City Calendar

Saturday

December 9

• 9:30 AM

  XR Lab 101 (Main)

  Main Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138

  Extended reality (XR) opens the door to worlds and experiences outside the everyday through virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality equipment. Test drive our Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality glasses, Structure Sensor 3D scanner, Merge headsets, and more. Registration is required. You must complete Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.

• 10:00 AM

  Beginners’ Mandarin Class (Main)

  Main Library, Community Room, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138

  Come to the Library and learn the second most-spoken language in the world! This class, taught by Sunling Liew—an experienced Chinese-language instructor of the Ming Hui Academy Boston—is designed for beginners. No testing or experience is needed, but registration is required. The class sessions are as follows: Saturday, October 14, 2023 Saturday, October 21, 2023 Saturday, October 28, 2023 Saturday, November 4, 2023 Saturday, November 18, 2023 Saturday, December 2, 2023 Saturday, December 9, 2023 Saturday, December 16, 2023 It is strongly encouraged that any interested parties register for ALL of the class dates offered; the lessons build upon one another. If you have any questions, or would like to register for the class but foresee a scheduling issue, please reach out to zbond@cambridgema.gov.

• 11:30 AM

  Studio Recording 101 (Main)

  Main Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138

  Are you interested in podcasting, audio production, or video production? The Hive has two state-of-the-art recording studios! Join this workshop to become familiar with studio equipment and software. Registration is required. You must complete Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.

• 1:00 PM

  CPL Nature Club - Winter Birdwatching at Fresh Pond (O'Neill)

  O'Neill Branch, 70 Rindge Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140

  All ages are welcome to join us as we observe birds at Fresh Pond, which provides habitat for many different species at all times of the year. This event will focus on birds that can be found in the winter in Cambridge, including several species of ducks, sparrows and more. We may also see some of our year-round resident birds, and we will discuss general birdwatching tips and learn more about the birds we share our outdoor spaces with. A limited supply of binoculars will be available. Please dress accordingly as we will be outside for the entire walk. Registration is required for this event. This event can only accommodate a certain number of participants. One registration is good for one person. If you do not register, you cannot participate. The walk will meet outside the ranger station/water department building at Fresh Pond. In case of inclement weather, this event will be rescheduled to Saturday, December 30th. For more information, contact Becca Evans at revans@cambridgema.gov or call the O'Neill Branch at 617-349-4023.

• 1:00 PM

  Saturday Screenings: Polite Society (Main)

  Main Library, Lecture Hall, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138

  Saturday Screenings presents a free showing of the film Polite Society (dir. Nida Manzoor). Following the film, join us in the Community Room for a talkback led by Boston Globe film critic Odie Henderson. !! Please note: while registration is not required to attend the film screening, registration is required for the talkback. The link to register for the talkback can be found here. About the film: Martial artist-in-training Ria Khan believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her friends, Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood.

• 1:30 PM

  Crafting Corner (O'Neill)

  O'Neill Branch, 70 Rindge Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140

  Bring your own fiber arts project and join us for a delightful crafting session. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, enjoy tea, snacks, and engaging conversations with fellow crafters. Please remember to bring your own supplies, as no formal instructions will be provided during the session. No registration required.

• 2:30 PM

  Saturday Screenings: Talkback with Boston Globe film critic Odie Henderson (Main)

  Main Library, Community Room, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138

  Join us in the Community Room following the screening of Polite Society for a talkback lead by Boston Globe film critic Odie Henderson. Light refreshments will be provided. Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe’s film critic. He is a member of the National Society of Film Critics whose work has appeared in The Criterion Collection, Slate, The Village Voice, Cineaste Magazine, Slant Magazine, and other outlets. Prior to the Globe, he spent 11 years at RogerEbert.com as a regular contributor. Odie has covered the New York Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival for many years and has also programmed his own nine-film sidebar on Black American Cinema at 2013’s Off-Plus Camera Film Festival in Krakow, Poland. In January 2024, his own book “Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras: A History of Blaxploitation Cinema,” will be published. Odie is a massive fan of film noir, musicals, Blaxploitation, bad art, and good trash.

• 2:30 PM

  Sewing 101 (Main)

  Main Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138

  In this 90-minute workshop, you’ll learn the basics of sewing machine operation and safety. This session will cover machine setup, basic functions, threading the machine, reloading the bobbin, sewing straight stitches, and recognizing when stitch tension has gone awry. We’ll also cover some safety best practices when operating a sewing machine. As we learn together, we’ll work on a simple sewing project—a drawstring bag—which most students will be able to complete by the end of the class. You must complete Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.