September 7th is National Beer Lovers Day!

September 6, 2016August 4, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Many of us are in denial about the fact that Summer is coming to a close. Soon barbecues and outdoor parties will be a little cooler, and likely a little less frequent. This makes it a perfect time to celebrate a staple to many picnics (for the adults anyway) beer and other adult beverages. September 7th is National Beer Lovers Day, and a great day to explore all things beer related.

How about some history of beer, and Connecticut beer specifically:
Connecticut Beer: a History of Nutmeg State Brewing by Will Siss
The Craft Beer Revolution: How a Band of Microbrewers is Transforming the World’s Favorite Drink by Steve Hindy
A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
Microbrewed Adventures: a Lupulin-filled Journey to the Heart and Flavor of the World’s Great Craft Beers by Charlie Papazian
The War on Alcohol: Prohibition and the Rise of the American State by Lisa McGirr

Or maybe you want to cook with beer or try your hand at home brewing:
Beer-Can Chicken: and 74 Other Offbeat Recipes for the Grill by Steven Raichlen
The Craft Beer Cookbook: From IPAs and Bocks to Lagers and Porters, 100 Artisanal Recipes for Cooking with Beer by Jacquelyn Dodd
Mastering Homebrew: The Complete Guide to Brewing Delicious Beer by Randy Mosher
How to Brew: Ingredients, Methods, Recipes, and Equipment for Brewing Beer at Home by John J. Palmer

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Celebrate the South Asian Cultural Festival with Us!

February 3, 2016January 28, 2016 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Throughout the months of February and March the library will be hosting a number of events celebrating the cultures and traditions of Southern Asia. Here’s peek at some of the scheduled events:

Bhangra Dance Lesson and Performance on February 13th at 2:00 PM
Enjoy a short performance followed by a fun hour-long lesson in the vibrant, high-energy style of Bhangra, a traditional folk dance performed in the Punjab region of South Asia with modern influences from modern pop and hip-hop styles. Performance and lesson provided by Yale’s Jashan Bhangra dance troupe.Kathputli Puppet Making (takes place at Artsplace, ) on February 16th at 4:00 pm
Puppets are an ancient and popular form of folk entertainment in India. In this workshop, children will make kathputli, a type of puppet originating from Rajasthan.

Explore the Art of Henna on February 27th at 2:00 PM
Tweens and teens–interested in the art of henna? Learn the cultural roots and the different styles of henna from Jamilah Zebarth, of Jamilah Henna Creations, who will also demonstrate the art on you! (Henna is a plant based dye that safely stains the skin for 1-2 weeks.)

Zokkomon Movie on March 16th at 4:00 PM
Please join us for the first live-action film from Disney Studios India designed to give Indian kids their first superhero. [Abandoned by his heartless uncle (Anupam Kher) and aided by a street artist (Manjari Fadnis), an orphan (Darsheel Safary) discovers his inner hero. Rated PG.] Following the film we’ll have snacks and a lively discussion with Cheshire resident Hetal Radia!

India Travelogue: Sharing the Spirit of India on March 16th at 6:30
Visit with John McClain for an adventure through India. Come experience the sights and sounds of this beautiful and complex country- see India through an authentic and vivid lens, to which no travel book can compare!

Stan Scott and the Rangila Ensemble: Classical, Folk, and Devotional Music of North India on March 19th at 2:00 PM
This concert will feature a broad range of styles, including the enchanting melodies and rhythms of Indian classical music, folk songs celebrating love, work, social life and worship in Bengal, Bangladesh, Assam and Meghalaya, and devotional songs of the great medieval Hindi poets. The lively rhythms of Indian folk songs provide a complementary contrast to the contemplative mood of Hindustani classical music. Sponsored by the Connecticut Humanities Council.

Indian Cooking Demonstration on March 23 at 6:00 PM
Madhu Gupta will introduce Indian cooking techniques, highlighting the regional differences in regards to spicing, flavors and recipes. Born in India, Madhu’s father’s career allowed the family to visit and experience the unique regions of India. She will introduce Indian cooking techniques to make simple salads, appetizers and a variety of curries and will demonstrate that Indian cooking is not always hot and spicy but that the flavor is determined by balancing the ingredients.

A Celebration of Holi and Rangoli Craft on March 24th at 4:00 PM. Participate in an Artsplace workshop at the library making traditional rangoli patterns. Then celebrate the colorful festival Holi with Cheshire resident Hetal Radia.

For more information on any of the programs, or to register for a program please visit our events calendar. If you would like to research some of the recipes, art, or other culture wonders that we will be sharing check out these great resources: Mehndi: the Timeless Art of Henna Painting by Loretta Roome, Recipe and Craft Guide to India by Khadija Ejaz, At Home with Madhur Jaffrey: Simple, Delectable Dishes from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, & Sri Lanka by Madhur Jaffrey, Mangoes & Curry Leaves: Culinary Travels Through the Great Subcontinent by Jeffrey Aldford & Naomi Duguid, The Kids’ Multicultural Cookbook: Food & Fun Around the World by Deanna F. Cook, and East & Southeast Asia by Steven A. Leibo among others.

Memories of Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book

December 25, 2015November 20, 2015 / Mary / Leave a comment

I was sixteen years old when Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book was published. I was (and still am) a huge Rockwell fan and was delighted to discover this book under the tree on Christmas morning all those years ago.

I could write a book myself about how much I love this book, how I know every story in it by heart, how each of the 120 Rockwell illustrations are etched onto my brain. I still own it, and it’s a cherished part of my holiday.

I could never do justice to this book in a short blog post. Instead, I’ll let the world-famous authors whose works fill the pages speak for themselves.

The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallowed and so gracious is the time.
(Hamlet by William Shakespeare)

I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone.
(My Christmas Miracle by Taylor Caldwell)

No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
(Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus by Francis P. Church)

My woods—the young fir balsams like a place
Where houses all are churches and have spires.
(Christmas Trees by Robert Frost)

“And so you see,” said Ursula, “I try to do a kindness in your name. And this is my Christmas present to you.”
(A Gift of the Heart by Norman Vincent Peale)

She felt uplifted by a great surge of wonder and gratitude and compassion and love. And she knew what it was. It was the spirit of Christmas. And it was upon them all.
(The Miraculous Staircase by Arthur Gordon)

And a final message for peace on Earth and goodwill toward all:

God rest you merry, Innocents,
While innocence endures.
A sweeter Christmas than we to ours
May you bequeath to yours.
(A Carol for Children by Ogden Nash)

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – A Downloadable Audiobook Version

December 23, 2015December 23, 2015 / cheshirelib / Leave a comment

‘Twas the night before Christmas when everyone looks
For stories, and movies, and good holiday books.
Though the novels are placed on the shelves with care,
To help all the readers who are browsing there,
There are more than books all snug on their shelves,
For those seeking stories to entertain themselves.

Virtually speaking, there are audiobook delights
Such as A Christmas Blizzard, a lost man’s plight.
Or download a tale by author Brenda Novak,
The Heart of Christmas, where a woman looks back.
And the audio tale 12 Stories of Christmas,
Trust me, you won’t want to miss this.
Pastor Robert Morgan’s book, a collection of tales,
He shares with his church on Christmas Eve never fails.

Or if tradition is what makes you sing,
A Christmas Carol by Dickens may be just the thing.
Fully dramatized by an incredible cast,
This downloadable book enlivens the past.
Or the classic story The Bishop’s Wife,
Where an angel arrives to smooth away strife.
And the Gift of the Magi, O. Henry’s short story
Will fill your spirit with love and with glory.

If it’s romance you seek at this time of the year
Try All is Bright, All is Calm for some holiday cheer.
And Finally Home about a woman named Casie
Has wild horses, wild hearts, and is a little bit sassy!
Or travel back in the past with By Winter’s Light
A Christmas celebration, magical and bright.

Many love mystery as the holidays near
And turn to Hamish Macbeth at this time of the year.
The Scottish constable in A Highland Christmas
Is a cozy tradition you won’t want to miss.
In The Nightingale Before Christmas by Donna Andrews
A holiday tour turns deadly, and there are no clues!
Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas is sure to delight
As Jane Austen follows the trail to bring the answer to light.

There are so many more, but my poem is too long
And I haven’t even mentioned eBooks, DVDs, or songs.
All are available from the library for holiday cheer
On a cold winter’s night at the end of the year.

So if your cheeks are like roses, and your nose like a cherry
From being so busy you have no time to tarry,
Let someone else read you a book while you work
And drive, cook, and do all the things you can’t shirk.
You may exclaim like St. Nick, ere he drove out of sight—
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Seriously Simple Holiday Dinners

December 16, 2015November 23, 2015 / Mary / Leave a comment

I don’t know about anyone else, but I normally have no time to cook dinner during a regular work week never mind a holiday week. The thought of preparing an elaborate holiday meal, in addition to all the shopping, gift wrapping, entertaining, cleaning –(Oh, my God, every obscure relative will be descending on me to critique my housekeeping!)–makes my brain shrivel and my knees buckle.

Fortunately, others have traveled this path before me and left a road map for breezing through the holidays:

Seriously Simple Holidays : Recipes and Ideas to Celebrate the Season by Diane Rossen Worthington.
Gift ideas, wine and cheese pairings, menus, Diane Worthington has it all covered from Rosh Hashanah to Thanksgiving to New Year’s.

The Ultimate Appetizers Book : More than 450 No-fuss Nibbles and Drinks, Plus Simple Party Planning Tips by Better Homes and Gardens. From super quick dips and snack mixes to elegant pastries and bite-size sweets, these no-fuss recipes will please any crowd.

Cocktails for the Holidays : Festive Drinks to Celebrate the Season by the Editors of Imbibe Magazine. Mix holiday drinks like a pro with the help of this book. It includes favorite seasonal recipes from bartenders around the world for every festive occasion.

Fix-it and Forget-it Christmas Cookbook : 600 Slow Cooker Holiday Recipes by Phyllis Pellman Good. If cooking holiday dinners wears you out, this book is the answer. Let your slow cooker do all the work. Prep it, forget it, and go join the party instead of slaving away in the kitchen.

Easy Entertaining : Over 250 Stress-free Recipes and Sensational Styling Ideas by Darina Allen. Short-cuts, tips, hints and general good advice for making your holiday easier. “Keep it Simple” is the motto of this book that will help you pull off a holiday party simply but in style.

Desserts 1-2-3 : Deliciously Simple Three-ingredient Recipes by Rozanne Gold. Three ingredients that yield fabulous desserts? Yes, indeed! The results are delicious and look like they took a lot more labor than they did. It’s a holiday miracle.