Events at Lakewood Public Library
October 1
The Lakewood Historical Society: The Cleveland Grand Prix: An American Show Jumping First by Betty Weibel
Home to inventors of the first automobile, airplane and professional baseball team, Ohio is also the birthplace of the first show jumping grand prix in the Western Hemisphere… the Cleveland Grand Prix. Since that first grand prix in 1965, the sport has grown to nearly three-hundred-and-fifty American grand prix and a billion dollar industry. From early harness racing to fox hunting, saddle up with equestrian authority Betty Weibel as she explains how this picturesque corner of the Chagrin Valley grew into a world-class horse sport hub. Relive the exciting victories of some of the finest horses and riders in history, and enjoy the Cleveland Grand Prix’s glory years as the premier summer social tradition.
Wednesday, October 1at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium
October 2
Meet the Author: Take It Back: The Personal Power You Give Away Everyday by Dr. Kay Potetz
What if you could go home happy—every day? Imagine leaving work each day in a good mood. Envision not being irritated with those you contact daily, whether it’s a co-worker, a boss, a spouse, an aging parent, a toddler or a teen. Imagine feeling like you’re the driver in your own life, rather than a passenger hanging on for dear life. While modern life has most people by the tail, it doesn’t have to be this way. Esteemed management consultant Dr. Kay Potetz offers a means of harnessing the power with which every human being is born to attain what she calls “lasting, resilient happiness.” She explains that this highly practical pathway to an entirely new way of seeing the world leads to greater satisfaction and well-being at work, among loved ones, and even while watching the none-too-comforting evening news. Dr. Potetz integrates well-documented science with real-life examples that give readers a wealth of simple, user-friendly tools and strategies for living happier lives. Through research and anecdote, Dr. Potetz demonstrates how perception is reality and how our sense of well-being is more a product of our beliefs and expectations than what is actually taking place in any given situation. In short, she reveals how personal power is an extremely valuable and readily accessible yet all too under-utilized resource. If you’re feeling frustrated by those around you, and often believe you’re at your wit’s end, this program is for you. Please join us. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.
Thursday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium
October 4
Lakewood Public Cinema: The Palm Beach Story (1942)
Directed by Preston Sturges
Screwball comedies are, of course, known for being screwy, but this one is downright deranged. So why does it leave us feeling so sunny and refreshed? Claudette Colbert loves her husband, Joel McCrea, but she’ll divorce him if that’s what she has to do to make a success out of him. She has this crazy idea that marrying a wealthy man and using the money to finance McCrea’s invention is somehow her wifely duty. McCrea, of course, thinks this is hogwash, but he loves her. A madcap chase ensues. She heads down to Palm Beach, the divorce capitol of the world, and he follows despite her ingenious schemes to slow him down. We don’t want to spoil any more of the delicious plot, but we will tell you that they end up as guests of an utterly decent millionaire played by the crooner Rudy Vallee (who knew he was so funny?) and his socialite sister, the inimitable Mary Astor. For those of you who will say that the happy ending comes out of left field, we say that you weren’t paying close enough attention to the opening credits. Three cheers for Preston Sturges!
Saturday, October 4 at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium
October 5
Sunday with the Friends: Sommerfugl
Fall is here, but the summer is not forgotten. Bid a final adieu to the season of short sleeves and prepare your heart for the winter ahead. The butterfly is the summer fool. (That's both the literal translation and the pronunciation of the band's Danish name.) William Drake and Holly Overton bring alive the beauty of one particular butterfly on a summer's day with their eclectic mix of love songs, torch songs, duets, originals and other surprises. These veterans of the local music scene are two of the finest vocalists and instrumentalists around, coming together in a synergistic rainbow of sound. Rich and delicate harmonies and a joyous dance of guitar and violin will whisk you away on a captivating emotional journey that will leave you reminiscing about warm, lazy summer days.
Sunday, October 5 at 2:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium
October 5
Hands-On Help with eReaders
Do you own a shiny, new eReader, but don’t know how to download any of the thousands of free titles that are available through the Library? Make an appointment with a knowledgeable staff member who can show you around the bells and whistles of your device, whether it’s a Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPhone or something else entirely. Let’s talk.
Thursday Nights at the Madison Branch—Call (216) 228-7428
Sunday Nights at the Main Library—Call (216) 226-8275, ext. 127
October 7
One-On-One Job Search
Spend thirty minutes with a staff member polishing your resume, brushing up on computer skills and exploring employment websites. Whether you need a new job or just want to explore your options, we want to get you started with personal attention.
Appointments are available Tuesdays between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
October 7, November 4, December 9, January 6 and February 3
Thursdays between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
October 9, November 6, December 11, January 8 and February 5
October 8
Meet the Author: A Golden Thread: An Unofficial Critical History of Wonder Woman by Philip Sandifer
It all began when a famous psychologist was asked to write an article for Family Circle magazine, denouncing comic books and superheroes as dangerous influences on America’s youth. But when William Moulton Marston did his research, he found, instead, a powerful tool for uplifting the human spirit and an outlet for his vision of a better world through the empowerment of women. He was both ahead of his time as a feminist and on the unacceptable fringe of his field for his unorthodox views on submission and domination. But he created Wonder Woman! For over seventy years, she has been one of the most popular and recognized comic book characters in the world. Philip Sandifer presents a detailed critical history of the character from her World War II origins to the present day, though comic books, TV shows and more. Undoubtedly the world’s most popular feminist character, she has at times been used as a pawn against her own interests, but Sandifer unearths her triumphs, as well, and outlines her unfinished work in the world of men. “Change their minds and change the world!” Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.
Wednesday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium
October 9
Meet the Author: TARDIS Eruditorum: An Unofficial Critical History of Doctor Who (Volumes 1 through 4) by Philip Sandifer
It begins with a madman in a box—mad because he thinks he can combat all of the wickedness and injustice of creation with nothing more than a screwdriver. His box, the TARDIS, is a living machine that can take him anywhere in time and space. He is very old, very alien and he has changed his face more than once. For some reason, he really likes the earth, particularly the U.K. He is the Doctor.
Over the past fifty years, the story of Doctor Who (the name of the series, not the character) has been spread through television, movies, theater, books, comic books, riddles, songs and games. It is an integral part of British culture and a worldwide phenomenon. Production of the series has ranged from the practically live days of theater-in-front-of-a-camera to movie-style digital slickness and the acting methods have progressed from stiff classical to modern naturalism—although, like the series, that progression doesn’t always happen in chronological order. Yet, after all this time, it is still remarkably the same story about the same man—no matter how many actors have played him.
Philip Sandifer’s TARDIS Eruditorum seeks to make critical sense of both Doctor Who and the world that made it. This is not an episode guide—there are plenty of clever writers out there who have already tread that ground—nor is it a behind-the-scenes book. Instead, it is a mad attempt to treat every story as one big story, by making the brilliant assumption that it all makes sense somehow. One need not have an encyclopedic knowledge of the show to appreciate the evolving thesis. Sandifer provides all of the context the reader needs about each televised adventure as he draws on his own vast knowledge of pop culture, politics, world events, significant social movements, philosophy and whatever David Bowie was up to when each episode first aired. Interleaved essays comment on unrelated topics that somehow end up being part of the big picture. The final result is as entertaining as the show itself. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.
Thursday, October 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium
October 11
Lakewood Public Cinema: Saboteur (1942) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
When a fire breaks out at the airplane factory, Robert Cummings is handed a fire extinguisher filled with gasoline by a fellow named Fry. The authorities say that no one by that name has ever worked at the plant and point to Cummings as the culprit. Thus begins a classic Hitchcock triple chase: Cummings attempts to prove his innocence by tracking down Fry, while the Feds and the bad guys pursue him. Of course Hitchcock also works a woman like Priscilla Lane into the plot. Will she turn Cummings in, or will she help him? Professor Terry Meehan continues his series Hitchcock Goes to War, introducing each film with rare clips and original documentaries followed by audience reaction and a lively discussion.
Saturday, October 11 at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium
October 12
Sunday with the Friends: WordStage: Bloomsbury and the Great War
Our resident theatricals are back with a dramatic presentation featuring Virginia Woolf and the informal group of writers, philosophers and artists who met in the Bloomsbury district of London between 1907 and 1930 to search for the meaning of truth, goodness and beauty over small dinners and impromptu gatherings. WordStage director and playwright Tim Tavcar transports the audience back to Garsington, the country cottage of Lady Ottoline and Philip Morrell, just after the beginning of the First World War. The Morrells are visited by Leonard and Virginia Woolf, and the four of them discuss the ramifications of the war upon their artistic and pacifist friends. The illusion of a peek back through time will be completed by a solo violin underscore featuring music of the day.
Sunday, October 12 at 2:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium
October 13
Holiday: Columbus Day - Open
October 15
Lakewood Historical Society: Cleveland Calamities: A History of Storm, Fire and Pestilence by Alan F. Dutka
For the first time under one cover, here are the tales of Cleveland’s greatest blizzards, most destructive tornados, nastiest snowstorms and worst floods—and so much more. A pseudo tidal wave once pounded the Lake Erie shore from Bay Village to the Pennsylvania border. A phantom ice age caused scientists to predict that glaciers would soon return to Cleveland. A river burned, mayflies swarmed the downtown area by the millions, credible UFO sightings are still unexplained and a June blizzard raged in the city. Citizens perfected the art of throwing rocks at volunteer firefighters. Secret assistance in developing the atomic bomb created a radioactive neighborhood. Join Cleveland author Alan F. Dutka as he explores intriguing stories of famous and lesser-known Forest City disasters.
Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium
October 16
Meet the Author: Diary of the Dumped: 30 Days from Break Up to Breakthrough by Alexsandra Sukhoy
It’s a modern problem. After receiving a break up text from her boyfriend, a woman keeps a diary for the next thirty days, excavating her devastation and recovering her buried personal life in order to discover the true source of her dating disappointments. With a supporting cast of friends, she sets off on the most important odyssey of all—the quest to rebuild a broken heart. Sukhoy, a career coach and educator, spent two decades climbing the corporate ladder, earning numerous leadership roles and managing cross-functional teams in America and around the world. Her most recent book, The ‘90s: Diary of a Mess, charted on the Amazon Kindle Poetry Anthologies Best Sellers List. A daughter, sister, niece and cousin, she thrives on travel, befriending people of all backgrounds and cultures and creating an extended family that spans the globe. Her relationship experiences and writer’s instincts have taught her to value each individual’s story and to progress through life with tremendous resilience, optimism and laughter. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.
Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium
October 16
Friends Fall Book Sale –Members Only Preview
Thursday, October 16 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
October 18
Friends Fall Book Sale
Saturday, October 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
October 18
Lakewood Public Cinema: Funny Games (2007)
Directed by Michael Haneke
If you like to read film reviews, sooner or later you will come across the phrase, "this movie indicts the viewer." Michael Haneke's Funny Games, an Americanized remake of his own 1997 work, has been called a powerful condemnation of America’s fascination with violence by some and disgusting, vile and horrific by others. Naomi Watts and Tim Roth are heading to their vacation home with their young son—a destination they share with a pair of young, articulate, golf-club-wielding, white-gloved serial killers. Michael Pitt plays the ringleader of this mysterious duo who capture hostages for a sick game in which no one knows if they will live or die, one in which the viewer is sometimes taunted for participating. But do not mistake this for a horror film. A relentless study on what makes violence so hard to turn away from, it refuses to let us off with simplethrills and chills. “Why don’t you just kill us?” Watts asks at one point. The response: “You shouldn’t forget the importance of entertainment.”
Saturday, October 18 at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Library