Events Calendar

Gladiator

Directed by Ridley Scott.  Performances by Russell Crow, Joaquin Phoenix, Richard Harris.  Paramount Pictures, 2000.  Rated R.  155 min.  Historical Epic / Drama

A sweeping historical epic that catapulted audiences into the heart of ancient Rome, where honor, ambition, and vengeance collide. Starring Russell Crowe in an Oscar-winning performance, the film tells the captivating story of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a loyal general betrayed by the corrupt Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who seizes power and becomes Emperor. With its grandiose spectacle, visceral action sequences, and emotionally charged storytelling, “Gladiator” has cemented its place as a cinematic masterpiece and remains a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Kids, teens, and their caregivers are invited to cook with Chef Lily at Hawthorne Library! Participants will prepare and enjoy a wide variety of recipes, while learning about meal planning, following recipes, and using kitchen gadgets and tools. The finished meal will be shared among those who cooked as well as other customers at Hawthorne Library.

Join us for our final discussion of Sitting Pretty: the view from my ordinary resilient disabled body by Rebecca Taussig! 

Growing up as a paralyzed girl during the 90s and early 2000s, Rebekah Taussig only saw disability depicted as something monstrous (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), inspirational (Helen Keller), or angelic (Forrest Gump). None of this felt right; and as she got older, she longed for more stories that allowed disability to be complex and ordinary, uncomfortable and fine, painful and fulfilling.

Writing about the rhythms and textures of what it means to live in a body that doesn’t fit, Rebekah reflects on everything from the complications of kindness and charity, living both independently and dependently, experiencing intimacy, and how the pervasiveness of ableism in our everyday media directly translates to everyday life.

Disability affects all of us, directly or indirectly, at one point or another. By exploring this truth in poignant and lyrical essays, Taussig illustrates the need for more stories and more voices to understand the diversity of humanity. Sitting Pretty challenges us as a society to be patient and vigilant, practical and imaginative, kind and relentless, as we set to work to write an entirely different story.

This event will also be hosted virtually through Zoom; more information will be emailed to you upon registration. Zoom is a free video platform, and you can watch on a browser, through the free mobile app for ios or android, or call in to participate by voice only.