March 2009

  • Kindergarten choices

    At this time of year, preschool parents are discovering that they have a tough decision to make – kindergarten selection.  As a parent of a preschooler myself, I’ve recently been immersed in the wonderful world of classroom sizes, test scores, transportation options, extra-curricular activities, PTSA involvement, after school care, and profiles of teachers and principals.   If… Continue reading

  • Living Urban & Living Green

    The greening of Seattle isn’t really new.  People have been practicing the art of green living in our emerald city for some time.  There are a range of organizations and guide books providing ideas, inspiration, and support for people exploring the various shades of green living. Green urban living has an aesthetic all its own. … Continue reading

  • Watching the Watchmen: The Superhuman Factor.

    Finally: This week is the loooong awaited premiere of the Watchmen movie based on the renowned genre-bending graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The original, together with Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns (partial inspiration for the recent hit films), helped usher in a new “dark age” in superhero comics, one that is bleaker,… Continue reading

  • Looking for ornery fae in the Tri-Cities

    Moon Called by Patricia Briggs tells the story of Mercy Thompson, an auto-mechanic in the Tri-Cities who can turn into a coyote at will. Mercy’s world is full of ornery fae, egocentric werewolves, and quirky, creepy vampires, all more supernaturally powerful than her. If Mercy can keep her head down and her mouth shut, she… Continue reading

  • My Night with Greg Kinnear

    “There is a story about the Greek Gods; they were bored so they invented human beings, but they were still bored so they invented love, then they weren’t bored any longer. So they decided to try love for themselves. And finally, they invented laughter, so they could stand it.” I put two promising titles on… Continue reading

  • Researching names for babies, characters and all kinds of cats

    Earlier this year a group of librarians offered to help one of our pregnant coworkers name her babies (yes, babies—as in two!). Although she graciously declined our assistance, the conversation continued and headed, as it so often does when librarians confab, to research—in this case researching names for babies, pets and characters in novels.    … Continue reading

  • The Irish Are Coming! Irish Genealogists Coming to Seattle!

    Are you tracing your Irish roots? Do you know the background of your ancestors? Were they Irish or Scots-Irish? Want to know more … Find out more at Central Library (Level 4, Room 2) at a special Irish Genealogy Advice Clinic from the Ulster Historical Foundation, on Monday, March 9, from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. Speakers… Continue reading

  • Meet your new City Librarian

    Everyone is invited to an open house to meet new City Librarian Susan Hildreth from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, in the Microsoft Auditorium at the Central Library. Stop by any time during the open house to visit with Hildreth and enjoy refreshments! There will be a brief program at 2:30 p.m.… Continue reading