Libraries – For the Birds?

When you read this perhaps you will agree with the title! I have a friend who works in the State Library, a few blocks from Sacramento Public Library. She was moved to an area with a window. From there she was able to view the “Darth Vader” building two blocks away. While staring out the window one day something caught her eye – 2 adult peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus anatum) circling the Darth tower. Six weeks later there appeared to be another mating couple circling the area. Since peregrines like skyscrapers for nesting she kept a close lookout for any changes. A week or so ago she spotted 4 to 6 baby falcons. This is not the first time the peregrines have been spotted in downtown Sacramento. It appears that they are returning to the same building to have their young each year.

So, if you are on an upper floor of a library or building downtown, keep a lookout for these beautiful creatures. If you happen to be on the K Street Mall remember to look up on occasion. Not only may you spot some peregrine falcons you will also see some of downtown Sacramento’s beautiful architecture.

To see what the Sacramento Public Library holds on this amazing animal, click here: Peregrine Falcon.

SONRISAS : #7

"El Conejito Knuffle" por Mo Willems


Este libro encantador apareció hace vario años atrás entonces por favor perdónenme por no comprar este libro cuando apenas apreció. Pero por razones presupuestarias y laborales apenas hemos recibido el libro de Mo Willems sobre la vida fantástica de un conejito de peluche y su dueño Trixie.

El cuento concierne un viaje a la lavandería con Papá, Trixie y el conejito Knuffle. Todo cambia drásticamente cuando Trixie toma cuenta que alguien queda atrás.

Blame It on the Bossa Nova at Central Library

Just after Carnaval week, join us in the West Meeting Room at 6:00 pm on March 4th for a celebration of Brazil’s fifty-year-old contribution to “cool” – the Bossa Nova. This music continues to fascinate and delight an international public with new artists and compositions. Since the days of “The Girl from Ipanema” and “Black Orpheus,” Americans have been an important part of the Bossa Nova story. Our program reviews the history and development of Bossa Nova through videos, musical excerpts, a look at the geography of Rio de Janeiro, and a review of lyrics in English and Portuguese. There will also be an exhibit of Bossa Nova memorabilia.

This program is a follow-up to the success of last year’s “Carmen Miranda Film Festival.” Latin American popular culture specialist and Fulbright scholar to Brazil Dr. Fred Dobb will also present this program. When not watching Carmen Miranda movies and listening to music, Dr. Fred Dobb teaches at California State University, Sacramento.

Also note that Dobb will be giving an encore of the "Carmen Miranda Film Festival" at the Belle Cooledge Library on Wednesday, February 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Belle Cooledge is located on 5600 South Land Park Drive. Registration is not required.

Registration is encouraged for the Bossa Nova program, which is free, and can be done by calling 264-2920 or going to www.saclibrary.org.

Super Bowl Widows Know How To Party!

Central Library just had its Second Annual Super Bowl Widows Party, and it was a blast!

The children enjoyed baby time, played Rock Band on PS2, Mario Kart on Wii, made Valentines and placemats so nice that I just might have to hire those kids to decorate my house.

And what did the adults enjoy, you ask?

Karaoke.

Musicians Life in Song got the party started, interspersing their own music with Karaoke. A mother and daughter team were our first “victims,” but it was the adults who really got into the singing. When it came time to show the movie---the kids voted for Get Smart---the adults informed me that the singing wasn’t over and they had to sing one more song. That one song turned into three. And as they gathered around and sang That’s What Friends Are For, I stared at the group with one thought:

Do these people even have kids, or did they just wander down here from the crowd of adults peering from the first floor railing?

I didn’t find out.

Needless to say, we’re looking into having adult music programs in the future.

Sacramento History Photo of the Week: Issue No. 7

Southern Pacific Railroad Hospital, circa 1900-1911. The would-be hospital was built in 1870 for railroad emperor Charles Crocker and family, very likely by San Francisco-based architect Seth Babson whose specialty was “Victorian Stick” homes. It was converted into a hospital for SP in 1900 and, by 1906, the three-story-and-basement structure could accommodate up to 55 patients. It was also touted as a refreshing alternative to other hospitals with “its home-like character,” said the January 27, 1906, Sacramento Union.

Seen here, looking northwesterly from Seventh Street, the hospital – having outgrown its walls - took up new residence in 1911 at Second and “H” streets, in a facility built by the contracting firm of Murcell and Haley for a cost of between $30,000 and $35,000.

The house was leveled in the fall of 1915. Having fallen into disrepair, it became the home of several rat nests and stood “covered by masses of vines,” said the October 19, 1915, Sacramento Bee. Did walkers-by even know that, decades earlier, the home was lived in by one of the most powerful men west of the Mississippi?

This photo and many more like it can be found in the Sacramento Public Library’s Sacramento Room which is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 1 to 5, and Thursday 1 to 8.

SONRISAS: #6

"¡EL DENTISTA ES UN MONSTRUO!"
por Philip Stanton


La dulce y juguetona gatita llamada Misha amanece con un dolor de diente pero teme revelar su dolor a sus padres por temor al nuevo dentista. Cuando de repente se le cae el diente no hay otro remedio que acudir a una consulta. Conoce al nuevo odontólogo y reconoce que el dentista no es un monstruo sino un nuevo amigo quien le hace reconocer una nueva manera de cuidar a sus dientes.

Abajo hay un video acerca del autor estadounidense Philip stanto quién se instaló en barcelona hace mucho años atrás y se dedica a escribir libros infantiles con la gata Misha como protagonista. La entrevista está en catalán pero el autor habla en castellano pero la locutura habla en catalan.

Art Programs 4 U @ Central

Thanks to a gift, Central Library is able to present a year-long series of free hands-on art programs for adults beginning this month.

The first program, Working With Clay, is a two-parter. Come and make your clay piece on Saturday, February 14. During the following week it will dry and be fired. Come back on Saturday, February 21 to glaze your work. Registration is required, so sign yourself up while there are still seats!

We have planned additional programs on painting, digital photography, book binding, mosaics, knitting, crocheting, and more. These will be held monthly through the end of 2009.

If this is giving you ideas, and you want to read up before the programs start, here's a short list that corresponds to the first three programs in the series.

• Ceramics
• Digital Photography
  
• Watercolor Painting

We're looking forward to featuring your artwork here!

(rgtmum's image used with permission.)