Community Calendar for June 24-July 2

JUNE 24
Author and journalist Gary Pomerantz will talk about his new true-crime book, “The Devil’s Tickets: A Night of Bridge, a Fatal Hand, and a New American Age” at 7 p.m. at the Plaza Library, 4801 Main St. The true story set in Kansas City follows the murder trial of Myrtle Bennett, a housewife who kills her spouse over a game of bridge in their Plaza apartment in 1929. Pomerantz, a lecturer in Stanford University’s Department of Communication, credits Sherrie Smith of the library’s Missouri Valley Special Collections for research assistance with his book.
For more information, call 701-3407 or visit www.kclibrary.org.

JUNE 25
The Waldo Library, 201 E. 75th St., will host a Worms Eat Our Trash activity led by Eric Williams and Sarah McCoy at 2 p.m. Attendees will learn about how worms turn trash into healthy soil. The program includes a demonstration on how composting with a worm bin works. The program is for children in pre-K to fifth grade. For more information, call 701-3486 or visit www.kclibrary.org.

The Linda Hall Public Library, 5109 Cherry Street, will host evolutionary ecologist and photographer John Hess at 7 p.m. Hess will discuss his latest book, “The Galápagos: Exploring Darwin’s Tapestry.” The discussion is part of the library’s yearlong celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the upcoming 150th anniversary of the publication of his notable work, “Origin of Species.” For more information, contact Eric Ward at 926-8753 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

JUNE 26
The Plaza Library, 4801 Main St., will host a Kite Making and Bleach Pen T-Shirts Program at 2 p.m. as part of the Summer Reading Teen Crafts Program. Teens will learn how to make and fly two different kinds of kites. Participants will also design and decorate colored t-shirts. For more information, call 701-3407 or visit kclibrary.org.

The Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre will present a Script-In-Hand performance of Stephen Vincent Benét’s “The Devil and Daniel Webster” at 7 p.m. at the Plaza Library, 4801 Main St. The performance focuses on New Hampshire farmer Jabez Stone who agrees to sell his soul to the devil. After seven years, Stone must pay the devil. Stone convinces attorney Daniel Webster to argue his case against the devil in what becomes an emotional trial. The Friends of the Library volunteer group will commemorate its 25th anniversary with a video tribute prior to the performance. A post-performance dessert reception is open to the public. For more information, call 701-3407 or visit kclibrary.org.

Best-selling author Lisa See will talk about her new book, “Shanghai Girls,” discuss her life and her work, and autograph copies of her books at 11:45 a.m. at The Central Exchange, 1020 Central St., Suite 100. The event is sponsored by Rainy Day Books and includes a gourmet luncheon. For more information, call 471-7560 or visit rainydaybooks.com.

JUNE 27
The Southeast Branch of the Kansas City Library, 6242 Swope Parkway, will present a Senior Services Seminar at 10 a.m. Senior attendees will be educated on local programs offered for seniors ranging from Meals on Wheels to medical assistance. For more information, call 701-3484 or visit kclibrary.org.

An e-mail basics class is at 10:15 a.m. at the Waldo Branch, 201 E. 75th St., Participants will set up a free Yahoo e-mail account and learn how to create, send and receive e-mail messages. Basic computer skills are required. For more information, call 701-3486 or visit kclibrary.org.

A Quilting for the People classw will start at 11 a.m. at the Sugar Creek Branch of the Kansas City Library, 102 S. Sterling. This class is held every other Saturday and offers many options for all quilting skill-levels. Participants can bring a project, start a project, or come to learn a new skill. For more information, call 701-3489 or visit kclibrary.org.

Shawnee Town Museum, 11501 W. 57th St., will host “Straw Hat Saturdays” at 10 a.m. The costumed interpreters will be demonstrating summer tasks such as darning socks, scrubbing laundry on a washboard, sewing on a treadle machine, planting sunflower seeds and churning ice cream. Families also can participate in an old-fashioned game during the day’s activities. For more information, call (913) 495-2400.

JUNE 28
The second season of “They Built Kansas City,” a series examining the work of architects responsible for some of Kansas City’s famous structures, starts at 2 p.m. in the Truman Forum at the Plaza Library, 4801 Main St. This season’s presentation is about the women architects who helped design Kansas City neighborhoods. Susan Richards Johnson will discuss the work of architect Mary Colter. Colter designed all of the Fred Harvey Restaurants in Kansas City. For more information, call 701-3407 or visit kclibrary.org.

JUNE 29
The Plaza Library, 4801 Main St., will host authors Faye and Aliza Kellerman for a discussion of their novel “Prism” at 6:30 p.m. The new novel is about three teenagers caught in an alternate reality. “Prism” is the first novel from the mother-daughter collaboration. For more information, call 701-3407 or visit kclibrary.org.

The Plaza Library, 4801 Main St., will host Curtis Hed and his “The Magic of Reading Show” at 10:30 a.m. Curtis will share how reading and using the library has played an important part in his life by combining humor, magic and audience interaction. For more information, call 701-3407 or visit kclibrary.org.

JUNE 30
A segment for the KCPT television series “Meet the Past” will be filmed before a live audience at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St. The series features Library Director Crosby Kemper III interviewing prominent historical figures – portrayed by veteran performers – with Kansas City-area connections. This segment will feature actor Aaron Worley portraying Jesse James, one of the most notorious bank and train robbers in U.S. history. A reception precedes the event at 6 p.m. For more information, call 701-3407 or visit kclibrary.org.

Guest speaker Steve Forbes will discuss his new book, “Power, Ambition, Glory: The Stunning Parallels Between Great Leaders of the Ancient World and Today…and the Lessons You Can Learn,” his global insights, and his financial wisdom at the Business Forum at 11:30 a.m. in the Imperial Ballroom of the Marriott Kansas City Downtown, Muehlebach Tower, 1213 Wyandotte St. For more information, call (913)744-3659 or visit kmbz.com.

Blondes vs. Brunettes, a women’s flag football game, will raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. Recruitment is under way for players as well as coaches, announcers, volunteers and cheerleaders. Registration deadline for players and coaches is June 30. For information, visit the Participant Playbook online at www.bvbkansascity.kintera.org. The game kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29 at Rockhurst High School, 9301 State Line Road.

JULY 1
The Central Library, 14 W. 10th St., will host a panel of military historians who will discuss the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg at 6:30 p.m. Wilburn E. Meador Jr., an instructor at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., will moderate the discussion and present the events that lead up to the Battle of Gettysburg. Three other military historians will discuss the actions of other armies. For more information, call 701-3407 or visit kclibrary.org.

JULY 2
A Needlework Unlimited event is at 2 p.m. at the Westport Library, 118 Westport Road. Mary Arney will instruct both beginning and advanced knitters. For more information, call 701-3488 or visit kclibrary.org.

An Open Software seminar is at 2 p.m. at Central Library, 14 W. 10th St. Attendees will learn about open software and how it can be useful for small business needs. For more information, call 701-3449 or visit kclibrary.org.

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Write comment