Upcoming Events › Adult Programs
June 25, 2013
Green Buildings of Grand Rapids
What are green buildings? Why all the hype about them and what are the benefits? Why is Grand Rapids a nationally recognized leader in the green building and sustainability movement? Renae Hesselink, founding member of the West Michigan chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and vice president of sustainability at Nichols Paper will answer these questions and more. Come learn tips that will help make your home healthier and a more efficient place to live.
June 26, 2013
Cocktails, History, and Practical Mixology for the Home Tippler
Join The Starving Artist Torrence O’Haire in a three-part series that explores creating classic cocktails with a foodie twist.
Bitters, Herbals, and Home Liqueur Making
Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
What are bitters? Why are they important in cocktail culture? And why are they so dang bitter?!? Join The Starving Artist at SpeakEZ Lounge for a class and demonstration in understanding, buying, making, and using herbal liqueurs, from the classic to the modern, and discover how to take your cocktail parties to the next level!
Gin Style, Use, and Practice
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
“I hate gin!” “It tastes like pine trees!” “I’d rather drink cleaning products!” Join The Starving Artist at SpeakEZ Lounge and discover the true value of gin as a cocktail ingredient and as a modern artisanal movement. Not all gin tastes like juniper! Explore the different styles and varieties, and learn to make a classic gin cocktail unlike anything you’re accustomed to!
Whiskeys and their Possibilities
Wednesday, June 26, 2013, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bourbon, scotch, Tennessee, rye, corn, white, Canadian, Irish . . .how can you keep them all straight? Join The Starving Artist at SpeakEZ Lounge for a class and lecture on understanding and using whiskey in cocktails from the classic to the modern. Explore what each whiskey can do in a cocktail and exactly how to make your ingredients shine.
June 27, 2013
Find the Stars, Constellations, and Planets: No Batteries Required
GVSU Professor Douglas Furton will lead this workshop focused on how to use a planisphere to predict the positions of the sun, stars, and planets any time of the day. A planisphere is a celestial slide rule of sorts, a paper-and-pencil tool that sets up a map of the sky past, present and future. Planispheres will be provided, bring only your thinking cap and curiosity.
July 8, 2013
Michigan’s Roadside Attractions
If you have traveled on Michigan’s highways and byways, chances are that you’ve stopped at places like Castle Rock, seen Paul Bunyan, and defied gravity at the Mystery Spot. Tourist attractions like these sprang up on the roadside landscape as Michigan expanded its highway system from the 1930s through the 1970s. Pull off the road for some fun, interesting, and sometimes quirky experiences! Relive memories of visiting natural and man-made wonders—from deer parks to dinosaur gardens; from scenic sand dunes to the world’s largest Indian; from mine shafts to scenic towers. Stop for pie at the Cherry Hut, cross the Bridge for a pasty, and enjoy a Jones ice cream cone in Baldwin. Don’t forget to bring home some souvenir pennants and a pair of moccasins. Take a trip with authors M. Christine Byron and Thomas R. Wilson along Michigan’s roads and visit some of the state’s iconic roadside attractions. Some places are long gone; others still lure travelers off the road.
July 9, 2013
Ordinary People Can Do Amazing Things
In 2011, Don Kern broke the world record for running marathons on all seven continents. He completed this challenge in 25 days, 18 hours, 10 minutes. Don has run 239 marathons, in all 50 states (twice) and all seven continents (four times). Have you ever wanted to challenge yourself to do something extraordinary? Don Kern will share his story of how he grew up as a non-athlete and went on to set a world record and how you can too!
July 10, 2013
Making Ice Cream with Love’s
Join Chris McKellar of Love’s Ice Cream to learn the process of making ice cream at home in a way that is easy to follow and fun. With a few simple tools, you will be able to transform milk, cream, sugar, and a flavor of your choice into luscious ice cream. Get tips on buying local and organic ingredients. Registration is required at www.grpl.org/register.
July 11, 2013
Reading the Great Lakes
Come explore the Lakes with us! We’ll read a range of titles including mystery, history, fiction, and nonfiction all taking place in the Great Lakes region—from Chicago to Cleveland. This book club will be lead by our smart librarians and will take place the first Thursday of every month. Additional copies of the book are available to be checked out on Level 4 of the Main Library. July’s selection is Looking for Hickories by Tom Springer.
Making Ice Cream with Love’s
Join Chris McKellar of Love’s Ice Cream to learn the process of making ice cream at home in a way that is easy to follow and fun. With a few simple tools, you will be able to transform milk, cream, sugar, and a flavor of your choice into luscious ice cream. Get tips on buying local and organic ingredients. Registration is required at www.grpl.org/register.
July 12, 2013
Genealogy Lock-In
Come to the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections department for a free after-hours program just for genealogists! Learn how to use the microfilm reader/scanner/printer, save images, and take advantage of free copying and printing during the event. Use the time to search databases—we will have plenty of computers available or bring your own laptop and use the library’s WiFi network. Bring your genealogy questions or Ancestry and Heritage Quest problems—volunteers will be on hand to assist. Network with other genealogists—you never know what you might find! Registration required: www.grpl.org/register or call 988-5400.
July 15, 2013
Talking to Rock Stars: Music Journalism Today
The film, Almost Famous made a rock journalist’s life look glamorous, gritty, and downright awesome. But those were the 70s, and we’re living in the 2010s. Rock journalism may be different (and possibly has less debauchery), but it’s still exciting. Come listen to professional (and local!) rock journalists Brian J. Bowe, Bill Holdship, Lindsay Patton-Carson, and John Sinkevics share their stories and give insights on what it’s like to talk to rock stars for a living.
This library is a congressionally designated depository for U.S. Government documents.