Second Saturday is upon us!!!

When I was a child the only year I had a “real” art class was in preschool. It involved a lot of finger painting, and, my favorite, chocolate pudding art. While the finger paintings had a place of honor on the refrigerator (at least for a few days), most of the pudding ended up in my belly instead of on the paper. However, Kids' Place has a librarian (not me---I'm car-less!) willing to search high and low for art, the students at Washington Elementary School are lucky enough not only to have a wonderful art teacher who helps them create gorgeous works, and, thankfully, they also don’t eat their projects before they can be displayed. (Yes, while many of us can barely draw stick figures, an actually elementary school student created the art work displayed on the left.)

On Saturday, March 14th you can view art created by 3rd-6th grade Washington students at 2:00 in Kids’ Place. Art Works will be there helping children create wonderful art of their own, and, of course, there will be refreshments. Free Saturday parking is available at the City of Sacramento public parking garages at 10th and I Streets or 10th and L Streets. Bring your parking garage ticket into the first floor service desk and receive your free Saturday parking coupon.

Not Just Another Cover Band

Friday afternoon we had the pleasure of listening to the teenage band, Late Chaps, live in Kids' Place! Sean Clavere, Rob Mills, Marissa Olegario, and Tyler Walker played a soulful mix of blues, folk, country, and good ole' rock n' roll- both cover tunes and originals. Musically sophisticated beyond their high school years (they will all be seniors next term), these kids used their smooth and distinct voices to play skillfully with vocal harmonies, made finger twisting bass and guitar lines look like patty-cake, and rocked out on the drums. Most impressively, they accomplished something many musicians never do- they played for the space they were in, neither too loud nor too soft. It's not surprising that they beat musicians twice their age by winning a "battle of the bands" contest in El Dorado County in 2007. These guys (and girl) are just starting out, and it will be a joy to watch them musically mature. Keep an eye on them - they're definitely going places! Hear them here!

Tired of catching all the wrong bugs?

There are some bugs which you really don’t want to catch, like Ebola and West Nile, and then there are the bugs that are actually good for you, namely the Reading Bug and the Jitterbug. Catch both bugs (the good ones, that is) by reading and dancing the summer away at Central Library!

Summer Reading starts Saturday, June 14th. Everyone from babies to adults can sign up this year. Central’s big kickoff is on Sunday, June 15th. Children can sign-up all day in Kids’ Place and have fun creating cool crafts and Father’s Day cards. Teens and adults can sign up online, then enjoy the first of three instructional dance classes sponsored by Spotlight Dance and Fitness. Learn the East Coast Swing on Sunday, June 15th, the Fox Trot on Sunday, June 22nd, and the Cha Cha on Sunday, June 29th. All classes start at 3 pm.

But why wait until you can officially sign-up online to get in the mood? Check out our Central Express and Kids’ Place displays for a wide selection of books and media. Pick up celebrity biographies, gardening books, great fiction, dance music, books and instructional videos in Central Express. Not sure what to read? Our teen librarian has set up a “What I’m Reading Now” display in Kids' Place. And before you start thinking that teen books are those horrible now-you-know-and-knowing-is-half-the-battle-after-school-special type of stories we were forced to read in high school, pick up a copy of Chris Crutcher’s Deadline.

For those of you who think, “Gee, I would love to come to Central, but the parking there sucks except for Sundays,” I have good news for you. For those who haven’t heard, Central patrons can park for free on Saturdays in the City of Sacramento public parking garages at 10th and I Streets or 10th and L Streets. So we hope to see you this Sunday having the time of your life. (No excuses!)

Trick or Treat at Central

Last Saturday, dozens of costumed kids turned out for an early Halloween event. After some seasonal stories and pumpkin-decorating, they queued up for a trick-or-treat tramp through the building. Here's a photo of the survivors in the Kids' Place at the end of the program. The youngest now know how to assert themselves at the door for the Real Thing tomorrow night.

A Message to Young Artists

Would you like to see your artwork on display as part of the Second Saturday Art Walk? Are you under 18 years of age? Consider lending your masterpieces, matted and framed, to Kids’ Place at Central Library. Contact Jami Trawick, youth services librarian, at 264-2973 for more information.