Cambridge Cooks: Charcuterie with Jacob Lavoie (Main)
Jacob Lavoie is a proud Cambridge resident, cheese lover, and the Program Director for Food & Wine at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. With a background in wine and spirits, arts and culture, and lifelong learning, Jacob brings curiosity, creativity, and collaboration into the classroom. In this class, he invites students to explore the art of building a stunning and delicious cheese board perfect for entertaining or a cozy night in. Jacob will guide participants through selecting a balanced mix of cheeses, charcuterie, and flavorful accompaniments while sharing tips for thoughtful pairings, visual composition, and crowd-pleasing presentation. Students will leave with practical techniques they can use for future gatherings, celebrations, or weeknight treats, along with inspiration for wine pairings to elevate the experience. The class concludes with a communal tasting of cheese and charcuterie.
Signs for Inclusion: Fun & Practical ASL for Everyday Communication (Main)
Join us for this special summer reading edition of a fun, interactive, activity-based American Sign Language lesson, including:
Everyday communication signs (greetings, help, common phrases, fun "Plant a seed, read!" summer reading themed signs)
How to respectfully and effectively interact with Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals
Basic expressive communication using facial expressions and body language
How to navigate simple real-life scenarios using ASL
Inclusive communication strategies that can be used immediately
The session also includes:
Silent communication challenges
Interactive group practice
Engaging sign language games
This program is recommended for participants ages 10 and up.
Funding for Summer Reading has been generously provided by the City of Cambridge, Cambridge Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Cambridge Public Library and Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Artwork copyright iRead.
Acrylic Painting Workshop (Valente)
Learn how to create beautiful and colorful acrylic paintings! In this class you will be introduced to painting with acrylic, including techniques in color mixing, observational painting, and composition. At your own pace you will learn how to paint still lifes using acrylic paint in a relaxed and welcoming environment. This class will cover wet on wet and wet and dry brush techniques, sgraffito/combing, overlays/glazing, gel mediums,
pattern making, and masking. You will come away from this class with beautiful paintings of your own and a greater understanding and appreciation for the medium of acrylic painting. Registration Required.
This class is suitable for beginners and can be adjusted for all levels of experience.
This class is taught by Brooke Lambert.
Brooke is a professional printmaker and painter. She holds a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and shows her work widely in New England, New York, and beyond. Brooke works in Studio 291 at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts in Lowell, MA. She is currently represented by The Society of American Graphic Artists and Equity Gallery in New York, NY and Galaray House, contemporary art gallery in Lexington, MA. She has thirteen years of teaching experience and currently teaches adult art workshops and holds artist demos at several locations in New England.
CPL Presents: Shakespeare of Harlem: Exploring the Life and Legacy of Langston Hughes (Main)
In honor of Black History Month, join Opera on Tap Boston for Shakespeare of Harlem, a concert celebrating the life, work, and enduring influence of Langston Hughes. The program weaves Hughes’ poetry and prose with art songs by composers such as Margaret Bonds and Florence Price, alongside the voices of his contemporaries, including Georgia Douglas Johnson and Countee Cullen.
An ensemble of celebrated local actor-singers brings the text and music to life, illuminating the ideas, experiences, and cultural moments that shaped Hughes as a writer. The performance will be followed by a talkback, offering audiences a chance to discuss with the artists and the material in conversation.
Featuring:
Morgan Beckford, Soprano
Melynda Davis, Soprano
Todd McNeel, Baritone
Fred C. VanNess Jr., Tenor
Producers:
Nina Evelyn and Kathryn McKellar
Registration is not required but preferred.