February 2023 Events at the New Rochelle Public Library
All events take place at the New Rochelle Public Library, 1 Library Plaza, New Rochelle.
In addition to the programs listed below, daily programs for children and teens, and a variety of computer classes can be found on the NRPL online calendar at bit.ly/NewNRPLCalendar
Chair Yoga
Mondays, 12:30 – 1:30 pm
February 6, 13 and 27
Wednesdays, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
February 8 and 15
Conquer stress and fatigue and bring renewed energy and focus to your day with a gentle yet invigorating session of chair yoga. No need to change clothing or lie on a mat. Free. Space is limited. First come. First served. Drop in. No registration required. Space is limited; first come-first-served.
Tutoring for Teens by Teens
Monday – Friday, 2/1 – 2/17, 2/27 & 2/28, 4 – 5 pm: Spanish
Mon., 2/6, 2/13, 2/27, 5 – 8 pm: Math, English & Social Studies
Tuesday, 2/21, 5 – 8 pm: Math, English & Social Studies
Thursdays, 2/2 – 2/23, 5 – 8 pm: Math, English & Social Studies
Saturdays, 2/4 – 2/25, 10 am – 1 pm, 2 – 4 pm: Math & Spanish
For tweens and teens in grades 6 – 12. Receive assistance on school assignments and subjects from your peers. Available on a first come, first served basis. Free
Before Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball’s Color Barrier
Wednesday, February 1, 7:30 pm (Virtual)
In this virtual presentation, Before Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball’s Color Barrier, author Ted Reinstein tells the story of the little-known heroes who fought segregation in baseball, from communist newspaper reporters to the Pullman car porters who saw to it that black newspapers espousing integration in professional sports reached the homes of blacks throughout the country. It also reminds us that the first black player in professional baseball was not Jackie Robinson but Moses Fleetwood Walker in 1884, and that for a time integrated teams were not that unusual. And then, as segregation throughout the country hardened, the exclusion of blacks in baseball quietly became the norm, and the battle for integration began anew. Registration required at bit.ly/BreakingBarriers_02_2023
Registrants will receive the Zoom link for the program a few days prior to the program.
Adult Art Workshop: Box of Hearts Pop up Card Workshop
Friday, February 3, 10:00 – 11:15 am
Learn how to make a pop-up card full of hearts that open into a Valentine bouquet. Easy to follow instructions and materials provided. Drop in.
Kids Acting Workshop
Saturday, February 4, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Have you always thought your child was meant for the stage or for the movies? In this workshop, teachers from the Sandbox Theatre will offer instruction on the basics of performing – from projecting your voice, to developing a character, and even learning all about improvisation. The class will be fast-paced and fun, with an emphasis on comedy that will have everyone laughing. No experience necessary! Ages 7 – 11 years. Space is limited. Registration requested at bit.ly/KidsTheaterWkshp_01_2023
Art Exhibit: “Tracing Our Roots: New Rochelle’s Black History”
Sunday, February 5 – Saturday, March 4, 2023
Reception, Sunday, February 25, 5:30 pm
The New Rochelle Council on the Arts continues its on-going exploration of the city’s heritage through this exhibit which focuses on the places, people, events and movements that shaped the lives of New Rochelle’s African American residents. The narrative is one of slavery, migration, segregation and intentional integration, venerable institutions, acclaimed national figures, tireless activism, and preservation of tradition.
An Afternoon Concert with Mikael Darmanie and Robyn Quinnett
Sunday, February 5, 2:00 pm
Join us for the kickoff of our 2023 Sunday afternoon concert series. Enjoy a delightful chamber music concert by accomplished pianist Mikael Darmanie and violinist Robyn Quinnett in the intimate Ossie Davis Theater. The program will feature works for violin and piano by Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Ellington, Montgomery and Schubert. Registration requested at bit.ly/Darmanie_Quinnett_02_2023
Yoga and Meditative Arts Workshop
Tuesday, February 7 and Thursday, February 23, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Join us for a 45-minute Gentle Yoga class with Breathing (Pranayama) and Movement (Asana) followed by a 45-minute Artistic Meditation (Pratyahra) with specific creative exercises including writing prompts, vision collage and mandala coloring. Appropriate for teens aged 16+ through adults of any age. Free. Space is limited. Registration is requested at bit.ly/NewNRPLCalendar (find the date you’d like to register, click and proceed with registration) or phone 914-813-3706
Knitting Workshop
Wednesdays, February 8 and 15, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Professional knitter, Esther Sussner, is holding drop-in workshops for knitters of all levels, from beginner to advanced. Feel free to bring your work in progress. Supplies will be provided for absolute beginners.
Valentine’s Day Dessert Baking Workshop (Virtual)
Thursday, February 9, 7:00 pm
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, learn to bake elegant and delicious, yet easy-to-make desserts with Chef Empress Vasquez. In this virtual program, you will create a decadent molten chocolate lava cake, a rich and fudgy treat with a classic gooey chocolate center that flows like lava. You’ll also bake a Persian love cake, a rich, moist, and nutty almond cake loaded with floral and citrus flavor, topped with a lemon glaze, pistachios, and rose petals. Registration required at bit.ly/ValentinesDesserts_02_2023. Recipes will be shared once you register.
Harlem Blues and Jazz Band
Friday, February 10, 7:00 pm
Coined as “The best that America has to offer “, the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band returns to the New Rochelle Public Library by popular demand! The Band, founded in 1973 by jazz aficionado Dr. Albert Vollmer, brings together the best sidemen of the times who played with such bands as Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Lionel Hampton, Benny Carter and others. They began to tour internationally in 1976 and continue to be one of the most authentic Swing Bands playing today. Registration requested at bit.ly/HarlemBlues_02_2023
NRPL Film Series: ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS
Tuesday, February 14, 5:30 pm
New Rochelle librarian and film historian Chris Poggiali will introduce and discuss New Rochelle librarian and film historian Chris Poggiali will introduce and discuss the 1940 historical film ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS (1940) starring Raymond Massey, Ruth Gordon; directed by John Cromwell – 110 minutes. Registration requested at bit.ly/FilmLincoln_02_2023 or phone, 914-813-3706
Women and Money Roundtable (Virtual)
February 15, 1:00 pm
The Women and Money series is a virtual, monthly financial literacy program designed to educate women of any age about the financial matters that affect their lives. The program provides information, resources, learning activities and moderators to educate and create a safe and welcoming place for women to learn, share their experiences, and ask questions. Registration required at bit.ly/WomenandMoney_02_2023 or call or phone 914-813-3706
Registrants will receive a ZOOM link to the program a few days before the event.
The History of the George Washington Carver Garden Club of Westchester (Virtual)
Thursday, February 16, 6:30 pm
The George Washington Carver Garden Club of Westchester was founded in 1933 at the height of George Carver’s renown as an agricultural scientist and leading conservationist. The club was active in New Rochelle for fifty years, and it promoted the pleasures of suburban gardening, flower shows, horticulture, and landscaping. In this virtual presentation, NRPL Archivist David Rose will describe the club’s activities and its relation to the work and discoveries of George Carver based on records in the Library’s archive. Registration required at bit.ly/GWCarverGarden_02_2023
Brown Bag Book Discussion: The Big Rich: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes
Tuesday, February 21, 12:00 pm
A librarian-led book discussion. Bring a lite lunch. Newcomers welcome. A supply of the book to be discussed will be available to borrow from the first floor hold shelf approximately 2 months before the meeting date. Drop in. No registration required.
Bokandeye African Dance Performance
Saturday, February 25, 3:30 pm
Children and adults will be thrilled and enlightened by the rich and colorful history of West Africa through dance, rhythm, song and theater. A collage of traditional rhythms and dances from the Senegambia Region of West Africa will be brilliantly staged and choreographed to tell the stories and folklore of the ancient African Villages. Registration requested at bit.ly/BkndyPerf_02_2023