Crowell Library Seeks Local Poets!

If you write poetry and reside in the greater San Gabriel Valley and would like to participate in a reading of original works, Crowell Public Library wants to hear from you! April is Poetry Month and the library will be presenting a special evening featuring local poets on Thursday, April 7th at 7:00 p.m. Please contact Denise Dobbs or Lynda Lyons at the library (626) 300-0777 by FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25th to be considered an applicant. Shortly thereafter, participants will be contacted and sent guidelines for the poetry reading. Poets must be 18 years or older and have a Crowell Public Library card (they’re free!). Poets’ selections will be reviewed to make sure guidelines are followed, and thereafter a schedule for the program will be determined. This is not a contest, but there will be a raffled prize for participants. Published poets are invited to sell their work. Bongos and berets are not required, but certainly welcomed. Coffee will be served. This is the first such event at Crowell Public Library. If you are a local patron and a poet, be part of history!

Monthly Morning Movie Classics

Third Thursday of every month at 10 a.m.Put your day in focus with a morning movie guaranteed to please. Come to Crowell Public Library for complimentary popcorn and free screenings of some of the best films ever made. Here’s the Winter line-up: January 20, Around the World in 80 Days. David Niven, Cantinflas. Best Picture 1956! February 24, Rebel Without A Cause, 1955. James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo. March 17, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1961. Audrey Hepburn. Based on Truman Capote’s novel. April 21, Chinatown, 1974. Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway. Oscar to Best Original Screenplay. All screenings will take place in the Barth Community Room.

Watercolor Demonstration

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 26, 2011, 6:00-8:00 p.m. TOM FONG is an award winning artist whose watercolors are on display in a current exhibit at Crowell Public Library’s Crain Art Gallery from January 3 through February 11, 2011. A native Californian and USC graduate, his paintings are bold, spontaneous and direct. Tom’s work has been featured in The Artist’s Magazine, Watercolor Artist and American Artist. He teaches at various colleges and conducts national and international workshops including the Palm Springs Desert Museum Workshop and the San Diego Watercolor Society Workshop. He continues to be a guest instructor for the Yosemite National Park Association. Tom has earned Signature Membership in Watercolor West, where he has served as President. Learn techniques from the master as Tom demonstrates his adventurous approach in this free workshop. “I paint with wide flat brushes, bold, spontaneous, and direct through the creative spirit of intuition and improvisation.” -- Tom Fong

ONE BOOK ONE CITY Announcement

On Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 7:00 p.m., the Friends of the Crowell Public Library will join San Marino dignitaries in announcing the 2011 ONE BOOK, ONE CITY selection. After introductions and the unveiling of this year’s selection, there will be a concert by the Middle School Jazz Band. Light refreshments will be served. You’ll want to save Thursday evenings in February, March and April for some very special events, movies and musical performances at the library related to the theme of this book, a murder mystery and period piece involving a special genre of music still celebrated around the world. Every year the Friends of Crowell Public Library present a series of ONE BOOK, ONE CITY events that bring the community together in celebration of the joy of reading. Past selections have included Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker, Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart, and Samurai’s Garden, by Gail Tsukiyama. More details on the One Book, One City program will be announced in upcoming weeks. Copies of the featured book will be available for check-out at the Crowell Public Library. For further details on this exciting program and others at Crowell Library, keep an eye on the website: http://www.CrowellPublicLibrary.org

LA Opera Talk: Il Turco in Italia

SUNDAY, January 16th 2:00 p.m. L.A. Opera’s community educator BOB BERNARD will present a free audio-visual presentation about Rossini’s Il Turco in Italia, part of the very popular OPERA TALK series at Crowell Public Library. Mr. Bernard will present background on Rossini and his times and entice one and all into experiencing the full production at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion downtown. He is a consulting board member of the Los Angeles Opera League, a previous chair of the Artist Services Committee and has contributed to OLLA’s quarterly newsletter Bravo. Gioacchino Rossini's zaniest comedy, Il Turco in Italia has been described as The Barber of Seville meets Così fan tutte. Nino Machaidze performs the role of Fiorilla, a woman determined to rid herself of the two men in her life -- her exasperated husband (Paolo Gavanelli) and tedious admirer (Maxim Mironov) -- in favor of a more exotic suitor, a pompously beguiling Turk (Simone Alberghini). The great Thomas Allen plays the poet, Prosdocimo. Whether a hardcore opera aficionado or a curious novice, attendees will be delightfully entertained and encouraged to ask questions and offer comments. Make Crowell Library your LA Opera gateway!

Rose Pruning Workshop

Saturday, January 15th, 9:30 a.m. Former City Parks Division Manager, RON SERVEN is now with San Marino’s Planning Department, but his expertise with roses is still visible throughout the city, particularly at Lacy Park. Ron has conducted this workshop at Crowell Library on a yearly basis and many rose-lovers have benefited and attended repeat performances. Ron will demonstrate optimum rose pruning techniques and answer questions from the audience, such as what to do in cold weather, and dealing with other special conditions such as irregular rainfall. Those who attend will be ready to go out into their own yards the very same day to get the job done. Ron will give everyone a better sense of how Mother Nature works. You’ll soon be spending some enjoyable time in your home garden, armed with the knowledge to keep it thriving and beautiful. This workshop is free and reservations are not required, but if you have questions, please call the library (626) 300-0777, extension 579.

Honey-Lulus Tiki Salon

Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 7 p.m. – Say aloha to the Honey-Lulus: Christina Linhardt, Justeen Ward and Kate Friedricks, three charming and talented ladies who will perform vintage songs of the islands and dance like the swaying palms, live and in color, one night only at Crowell Public Library in San Marino! They promise to drive away your winter blues with their ukuleles and vocal harmonies that conjure up warm breezes, happy hukilaus and sunny shores – the perfect antidote to your post-holiday malaise. Kate Friedricks has created new arrangements with a vintage feel for Hawaiian and tropical music that was popular in early and mid-twentieth century America. Christina Linhardt and Justeen Ward bring their years of experience as variety entertainers all over the world to create this eclectic show. Audience members will be invited to learn the hula and will be wowed with this fast-paced musical trip to an imaginary Tiki Island. Kate Friedricks has performed at Disneyland, Universal Studios and the Renaissance Pleasure Faire and is known for her entertaining arrangements and facility with many different instruments. Christina Linhardt is well known for melding vaudeville and opera in a combination that has made her popular in Europe as well as the United States. Justeen Ward is the queen of singing telegrams in the Los Angeles area. She has spent years designing and performing celebrity impersonations and doing comedy for children and adults. She has also traveled to Europe and Japan singing and doing comedy improv. Take a little vacation in January for free. Come to Crowell Library and “feel” the ocean spray! Visit The Honey-Lulus on Facebook and check out their videos of a recent show!