Talks-Panel Discussions-Presentations-Workshops
Fred Astaire Dancing

How Movies Changed Dancing: A Brief Talk Wednesday Night on a 130-Year History

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A talk about how the movies changed dancing will be broadcast online Wednesday evening, Feb. 26, by Fordham University professor Brian Rose. The movies and dancing are a partnership born in heaven. From its very beginnings, the new medium of motion pictures turned toward dance as one of best ways to showcase its unique ability to make movement come alive. — an announcement from Darien Library

Through the decades, it’s been dancing on the big screen that has provided some of the most ecstatic moments in film history — whether it’s Fred Astaire gliding on the ceiling in Royal Wedding, the Nicholas Brothers leaping down a staircase in Stormy Weather, Moira Shearer pirouetting through the dreamscape of The Red Shoes, or John Travolta burning up the dance floor in Saturday Night Fever.

Film
Movie poster for Cutter (2022) short film thriller

See the Short Film ‘Cutter’ and Ask Its Director About It at Darien Library Monday Night, Starting at 6:30

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The short thriller “Cutter” will be shown at Darien Library Monday night, Feb. 24, followed by a Q&A with local filmmaker Eden Wright. The audience will also get a unique behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process with a slideshow featuring exclusive production photos. — an announcement from Darien Library

About the film: When her newest client sends them both out to sea, a desperate maritime hairdresser learns an important lesson about internet strangers — the hard way. If You’re Going …

Travel Advice 2025
World Travel

Four Darien Travel Experts to Discuss Trends, Tips, Best Places to Go in 2025

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Four local travel experts will give tips, discuss trends and talk about the best places to visit in 2025 on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Darien Library. — an announcement from Darien Library
Local travel experts Melissa Buch, Amy Nelson, Sara Parent, and Sarah Evans Thelen will fill you in on the the latest travel trends and tips. Come and learn about a range of topics in travel from their various viewpoints within the industry, including the best places to go in 2025, current travel trends, and everything you need to know about traveling with children of all ages. If You’re Going …

Allison Gilbert
Part of the Joy of Connections book cover

Co-Author of a Book About Combatting Loneliness to Speak Tuesday Night, February 4, at Darien Library

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Allison Gilbert, who will talk about her role as co-author, and collaborator with the late Dr. Ruth Westheimer in the making of Dr. Ruth’s last book, The Joy of Connections:100 Ways to Beat Loneliness and Live a Happier and More Meaningful Life. — an announcement from Darien Library and Barrett Bookstore

Allison will be in conversation with broadcast journalist, news anchor and podcaster, Budd Mishkin. In Dr. Ruth’s final book, the well-known therapist offers an urgent guide to combating loneliness with 100 ways to increase connectivity right now, based on insights from her life story and her unparalleled career. About the Book
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, sounded the alarm that loneliness “represents an urgent public health concern.”  This idea of loneliness, exacerbated by social media overuse, the residual effects of the pandemic, and the lack of meaningful relationships, was something that therapist Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer, with her unique perspective and expertise, wanted to help with. Long beloved for breaking stigmas around sexual problems, Dr. Ruth made it her mission to help individuals break free from the bonds of hopelessness and isolation.

Dance
Li-Garden Dance Company

Li-Garden Dance Company Performs at Darien Library Wednesday to Celebrate the Lunar New Year

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Celebrate the Lunar New Year on Wednesday watching a dance performance by Li-Garden Dance Company at Darien Library. — an announcement from Darien Library

Experience the celebration of tradition, culture, and the spirit of the Lunar New Year, brought to life through the artistry and elegance of dance. Li-Garden Dance Company was founded in Stamford in 2017 by dancer and choreographer Kaili Chen. It is committed to traditional Chinese culture and focuses on the teaching and performance of classical and innovative Chinese dance styles. If You’re Going …

Seniors

Documentary and Discussion About Seniors Thriving in Their Later Years Coming Thursday at Library

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The CT Collaborative to End Loneliness, and At Home in Darien invite you to a screening of “In Life,” a documentary celebrating individuals thriving in their later years through creativity and positive age beliefs. The film will be shown Thursday night. — an announcement from Darien Library

The event will feature a post-screening discussion moderated by Steven Law, president of the Law Stroud Foundation, with filmmakers Meghan Shea and Mike Rogers, and Drs. Ashley Duggan and Bernard Ewigman, co-directors of BRANCH, an initiative dedicated to restoring trust and compassion in doctor-patient relationships. “In Life” showcases the artistic journeys of writer Betsy Cox, painter Goh Beng Kwan, and pianist Leeanne Rees, offering inspiring perspectives on aging and creativity.

Darien Library
Mini Golf Darien Library 2025

Darien Library’s Mini Golf Fundraiser Takes Place Saturday and Sunday, February 8 and 9

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Darien Library has announced the return of its 10th Annual Mini Golf Fundraiser, happening on Saturday, February 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, February 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

— an announcement from Darien Library

Mini Golf at the Library has been a community favorite for the past decade, bringing families and friends together for a day of fun. Players of all ages can enjoy putting their way through a unique 18-hole miniature golf course set up throughout the Library. After completing the course, all golfers can warm up with a complimentary hot chocolate, generously provided by Michael Joseph’s Catering. To learn more and register in advance, visit darienlibrary.org/minigolf, or contact the Darien Library Administrative Office at 203-669-5220. Early bird pricing will be available until January 26th for just $8 a person, after that tickets will be $10 per player.

Books & Authors

Author to Discuss His Book on Organizing and Decluttering

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Tyler Moore, the author of the new book, Tidy Up Your Life: Rethinking How to Organize, Declutter, and Make Space for What Matters Most. will discuss it this Sunday, Jan. 12 at Darien Library. — an announcement from Darien Library
Booklist wrote that the book is, “original, whimsical, and altogether practical.” Tyler will be in conversation with Stefanie Jones of The Realistic Organizer.

Business

Tax Tips from SCORE for Small Business Owners: A Talk Monday Night at Darien Library

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Attention small business owners:  the end of the calendar year is fast approaching! An accountant sponsored by SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) of Fairfield County, will speak Monday night at Darien Library about what small business owners should consider regarding income taxes. — an announcement from Darien Library

The talk runs from 6 p.m. to as late as 8:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25, in the Heron Room at Darien Library. Attendees will learn about:

Pass-through business forms
Qualified business income deduction for pass-through business forms
Employee or independent contractor?

Healthy Living
Darien Public Schools newsletter therapy dogs DHS 01-24-17

Managing Emotions and Making Healthier Choices: A Social Worker/Counselor’s Talk on Tuesday

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In a talk Tuesday night at Darien Library, therapist Robert DiRoma will focus on better managing our emotions and making healthier choices, especially as we head into the holiday season. The holidays can bring both joy and heightened stress, particularly for those impacted by domestic violence. These challenges affect women, men, and children, leaving families vulnerable at a critical time. Let’s turn concern into hope. Robert DiRoma will share practical tools and strategies to help us find emotional balance and make positive choices this season.

Books & Authors
Camerata Combat Love

CNN Anchor Alisyn Camerota to Discuss Her Book About Growing Up on the Jersey Shore

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CNN Anchor Alisyn Camerota will visit Darien Library on Sunday, Sept. 22, to discuss her new memoir, Combat Love, a personal story of growing up on the Jersey Shore in the free-range 1980s. — an announcement from Darien Library and Barrett Bookstore

Alisyn will be in conversation with Darien’s Page Berger. Longing for stability and attachment as the foundation of her family crumbled, Camerota finds the belonging she craves courtesy of a local punk rock band named Shrapnel and their diehard fans. Combat Love chronicles her near-misses and misadventures at clubs like CBGB and Max’s Kansas City, coupled with the sex, drugs, and punk rock of 1980s New Jersey.

Barrett Bookstore 2024
Battle of Ink and ice by Darrell Hartman most of book cover (square)

Frostbite and Fake News: Author to Discuss His Book About Clashing Arctic Explorers and New York Newspapers

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Author Darrell Hartman is coming to Darien Library on Sunday, Sept. 8 to talk about his new book, Battle of Ink and Ice: a Sensational Story of News Barons, North Pole Explorers, and the Making of Modern Media. — an announcement from Darien Library and Barrett Bookstore

In the fall of 1909, a pair of bitter contests captured the world’s attention. The American explorers Robert Peary and Frederick Cook both claimed to have discovered the North Pole, sparking a vicious feud that was unprecedented in international scientific and geographic circles. At the same time, the rivalry between two powerful New York City newspapers—the storied Herald and the ascendant Times—fanned the flames of the so-called polar controversy, as each paper financially and reputationally committed itself to an opposing explorer and fought desperately to defend him.

AI
AI, computing, digital technology

You’ve Heard of AI — Now Take an Hour on Sept 4 to Start Understanding It

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Dive into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. An hour-long presentation on Sept. 4 at Darien Library aims to break down the complexities of AI, offering a clear and engaging explanation of its inner workings and transformative potential. — an announcement from Darien Library

The event runs from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, in the Conference Room of Darien Library.

Darien Library
Sheet music

Lecture Wednesday on One of the Most Successful Shows in Broadway History

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Professor Gil Harel will discusses the history of one of the most enduring and successful shows in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, which ran for 35 years on Broadway, until 2023. — an announcement from Darien Library

Harel, from the piano, demonstrates how the music has helped sell so very many tickets over the years. Casting for this show requires a particular type of voice for the role of Christine, who must possess a nimble soprano that can sing well into the sixth octave. Having grossed over a billion dollars on Broadway alone, Phantom also won the 1988 Tony for Best Musical. If You’re Going …