Ballet Folklorico Fuego Nuevo

The Ballet Folklorico Fuego Nuevo will bring the sights and sounds of Mexico to the Central Park Pavilion stage on Monday, July 6, at 7:00 p.m., the third in the Library's series of free multicultural events for families.

The program will begin with dancers in Aztec costumes and feather headresses, demonstrating some of the traditions and dances that have survived for generations in Mexican culture. Mexican folklore from the pre-Hispanic and Colonial periods will be highlighted through dramatic music and artistry by the popular dance company that performs throughout the Bay Area.

Our multicultural programs, as well as our other Summer Reading Club activities, are sponsored by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends. Don't miss the fun! Click on the Library's homepage and read about our activities.
posted by jtb

Record Number of Adult Summer Readers!

She doesn't look excited but we are. So far 535 of you have signed up for Adult Summer Reading!

Register online between now and Saturday, July 18th, if you haven't already, read 5 books and get a prize.

Come join us for an evening of poetry and music on Monday, July 20 from 7-8 p.m. in the Cedar Room. Nils Peterson, Santa Clara County's Poet Laureate and Symphony Silicon Valley Singers will be here. Monday July 27 you are invited to view the film Ocean's Twelve in the Cedar Room from 6-8:30 p.m. Sign up for both of these programs by calling (408) 615-2900.

Need suggestions for reading? Try those listed below or come to the 2nd floor Reference Desk and pick up a list for Fiction, Nonfiction, Fiction with an art theme, great series reads or Chinese Language books. Ask and we can help you find these and other great books in audio, downloadable or print versions.


The Beach House by Jane Green
A heartwarming tale of how a land-rich but cash-poor 65 year old widow saves her home by taking in summer boarders.

Black Will Shoot by Jesse Washington
A razor-sharp first novel that offers a searing look at the rap industry. Designated Suspense Fiction.

Bone People by Keri Hulme
An unusual novel, set in New Zealand, concentrates on three people: Kerewin Holmes, a part-Maori painter, Simon, a troubled and mysterious boy, and Joe Gillayley, a Maori factory worker who is Simon's foster father.

posted by mb

On this Day in 1935

On June 27, 1935, hundreds of Santa Clara residents lined up along Franklin, Alviso, and Washington Streets to watch a parade of night baseball teams, city officials and citizens as they marched to the new Washington Night Baseball Field where dedication ceremonies were being held.
Named after President George Washington, Washington Park (the first baseball park in Santa Clara) was built under the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) Program. Five area organizations contributed to underwriting the lighting units for the baseball field: the Greater Santa Clara Club, the volunteer Santa Clara Fire Department, the Santa Clara Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Navajo Tribe of the Independent Order of Red Men and the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce. The brilliant lighting system of 30 units furnished 30,000 watts for the night games. Three night baseball games were played after the dedication ceremonies with the following wins: the Chamber of Commerce beat the City and School Officials' team, the English Tailors girls' team upset the Villa Roma cafe waitresses, and the Pipes Hotel defeated the Growers' Supply Company!

One of the dedication speakers was Charles Graham, president of the San Francisco Seals, a professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League which played exhibition games at Washington Ball Park in the late 1930s and 1940s.

In September 1935 additional WPA money was granted to add a school field, grandstand, and playground to the new Washington Park Baseball Field.

written by mh, posted by mb

Okasan and Me, Inc.

"Okasan and Me, Inc." will bring the music of Japan to Santa Clara on Monday, June 29, at 7:00 p.m., the second event in the Library's series of free multicultural family concerts on the outdoor stage at Central Park Pavilion, 909 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara. Be ready to learn about Japanese culture and songs. You'll also hear music played on the shamisen, a traditional Japanese musical instrument.

Last week's audience enjoyed the warm weather and Indian classical dancing by PAMPA. Check the Library's Summer Reading Club information on the Library's website for the performers that will be appearing in July.

The multicultural program series is sponsored by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends.
posted by jtb

The Sound of Music

Describing music in normal genre terms (ie. pop, rock, jazz) is akin to telling someone how to cook a meal by using only the terminology of the four food groups (ie. cook a meat with some reduced vegetables and put that on top of a grain. Voila!) It might be technically correct, but it lacks the details to help one truly understand what is being described.

Instead, I prefer to speak of various musicians using absolutely no musical terms. The more precise and absurd the better. Does this really help anyone, probably not. But it's a lot more colorful than saying so and so is a "rock band."

Examples:
The Fiery Furnaces- a piano being pushed down the stairs, repeatedly, and with amazing accuracy.
Portishead- the busy signal* when you call your girlfriend and she is on the line with the person she will ultimately leave you for.
The Decemberists- a Dickens' novel crashes into a pirate ship filled with drama geeks. Tragedy ensues.
The Mars Volta- try to explain every idea you ever had in you entire life, in no particular order or structure, to someone over the course of an hour while patting yourself on the back.
Radiohead- It's the end of the world! Let's get sad about it and type away at our computers while shunning humanity and warmth.

I only mention all this because as I was watching the band Isis Monday night, I started to think that they sounded like a boulder slowly rolling over me while the Cookie Monster was narrating the action. This mental image made me start laughing at an inopportune moment (said "Cookie Monster"- please refer to picture- was looking directly at me). Perhaps, at that particular instant, just listening to a "rock band" wouldn't have been a bad thing.

*Yes, a busy signal is a dated reference point which one will rarely encounter anymore. But should you have knowledge of the term "land line" or the fact that cell phones were once the size of a shoe and weighed 35 pounds, you should understand this.

posted by jw

We Interrupt this Blog with a Very Important Message

posted by spb

Multicultural Programs in Central Park

An Indian Classical Dance program, which will be presented by the Prabath Academy for Music and Performing Arts on Monday, June 22, at 7:00 p.m., will be the first in the Library's series of six multicultural family events on the outdoor stage in Santa Clara's Central Park Pavilion, 909 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara.

Children of all ages and their families are invited to enjoy the performances, which are sponsored by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends. Bring a blanket and a picnic and meet your family and friends for an evening of free and educational entertainment in Santa Clara's largest park.

The multicultural family programs and many other summer reading activities for children and teens begin the week of June 22. A complete listing is published on the Library's Calendar of Events. The Youth Services Department has planned an exciting summer for the younger members of our community. Check out our calendar and make plants to participate in our activities!

posted by jtb