NEA BIG READ WRAP-UP (AND OTHER LIBRARY HAPPENINGS) November 8, 2016 Dear Hyde Park Library Member, The NEA Big Read for 2016 is entering the home stretch, but there is still plenty going on over the next few weeks to keep everyone's interest piqued (and to provide us all with a pleasant--and often stimulating--diversion from politics, shortened days and variable weather). If you've had occasion to read this year's selection, Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea, you likely will have participated in one or more of the book discussions of that title both here and at several other libraries and/or schools. We were particularly glad to welcome guests from other Dutchess County communities at our discussions, and we hope to see them again. And there was a very good turn-out for the author Urrea's visit on October 29th at the Boardman Road Branch of the PPLD. Even if you haven't had time to check out the novel (and we do still have a few copies left-- as of this writing--to give away to anyone interested), there are still any number of events scheduled that will be of general interest, several of them right here at the Hyde Park Library. “WRITING YOUR JOURNEY” WRITING WORKSHOP A Big Read Event on Recording Your Family's Migration Story. With Writer and Educator Constance Skedgell. By writing about it, you celebrate that voyage, and preserve the facts for younger-generation family members. But how to begin? You begin by attending this two-hour workshop called Writing Your Journey. In a relaxed and nurturing setting, guided by experienced teacher and writer, Constance Skedgell, you'll be amazed how easy (and fun) it is to tell your tale. Connie will offer writing pointers and personalized comments. Come write, laugh, share and honor your journey November 7th at 7PM. BIG READ FILM FEST: FILMS OF ROBERT RODRIGUEZ Our Big Read Film Fest this season has introduced audiences to an array of provocative and critically acclaimed films, both foreign and American. It is fascinating to see how varied the portrayals of the immigrant experience (and Latin American experience in general) have been. Coming up this week and next, we have a mini-film festival within a film festival, since we will be running three entries by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, starting with his excitingly innovative (and legendarily low-budget) El Mariachi this coming Friday, November 11 at 6:30 pm. The online Wikipedia entry on El Mariachi describes it thusly: "[This] Spanish language film was shot with a mainly amateur cast in the northern Mexican border town of Ciudad Acuña, Mexico across from Del Rio, Texas... The $7,000 production was originally intended for the Mexican home video market, but executives at Columbia Pictures liked the film so much that they bought the American distribution rights. Columbia eventually spent several times more than the 16 mm film's original budget on 35 mm transfers, promotion, marketing and distribution. The success of Rodriguez's directorial debut led him to create two further entries, Desperado (1995) and Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003). [with] Antonio Banderas. In 2011, El Mariachi was inducted into the Library of Congress to be preserved as part of its National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film is further immortalized by Guinness World Records as the lowest-budgeted film ever to gross $1 million at the box office We'll screen El Mariachi on Friday and follow up with special Wednesday double feature on November 16 with the sequels Desperado (at 6:30) and Once Upon A Time In Mexico (at 8:30). Check out any or all of these celebrated films. It's a great opportunity to expose yourself to the work of an exciting and innovative contemporary film maker--and to get a sense of how one can progress from low-budget features to studio sponsored extravaganzas without sacrificing one's integrity. Check out the trailer for El Mariachi at this link. And (by way of comparison), view the trailer for the third installment in the trilogy, Once Upon A Time In Mexico here. EXPLORE THE POETRY OF LUIS ALBERTO URREA... ( And Learn Some Basic Spanish While You're At It) Coming up on Sunday, November 13th at 2:00 pm in our series of Big Read Events is a special session devoted to the poetry of this year's Big Read Author, Luis Alberto Urrea, which will also be facilitated by Constance Skedgell. A Description Follows Below: Savor the Poetry of Alberto Luis Urrea and Have Fun Learning Basic Spanish! Discover the rich poetry of Urrea, author of Into the Beautiful North, redolent of the intoxicating sights, sounds and fragrances of Mexico and the border region. Also have a great time learning a little Spanish in a relaxed, interactive and joyous way...that's nothing like 8th grade! Your guide to both is Constance Skedgell, an experienced and gifted teacher of literature and Spanish. CLOSING EVENTS: HYDE PARK & POUGHKEEPSIE To close out our Big Read events, our own library's final event will be a screening of West Side Story November 18th at 6:30 pm, a film some might calls the classic film treating the theme of immigration. The very notion of a musical based both on the theme of the immigrant experience in the U.S. and on Shakespearean themes seemed revolutionary back in 1957 when it was first produced for the stage and equally so when it was adapted for the big screen in 1961. We can't think of a better way to close out our (official) Big Read Film Series than with this milestone American musical. West Side Story was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins with a screenplay by Ernest Lehman. The original play was penned by Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents, a prestigious roster indeed. Equally acclaimed was the celebrated cast, Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno (who won an Oscar for her role as Anita), George Chakiris and Russ Tamblyn. Singers Marni Nixon and Jimmy Bryant did the vocals for the leads. Overall a remarkable achievement, one that has scarcely dated at all. For the trailer click on this link. (By the way, we say "official" finale because we will continue to explore some of the themes touched upon in this year's Big Read in our December and January film entries. Keep your eye on this space for more info.) The finale for the Big Read program overall will be on November 19th with two very special events to be held in Poughkeepsie. At 2:30pm there will be a closing ceremony at the Boardman Road Branch Library of PPLD. There will be music, discussion and reflection and abundant displays of arts and crafts created at and for area events. Announcement of next year's title will be made at that time as well. Finally, at 8:00 pm the Hudson Valley Philharmonic will perform a program entitled "The Immigrant Experience” at The Bardavon in Poughkeepsie. Tickets for this event must be purchased in advance. Maestro Randall Fleischer has selected works that mirror themes in this year's Big Read book, including the quest for a better life, the challenging yet beautiful blending of cultures, the immigrant experience in a new world, and the harsh realities of both 'staying' and 'leaving' one's homeland. Ticket holders are invited to a pre-concert talk by Maestro Fleischer with soloists and/or members of the orchestra at 7 pm. The program opens with Elmer Bernstein's iconic Overture to the 1960 John Sturges film The Magnificent Seven. Also on the program is Heitor Villa-Lobos' "Bachianas Brasileiras #4," scored for piano and orchestra; Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story - Symphonic Dances" and Dmitri Shostakovich's "Symphony #10." Single ticket prices are $35 to $57. Please contact the Bardavon Box Office directly at 845-473-2072 for tickets. Please be aware that neither the Poughkeepsie Library District nor any partnering agency has tickets for this event. FREE CONCERT: TOM CONNELLY AKSTENS We're once again delighted to be able to host one of our favorite musicians, Tom Connelly Akstens. Tom will be appearing his this coming Saturday November 12th at 7:30 pm. Tom is a supremely engaging performer and a most dynamic interpreter of the American folk and blues traditions. Tom has previously played the Library Annex--as well as other regional acoustic settings--with his musical partner Neil Rossi. As a duo, Akstens and Rossi are on a brief hiatus, but Tom continues to record and perform as a solo act--although for this show, he will be joined by acclaimed stand-up bassist Michael Gold. They will be performing selections from Tom's most recent solo release, Flow--as well as various tunes from his long career. OTHER UPCOMING WORKSHOPS, PROGRAMS AND EVENTS Building The Bridge From Special Ed to Adult Services: What You Need to Know About Aging Out. A Presentation with Q&A with Richard Schmidt of Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. Thursday, November 10, 6:00-8:00 PM Job Search Skills Sessions: Individual half hour sessions with representatives from Dutchess One Stop Career Center. Call 845-249-4644 for an appointment. Thursday, November 17, 1:00-3:30 PM (note time change). Birds of Prey Program with wildlife educator Bill Robinson. Thursday, November 17, 6:45 PM (in the children's room). EARLY WINTER BOOK SALE! – Weekend of Dec. 3-4 during normal business hours, sponsored by the Friends of the Hyde Park Free Library.