Blog Post
Guitar Hero 3
by jaegerla
Guitar Hero 3 is amazing. The song selection is great, there are more options for the multi-player mode, the graphics are much improved from the previous versions', there are more stylistic choices for the characters, and there are now cut scenes between the levels (contributing to the storyline). While the design of the gameplay itself may be pretty basic, it doesn't change the fact that this is a great, addictive game. Even though this system obviously doesn't have many similarities to true guitar playing, it provides something very valuable for the player in addition to the sheer fun: interest in taking on an instrument. If you've become curious about playing the guitar, you should check out the wide variety of resources the library has on learning the instrument, including
Playing the Guitar
Essential Guitar Chords: Everything You Need to Play Basic Guitar
The Complete Guitar Course
and Teach Yourself Guitar.
Whether you love Guitar Hero or not, you have to admit that the creators of the game succeeded in what they originally set out to do: to imitate the experience of creating music for people that otherwise would not get to enjoy that side of the music.
Blog Post
French Family Cultural Celebration
by StoryLaura
Join us for the French Family Cultural Celebration on November 4 at 2:00 pm at the Downtown Library for a French sing-along with Isabelle Ryan, a snack of biscuits, a display of French materials and a stained glass window craft!
Blog Post
Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal
by kidlit
The story of Cinderella was around long before Disney drew his singing version. It shows up in almost every culture in the world. It's the story of good winning out over evil, hard work being rewarded, and living happily ever after.
Take a look at a new book by Paul Fleischman. It's called Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella. The illustrations are by Julie Paschkis. The author and illustrator have done a magnificent job combining sixteen cultural versions into one telling.
For a list of all the different versions of Cinderella available at the Library, click here.
Blog Post
Don't Want to Trick or Treat?
by kidlit
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Don't want to go trick-or-treating but want a little Halloween fun?
Come to the Malletts Creek Branch Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m for a little seasonal fun. We'll tell some scary stories (not too scary), sing some songs, make skeletons out of q-tips and snack on cider and donut holes.
This will be fun for the whole family!
Blog Post
Quality music for free
by Maxine
The The University of Michigan School of Music offers a rich array of student and faculty performances that are open to the general public. These often free events are all on the University of Michigan campus including the Duderstadt Center, on North Campus, formerly called the Media Union. This Friday, October 26, the Symphony Band performs the premiere of New York City opera composer Daron Hagen's "Banner of My Purpose", an operatic scena based on a letter from a Civil War soldier to his wife written just before a battle in which he dies. Familiar tunes from West Side Story as well baroque and neo-classical pieces fill the evening. The performance will be at Hill Auditorium at 8 p.m. Check out other events on their calendar.
Blog Post
Alexander's No Good, Very Bad Return Home, Turned Out Quite Good, and Not So Bad After All
by emilyas
The author of the famous children's book Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, Judith Viorst, has written a new book about her son's return home with his wife and three children. The book is titled Alexander and the wonderful, marvelous, excellent, terrific ninety days : an almost completely honest account of what happened to our family when our youngest son, his wife, their baby, their toddler, and their five year old came to live with us for three months, which gives you a sense of the humorous slant she plans to take. Check out this article in the NY Times to learn more about the book and Ms. Viorst's real life as the grandmother who banned Play-Doh, painting supplies and even glue from her house.
Blog Post
It's all Happenin' on Halloween
by StoryLaura
Find T Rex and other outrageous costumed creatures when the AADL and the Main Street Area Association partner with a silly story time and parade on Wednesday, October 31. Come to the Downtown Library at 10:00 am for tales and a costume march around the library. Then head to Main Street at 11:00 a.m. for trick-or-treating. This is a perfect way for the stroller crowd to celebrate.
Blog Post
DDR, Guitar Hero, Super Smash, Wii Tennis and More: Another Tournament Weekend!
by eli
It's GT time again! This weekend, we've got some great events lined up for you at the Downtown library, starting with our first-ever All -Ages Rhythm Master Tourney, Friday Night 10/19 from 6-8:30 PM. Come work your way through 8 different Rhythm and Music games to earn a top score and a trip to the finals. Some of these games you've played, but probably not all of them, so come check it out and see if you've got what it takes! Then, our Super Smash Double Dash Championship Series continues Saturday, 10/20, from Noon - 5 PM, with Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart tournaments for Singles and Teams. Finally, come back for a Wii Sports Tennis Doubles Tournament for All Ages Teams, Sunday, 10/21, from 1-4 PM.
It'll be a great weekend of tournaments at the Downtown Library! Hope to see you all there.
Blog Post
Even if you don't like to dance....
by Maxine
...check out Los Gatos at the the Firefly Club where they play every Thursday night. The quintet headed by local drummer Pete Siers draws on more traditional Latin beats like in the music of Mongo Santamaria and Tito Puente. PKO Records who distributes their new cd, "Insight" describes it as "a brilliant compilation of elegant boleros, delightful pachangas, firery mambos, relaxed cha cha chas, and exotic, 6/8 Afro/Cuban dance music." Dancing instruction for beginners starts at 7:15 p.m.
Blog Post
Explorers on the Moon
by anned
You thought Neil and Buzz were the first Explorers on the Moon? Actually, Tintin, his dog Snowy, Captain Haddock, and Professor Calculus made it there first. They're up to their same antics as they explore the moon and save the secrets of Syldavia's state of the art technology from espionage. Rumor has it that Steven Spielberg is teaming up with Peter Jackson for a Tintin movie to be released in 2009.
Want more moon exploration info? Apollo Mission documentary In the Shadow of the Moon, with never before seen footage, is now playing at the State Theater!