June kicks off the biggest thing we do all year. Something that is months in the making. A series of events that bring all the kids and families entertainment, education and joy. It’s Summer at CPL! (there are also teen and adult versions of this). Miss My, Librarian Tiffany and Lill have been working hard to bring our community a broad variety of fun and educational programs throughout the summer. The big kickoff event is on Saturday, June 8 at 11:00am with an interactive Blues and storytelling event with local legends (and Grammy nominated) Wendy and DB.
Make Music Day is Friday, June 21. We have a full slate of music from pop, folk, bluegrass, and classical to a special family performance by the Lucky Trikes. A storytelling chamber band that performs for groups of all ages, fronted by dynamic performance artist Deirdre Harrison and backed by experimental and improvised music. Join us in front of the library at 9:30am!
And we have two very special bilingual English/Spanish family programs in June. On Saturday, June 15 at 11am we are hosting Irregular Girl for a Drag Storytime and the following Saturday, June 22 at 10:30am, we welcome back Parents Choice Award winners Mi Amigo Hamlet y Alina Celeste for Being Bilingual Rocks! For more info and to register, click the linked program titles.
Never too early to mention a very special program. Tiffany and Lill will host a family field trip to the Art Institute on Saturday, July 13 from 1:30-4pm. We will have a bus to take a limited number of families for a guided, interactive tour followed by a studio project for kids and adults. Advance registration and permission slips are required. Please register on our website or call the branch for more information at 312-744-8400.
Cicadas—Still Waiting
Music at the ‘brary
Are you a musician? Want to play at the library? Here are two upcoming opportunities:
Make Music Day is Friday, June 21. We will be having music from 9:30am-4pm and if the weather is good, performers will play in front of the branch. Performers include Lucky Trikes (story time chamber band—bring the kids!), Tank and the Beez (Blues, Bluegrass, Folk and Jazz), and Uptown’s own Caro Granner (Indie Folk).
We have installed a music practice room! It is actually our study room modified for musicians (and podcasters). Feel free to book the room via this link. No amplified instruments please.
Our Library of Things continues to expand and now includes musical instruments such as ukeleles, guitars (one electric with amp!), djembe, talking drum, tongue drum, and keyboards. You can borrow them for three weeks at a time. Most of them come with beginner instruction books, too.
Art at Uptown
Yet another great art program awaits you at Uptown on Thursday, June 20 at 6pm—Landscape Through O’Keeffe’s Eyes with teaching artists from the Art Institute. This hands-on workshop will use the urban landscapes of Georgia O’Keeffe featured in an upcoming exhibit, to inspire your urban art. Use the link to register as space is limited.
Not-So-Secret Garden
Did you know we have a garden behind the branch? We do and you can enjoy it on good weather days to read, lounge and work. We have been hosting music and all sorts of programs in the garden for a few years now.
We could also use some help in the garden, so if you have some time and some interest, please reach out to Mark at mkaplan@chipublib.org.
Welcome Chris!
Today (June 1) we welcome Chris, our new Teen Librarian. His presence will help jump start our tween and teen programming. Please welcome Chris next time you visit Uptown.