Gund Kwok Asian Women's Lion Dance Troupe (Main)
Gund Kwok is the first all Asian and all female lion dance troupe in the country. They will present an interactive story about the origins and significance of the lion dance, followed by a lion dance performance that will include the traditional "eating of the greens" and the unrolling of good luck banners. After the performance, the audience will be invited to try on the lion heads and take photos. Recommended for children of all ages and their caregivers. Bring the whole family for a unforgettable experience!
Remembering Hard Histories: Slavery in New England (Main)
Please join Kyera Singleton, Executive Director of the Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford, MA, for a presentation about the history of slavery in the North, the origins of the Royall House and Slave Quarters and the importance of remembering hard histories.
As one of the only remaining freestanding quarters where enslaved people lived and worked in the North, the Royall House and Slave Quarters bears witness to the lives of its residents, to the intertwined stories of wealth and bondage in pre-Revolutionary Massachusetts, and to the resistance and political and legal activism of enslaved and free Black people in the eighteenth century. The Cambridge Public Library is proud to offer passes to the museum during its tour season (June to October).
Summer Reading: A Library of Rare and Familiar Colors (Main)
Join Conservation Coordinator Alison Cariens for a closer look at pigments in the Harvard Art Museums' famed Forbes Pigment Collection. In this illustrated talk, Alison will discuss the history of the collection, the function of the materials within the conservation labs, and the significance of the collection as a “library of color.” Together, we will also delve into the story behind each featured pigment and discuss how each lends a unique window into the history of human creativity.
Grand Reopening Party! (Valente)
Join the Valente staff to celebrate the reopening of the Valente Branch Library! Reconnect with neighbors and enjoy refreshments, crafts, and games.
Weather permitting, the party will take place on the front patio space.
Life Goes On: Happy 100 Years James Merrill (Main)
The event will feature three accomplished Boston-area poets reading from a selection of some of James Merrill’s best poetry, including passages from the celebrated epic trilogy The Changing Light at Sandover as well as some of his widely appreciated narrative poems including “The Broken Home,” “The Mad Scene,” “Voices from the Other World,” “The Victor Dog,” “Lost in Translation,” and “After the Fire.”
Objects of Memory: Washington and Material Culture (Main/Virtual)
To mark the 250th anniversaries of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, a coalition of local non-profits and government agencies will present Washington in American Memory, a seven-part speaker series.
Consider how Americans understand the material culture of Washington and the Revolution, including art and clothing, featuring:
Zara Anishanslin, author of The Painter’s Fire: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution and Associate Professor of History and Art History at the University of Delaware
Erica E. Hirshler, Croll Senior Curator of American Paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Create your own terrarium! (Main)
In honor of Earth Day, spend your afternoon at the Library creating your own terrarium. In partnership with Emerald City Plant Shop, you will have the opportunity to learn more about different kind of plants and plant care. This event will be conducted in the front park area of the Library. In the case of rain, the class will be moved to the community room. The Library will provide needed supplies.