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Weekend in Tulsa
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by Tom Keener
Celebrate the library’s 40th anniversary with forty programs during October. All programs are free and no reservations are required. For infor¬mation call 214-509-4911, for a complete list, visit www.allenlibrary.org.
October 6, at 2 p.m. celebrate the library’s 40th birthday with delicious refreshments and announcements. Dallas City Manager Mary Suhm will kick off the celebrations. Ms. Suhm, a predecessor to Library Director Barbara Buehler, discusses the library’s early days and the future of the public library. At 3 p.m. David Chicken is part super hero, part Elvis and 100%fun for all ages! This talented songwriter, musician and entertainer leads his audience through a high energy, interactive performance filled with sing-alongs, dancing and general hilarity based on David’s all original music. Fun for the whole family! Cultural Art Series
Each Sunday at the library, 2:30 p.m.
October 7—Luis Liñares and Los Bohemios de America. A native of Peru, Liñares performs folk music from Central and South America. Regulars at La Esperanza Restaurant and Machu Picchu, Liñares and his bohemians capture the essence of sounds that emanate from both the Native American and Spanish folk cultures.
October 14—Dallas Chinese Choral Society. Since its inception in 1983, Dallas Chinese Choral Society (DCCS) has gained a reputation as one of the musical icons in the Chinese Community in the area. While providing a fun and nurturing atmosphere in both rehearsals and concerts, DCCS has enhanced the cultural offerings in the Chinese arts community. Since 2004, DCCS has been under the direction of Shawn Chou.
October 21—The Dallas Czech Concert Orchestra is a volunteer band comprised of about 30 semi-professional and accomplished musicians. The repertoire consists primarily of Czech and German music including polkas, waltzes, marches and Volksmusik. The European-style band includes tenor horns and flugelhorns, producing a distinctive, mellow sound.
October 28—Natyanjali Kuchipudi Dance School. Srilatha Suri is the artistic director of Natyanjali Kuchipudi and disciple of Padmasri Sobha Naidu—well known to lovers of Indian classical dance. Kuchipudi grew as a product of the Bhakti movement beginning in the seventh century A.D. In the 14th century ascetic Siddhendra Yogi appeared on the scene and gave Kuchipudi a new definition and direction.
Tuesday Night at the Movies
Movies begin at 7 p.m. in the library’s civic auditorium. October 2—Bonnie and Clyde; October 9—Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner; October 16—The Jungle Book; October 23—2001 A Space Odyssey; October 30—Born Free.
What do the movies Bonnie & Clyde, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, The Jungle Book, 2001: a Space Odyssey, and Born Free all have in common? They are all popular movies from 1967—the year the Allen Public Library first opened. In honor of the library’s 40th anniversary, the Allen Public Library will provide free showings of each of these movies.
What is it about these movies that made them so popular at the time of their original release? In every case, it was something that captured the public’s imagination. In Bonnie & Clyde, the violence of this fictional biography about two of history’s most notorious bandits, paved the way for many other gritty films. In addition, who could ever forget the outstanding performances of Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway? The film is also notable in that Bonnie and Clyde were both born in north Texas.
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner was Spencer Tracy’s last performance and concerns a pair of white parents trying to adjust to their daughter’s impending marriage to an African-American doctor. The film explores the controversy of a mixed-race relationship during a very socially stressful time in our country, and the performances by Poitier, Hepburn and Tracy are powerful. Spencer Tracy was ill at the time of the shooting, so his last speech is especially poignant.
The Jungle Book brings Rudyard Kipling’s classic story to animated life and is fun for all ages. Mowgli, the boy raised by wolves and encouraged by his friend Bagheera, the wise old panther, to take refuge in "the man village," is not comfortable there and runs off. He encounters the charming Baloo the Bear, with whom he has several adventures.
2001: a Space Odyssey, was truly a cinematic milestone. The 139-minute film had barely 40 minutes of dialogue, and relied on visual imagery to detail the history of human evolution up through the space age. The story pits a seemingly intelligent and sentient computer (Hal) against an emotionless, almost dehumanized space traveler (Dave).
Born Free is a family film, a classic tale of Kenya game warden, George Adamson and his wife, Joy, who adopted and raised three lion cubs. Elsa, the lioness, was their favorite and the story details Elsa’s eventual return to the wild in aheart-rending scene. The African scenery and wonderful animal footage are timeless and worth watching over and over.
This film series has a little something for everyone, so check the Allen Public Library’s website at www.allenlibrary.org or call the reference desk at 214-509-4905 for more information. See you at the movies!
Author Visits at the library
Monday, October 8—John Erickson, Hank the Cowdog Series, 4 p.m. Erickson, a former cowboy and ranch manager, is gifted with a storyteller’s knack for spinning a yarn. Through the eyes of Hank the Cowdog, a smelly, smart aleck head of ranch security, Erickson gives readers a glimpse of daily life on a ranch in the West Texas Panhandle. This series of books and tapes is in school libraries across the country and is the winner of the 1993 Audie for Outstanding Children’s Series from the Audio Publisher’s Association.
Hank and his sidekick, Drover, are dogs Erickson worked with on the range. This mixture of true-life experience, fun and adventure has gained Hank a loyal following of thousands of children and adults.
Saturday, October 13—Dr. Jerry Lincecum, folklorist and author, How to Tell Your Life Story, 2 p.m. This program teaches participants how to move from the names and dates of genealogy to a collection of stories about one’s ancestors. Topics, verbal prompts and photos that stimulate reminiscences and revisiting childhood are given. Dr. Lincecum is an English professor at Austin College and co-author of Adventures of a Frontier Naturalist, The Life and Times of Dr. Gideon Lincecum. Free but $10 workbook purchase.
Monday, October 15—John Hamilton Lewis, thriller writer, Samsura, 7 p.m. Lewis writes from extensive experience in the Far and Middle East where he lived and worked for more than fifteen years as an international trade consultant and freelance writer. John Lescroart, New York Times Best Selling Author describes Lewis’s Cry Havoc, "John Hamilton Lewis has written as lively and entertaining a blockbuster of World War III brinksmanship as you’re likely to encounter. A terrific story well-told."
Saturday, October 27—Deborah Crombie, mystery writer, 2 p.m. Crombie’s latest book, Water Like a Stone, has received rave reviews. The New York Times Book Review states, "Crombie keeps this series on its toes with her smooth procedural techniques and engagingly eccentric characters." Her fifth novel, Dreaming of the Bones (Scribner, 1997) was given an Edgar award nomination by Mystery Writers of America for Best Novel in 1998. It was a New York Times Book of the Year, and was chosen by the Independent Mystery Booksellers of American as one of the 100 Best Crime Novels of the Century.
Decorative and Performing Arts, Crafts and Storytelling
Sunday, September 30—Quilts and storytelling with award-winning Jay Conrad and Peggy Helmick-Richardson, 2 p.m. A unique opportunity to view rare quilts and learn about them from a master quilt artist is being offered by the Allen Public Library and Jay Conrad. Quilt stories from the frontier to the depression eras are presented by Peggy Helmick-Richardson.
Thursday, October 11—Tole Painting with Susan Mynyk, 7 p.m. Decorative painting is a diverse art form utilizing a variety of techniques and media to decorate functional and non-functional surfaces. The patterns or freehand designs allow a high degree of success without academic training or inherent drawing ability. Approached with creativity, discipline and craftsmanship, decorative painting offers opportunities for artistic self-expression and creative satisfaction.
Saturday, October 13—Allen Garden Club Plant Exchange, 10 a.m. Divide your perennials and save your seeds for the first city-wide plant exchange to be held to help the Allen Public Library celebrate 40 years in Allen. This event is sponsored by the Allen Garden Club and the Friends of the Allen Public Library.
At noon, Cindy Graham, a Master Gardener will share some of her gardening secrets and answer questions. Cindy is a graduate of the Texas A & M Extension course. She lives in Plano and has filled her yard with a variety of plants, including roses, perennials, a shade garden and herbs. The Allen Garden Club will provide refreshments and door prizes. You must be present to win.
All are welcome to attend he Allen Garden Club monthly meetings that are held on the first Thursday of each month, February-December. For more details about the Allen Garden Club, please visit www.allengardenclub.org.
Salute to Allen Arts in the library’s civic auditorium
Friday, October 19—Allen Civic Ballet and Ereckson Middle School Theatre, 7 p.m. Artistic Director Stefanie Best has studied classical ballet at SMU and Houston Ballet Academy. She studied many years with world famous former prima ballerina Nathalie Krassovska. To commemorate the grand opening of the works of Charles Schulz, the Ereckson Middle School Choir will present selections from "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown". This free exhibit features over 40 works of Schulz in the library’s gallery from Oct. 21-Nov. 30 during business hours. Call 214-509-4911.
Saturday, October 20¬—Truck Rodeo, 10 a.m., The Lions’ Clubs Truck Rodeo features a fire truck, ambulance, garbage truck and police car. Kids and adults can inspect, learn and have fun as well. Call 214-509-4911.
Homemade toys and games, demon¬stration and stories from the frontier days with Gene Helmick-Richardson, 2 p.m. Gene, of Twice Upon a Time Storytellers, shares the delight of homemade toys, games and stories from the frontier days in his Strings ‘n’ Things program in the library meeting room. He demonstrates string games and figures, simple bamboo and stick toys, cornhusk and rag dolls, and tells a story or two that children of 1850 Texas might have heard.
Dallas Area Woodturners provide demonstrations, 3:30 p.m. Local resident Murray Stein gives a hands-on demon¬¬stration of the ancient craft of woodturning. Stein has featured his works in the library’s gallery and at the Plano Convention Center.
Wednesday, October 24—Friends of the Allen Public Library’s Celebration of Chocolate, 7-8:30 p.m. The Friends annual membership drive affords opportunities to indulge in chocolate fantasies and savor interesting conversation at the Allen Senior Recreation Center, 451 St. Mary Dr. Call 214-509-4911.
Thursday, October 25—Allen Symphony Chorus, 7 p.m. The Allen Symphony Chorus, under the direction of director Mike Buntyn, will present "An Evening on Broadway, 1967-2007" in the auditorium. They will perform selections from forty years of Tony award-winning cabarets, chorus lines and solos, including choices from Phantom of the Opera and The Producers.
Photography exhibit by Barry Schoenholz and Allen Philharmonic, 7 p.m., Saturday, October 27. Schoenholz has traveled throughout America capturing unique images for this show. Under the direction of Richard Giangiulio, the Allen Philharmonic features Americana songs that augment Schoenholz’s exhibit.
Wednesday, October 31—Trick or Treat at Puppet Town, 5:30-7 p.m. Meet your storybook characters and ask for treats. Call 214-509-4906. |
