. But those names, stories, and memories have never before been collected in one place to tell the full, 360-degree story of what happened that day, and in the days after. In The Only Plane in the Sky, award-winning journalist Garrett Graff draws on never-before-published transcripts, recently declassified documents, and original interviews and stories from nearly five hundred government officials, first responders, witnesses, survivors, friends, and family members to paint the most comprehensive, minute-by-minute account of the September 11 attacks yet, all told in the words of those who experienced that dramatic and tragic day.

In his most recent work, When the Sea Came Alive, Graff explores the full impact of a world changing event: D-Day, one of history’s greatest and most unbelievable military and human triumphs. Though the full campaign lasted just over a month, the surprise landing of over 150,000 Allied troops on the morning of June 6, 1944, is understood to be the moment that turned the tide for the Allied forces and ultimately led to the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II. This book dives deep into the complexities—from the secret creation of landing plans by top government and military officials and organization of troops, to the moment the boat doors opened to reveal the beach where men fought for their lives and the future of the free world.

Graff’s work, filled with impressive detail, captures a human drama and history like no other. Register today! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Garrett M. Graff has spent nearly two decades covering politics, technology, and national security. The former editor of Politico and contributor to Wired and CNN, he’s written for publications from Esquire to Rolling Stone to The New York Times, and today serves as the director of the cyber initiative at the Aspen Institute. Graff is the author of multiple books, including the FBI history The Threat MatrixRaven Rock (about the government’s Cold War Doomsday plans), When the Sea Came Alive (an oral history of D-Day), and the New York Times bestsellers The Only Plane in the Sky and Watergate, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

Getting Started with Medicare

When do I apply for Medicare? How do I apply for Medicare? What are my Medicare-based options? If you don’t know the answer to these questions, this educational program is for you!

Sheila O’Donnell is a seasoned local Medicare expert and a member of the team at Health Directions, an agency serving Fairfield County for over two decades. Her specialty is Medicare planning, including: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Prescription Drug Plans. Sheila is licensed by the state of CT, certified with Medicare, and appointed with each of the major carriers.

During this 1-hour session, Sheila will:

  • Review the basics of Medicare,
  • Take the mystery out of Medicare terminology,
  • Talk you through the timing of the enrollment process, and
  • Answer questions.

Register here today so that Sheila can ensure she has enough informational materials for everyone!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Successfully Navigating College Admissions This Fall

 A program for high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors & their parents/caregivers

Ron Feuchs and Jackie Tepper, partners at Stand Out For College, LLC are offering this Zoom presentation to help families of juniors, sophomores and freshmen understand the college admissions process and how to successfully navigate the recent changes. This program is recommended for parents and their high school teens and is a detailed and strategic overview of what students should focus on for a successful college admissions process.

Ron and Jackie will discuss current college admissions trends, admissions strategies, the changing test-optional environment, the importance of researching and visiting colleges to find schools that can be a good fit for your child, a timeline and other action steps that can be taken to make this fall productive and help reduce the stress around the college admissions process.

They will examine the holistic admissions review process, what admissions officers consider important when they review applicants, and how students can position themselves to develop a compelling narrative to increase their chances for admission.

They will also discuss the importance of community service, how it can provide an opportunity for personal growth and a way to showcase a student’s character. Admissions officers place great emphasis on a student’s character and how the student has been able to give back and help others.

Register here!

Presentation will be conducted via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device.

Successfully Navigating College Admissions This Fall

 A program for high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors & their parents/caregivers

Ron Feuchs and Jackie Tepper, partners at Stand Out For College, LLC are offering this Zoom presentation to help families of juniors, sophomores and freshmen understand the college admissions process and how to successfully navigate the recent changes. This program is recommended for parents and their high school teens and is a detailed and strategic overview of what students should focus on for a successful college admissions process.

Ron and Jackie will discuss current college admissions trends, admissions strategies, the changing test-optional environment, the importance of researching and visiting colleges to find schools that can be a good fit for your child, a timeline and other action steps that can be taken to make this fall productive and help reduce the stress around the college admissions process.

They will examine the holistic admissions review process, what admissions officers consider important when they review applicants, and how students can position themselves to develop a compelling narrative to increase their chances for admission.

They will also discuss the importance of community service, how it can provide an opportunity for personal growth and a way to showcase a student’s character. Admissions officers place great emphasis on a student’s character and how the student has been able to give back and help others.

Register here!

Presentation will be conducted via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device.

Successfully Navigating College Admissions This Fall

 A program for high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors & their parents/caregivers

Ron Feuchs and Jackie Tepper, partners at Stand Out For College, LLC are offering this Zoom presentation to help families of juniors, sophomores and freshmen understand the college admissions process and how to successfully navigate the recent changes. This program is recommended for parents and their high school teens and is a detailed and strategic overview of what students should focus on for a successful college admissions process.

Ron and Jackie will discuss current college admissions trends, admissions strategies, the changing test-optional environment, the importance of researching and visiting colleges to find schools that can be a good fit for your child, a timeline and other action steps that can be taken to make this fall productive and help reduce the stress around the college admissions process.

They will examine the holistic admissions review process, what admissions officers consider important when they review applicants, and how students can position themselves to develop a compelling narrative to increase their chances for admission.

They will also discuss the importance of community service, how it can provide an opportunity for personal growth and a way to showcase a student’s character. Admissions officers place great emphasis on a student’s character and how the student has been able to give back and help others.

Register here!

Presentation will be conducted via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device.

Passport Day

Take advantage of this complete passport office experience brought to us by the Ferguson Library’s passport team! You will be able to:  

  1. Apply for a U.S. passport for the first time.
  2. Apply for a passport renewal for children.
  3. Get your passport photo taken (we can provide passport photos for all countries).
  4. Have your adult application reviewed, receive assistance with packaging, and be provided the address to send it to.
  5. Get answers to any questions that you have about U.S. passports.

For information on required documents, click here. If you have any other questions, you can call 203-351-8210.

Appointment availability for this service operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

A fee of $35 is required for each passport application and can be paid for with cash or by credit card. Payment by check or money order is required for passport products, payable to the U.S. Department of State. An additional fee of $15 is required for photos.

Passport Day

Take advantage of this complete passport office experience brought to us by the Ferguson Library’s passport team! You will be able to:  

  1. Apply for a U.S. passport for the first time.
  2. Apply for a passport renewal for children.
  3. Get your passport photo taken (we can provide passport photos for all countries).
  4. Have your adult application reviewed, receive assistance with packaging, and be provided the address to send it to.
  5. Get answers to any questions that you have about U.S. passports.

For information on required documents, click here. If you have any other questions, you can call 203-351-8210.

Appointment availability for this service operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

A fee of $35 is required for each passport application and can be paid for with cash or by credit card. Payment by check or money order is required for passport products, payable to the U.S. Department of State. An additional fee of $15 is required for photos.

Women and Money Series: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets

When it comes to the financial and real estate markets, people aren’t always as rational as you would think. Behavioral finance experts have been studying the not-so-smart decisions people make. We will reveal the fears, misperceptions and emotional needs people have that sabotage their investment and home sale returns.

Join us for this monthly roundtable for women on money led by financial professionals Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone. This series’ discussion will focus on how to make sense of today’s financial markets, is open to women with any level of financial knowledge, and is an ongoing informational gathering to learn and share.

We’ll show you how to avoid the mistakes and make decisions like the pros. We’ll cover the latest market news and how that might affect your decision making. We’ll also give you background and context for understanding why market movement occurs and we’ll share strategies for keeping ahead of what might come. Register here!

Our Roundtable Leaders:

Julia Strayer, CPWA®, CIMA®, CRPC®
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2000, Julia was a vice president and private banker for BankBoston’s Private Bank for 7 years, responsible for asset management and trust services. Previously, Julia worked in marketing for 9 years with Merrill. Julia has a BA from Ohio State University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Julia has appeared on the CNBC show “Power Lunch,” CBS “This Morning,” WGCH’s “Women in Business,” in addition to featured articles in USA Today.

Liz Maccarone, CRPC®
Senior Financial Advisor

Liz joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. Liz works closely with high-net-worth individuals and their families to create personalized and comprehensive strategies that support their goals, including investment management, retirement planning, liability management, and multigenerational planning. Liz values the importance of establishing and cultivating relationships with families including the next generation. Liz graduated from Fairfield University with a dual bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing. She began her career working at a boutique investment firm as a Business Development Associate, specializing in commodities and futures trading.

The roundtable meetings will be conducted via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device.

This session of the series is hosted by Darien Library.

Women and Money Series: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets

When it comes to the financial and real estate markets, people aren’t always as rational as you would think. Behavioral finance experts have been studying the not-so-smart decisions people make. We will reveal the fears, misperceptions and emotional needs people have that sabotage their investment and home sale returns.

Join us for this monthly roundtable for women on money led by financial professionals Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone. This series’ discussion will focus on how to make sense of today’s financial markets, is open to women with any level of financial knowledge, and is an ongoing informational gathering to learn and share.

We’ll show you how to avoid the mistakes and make decisions like the pros. We’ll cover the latest market news and how that might affect your decision making. We’ll also give you background and context for understanding why market movement occurs and we’ll share strategies for keeping ahead of what might come. Register here!

Our Roundtable Leaders:

Julia Strayer, CPWA®, CIMA®, CRPC®
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2000, Julia was a vice president and private banker for BankBoston’s Private Bank for 7 years, responsible for asset management and trust services. Previously, Julia worked in marketing for 9 years with Merrill. Julia has a BA from Ohio State University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Julia has appeared on the CNBC show “Power Lunch,” CBS “This Morning,” WGCH’s “Women in Business,” in addition to featured articles in USA Today.

Liz Maccarone, CRPC®
Senior Financial Advisor

Liz joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. Liz works closely with high-net-worth individuals and their families to create personalized and comprehensive strategies that support their goals, including investment management, retirement planning, liability management, and multigenerational planning. Liz values the importance of establishing and cultivating relationships with families including the next generation. Liz graduated from Fairfield University with a dual bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing. She began her career working at a boutique investment firm as a Business Development Associate, specializing in commodities and futures trading.

The roundtable meetings will be conducted via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device.

This session of the series is hosted by Darien Library.

Women and Money Series: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets

When it comes to the financial and real estate markets, people aren’t always as rational as you would think. Behavioral finance experts have been studying the not-so-smart decisions people make. We will reveal the fears, misperceptions and emotional needs people have that sabotage their investment and home sale returns.

Join us for this monthly roundtable for women on money led by financial professionals Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone. This series’ discussion will focus on how to make sense of today’s financial markets, is open to women with any level of financial knowledge, and is an ongoing informational gathering to learn and share.

We’ll show you how to avoid the mistakes and make decisions like the pros. We’ll cover the latest market news and how that might affect your decision making. We’ll also give you background and context for understanding why market movement occurs and we’ll share strategies for keeping ahead of what might come. Register here!

Our Roundtable Leaders:

Julia Strayer, CPWA®, CIMA®, CRPC®
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2000, Julia was a vice president and private banker for BankBoston’s Private Bank for 7 years, responsible for asset management and trust services. Previously, Julia worked in marketing for 9 years with Merrill. Julia has a BA from Ohio State University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Julia has appeared on the CNBC show “Power Lunch,” CBS “This Morning,” WGCH’s “Women in Business,” in addition to featured articles in USA Today.

Liz Maccarone, CRPC®
Senior Financial Advisor

Liz joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. Liz works closely with high-net-worth individuals and their families to create personalized and comprehensive strategies that support their goals, including investment management, retirement planning, liability management, and multigenerational planning. Liz values the importance of establishing and cultivating relationships with families including the next generation. Liz graduated from Fairfield University with a dual bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing. She began her career working at a boutique investment firm as a Business Development Associate, specializing in commodities and futures trading.

The roundtable meetings will be conducted via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device.

This session of the series is hosted by Darien Library.

Women and Money Series: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets

When it comes to the financial and real estate markets, people aren’t always as rational as you would think. Behavioral finance experts have been studying the not-so-smart decisions people make. We will reveal the fears, misperceptions and emotional needs people have that sabotage their investment and home sale returns.

Join us for this monthly roundtable for women on money led by financial professionals Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone. This series’ discussion will focus on how to make sense of today’s financial markets, is open to women with any level of financial knowledge, and is an ongoing informational gathering to learn and share.

We’ll show you how to avoid the mistakes and make decisions like the pros. We’ll cover the latest market news and how that might affect your decision making. We’ll also give you background and context for understanding why market movement occurs and we’ll share strategies for keeping ahead of what might come. Register here!

Our Roundtable Leaders:

Julia Strayer, CPWA®, CIMA®, CRPC®
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2000, Julia was a vice president and private banker for BankBoston’s Private Bank for 7 years, responsible for asset management and trust services. Previously, Julia worked in marketing for 9 years with Merrill. Julia has a BA from Ohio State University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Julia has appeared on the CNBC show “Power Lunch,” CBS “This Morning,” WGCH’s “Women in Business,” in addition to featured articles in USA Today.

Liz Maccarone, CRPC®
Senior Financial Advisor

Liz joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. Liz works closely with high-net-worth individuals and their families to create personalized and comprehensive strategies that support their goals, including investment management, retirement planning, liability management, and multigenerational planning. Liz values the importance of establishing and cultivating relationships with families including the next generation. Liz graduated from Fairfield University with a dual bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing. She began her career working at a boutique investment firm as a Business Development Associate, specializing in commodities and futures trading.

The roundtable meetings will be conducted via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device.

This session of the series is hosted by Darien Library.

Women and Money Series: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets

When it comes to the financial and real estate markets, people aren’t always as rational as you would think. Behavioral finance experts have been studying the not-so-smart decisions people make. We will reveal the fears, misperceptions and emotional needs people have that sabotage their investment and home sale returns.

Join us for this monthly roundtable for women on money led by financial professionals Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone. This series’ discussion will focus on how to make sense of today’s financial markets, is open to women with any level of financial knowledge, and is an ongoing informational gathering to learn and share.

We’ll show you how to avoid the mistakes and make decisions like the pros. We’ll cover the latest market news and how that might affect your decision making. We’ll also give you background and context for understanding why market movement occurs and we’ll share strategies for keeping ahead of what might come. Register here!

Our Roundtable Leaders:

Julia Strayer, CPWA®, CIMA®, CRPC®
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2000, Julia was a vice president and private banker for BankBoston’s Private Bank for 7 years, responsible for asset management and trust services. Previously, Julia worked in marketing for 9 years with Merrill. Julia has a BA from Ohio State University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Julia has appeared on the CNBC show “Power Lunch,” CBS “This Morning,” WGCH’s “Women in Business,” in addition to featured articles in USA Today.

Liz Maccarone, CRPC®
Senior Financial Advisor

Liz joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. Liz works closely with high-net-worth individuals and their families to create personalized and comprehensive strategies that support their goals, including investment management, retirement planning, liability management, and multigenerational planning. Liz values the importance of establishing and cultivating relationships with families including the next generation. Liz graduated from Fairfield University with a dual bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing. She began her career working at a boutique investment firm as a Business Development Associate, specializing in commodities and futures trading.

The roundtable meetings will be conducted via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device.

This session of the series is hosted by Darien Library.

Women and Money Series: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets

When it comes to the financial and real estate markets, people aren’t always as rational as you would think. Behavioral finance experts have been studying the not-so-smart decisions people make. We will reveal the fears, misperceptions and emotional needs people have that sabotage their investment and home sale returns.

Join us for this monthly roundtable for women on money led by financial professionals Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone. This series’ discussion will focus on how to make sense of today’s financial markets, is open to women with any level of financial knowledge, and is an ongoing informational gathering to learn and share.

We’ll show you how to avoid the mistakes and make decisions like the pros. We’ll cover the latest market news and how that might affect your decision making. We’ll also give you background and context for understanding why market movement occurs and we’ll share strategies for keeping ahead of what might come. Register here!

Our Roundtable Leaders:

Julia Strayer, CPWA®, CIMA®, CRPC®
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2000, Julia was a vice president and private banker for BankBoston’s Private Bank for 7 years, responsible for asset management and trust services. Previously, Julia worked in marketing for 9 years with Merrill. Julia has a BA from Ohio State University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Julia has appeared on the CNBC show “Power Lunch,” CBS “This Morning,” WGCH’s “Women in Business,” in addition to featured articles in USA Today.

Liz Maccarone, CRPC®
Senior Financial Advisor

Liz joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. Liz works closely with high-net-worth individuals and their families to create personalized and comprehensive strategies that support their goals, including investment management, retirement planning, liability management, and multigenerational planning. Liz values the importance of establishing and cultivating relationships with families including the next generation. Liz graduated from Fairfield University with a dual bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing. She began her career working at a boutique investment firm as a Business Development Associate, specializing in commodities and futures trading.

The roundtable meetings will be conducted via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device.

This session of the series is hosted by Darien Library.

An Exploration of Friendship, Reckoning, and Hope with novelist Shelby Van Pelt

We invite you to join us as we chat with the amazing New York Times bestselling author Shelby Van Pelt about her beloved novel Remarkably Bright Creatures. You don’t want to miss this deep-dive exploration of friendship, reckoning, hope, and so much more!

Remarkably Bright Creatures is a luminous debut novel about a widow’s unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus reluctantly residing at the local aquarium—and the truths she finally uncovers about her son’s disappearance 30 years ago.

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in the Puget Sound over 30 years ago.

As she works, Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine, but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight tentacles for his human captors—until he forms an unlikely friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. As his affection for Tova grows, Marcellus must use every trick his old, invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

Charming, compulsively readable, and full of wit, Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a beautiful exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope–a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible. Register now for a conversation you just don’t want to miss!

Register here! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, was published by Ecco/HarperCollins (US) and Bloomsbury (UK) in Spring 2022 and was an Instant New York Times bestseller and has sold a million and a half copies. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she’s now missing the mountains in the Chicago area with her husband and two children.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

The Golden Ticket to College Admissions Is Not What You Think: Redefining Success for Parents of Teens with Irena Smith, PhD

Another college application season is around the corner, and stress is already beginning to ratchet up for teens and their parents. You’re invited to join us for this must-watch talk by Irena Smith, PhD. You will hear about constructive and healthy ways to approach the college application process, preserve your relationship with your teen, and help them define success on their terms instead of chasing the elusive “golden ticket.”

Irena is a former Stanford Admissions Officer who has spent 18 years advising accomplished, tightly-wound students in Palo Alto and around the world. She saw firsthand the extreme measures parents took to help their children gain admission to highly selective colleges and the toll it took on the children as well as on their parents.

At the same time, Irena’s own children struggled with developmental delays, learning differences, severe depression, and anxiety. She kept her double life—successful college counselor at work, anxious mom at home—tightly under wraps for years until a stunning realization: she was exactly like the anxious parents of the students she worked with, all of whom were equally terrified about their children’s future. Irena’s memoir, The Golden Ticket: A Life in College Admissions Essays, which candidly explores her personal as well as professional life, was published in 2023, and she has since devoted her time to speaking out about hard things: the heavy burden of generational expectations, teen and young adult mental health, and the importance of embracing a broader, more generous vision of what it means to succeed. To learn more about Irena’s personal experience as a parent, professional experience as a college admissions officer, and leave with tips on how to help your child approach the application process in practical, healthy ways–register now!

Register here! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Irena Smith is an author, former Stanford admissions officer, independent college counselor, and mother of three extraordinary children. She emigrated from the former Soviet Union with her parents when she was nine years old. In spite of her fierce insistence that she would never, not ever, learn English, she went on to earn a BA in English and then a PhD in Comparative Literature (both from UCLA, where she received a Distinguished Teaching Assistant Award and Dissertation Year Fellowship). Irena taught literature and composition at UCLA and Stanford before transitioning to college admissions, college advising, and writing. Her recently published memoir, The Golden Ticket: A Life in College Admissions Essays is the winner of the Story Circle Network’s Gilda Award, named in honor of comedian Gilda Radner to recognize honest, authentic writing that “makes us laugh even when we want to cry.” It’s been described by Forbes as “captivating and smart… a potential antidote to the fevered belief that being admitted to an elite college will spell the difference between a successful life vs. a doomed future.”

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. 

Your All Access Pass Behind the Scenes at the Space Station with Smithsonian Curator Dr. Jennifer Levasseur

You’re invited to virtually step inside one of the greatest international achievements with a behind-the-scenes guide to space exploration with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curator Dr. Jennifer Levasseur.

Revealing a new perspective into the world of space exploration and the daring astronauts who make it possible, Dr. Levasseur will guide you through the Smithsonian’s Behind the Scenes at the Space Station and take you on a once-in-a-lifetime virtual tour of the International Space Station.

You will learn what the astronauts do once they make it to the space station, from experiments to repairs and so much more! Have you ever wondered if plants could grow in outer space? Or how the space station doesn’t break down in outer space? Or how astronauts go to the toilet in microgravity?

Behind the Scenes at the Space Station is a treasure trove of information. Did you know that during a 24-hour period, the space station completes 16 orbits of Earth and the astronauts on board see 16 sunrises and sunsets every day? Or that the International Space Station is so enormous that it was launched in pieces and constructed in orbit?

Brimming with astonishing visuals, step-by-step explanations of everyday space work in action, and job profiles of the adventurous people who make it happen, Dr. Levasseur’s tour Behind the Scenes at the Space Station is the perfect way to spend an hour and experience life in space.

Register here for your all-access pass to a spectacular home in space! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Dr. Jennifer Levasseur is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan (BA, 1999). She received an MA from George Washington University (2002) and a PhD from George Mason University (2014). Her first book, published in 2020, examined the cultural significance of astronaut photography. She is the responsible curator for the Museum’s astronaut cameras, chronographs, the Space Shuttle, and International Space Station programs. In 22 years at NASM, Jennifer has worked on artifact loans, a biennial museums conference, and numerous digital projects. She curated the 2015 exhibit Outside the Spacecraft: 50 Years of Extra-Vehicular Activity, co-curated One World Connected, and is lead curator for the forthcoming At Home in Space gallery. Jennifer started her Smithsonian career with an internship in the National Portrait Gallery, where she cataloged photographs and developed strategies for recording portrait information in the museum’s artifact database.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Unpacking a History of Systemic Racism in the American Education System with Tiffany Jewell

Join us as #1 New York Times bestselling author Tiffany Jewell highlights the inequities Black and Brown students face from preschool through college as she presents lessons and knowledge from her new book Everything I Learned About Racism I Learned in School.

From preschool to higher education and everything in between, Everything I Learned About Racism I Learned in School focuses on the experiences Black and Brown students face as a direct result of the racism built into schools across the United States.

The overarching nonfiction narrative follows author Tiffany Jewell from early elementary school through her time at college, unpacking the history of systemic racism in the American educational system along the way. Throughout the book, other writers of the global majority share a wide variety of personal narratives and stories based on their own school experiences.

Everything I Learned About Racism I Learned in School provides young folks with the context to think critically about and chart their own course through their current schooling—and any future schooling they may pursue. A true “don’t want to miss” event–so register now!

Register here! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Tiffany Jewell is a Black biracial writer, twin sister, first-generation American, cisgender mama, anti-bias antiracist (ABAR) educator, and consultant. She is the author of the #1 New York Times and #1 Indie Bestseller, This Book Is Anti-Racist, a book for young folks and everyone to wake up, take action, and do the work of becoming antiracist as well as The Antiracist Kid: A Book About Identity, Justice, and Activism the recently released Everything I Learned About Racism I Learned in School (2024).

Tiffany has been working with children and families for nearly two decades and has worked as a Montessori educator for fifteen years. She enjoys exploring social justice with young folks, especially the history of racism and resistance, economic justice, and socially and personally constructed identities. Tiffany enjoys working with educators and supporting them building strong, authentic communities in which every child can be seen and valued. She is the co-founder, alongside Britt Hawthorne, of ABARatSchool, an organization that strives to support educators and caregivers in their anti-bias anti-racist journeys. She also served as the president of the founding board of the national organization Montessori for Social Justice- seeing it through to completing nonprofit status and creating a strong mission to support and amplify Montessorian of the Global Majority across the country. Tiffany lives on the homeland of the Pocumtuc and the Nipmuck with her two young storytellers, husband, and a turtle she’s had since she was nine years old.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

Psychological Thrillers and the Queen of Twists–An Author Talk with Freida McFadden

Get your popcorn and take a seat as we pick the brain of the queen of twists herself, Freida McFadden! McFadden will join us to chat about writing psychological thrillers, her mega-bestselling hit The Housemaid series, in particular her forthcoming (June 11, 2024) third installment, The Housemaid Is Watching.

The next installment is full of unbelievable twists and tension as it continues to follow Millie Calloway. She used to clean other people’s houses—now, she can’t believe this new home is actually hers. The charming kitchen, the quiet cul-de-sac, the huge yard where her kids can play. She and her husband saved for years to give their children the life they deserve.

Even though she’s wary of their new neighbor, Mrs. Lowell when she invites them over for dinner, it’s their chance to make friends, so they accept the invitation. Mrs. Lowell’s maid opens the door wearing a white apron, her hair in a tight bun. Millie knows exactly what it’s like to be in her shoes. But the maid’s cold stare gives her chills…

The Lowells’ maid isn’t the only strange thing on their street. Millie’s sure she sees a shadowy figure watching them. Her husband leaves the house late at night. And when she meets a woman who lives across the way, her words chill to the bone: Be careful of your neighbors.

Millie wonders: Did they make a terrible mistake moving their family here?

Register here! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: #1 New York TimesAmazon ChartsUSA TodayWall Street JournalSunday Times, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. Freida’s work has been selected as one of Amazon Editors’ best books of the year, she is the winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for best paperback, and she is a Goodreads Choice Award winner. Her novels have been translated into over 30 languages.

Freida lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet with Smithsonian Curator Matt Shindell

Mars and its secrets have fascinated and mystified humans since ancient times. Due to its vivid color and visibility, geologic kinship with Earth, and potential as our best hope for settlement, Mars embodies everything that inspires us about space and exploration. For the Love of Mars surveys the red planet’s place in the human imagination, beginning with ancient astrologers and skywatchers and ending in our present moment of exploration and virtual engagement.

You’re invited to come learn alongside Matt Shindell, National Air and Space Museum curator, as he introduces viewers to historical figures across eras and around the world who have made sense of this mysterious planet. Shindell will highlight historical figures such as:

  • Mayan astrologer priests who incorporated Mars into seasonal calendars and religious ceremonies;
  • Babylonian astrologers who discerned bad omens;
  • figures of the Scientific Revolution who struggled to comprehend it as a world;
  • Victorian astronomers who sought signs of intelligent life; and
  • 20th- and 21st-century scientists who have established a technological presence on its surface.

Along the way, we will encounter writers and artists from each period who take readers and viewers on imagined journeys to Mars.

By focusing on the diverse human stories behind the telescopes and behind the robots we know and love, Shindell will show how Mars exploration has evolved in ways that have also expanded knowledge about other facets of the universe. Register now for this captivating voyage through time!

Register here! Aren’t able to attend? Visit us here to view recordings of past events and the list others that are coming up!

About the Author: Matthew Shindell, Ph.D., is a historian of science with a background in science studies. He is Curator of Earth and Planetary Science at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. He is responsible for the Museum’s collection of spacecraft, instruments, and other artifacts related to the exploration and study of our Earth and solar system. He co-hosts the Museum’s podcast, AirSpace. He curated the Museum’s permanent exhibition, Exploring the Planets, and is leading a curatorial team developing the exhibition Futures in Space. Shindell is the author of For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet (2023) and The Life and Science of Harold C. Urey (2019), coauthor of Spaceships (2023), Our Future in Space (2023), and Discerning Experts (2019), and co-editor of Smithsonian American Women (2019).

Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

Chair Dance with Claudia

Using many different styles of music, Claudia’s motivating, high energy dance class includes a classic dance movement warm-up using a chair, light weight strengthening exercises, and a full body stretch, using the mind-body connection to make this class both inspirational and fun.

Sing a little, dance a lot, move to your fullest potential, while getting a light aerobic workout, as well as gaining strength, flexibility, and energy. Posture awareness is the focus of this combination of standing, dance and chair stretch. Work out at your own pace while gaining benefits of the group energy.

Register here for this 45 minute workout that is guaranteed to make you feel great!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Chair Dance with Claudia

Using many different styles of music, Claudia’s motivating, high energy dance class includes a classic dance movement warm-up using a chair, light weight strengthening exercises, and a full body stretch, using the mind-body connection to make this class both inspirational and fun.

Sing a little, dance a lot, move to your fullest potential, while getting a light aerobic workout, as well as gaining strength, flexibility, and energy. Posture awareness is the focus of this combination of standing, dance and chair stretch. Work out at your own pace while gaining benefits of the group energy.

Register here for this 45 minute workout that is guaranteed to make you feel great!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Chair Dance with Claudia

Using many different styles of music, Claudia’s motivating, high energy dance class includes a classic dance movement warm-up using a chair, light weight strengthening exercises, and a full body stretch, using the mind-body connection to make this class both inspirational and fun.

Sing a little, dance a lot, move to your fullest potential, while getting a light aerobic workout, as well as gaining strength, flexibility, and energy. Posture awareness is the focus of this combination of standing, dance and chair stretch. Work out at your own pace while gaining benefits of the group energy.

Register here for this 45 minute workout that is guaranteed to make you feel great!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have four cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for the August 26 session here.

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have four cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual August session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have four cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual August session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have four cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual August session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have four cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for the July 29 session here.

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Mah Jongg and Canasta Free Play Mashup

Mad for Mah Jongg or crazy for Canasta? Here’s your chance to meet other players, benefit from consistent play, and build your confidence. If playing Mah Jongg, we have four cards for people to use, but if you are considering becoming a frequent player, please bring your own 2024 NMJL card (Available for purchase at nationalmahjonggleague.org). The Canasta card sets are on us and available for use. Register online for a spot in each individual session as we can only accommodate 16 people per afternoon.

Register for each individual July session below:

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Tech Help

Have an issue with one of your devices? Technology proving to be more of a challenge than you thought? We can help! Register for a 30-minute help session just for you.

To register for the 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. session, click here.
To register for the 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. session, click here.
To register for the 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. session, click here.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

The New Yorker Discussion Group: Summer 2024 Session

May 16th through June 27th

Maybe you already have a subscription but only consistently glance at the cartoons? Or perhaps you yearn for in-depth reporting, written well without the prefab soundbites of TV news? Or you might just like to meet up with interesting individuals to talk about current events, the latest big hit on Broadway, upcoming museum exhibits worth a look all while enjoying a sip of wine and savory bites on a warm summer evening.

The magazine issue is on us. Selected articles from the June 17th issue for the June 20th meeting:

  • Page 12 – Trophy Room: A last-minute safari in Kenya by David Sedaris
  • Page 22 – His Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy: What Ye did to a Tadao Ando beach house by Ian Parker
  • Page 36 – A Semblance of Peace: Life in a Palestinian-Jewish community by Masha Gessen
  • Page 46 – Fiction: “Chicago on the Seine” by Camille Bordas
  • Page 66 – Theatre: “Home”, “What Became of Us” by Vinson Cunningham

Register here!

Hybrid programs hosted by the library will be provided via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device. Registration for all programs is required. Participants who register for any program will receive an email with the link to join.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

 

The New Yorker Discussion Group: Summer 2024 Session

May 16th through June 27th

Maybe you already have a subscription but only consistently glance at the cartoons? Or perhaps you yearn for in-depth reporting, written well without the prefab soundbites of TV news? Or you might just like to meet up with interesting individuals to talk about current events, the latest big hit on Broadway, upcoming museum exhibits worth a look all while enjoying a sip of wine and savory bites on a warm summer evening.

The magazine issue is on us. Selected articles from the June 24th issue for the June 27th meeting:

  • Page 9 – Adam Gopnik on Europe’s rightward shift
  • Page 14 – In Search of Lost Time: The strange journey of John Lennon’s stolen watch by Jay Fielden
  • Page 20 – Small Wonder: How will nanomachines change our lives? by Dhruv Khullar
  • Page 43 – Poem: “Suite for Voices” by Joyce Carol Oates
  • Page 86 – Ghosts on the Water: Inside Maine’s glass eel gold rush by Paige Williams
  • Page 50 – Books: Anthony Fauci diagnoses America by Jerome Groopman
  • Page 60 – The era of the line cook by Hannah Goldfield

Register here!

Hybrid programs hosted by the library will be provided via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device. Registration for all programs is required. Participants who register for any program will receive an email with the link to join.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

 

The New Yorker Discussion Group: Summer 2024 Session

May 16th through June 27th

Maybe you already have a subscription but only consistently glance at the cartoons? Or perhaps you yearn for in-depth reporting, written well without the prefab soundbites of TV news? Or you might just like to meet up with interesting individuals to talk about current events, the latest big hit on Broadway, upcoming museum exhibits worth a look all while enjoying a sip of wine and savory bites on a warm summer evening.

The magazine issue is on us.

Selected articles from the June 10th issue for the June 13th meeting

  • Page 9 – David Remnick on the Trump trial verdict
  • Page 14 – Red Line: The U.S. and Mexico wrangle over the border by Stephania Taladrid
  • Page 22 – Are We Doomed? The field of existential risk by Rivka Galchen
  • Page 28 – The Long Ride: A surf legend’s unlikely life by William Finnegan
  • Page 52 – The reinvention of the cat by Rebecca Mead
  • Page 64 – The Current Cinema: “Hit Man” by Richard Brody

Register here!

Hybrid programs hosted by the library will be provided via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device. Registration for all programs is required. Participants who register for any program will receive an email with the link to join.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

 

The New Yorker Discussion Group: Summer 2024 Session

May 16th through June 27th

Maybe you already have a subscription but only consistently glance at the cartoons? Or perhaps you yearn for in-depth reporting, written well without the prefab soundbites of TV news? Or you might just like to meet up with interesting individuals to talk about current events, the latest big hit on Broadway, upcoming museum exhibits worth a look all while enjoying a sip of wine and savory bites on a warm summer evening.

The magazine issue is on us. Selected articles from the June 3rd issue for the June 6th meeting:

  • Page 9 – Talk of the Town: Joshua Yaffa on a critical moment in Ukraine; Columbia’s counter-commencement
  • Page 26 – Land of Make- Believe: How a Hollywood aspirant became a fraudster by Evan Osnos
  • Page 46 – Fiction: “Woman, Frog, Devil” by Olga Tokarczuk
  • Page 57 – Books: What is growth good for? by Idrees Kahloon
  • Page 64 – The Art World: A Brancusi retrospective, at the Centre Pompidou

Register here!

Hybrid programs hosted by the library will be provided via Zoom. Visit their website here to find the appropriate download instructions and download link for your device. Registration for all programs is required. Participants who register for any program will receive an email with the link to join.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

 

The New Yorker Discussion Group: Fall 2024 Session

Wednesdays from September 4th through October 30th
**No session on September 18th**

Maybe you already have a subscription but only consistently glance at the cartoons? Or perhaps you yearn for in-depth reporting, written well without the prefab soundbites of TV news? Or you might just like to meet up with interesting individuals to talk about current events, the latest big hit on Broadway, upcoming museum exhibits worth a look all while enjoying a sip of wine and savory bites on a crisp fall evening.

The magazine issue is on us.

Selected articles from the September 2nd issue for the September 4th meeting:

  • Page 12 – The Last Day: As public-school enrollments drop, schools are closing by Alec MacGillis
  • Page 18 – Bunker Mentality: Are you in the market for a bomb shelter? by Patricia Marx
  • Page 24 – Life of the Party: A shift from calamity to promise for the Democrats by Andrew Marantz
  • Page 36 – Early Scenes: Life as a boy in the Bronx and an actor in Manhattan by Al Pacino
  • Page 40 – Poem: “Poem Never to Be Read Aloud” by Dobby Gibson
  • Page 58 – “Fierce Desires” by Rebecca Mead

Register here!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

 

The New Yorker Discussion Group: Fall 2024 Session

Wednesdays from September 4th through October 30th
**No session on September 18th**

Maybe you already have a subscription but only consistently glance at the cartoons? Or perhaps you yearn for in-depth reporting, written well without the prefab soundbites of TV news? Or you might just like to meet up with interesting individuals to talk about current events, the latest big hit on Broadway, upcoming museum exhibits worth a look all while enjoying a sip of wine and savory bites on a crisp fall evening.

Selected articles from the September 9th issue for the September 11th meeting:

  • Page 14 – The Hem of His Garment: Meeting the Pope, and his tailor by David Sedaris
  • Page 18 – Spreading the Wealth: An heiress’s experiment in redistribution
  • Page 26 – Be Her Guest: Ina Garten’s age of abundance
  • Page 54 – Books: “On the Edge” by Nate Silver
  • Page 63 – Books: “The Letters of Seamus Heaney” by Maggie Doherty

Register here!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

The New Yorker Discussion Group: Fall 2024 Session

Wednesdays from September 4th through October 30th
**No session on September 18th**

Maybe you already have a subscription but only consistently glance at the cartoons? Or perhaps you yearn for in-depth reporting, written well without the prefab soundbites of TV news? Or you might just like to meet up with interesting individuals to talk about current events, the latest big hit on Broadway, upcoming museum exhibits worth a look all while enjoying a sip of wine and savory bites on a crisp fall evening.

From the September 16th issue for the September 25th meeting:

  • Page 22 – The Post-Moral Age: Has evolutionary science debunked virtue? by Manvir Singh
  • Page 28 – The Dark Time: Inside Russia’s Arctic spy war by Ben Taub
  • Page 44 – Land of the Flea: What America is buying and selling by Paige Williams
  • Page 68 – Poem: “I Have No Word in English For” by Sandra Cisneros
  • Page 73 – Books: What if Reagan’s presidency never really ended? by Daniel Immerwahr

Register here!

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.

Shakespeare for Kids Presents: Romeo and Juliet

Join us at the Library as Shakespeare on the Sound presents its annual tour of Shakespeare for Kids! This year they are presenting a 30-minute version of Romeo and Juliet. This interactive production will have your children quoting Shakespeare without them even realizing it. Shakespeare on the Sound seamlessly combines the text of Shakespeare with everyday language in a fun and inventive way. By the way…when we say kids, we mean kids of all ages—from 5 to 95. All are welcome and encouraged!

Register here!

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Shakespeare on the Sound Presents: Romeo and Juliet

Fun Facts About Romeo And Juliet:

  • Romeo and Juliet first meet on a Sunday evening. Four days later—on Wednesday evening—Romeo drinks poison and Juliet stabs herself. “Worst week ever,” as one Shakespearean scholar has put it.
  • Juliet is 13 years old. We don’t know Romeo’s age.
  • Dante first mentions the feud between the families in the early 1300’s.
  • In 1662 Mary Saunderson made stage history as the first woman to play Juliet, 150 years after London audiences first saw Shakespeare’s play with a boy playing Juliet.

Shakespeare on the Sound Education Director and Macbeth/Christmas Carol actor Nick Urda and board member/Shakespeare teacher John Love will guide you through Romeo and Juliet and, in an interactive presentation, hope to show you why Juliet and Romeo might be a more fitting title for the play. They’ll also have you asking: were they really in love?

This program comes to the library just in time for Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare on the Sound’s 28th annual summer production, in Rowayton’s Pinkney Park (June 12th through the 30th).

Register here!

New Photo Release Policy effective February 1, 2019. See here for details.

Learn to Play Mah Jongg

Friday, October 4, 11, 18, and 25

Learn to play American Mah Jongg, a fun and fascinating tile game. Over these three sessions, new players will be taught the basics of understanding the tiles and the Mah Jongg card. You’ll soon be throwing out phrases like 6Bam! 2Crak! Green Dragon! and Mah Jongg! Rules and strategies of play as well as game etiquette will be covered.

**THIS IS AN INTRODUCTORY SERIES FOR BEGINNERS ONLY**

Space is very limited for this program so please only register here you can commit to all 4 weeks.

View our Photo Release Policy, effective since February 1, 2019, here.