Enjoy a wide variety of programs at the Shirlington Library during the month of May.
Author Talk:
Saturday, May 17, 3 PM
Contributing writer Joel Carillet and Editors Bowman and Nesreen Khashan discuss and sign their new book,
Encounters with the Middle East: True Stories of People and Culture That Help You Understand the Region. A book signing will follow across the street at Busboys and Poets.
Film Screenings and Discussion:
Sunday, May 4, 2 PM – Family Movie Matinee – Enchanted (2007) Directed by Kevin Lima. Featuring: Susan Sarandon, James Marsden and Amy Adams. Rated PG. 107 minutes.
A classic Disney fairytale lands in modern-day New York City when a storybook princess is thrust into present day Manhattan by an evil queen. Her prince follows after to rescue her but her journey causes her to change her views on life and love after meeting a handsome lawyer.
Saturday, May 10, 2 PM – Tween and Teen Screen – The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. ( 2005) Directed by Andrew Adamson. Featuring: Georgie Henley, Tilda Swinton, Rupert Everett, Jim Broadbent. Rated PG. 140 minutes.
Based on the timeless novel by C.S. Lewis, four London children are sent to a professor’s country home during World War II. They stumble into a magic wardrobe which leads to a mystical land called Narnia. Narnia is filled with amazing creatures and the children soon join forces with the lion Aslan to fight the evil witch Jadis who has cast an icy curse over the land
Asian Pacific Heritage Film Screeings:
Tuesday May 13, 7 PM – Mississippi Masala.(1992) Directed by Mira Nair. Featuring: Denzel Washington, Sarita Choudhury, Charles S. Dutton. Rated R.118 min.
A lively, sexy story about the heat generated when different cultures collide. An enterprising black man (Denzel Washington) falls in love with a beautiful Indian woman whose family has fled Idi Amin’s Uganda. Their relationship causes a stir in their sleepy Mississippi town, infuriating both their families and exposing everyone’s worst racial fears and prejudices.
Thursday, May 15, 1 PM – The Picture Bride (1994) Directed by Kayo Hatta. Featuring: Youki Kudoh, Tamlyn Tomita,Akira Takayama, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Rated PG-13; 98 minutes.
Set in 1918, seventeen-year-old Riyo is sent from Japan to Hawaii to be a mail-order bride after exchanging photographs with a sugar cane worker. But as luck would have it, Riyo is shocked to find that her future husband appeared much younger in his portrait and is at least 25 years her senior. Now, marriage is out of the question in this dramatic story of a Picture Bride’s journey to an extraordinary land.
Tuesday, May 27, 7 PM – Better Luck Tomorrow (2003). Directed by Justin Lin. Featuring: Parry Shen, Jason J. Tobin, Sung Kang, Roger Fan, John Cho. Rated R. 101 minutes.
Ben and his friends are perfectionist overachievers at the top of their class. They are a group of high school kids who already know that they will be going to the top colleges and getting the top jobs. This is an image that is projected during the day but their activities at night are getting increasingly dark and dangerous. What begins with petty crime and selling cheat sheets turns to selling drugs, stockpiling money and, eventually, murder. This group is tearing through life with much ambition but no morals as they prepare for life in the “real world.”
Thursday May 29, 1 PM – Snow Falling on Cedars (1999). Directed by Scott Hicks. Featuring: Ethan Hawke, James Cromwell, Richard Jenkins, Youki Kudoh, James Rebhorn. Rated PG-13. 126 minutes.
Snow Falling On Cedars, Academy Award-nominated director Scott Hicks’ first film after Shine, is a daring cinematic translation of David Guterson’s best-selling novel. Set in 1954 on an island in the Pacific Northwest, this haunting tale of love undone by societal pressures and familial customs is an elegiac, multi-layered exploration of truth, justice and vagaries of the human heart. In a directorial tour-de-force, Hicks employs an unconventional narrative that casts a powerful, hypnotic spell on the viewer.
Wednesday, May 21, 7:30 PM – Unscripted: A Movie Discussion Group.
Celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month with a series of films examining a variety of life experiences of Asian Pacific Americans as reflected in contemporary American cinema. Movies to be discussed include: Snow Falling on Cedars (1999),The Wedding Banquet (1993),The Picture Bride (1994), Heaven and Earth (1993), The Joy Luck Club (1993), Mississippi Masala ( 1992), Better Luck Tomorrow (2003).
Theater and Arts Programs:
Monday, May 5, 7 PM - Page to Stage a conversation with artists from the current Signature Theatre production of The Happy Time. Conversations with Amy McWillimas and Tracy Lynn Olivera. Amy McWilliams and Tracy Lynn Olivera have been Signature regulars for over 10 years. They shared the stage at The Kennedy Center during the Sondheim Festival in Sunday in the Park with George and Merrily We Roll Along. Yet during all those years, they have never appeared in a show together at Signature UNTIL The Happy Time.
Monday, May 19, 7 PM – Coda Series: a meet-the-artists conversation with Molly Smith. Join us for a one-on-one conversation with Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith to discuss new performance spaces in the metro Washington area, and the ongoing Arena Stage building project.
Sunday, May 25, 2 PM – The Nation of Immigrants Project
Young Playwrights’ Theater and playwright Patrick Crowley, will present a restaging of their critically acclaimed production of The Nation of Immigrants Project. The dramatic readings were generated through community and in-school workshops with support from the Creative Communities Fund of the National Capital Region.
Wednesday May 28, 7 PM – Panel Discussion. Devine Drama: Classical Sanskrit Drama in Performance.
This Panel discussion moderated by Dr. Janet M. Powers of Gettysburg College will explore the elements of Classical Indian Drama. Sanskrit drama is still a vibrant and evocative art form in India, but is rarely staged in the west. This discussion will examine the elements of Sanskrit Drama and draw a comparison to classical western drama. It will also demonstrate how this alluring dramatic form can become more accessible to western audiences. Panelists include Guarav Gopolan, Artistic Associate at the Washington Shakespeare Company, and actors who appeared in the Classical Sanskrit Drama Festival at WSC in the fall of 2007.
Lectures:
Wednesday, May 14, 7 PM – Portraits of Central America: “Cipotes, Patojos y Chiguines.” Join the Shirlington Library for this stimulating event that explores the world of El Salvador and how you can help change this region for the better. A lecture by Eva Rodriguez Bellegarrigue from the New Acropolis project, will focuses on opportunities for volunteerism in El Salvador and Central America. Also include in the event is a gallery talk by photographer, Mario Quiroz, who will speak about his photos taken of the region. The photo exhibit will be on display May 4-31. Singer and entertainer, Maura Mendoza, will also be performing as part of this event.
Tuesday, May 20, 6:30 PM – Green Condo Workshop: Practical steps to Improving Energy Efficiency.
Presented by the Arlington County Green Home Choice Program. Learn practical tips and techniques to improve the energy performance of your condo building, reduce your carbon footprint and save money.
Kid’s Corner:
Mondays at 4 PM – Drop in Story Time. For kids 2 and up.
Sunday, May 4, 2 PM – Family Movie Matinee. Enchanted (2007).
Wednesday, May 7, 6 PM – Songs for Tots. For ages 2-6. Join singer and story-teller, Tara Chiusano, for a lively and interactive program for young children. The program is a combination of traditional and original songs that encourage early-literacy, teach colors, counting, and some English and Spanish phrases.
Saturday, May 10, 2 PM – Tween and Teen Screens. Screens – The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (20005). Join the Shirlington Library for a movie screening of particular interest to older children and teens, but all are welcome.
Sunday, May 18, 2 PM – Children’s Opera Workshop, Hänsel and Gretel, by Engelbert Humperdinck. Presented by the Washington National Opera.
In this hands-on workshop children will sing and learn about the art of Opera. This workshop is based on the Humperdinck opera Hänsel und Grete. The workshop concludes with a craft activity. For ages 4-11. Limited to 35 participants, admitted on a first-come first-seated basis.
Saturday, May 31, 3PM - Children’s Puppet Workshop. Something from Nothing. Join a guest artist from Classika Theater for this interactive puppet workshop. Transform common household items into a small marionette puppet. For ages 4-12. Parental assistance expected for children under 7.
Computer Classes:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2:00-3:30 PM
Introduction to Social Software:
We will explore together the new and exciting possibilities of social software available on the Web. Discussion will include MySpace, Facebook, YouTube and many more Web 2.0 applications.
FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1:30- 3:30 PM
Introduction to Word.
Learn how to do basic word processing using Microsoft Word.
Ongoing Programs:
Book Discussion: Tuesday May 6 at 7:30 PM and Thursday May 8 at 11 AM,
Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai.
Saturday, May 24, 1PM – ESL Conversation Group. Come practice your English conversation skills. All welcome.
Wednesday, May 21, 6:30 PM – Poetry Workshop.
Meet with fellow writers to work on your poetry and participate in writing exercises.
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