Library Events at Java Vino

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., is providing several free programs in partnership with JavaVino, 424 Main St. in Downtown Racine.

• Local film enthusiasts are invited to attend Cultural Film Nights at JavaVino to preview some of the Racine Public Library's collection of intriguing foreign films. Appetizers, wine and coffee are available for purchase during the film. Participants are encouraged to then visit Downtown Racine's finest restaurants for dinner.
  
  The next film in the series will be shown on Saturday, April 11 at 5 p.m. This month's feature is "August the First," the story of an urban black family in the United States. The morning of main character Tunde's graduation party begins to unravel. Tunde has managed to alienate his sister, Simisola; is persistently criticized by his older brother, Ade; and watches helplessly as their mother begins drinking again. Unbeknownst to his family, Tunde has orchestrated the return of his long estranged father, resurrecting unresolved family anguish against the backdrop of Tunde's celebration. Layer by layer, deception and half-truths are peeled away as secrets are uncovered in what will be become the most unforgettable day the family has ever experienced.
  
  "August the First" directed by Lanre Olabisi is a multiple award winner taking Best Feature Film at the San Francisco Black Film Festival and Audience Award at the Urbanworld Film Festival. IndieWire calls the film, "A smart and engaging debut…..notable for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it portrays black middle-class Americans in a normal domestic crisis situation sans guns, drugs, dealers or pregnant teens...."
  
  Because these films are not rated, the Racine Public Library is unable to recommend them for children under age 17.
  

• Families of children ages 8 and younger are invited to spend select Saturday mornings with storytellers from the Racine Public Library at JavaVino's monthly Saturday Stories. The next storytelling event will be held April 18 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and will feature storytelling with a simple craft. Enjoy a relaxing morning of breakfast fun with your children. This is a free event and no registration is necessary.
  
  
• Teen and adult poetry enthusiasts are invited to attend the Racine Public Library's Poetry Roundtable, to enjoy a lively discussion of some of today's most intriguing poets. The group generally meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 12-2 p.m. at Java Vino, 424 Main St. These free events focus on contemporary American poetry, highlighting a different poet at each meeting. As a group, participants will read poetry excerpts, analyze them and discuss their significance in today's society. Individuals with varying levels of poetry experience are welcome.
  
  This month's poetry discussion will be held on the 2nd Saturday, April 11, 12-2 p.m. (Please note date change). The group will be exploring the works of poet K. Silem Mohammad whose work has been characterized as "Goofy, weird, beyond funny, wise…wicked."
  
  Poetry Roundtable is facilitated by Nick Demske, a local poet and employee of the Racine Public Library. Contact Nick at nick.demske@racinelibrary.info or visit the Poetry Roundtable page at racinelibrary.info for information about each month's selected poet,including interviews, criticisms, poetry and more.
  
  For more information about upcoming library programs, contact the library at 262.636.9217 or visit the library's blog atrplinfo.blogspot.com and website at racinelibrary.info.
  

Library Events at JavaVino

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., is providing two programs in partnership with JavaVino, 424 Main St. in Downtown Racine.

• Cultural Film Series – Local film enthusiasts are invited to attend Cultural Film nights at JavaVino to preview some of the Racine Public Library's collection of intriguing foreign films. Appetizers, wine and coffee are available for purchase during the film. Participants are encouraged to then visit Downtown Racine's finest restaurants for dinner.

The next film in the series will be shown on Saturday, March 21 at 5 p.m. The movie is free and no registration is necessary.

This month's feature is "The Grocer's Son" from France. In this film, 33 year old Antoine is forced to return from city living to his family home in Provence to help maintain the family business while his father is ill. As he assumes the lifestyle of a grocery cart driver delivering from hamlet to hamlet, he begins to rediscover life and love in the countryside.

"The Grocer's Son," directed by Eric Guirado is a multiple award winner at international film festivals. Film Journal International calls the film, "Captivating…intoxicating. This valentine to country life is…that proverbial gem that art-house fans should discover and savor."

Because these films are not rated, the Racine Public Library is unable to recommend them for children under age 17.

• Saturday Stories - Families of children ages 8 and younger are invited to spend select Saturday mornings with storytellers from the Racine Public Library at JavaVino. The next event will be held March 21 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and will feature storytelling with a simple craft. Enjoy a relaxing morning of breakfast fun with your children. This is a free event and no registration is necessary.

Saturday, March 21: Poetry Roundtable @ Java Vino

Teen and adult poetry enthusiasts are invited to attend the Racine Public Library's Poetry Roundtable, to enjoy a lively discussion of some of today's most intriguing poets. The group generally meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 12-2 p.m. at Java Vino, 424 Main St. These free events focus on contemporary American poetry, highlighting a different poet at each meeting. As a group, participants will read poetry excerpts, analyze them and discuss their significance in today's society. Individuals with varying levels of poetry experience are welcome.

The spring season of Poetry Roundtable will feature these three national poets:

Saturday, March 21, 12-2 p.m.
Prageeta Sharma
"Family, please, hand me over to/that silverfish"
Prageeta Sharma is the author of Bliss to Fill, The Opening Question and Infamous Landscapes. Sharma's poems and writing have appeared in Art Asia Pacific, Bomb, Boston Review, Fence, Indiana Review, The Literary Review, Vanitas, Women's Review of Books and other journals.


Saturday, April 11, 12-2 p.m. (Please note date change)
K. Silem Mohammad
"I think unicorns are pretty and I love cupcakes" "Goofy, weird, beyond funny, wise, wicked, K. Silem Mohammad is the exorcist giving us all a ride home. Beyond the pale, right with it, he's my poet laureate for our frightening state of the union."
-Linh Dinh


Saturday, May 16, 12-2 p.m.
Wanda Coelman
"usta be young usta be gifted—still black"
Wanda Coleman was born in 1946 and is the author of Bathwater Wine, winner of the 1999 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize. A former medical secretary, magazine editor, journalist and scriptwriter, Coleman has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation for her poetry. Her other books of poetry include Native in a Strange Land: Trials & Tremors, Hand Dance, African Sleeping Sickness, A War of Eyes & Other Stories, Heavy Daughter Blues: Poems & Stories 1968-1986, Imagoes, and Mercurochrome: New Poems. She has also written Mambo Hips & Make Believe: A Novel, published in 1999.

Poetry Roundtable is facilitated by Nick Demske, a local poet and employee of the Racine Public Library. Contact Nick at nick.demske@racinelibrary.info for information about each month's selected poet, including interviews, criticisms, poetry and more. While Poetry Roundtable events are free and drop-ins are welcome, it is recommended that interested participants call the Racine Public Library at 262.636.9217 to register in advance.

Library Events at JavaVino

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., is providing two programs in partnership with JavaVino, 424 Main St. in Downtown Racine.

• Cultural Film Series – Local film enthusiasts are invited to attend monthly Cultural Film nights at JavaVino to preview some of the Racine Public Library's collection of intriguing foreign films. Appetizers, wine and coffee are available for purchase during the film. Participants are encouraged to then visit Downtown Racine's finest restaurants for dinner.
  
  The next film in the series will be shown on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Please note that this date differs from the previously announced second Saturday date.
  
  This month's feature is "The Grocer's Son" from France. In this film, 33 year old Antoine is forced to return from city living to his family home in Provence to help maintain the family business while his father is ill. As he assumes the lifestyle of a grocery cart driver delivering from hamlet to hamlet, he begins to rediscover life and love in the countryside.
  
  "The Grocer's Son," directed by Eric Guirado is a multiple award winner at international film festivals. Film Journal International calls the film, "Captivating…intoxicating. This valentine to country life is…that proverbial gem that art-house fans should discover and savor."
  
  Because these films are not rated, the Racine Public Library is unable to recommend them for children under age 17.
  
  
• Saturday Stories - Families of children ages 8 and younger are invited to spend select Saturday mornings with storytellers from the Racine Public Library at JavaVino. The next events will be held Feb. 7 & 21 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and will feature storytelling with a simple craft. Enjoy a relaxing morning of breakfast fun with your children. This is a free event and no registration is necessary.

Storytime Opportunities at the Library

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., is offering several exciting storytime programs for kids of all ages.

You'll find the library's enthusiastic storytellers on the road this week as they perform two events for kids from ages 3-8. On Thursday, January 15, a preschool storytime will be presented at Tyler Domer Recreation Center from 1:30-2:00 p.m., featuring fun and interactive stories and music. On Saturday, January 17, a storyteller will be present at JavaVino Café at 424 Main St., to present an hour of stories and a simple craft to kids ages 3-8 and their families.

The library will also start its winter season of popular preschool storytimes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m., from January 20-March 11. Children from birth to age 5 may attend these 30 min. events. The programs feature fingerplays, stories, music and more designed to develop age-appropriate early literacy skills. Children who are able to sit in storytime on their own may attend the Preschool program. Children who prefer to be accompanied by an adult may attend the Infant & Toddler program. Both programs are held simultaneously at 10 a.m.

School age children in grades 1-5 are invited to spend 15 min. reading to one of the library's specially-trained listening dogs in the Ruff Readers Program. Our canine friends visit the library on Mondays from 4-5 p.m., Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 4:30-5:30 pm. This is a fun way for kids to practice reading to a non-judgmental and gentle listener. Time slots available on a first-come/first-served basis. This season's Ruff Readers program will begin on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009.

Kids ages 4-10 and their families are also invited to attend "Adventures in Stories," an hour-long monthly event where participants explore different topics through stories and crafts. The next event will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 26 from 6:30-7:30 pm. Join our storytellers as we celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

All storytime events are free and open to the public. No registration is necessary.

This Week at the Racine Public Library

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will present several exciting programs this week for people of all ages.

LIBRARY STORYTIMES
You'll find the library's enthusiastic storytellers on the road this
week as they perform two events for kids from ages 3-8.

• On Thursday, January 15, a preschool storytime will be presented at Tyler Domer Recreation Center from 1:30-2:00 p.m., featuring fun and interactive stories and music.
  
  
• On Saturday, January 17, a storyteller will be present at JavaVino Café at 424 Main St., to present an hour of stories and a simple craft to kids ages 3-8 and their families.
  

• On Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m., from January 20-March 11, children from birth to age 5 may attend storytimes at the library. These 30 min. events feature fingerplays, stories, music and more designed to develop age-appropriate early literacy skills. Children who are able to sit in storytime on their own may attend the Preschool program. Children who prefer to be accompanied by an adult may attend the Infant & Toddler program. Both programs are held simultaneously at 10 a.m.
  

All storytimes are free and open to the public. No registration is necessary.

POETRY ROUNDTABLE
Poetry enthusiasts are invited to attend the monthly meeting of the Poetry Roundtable on the third Thursday of each month from 7-9 p.m. The gatherings are held in the Java Vino Café, 424 Main St. People of all levels of poetry experience are invited to attend. The group explores a different contemporary American Poet at each meeting.

This month's Roundtable will meet on January 15 and will discuss the poetry of Cathy Park Hong. Visit the Poetry Roundtable page on the library's website at racinelibrary.info, for more information or contact Nick Demske, 262.636.9215, nick.demske@racinelibrary.info.

WINTER BIRDING BASICS
The Hoy Audubon Society will present "Winter Birding Basics" on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the Library's Lee Room. The
program will feature information about winter species specific to Southeastern Wisconsin, winter bird survival, how to dress for winter
birding, caring for birding equipment, and proper feeding of birds during the colder weather. Registration for this free program is suggested and may be done by calling 262.636.9217.

BONK!
The next event in the Racine Public Library's new "BONK!" performance series will take place on Saturday, December 20 at 6 p.m. Created to expose the public to both local and nationally recognized artistic talents, the series showcases poets, writers, musicians, film makers and all sorts of talents in between. A completely free program, this series is located in downtown Racine at the Blueberries restaurant, 418 Sixth Street, which offers food and drink to be purchased at the events.

This month's BONK! will feature performances from musician David Tomaloff, writer Angela Malone, musician Katie Lafond, and poet/visual artist Oyetunji Harrison Idowu. Each BONK! event features a short question and answer session with the artists.

Local artists and performers are encouraged to consider sharing their talent/craft with the community via the BONK! series. For more
information on how to participate please contact the organizers at http://bonkperformanceseries.wordpress.com. You may also contact the Racine Public Library at 262.619.2571, Becky Spika at becky.spika@racinelibrary.info , or Nick Demske at nick.demske@racinelibrary.info.

Saturday, January 10: Saturday Cultural Film at Java Vino

Local film enthusiasts are invited to attend monthly Cultural Film nights at JavaVino to preview some of the Racine Public Library's collection of intriguing foreign films. JavaVino hosts the free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. Appetizers, wine and coffee are available for purchase during the film. Participants are encouraged to then visit Downtown Racine's finest restaurants for dinner.

The next film in the series will be shown on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 5 p.m. This month's feature is "The Bothersome Man" from Norway. In this film, forty-year-old Andreas arrives in a strange city with no memory of how he got there. He is presented with a job, an apartment, a wife, and the uncomfortable feeling that something is very wrong. Andreas makes an attempt to escape the city, but discovers there's no way out. After meeting Hugo, who has found a crack in a wall in his cellar from which beautiful music streams out, a new plan for escape is hatched.

"The Bothersome Man," directed by talented moviemaker Jens Liens, is a multiple award winner at international film festivals. Full of cool nightmare imagery, the film is reminiscent of such science-fiction works as Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" and Andrew Niccol's "Gattaca," among others.

Because these films are not rated, the Racine Public Library is unable to recommend them for children under age 17.

LIBRARY EVENTS AT JAVA VINO

The Racine Public Library offers several collaborative programs in partnership with JavaVino, 424 Main St. in Downtown Racine.

• Cultural Film Series – Join fellow film enthusiasts to preview some of the Racine Public Library's collection of intriguing cultural flms as JavaVino hosts free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. JavaVino offers appetizers, wine and coffee for purchase during the film. Participants are encouraged to then visit Downtown Racine's finest restaurants for dinner. The following films will be shown for December-February
December 13 – The Island - Russian
January 10 – The Bothersome Man - Norway
February 14 - The Grocer's Son - France
Because these films are not rated, the Racine Public Library is unable to recommend them for children under age 17.

• Poetry Roundtable - Teen and adult poetry enthusiasts unite monthly on the 3rd Thursday from 7-9 p.m. These free events focus on contemporary American poetry, highlighting a different poet at each meeting. As a group, participants will read poetry excerpts, analyze them and discuss their significance in today's society. Individuals with varying levels of poetry experience are welcome. Visit the library's Poetry Roundtable webpage at racinelibrary.info for information about each month's selected poet, interviews, criticisms, poetry and more.

• Saturday Stories - Families of children ages 8 and younger are invited to spend select Saturday mornings from Dec-Feb with storytellers from the Racine Public Library at JavaVino. The next events will be held Dec. 6, Jan. 17, Feb. 7 & 21 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and will feature storytelling with a simple craft. Enjoy a relaxing morning of breakfast fun with your children. This is a free event and no registration is necessary.

POETRY ROUNDTABLE @ JAVA VINO

Teen and adult poetry enthusiasts are invited to attend the Racine Public Library's Poetry Roundtable, to enjoy a lively discussion of some of today's most intriguing poets. The group meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 7-9 p.m. at Java Vino, 424 Main St. These free events focus on contemporary American poetry, highlighting a different poet at each meeting. As a group, participants will read poetry excerpts, analyze them and discuss their significance in today's society. Individuals with varying levels of poetry experience are welcome.

The winter season of Poetry Roundtable will feature these three national poets:

THURSDAY, NOV. 20; 7-9 P.M.
Harryette Mullen
"proceed with abandon"

Harryette Mullen's books of poetry include Muse & Drudge (Singing Horse, 1995), S*PeRM**K*T (1992), Trimmings (1991), and Tree Tall Woman (1981). Her poetry has appeared in journals and magazines including Agni Review, Antioch Review, Bombay Gin, Chain, Epoch and The World, among many others. Her honors include artist the Gertrude Stein Award in Innovative American Poetry, and a Rockefeller Fellowship from the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Women's Studies at the University of Rochester. Harryette Mullen teaches African-American literature and creative writing in the English Department at the
University of California, Los Angeles.


THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 7-9 P.M.
John Giorno
"I'm tired/ of being scared/ I'm tired of being scared."

One of the most innovative and influential figures of 20th Century poetry, John Giorno's exhaustively accomplished career spans forty years. One of his many books, You Got To Burn To Shine (Serpent's Tail, 1994), details his personal memoirs, including the story of his relationship with Andy Warhol (Giorno was the star of Warhol's first film, Sleep, 1963), and his thoughts about the Tibetan Buddhist understanding of death in the age of AIDS. Founded in 1965, Giorno
Poetry Systems innovated the use of technology in poetry, connecting poetry with many new audiences. He also pioneered the hugely successful Dial-a-poem project. Giorno's AIDS Treatment Project, begun in 1984, is among the long list of his non-poetry-related endeavors.


THURSDAY, JAN. 15, 7-9 P.M.
Cathy Park Hong
"But allure the shoe-polished twilight,/brunt flotilla of stars"

Cathy Park Hong's first book, Translating Mo'um (2002), won a Pushcart Prize. Hong is also the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, and a Village Voice Fellowship for Minority Reporters. Her poems have been published in American Letters & Commentary, Denver Quarterly, Verse, Jubilat, and other journals, and she has reported for the Village Voice, the New York Times Magazine,
The Guardian, and Salon. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and teaches at Sarah Lawrence College.

Poetry Roundtable is facilitated by Nick Demske, a local poet and employee of the Racine Public Library. Contact Nick at nick.demske@racinelibrary.info for information about each month's selected poet, including interviews, criticisms, poetry and more. While Poetry Roundtable events are free and drop-ins are welcome, it is recommended that interested participants call the Racine Public Library at 262.636.9217 to register in advance.

LIBRARY EVENTS AT JAVA VINO

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., offers several collaborative programs in partnership with JavaVino, 424 Main St. in Downtown Racine.

• Cultural Film Series – Join fellow film enthusiasts to preview some of the Racine Public Library's collection of intriguing cultural films as JavaVino hosts free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. JavaVino offers appetizers, wine and coffee for purchase during the film. Participants are encouraged to then visit Downtown Racine's finest restaurants for dinner.
The following films will be shown for December-February
December 13 – The Island - Russian
January 10 – The Bothersome Man - Norway
February 14 - The Grocer's Son - France
Because these films are not rated, the Racine Public Library is unable to recommend them for children under age 17.

• Teen and adult poetry enthusiasts unite monthly on the 3rd Thursday from 7-9 p.m. for Poetry Roundtable. These free events focus on contemporary American poetry, highlighting a different poet at each meeting. As a group, participants will read poetry excerpts, analyze them and discuss their significance in today's society. Individuals with varying levels of poetry experience are welcome. Visit the library's Poetry Roundtable webpage at racinelibrary.info for information about each month's selected poet, interviews, criticisms, poetry and more.

• Families of children ages 8 and younger are invited to spend select Saturday mornings from Dec-Feb with storytellers from the Racine Public Library at JavaVino. The next Saturday Stories will be held Dec. 6, Jan. 3 & 17, Feb. 7 & 21 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and will feature storytelling with a simple craft. Enjoy a relaxing morning of breakfast fun with your children. This is a free event and no registration is necessary.

LIBRARY CULTURAL FILM SCREENING @ JAVA VINO

The Racine Public Library is pleased to offer the community the opportunity to view some of the best cultural films in its collection. Join fellow film enthusiasts at JavaVino, 424 Main St., for free screenings of award-winning films from around the world one Saturday of each month.

November's film selection, being shown on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 5-7 p.m., is Dreams of Dust, a French drama, written and directed by Laurent Salgues, with cinematography by Crystel Fornier, and starring Makena Diop and Fatou Tall-Salgues. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, this film tells the story of Mocktar, a Nigerian peasant looking for work in a dusty gold mine in Northeast Burkina Faso, Africa and trying to forget a haunting past. His path collides with Coumba, a mother trying to raise her daughter after the death of her family.

Variety says, "Salgues' screenplay is perfectly crafted in the Western tradition, while Crystel Fournier's striking cinematography connects the film to a broad African vision..."

From Eye For Film: "The cinematography is stunning and director Laurent Salgues camera drinks up the landscape, capturing its desolation which is mirrored in Mocktar's soul. Diop and Tall-Salgues put in beautifully understated performances…in the hard-labor of the wind-swept landscape, a glance speaks a thousand words."

Because this film is not rated, the Racine Public Library is unable to recommend it for children under age 17.

LIBRARY CULTURAL FILM SCREENING @ JAVA VINO

Racine – The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., offers a vast selection of award-winning cultural films to its patrons. Join fellow film enthusiasts to preview some of this collection as JavaVino, 424 Main St., hosts free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m.

October’s film selection, being shown on Saturday, Oct. 11, is Arranged, a cultural drama from the USA, directed by Diane Crespo and Stefan C. Schaefer. Winner of the Best Film Feature in the Brooklyn International Film Festival, this film offers a touching and often hilarious look at two women from very different cultures with much in common, not the least of which are their upcoming “arranged” marriages.

NYC Movie Guide says, “Zoe Lister Jones and Frances Benhamou both give convincing performances that keep you engrossed in the story. The well-written screenplay by Stefan Shaefer breathes life into each character so that neither is one-note—nobody comes across as truly bad or over-the-top...It's very rare to find such a simple story with serious issues as friendship, true love, intolerance and prejudice, yet with an uplifting and hopeful message about how two people from seemingly different backgrounds can have so much in common by just getting to know one another. If everyone in the world were apply this to their own lives, perhaps there would be at least the chance for world peace.

Because this film is not rated, the Racine Public Library is unable to recommend it for children under age 17.

JavaVino offers appetizers, wine and coffee for purchase during the film. Participants are encouraged to then visit Downtown Racine’s finest restaurants for dinner.

Library Cultural Film Screening @ Java Vino

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., offers a vast selection of the award-winning cultural films. Join fellow film enthusiasts to preview some of this collection as JavaVino, 424 Main St., hosts free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. JavaVino offers appetizers, wine and coffee for purchase during the film. Participants are encouraged to then visit Downtown Racine's finest restaurants for dinner.

September's film selection is Hawaii, Oslo, a film from Norway, directed by Erik Poppe. Five stories of love are interwoven in Oslo, during the hottest day of the year. Touching the lives of each story's characters is Vidor, who sees things no one else can see.

Winner of the 2005 Norwegian Film Critic's award, this film has been called "a colorful mosaic of unusual human stories" and "one of the best films to come out of Norway in years."

Because these films are not rated, the Racine Public Library is unable to recommend them for children under age 17.

Library Events at Java Vino

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., offers several collaborative programs in partnership with JavaVino, 424 Main St. in Downtown Racine.

• Foreign Film Series – The Racine Public Library offers a vast selection of the very best in foreign films. Join fellow film enthusiasts to preview some of this collection as JavaVino hosts free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. JavaVino offers appetizers, wine and coffee for purchase during the film. Participants are encouraged to then visit Downtown Racine's finest restaurants for dinner. The following films will be shown for August-November.
  

• August 9 – Her Name is Sabine – France – Directed by Sandrine Bonnaire
• Sept. 13 – Hawaii, Oslo – Norway – Directed by Erik Poppe
• Oct. 11 – Arranged – USA (Jewish/Muslim Culture) - Directed by Stefan Schaefer, Diane Crespo
• Nov. 8 – Dreams of Dust – France (Nigerian Culture) – Directed by Burkina Faso
  

Because these films are not rated, the Racine Public Library is unable to recommend them for children under age 17.

• Teen and adult poetry enthusiasts unite monthly on the 3rd Thursday from 7-9 p.m. for Poetry Roundtable. These free events focus on contemporary American poetry, highlighting a different poet at each meeting. As a group, participants will read poetry excerpts, analyze them and discuss their significance in today's society. Individuals with varying levels of poetry experience are welcome. Due to scheduling conflicts the next Poetry Roundtable discussion will be held on the 4th Thursday, Aug. 28. Visit the library's Poetry Roundtable webpage at racinelibrary.info for information about each month's selected poet, interviews, criticisms, poetry and more. While Poetry Roundtable events are free and drop-ins are welcome, space is limited and it is recommended that interested participants call the Racine Public Library at 262.636.9217 to register in advance. Poetry Roundtable is facilitated by Nick Demske, a local poet and employee of the Racine Public Library.
  

For more information about the Racine Public Library's upcoming programs at JavaVino please contact the reference desks at 262.636.9217 or 262.636.9245. Information may also be found on the library's website at racinelibrary.info.

• Families of children ages 8 and younger are invited to spend the first and third Saturday mornings from Sept.-Nov. with storytellers from the Racine Public Library at JavaVino. The next Saturday Stories will be held Sept. 6 and 20 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and will feature storytelling with a simple craft. Enjoy a relaxing morning of breakfast fun with your children. This is a free event and no registration is necessary.

Saturday, July 12: Foreign Film @ JavaVino

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St, offers a vast selection of the very best in foreign films. Join fellow film enthusiasts to preview some of this collection as JavaVino Coffee and Wine Shop, 424 Main St., hosts free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. JavaVino offers appetizers, wine and coffee for purchase during the film. Participants are encouraged to then visit Downtown Racine's finest restaurants for dinner. The film, A Peck on the Cheek (Kannathil Muthamittal) directed by Mani Ratnam will be shown on Saturday, July 12.

In this award-winning film, a little girl's search for her biological mother who had abandoned her as a newborn baby is brought out poignantly. Amudha, adopted by Thiru and Indira and growing up with the couple's two sons, is blissfully unaware of her parentage, until the couple decides to inform her of it on her ninth birthday. At first shocked into disbelief, Amudha then expresses her determination to seek out for her biological mother. The search takes the family to strife-torn Sri Lanka, where Amudha comes face-to-face with reality, and reconciles herself to it. With films like Mouna Ragam, Alaipayuthe and now A Peck on the Cheek, director Mani Ratnam proves once again that he is at his best when tackling human emotions and relationships.

Because this film is not rated, it is not recommended for children under age 17.

Racine Public Library Storytimes & More @ JavaVino

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., offers several collaborative programs in partnership with JavaVino, 424 Main St. in Downtown Racine.

• Families of children ages 8 and younger are invited to spend one Saturday morning in June, July and August with storytellers from the Racine Public Library at JavaVino. The next Saturday Stories will be held June 7, July 12 and August 2 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and will feature storytelling with a simple craft. Enjoy a relaxing morning of breakfast fun with your children. This is a free event and no registration is necessary.
  
  
• Foreign Film Series – The Racine Public Library offers a vast selection of the very best in foreign films. Join fellow film enthusiasts to preview some of this collection as JavaVino hosts free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. JavaVino offers appetizers, wine and coffee for purchase during the film. Participants are encouraged to then visit Downtown Racine's finest restaurants for dinner. The following films will be shown for summer:
• June 14 – Carol's Journey – Spain- Directed by Imanol Uribe
• July 12 – A Peck on the Cheek (Kannathil Muthamittal) – India – Directed by Mani Ratnam
• August 9 – Her Name is Sabine – France – Directed by Sandrine Bonnaire
  

Because these films are not rated, the Racine Public Library is unable to recommend them for children under age 17.

• Teen and adult poetry enthusiasts unite monthly on the 3rd Thursday from 7-9 p.m. for Poetry Roundtable. These free events focus on contemporary American poetry, highlighting a different poet at each meeting. As a group, participants will read poetry excerpts, analyze the and discuss their significance in today's society. Individuals with varying levels of poetry experience are welcome. The next Poetry Roundtable discussion will be held on June 19. Visit the library's Poetry Roundtable webpage at racinelibrary.info for information about each month's selected poet, interviews, criticisms, poetry and more. While Poetry Roundtable events are free and drop-ins are welcome, space is limited and it is recommended that interested participants call the Racine Public Library at 262.636.9217 to register in advance. Poetry Roundtable is facilitated by Nick Demske, a local poet and employee of the Racine Public Library.
  

For more information about the Racine Public Library's upcoming programs at JavaVino please contact the reference desks at 262.636.9217 or 262.636.9245. Information may also be found on the library's website at racinelibrary.info.

Saturday, May 10: "Mother of Mine" Foreign Film at JavaVino

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., offers a vast selection of the very best in foreign films. Join fellow film enthusiasts to preview some of this collection as JavaVino, 424 Main St. hosts free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. The next film in the series, Mother of Mine, will be shown on May 10. During World War II over 70,000 Finnish children were evacuated to neutral Sweden to avoid the conflict. For many of the children uprooted from their homes, the experience was an adventure; for others, especially the very young, it was a tragedy. The latter returned to Finland after the war, not knowing their parents and speaking only Swedish.

Facing the impossible task of telling the story of so many of these children, Finnish director Klaus Härö chose instead to tell the emotionally charged tale of 9-year-old Eero. The Film starts in the present, as Eero (Esko Salminen), a Finn in his 60s, visits his aged mother, Kirsti (Aino-Maija Tikkanen) telling her it's now time to have a proper talk about the war and what happened during and after Eero's stay in Sweden. After she grudgingly agrees, Eero's story unfolds in long flashbacks. Topi Majaniemi plays the young Eero and is a rare find, often letting just his eyes an face do the talking.

Being an unrated film, the screening is not recommended for those under the age of 17. The movie is free and no registration is necessary.

For more information about the Racine Public Library's upcoming programs please contact the reference desks at 262.636.9217 or 262.636.9245. Information may also be found on the library's website at racinelibrary.info or on the library blog at rplinfo.blogspot.com

Saturday, May 3: Racine Public Library's Super Saturday Activities for Ages 3-17

Saturday, May 3 is turning out to be Super Saturday for the Racine Public Library. The library, located at 75 Seventh St., is offering several programs for youth ages 3 to 17 and their families.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m., children ages 3 to 7 and their families are invited to morning storytime at JavaVino Coffee and Wine shop at 424 Main St. This is a relaxing way to start your day, sharing breakfast, stories and simple crafts with the library's animated and entertaining storytellers. These Saturday Stories are held every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. The events are free and open to all. No registration is necessary.

With Mother's Day just around the corner, the library is offering "Adventures in Stories: Celebrating Mom!" from 2-3 p.m. for kids ages 5-10 years old. The program will feature stories and the making of a gift for kids to give to Mom for Mother's Day. Registration is required for the craft and may be made by calling 262.636.9245.

Teens ages 11-17 are invited to attend the monthly TeenSpace from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the library's Atrium. Once a month the library turns this area into a teen-only place to hang out, offering Wii and Playstation II gaming, free internet, board games, snacks and more. No registration is necessary, but gaming space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

POETRY ROUNDTABLES

POETRY ROUNDTABLES!!!!!
THURSDAY, APR. 17TH 7-9PM
JAVA VINO COFFEE SHOP
424 MAIN ST. DOWNTOWN RACINE

As if you didn't already know...

If you're reading this blog, it's because I felt you might be interested in the Poetry Roundtable series that The Racine Public Library and Java Vino coffee shop have been collaborating on recently. Basically, the events consist just of a small group of people gathering to read and talk about the work of a different poet each month.

OK homies--this week is the week. And boy am I excited because, not only is April National Poetry Month, but we are taking this special month to focus on one of my favorite poets: Frederick Seidel. Here is a link to the library's Poetry Roundtable page so you can get the whole low down on Seidel: http://www.racinelib.lib.wi.us/ContemporaryAmericanPoetry.htm

Just read a little bit. I promise it will peak your interest and you couldn't stop yourself from coming if you tried!!! (yikes)

If you plan on attending, shoot me back an e-mail saying so. That way I can make an adequate amount of copies of the poems. If you just show up, well, you might just end up having to share your copy with someone else. This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Or, better yet, a hideous one?

Seriously, ya'll--Let's celebrate National Poetry Month together. I've been having so much fun at these events with all of you...I just want to be deluged with e-mails overwhelming me with participants. Let's make this Roundtable the best one of the year yet!

Thanks a ton to the folks who joined in the last roundtable and I can't wait to see ya'll this Thursday!

-Nick Demske, Roundtable Moderator

Saturday, April 12: "The Great Match" Foreign Film at JavaVino

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., offers a vast selection of the very best in foreign films. Join fellow film enthusiasts to preview some of this collection as JavaVino, 424 Main St. hosts free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m.

The next film in the series, The Great Match, will be shown on April 12. Directed by Gerardo Olivares, this Mongolian comedy tells three parallel stories about the trials and tribulations of a group of men who have two things in common: they live in remote regions of the planet and they are determined to watch the final match of the Japan-Korea 2002 World Cup between Germany and Brazil. This film addresses the intriguing topic of how traditional ways of life for isolated cultures co-exist with modern society.

Variety calls this "A visually breathtaking, gently comic homage to the indigenous communities that are its subject and to soccer's power to penetrate lives"

Being an unrated film, the screening is not recommended for those under the age of 17. The movie is free and no registration is necessary.

For more information about the Racine Public Library's upcoming programs please contact the reference desks at 262.636.9217 or
262.636.9245. Information may also be found on the library's website at racinelibrary.info or on the library blog at rplinfo.blogspot.com