Arts & Culture

  • It Could Always Be Worse

    I don’t know about you, but the idea of being quarantined for a few days sounded like a great idea with all the books and movies I have on my list. Now that I am stir crazy and want to get out of the house that is highly inadvisable, so I decided to put together… Continue reading

  • Reconnect Virtually with Seattle Museums 

    Connecting virtually with our friends, families, co-workers, classmates – this new way of life is quickly becoming the norm. The way we interact with the world will forever be changed by this pandemic.  What seems to always be true in times of national crisis is the rise of creativity and ingenuity among people and communities.… Continue reading

  • Missing Live Music? We’ve Got You Covered

    If you’re a live show junkie, Washington’s new “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order might have you feeling a little stir-crazy. Not to worry: we’ll be writing a series of posts that might help you get your music fix with the aid of streaming services like Freegal, Hoopla, and Kanopy.  First up, let’s take a deep… Continue reading

  • Move That Body

    One of the things I noticed the most about being home the first few days of self-isolation was my lack of movement. With gyms and some parks and playgrounds closed, and with more people sheltering in place, innovation began to occur. My local yoga studio started doing free yoga classes online via YouTube. Talking to… Continue reading

  • Stay-at-Home Drive-In Movie Madness!!

    After regular movie theaters have suspended operations, many couples and families have rediscovered Drive-In Movie Theaters, where social distancing is a standard feature! My sister is a drive-in movie buff, and so she and her husband love to go to the Blue Fox Drive-In up on Oak Harbor, one of five still running in our… Continue reading

  • Kanopy Has You Covered

    Kanopy is a library-provided movie app I have on many devices. I have it on my phone, Apple TV, and our iPad, but it’s not an app I’ve used very often… until now. One of the things I enjoy the most about Kanopy is what it offers breaks me out of my comfort zone. Kanopy… Continue reading

  • Escapist Reading

    Times being what they are you may be finding yourself at home more than usual. We are going through a stressful time as a city, county, state and country. It seems like the perfect time to escape into a good book. Below are some books that will pull you into another world. If you’re feeling… Continue reading

  • St. Patrick’s Day and Chill

    This St. Patrick’s Day we may find ourselves hunkering down with a movie and drinking at home. That made me think of some of my favorite films over the years that I’ve watched around this time of year. My absolute favorite when I was a kid was Darby O’Gill and the Little People. My godmother… Continue reading

  • Throwback Thursday: March 31, 2008

    Seattle Reads, the arts, and gentrification was the topic in our Throwback Thursday post on March 31, 2008. If you have picked up this year’s Seattle Reads novel, The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu you’ve had a chance to get one novelist’s take on some of the issues and pressures that can… Continue reading

  • My Biggest Little Obsession

    Have you seen The Biggest Little Farm? If you have are you completely obsessed with it like I am? And if you haven’t seen it, you must! It is beautiful and full of hope and just gives you the happiest feeling. It has become my go to when I’m having a rough day or when… Continue reading

  • 2020 Adaptations: From Book to Screen

    Books are increasingly becoming Hollywood’s most treasured manna–the star-stuff that inspires the year’s buzziest television films and movies. Here are some books and series coming to screens big and small this year: Let’s start with adaptations with Northwest ties! Continue reading

  • Frame by Frame:  Celebrating Northwest Art and Artists

    Frame by Frame:  Celebrating Northwest Art and Artists

    Seattle hosts a rich tradition of art-making from Northwest Indian arts to contemporary artists. A spectrum of artists of every level and medium, of organizations, collectors and art lovers engenders a vibrant community within and beyond our city limits. The Seattle Public Library has long held a significant place in this city’s arts infrastructure. Our… Continue reading

  • Upcoming Author Events for January

    Check out these upcoming events with Native storyteller Roger Fernandes, Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, novelist Peter Curtis, and two open mic readings at Ballard and Columbia branches. The free programs listed below are held at a variety of library locations in January; please check our online Author and Books Events calendar for complete details on these… Continue reading

  • The Yule Log Times Three!

    Each of us has a picture that pops into our minds whenever we hear about the yule log. Whether it’s a log on the fire during Winter Solstice, a decadent dessert, or a cozy mystery. Here are a few items in our collection to celebrate the yule log in its many forms! For apartment dwellers… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction for the Movie Based Fan!

    I love science fiction – but realized recently that the genre is really different to read than it is to watch. I have two dozen favorite TV shows and movies that are all science fiction, but really struggle to find the same styles and pacing in books. However, I have recently come across some titles… Continue reading

  • Who needs Disney+ when you have the library?

    Sure Disney+ has new TV shows and movies to watch, but the library has the classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and lot of other great Disney resources too! Whether you want to start at the beginning and learn about the man who dreamed up Disney with the book Walt Disney: The Triumph… Continue reading

  • Thrilling Tales for the Holidays

    Now that Hallowe’en is past, we approach the holidays with visions of murder dancing in our heads. We’re talking about the next few months of Thrilling Tales – Seattle Public Library’s popular Story time for Grownups, of course! It all starts this Sunday: November 17, 7 p.m. with a Storytime for Grownups at Third Place… Continue reading

  • Be the Change: Race and Social Justice

    Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. – James Baldwin Recently on a streaming service, I watched a documentary on White Privilege.  At the beginning of the documentary, which was hosted by a white women, there was a room full of people of color and… Continue reading