City Calendar

Creative Aging Poetry Writing

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

Robert Pinsky said, "Poetry is a basic human pleasure." Come have fun with words during this 8-week poetry workshop. Participants will read, write, and share poetry. We'll tap into imagination, observation, and the thrill of finding pleasure in language. The workshop will culminate in a festive poetry reading. This class is a series and registration has closed.

Photography Exhibit: Mara Gibbs

Main Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138

Viewing Schedule: Opening reception: Saturday, May 11, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Monday, May 13, 10:00 am – 11:00 am, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Tuesday, May 14, 10:00 am – 11:00 am, 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm Thursday, May 16, 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm Saturday, May 18, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Sunday, May 19, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Monday, May 20, 10:00 am – 11:00 am, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm Tuesday, May 21, 10:00 am – 11:00 am, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm Wednesday, May 22, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Thursday, May 23, 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm Tuesday, May 28, 10:00 am – 11:00 am, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Thursday, May 30, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Saturday, June 1, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Monday, June 3, 10:00 am – 11:00 am Please join The Cambridge Public Library and the family of Margalit ‘Mara’ Gibbs in celebrating her photographs. Mara had a passion for both traditional darkroom processes and vibrant, digital effects. Her black-and-white photographs, many taken in public places, are rich observations of daily life, full of texture and luminously gradated light and shadow. In her color work, Mara experimented with transparency, collage, and constructed narratives. Much of Mara’s work revolves around loneliness, abandonment, decay, bruising, tenderness, and hope. The narrative works are alternatingly surreal, mischievous, elegant, and somber, messy and ephemeral. Together, the photographs in the exhibition reveal the range and depth of Mara’s skills and subject interests, including: portraits of family and friends; self-portraiture; public life; life at Reed College: and experimentations in color and abstraction. These photographs are intense, complex, intimate, and full of charisma. Born to Lauren Gibbs and Steven Flax, Mara was named Margalit after Steven’s mother, Pearl, and Lauren’s mother, Pat. Margalit is the modern Hebrew form of Margaret, which means pearl. She grew up in and around Cambridge (her mother living in Cambridge and her father living in Roslindale, Brookline and then Somerville before joining Mara in Cambridge). A creative child, Mara began composing songs at age four, and by the time she was five identified as a math girl, taking every math class offered at CPSD. She danced, wrote poetry and song lyrics, and drew with pencil, charcoal and pastels. Mara attended high school at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, where she often felt that most of her learning occurred in the Photography Department. At the same time, she found English, History, Chemistry, and Psychology as well as Math to be additional favorite subjects. She took dance and then lacrosse at CRLS. Mara won Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards for her photography, and graduated in 2015. At Reed College, Mara took photographs all the time, but did not take photography classes. Her favorite courses at Reed included philosophy, economics, and computer science. Mara had two computer science internships – with GlooPen (a messaging/chat application with a game component) and with The Reed College Software Design Studio. Mara’s life ended tragically during her sophomore year at Reed College, in an off-campus apartment fire. At a life celebration for Mara at Reed shortly after she died, friends shared memories and anecdotes, relating her propensity for dispensing hugs and humor. She will be missed. The works in this exhibition were printed at Pushdot Studios in Portland, Oregon.

Singalong (Collins)

Collins Branch, 64 Aberdeen Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138

Singalong (Collins)

Toddler Sing-a-long (O'Connell)

O'Connell Branch, 48 Sixth St., Cambridge, MA 02141

Sing and dance to your favorite songs! For more information, please contact the O'Connell Branch at 617-349-4019.

Intermediate ESOL (Central Square)

Central Square Branch, 45 Pearl St., Cambridge, MA 02139

Intermediate ESOL (Central Square)

Toddler Storytime

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

Children ages 2-3 and their caregivers. This program can accommodate 45 people. Tickets are available on a first-come, first served basis on the day of the program. The entire party must be present to receive a ticket. This program starts promptly, and unfortunately we cannot accommodate latecomers. Unclaimed seats will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information.

Senior Center Books on Review

Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139

Come and join Librarian Janet Borron as she reviews a wide selection of books that are available for you to check out.

Senior Women’s Cookies, Conversation, & Connection

Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139

A new group for women to build friendships and conversations.

Beginner ESOL (Central Square)

Central Square Branch, 45 Pearl St., Cambridge, MA 02139

Beginner ESOL (Central Square)

Health and Environment Committee

City Hall, 2nd Floor Sullivan Chamber, 795 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139

Health and Environment Committee