Discuss great books and other things to do in the Canandaigua area
Sure, it’s easy for you to say, go read a book, but which one?
Wood Library can help, above and beyond that whole free book rental thing they do, that is.
The library’s Books Sandwiched In series has started. At noon on Mondays, readers from within the community discuss books they’ve read. This year, the series started (Feb. 5) with Ontario County Public Health Director Kate Ott discussing “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride. Next up is Canandaigua Recreation Supervisor Heather Pogue, who will discuss “12,755 Days” by Samantha Parrish.
These are the books and authors that will be discussed in the coming weeks: “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane” by Lisa See; “Mistress of the Ritz” by Melanie Benjamin; “Nature's Best Hope” and “The Nature of Oak” by Doug Tallamy; “Tehanu” by Ursula Leguin; “The Life and Death of the Great Lakes” by Daniel Egan; and “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks.
The series continues every Monday at noon through March 25.
Here’s what else is happening this week.
1. Learn more about the LGBTQ+ community
Participants will learn from the educators at Trillium Health about different sexual identities, language and terminology when discussing LGBT+ people in the Wood Library program, “Serving our Community with Pride: Identities, Language and Terminology.” It will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at at the library, 134 N. Main St., Canandaigua. For details and to register for this or other Wood Library programs, visit woodlibrary.org or call 585-394-1381.
2. Let’s get ready to Zumba in Canandaigua
Wood Library is hosting Zumba classes Tuesdays, beginning 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at Wood Library, 134 N. Main St., Canandaigua. Zumba combines dance, strengthening exercises and balance with a wide variety of high-energy music. Please bring sneakers and water and be prepared to dance. This class is suitable for all bodies and abilities. For details and to register for this or other Wood Library programs, visit woodlibrary.org or call 585-394-1381.
3. A whitewater canoe travelogue in Victor
Terry Brayman will share what it’s like to whitewater canoe on the Broken Skull and Nahanni Rivers in the Northwest Territory of Canada through videos and photos. The program will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 6 at Victor Farmington Library, 15 W. Main St., Victor. For details and to register for this and other programs, visit www.victorfarmingtonlibrary.org.
4. FLCC history talk explores Armenian genocide
Ronald Grigor Suny, a University of Michigan historian specializing in European nations and nationalism, will give an online talk on the Armenian genocide. "Truth in Telling: Reconciling Realities in the Genocide of the Ottoman Armenians” will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 6. Between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey) targeted and killed around 1.5 million Armenians, an ethnic and cultural population, in what is known as the Armenian genocide. Suny is the author of “A History of the Armenian Genocide” and co-edited “A Question of Genocide.” His talk is part of the History, Culture and Diversity series organized by Finger Lakes Community College Professor Robert Brown and sponsored by the college’s social science department. The public is welcome to join the web conference at bit.ly/DrSuny or to watch on the FLCC YouTube account. Direct links are available on the college’s website calendar at events.flcc.edu.
5. Native plants program offered in Victor
Learn more about native plants at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at Victor Farmington Library, 15 W. Main St., Victor. Watch and discuss a short video featuring Doug Tallamy, who is an entomologist, professor at Delaware University and author of several books who has also published several videos. For details and to register for this and other programs, visit www.victorfarmingtonlibrary.org.
6. Who is the man behind the Cream of Wheat cereal ads?
Connie Fredericks-Malone along with a representative of the Society of Illustrators will provide the answer in the program, "Introducing the Chef Rastus, the Man and the Artist behind Cream of Wheat Cereal Advertisements.” The talk will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Wood Library, 134 N. Main St., Canandaigua. Library visitors can also view Fredericks-Malone's personal collection of Cream of Wheat cereal advertisements in the lobby. For details and to register for this or other Wood Library programs, visit woodlibrary.org or call 585-394-1381.
7. Discuss climate technology and competition
The next “Great Decisions” global affairs education program will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9, at Ferris Hills at West Lake, which is best accessed from the 3300 block of West Lake Road (County Road 16) in Canandaigua, via Peg Rayburn Drive. The topic is climate technology and competition. Interested community members may attend as many sessions as they choose. Optional “Great Decisions” discussion books are available for purchase online at www.fpa.org.
8. Who’s up for a rom-com?
The Players of the Ontario County Arts Council will stage three reader’s theater performances of “Heartbeats,” a romantic comedy. The first is at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Country Lawyer Gallery of the Arts, 7 Church St., Phelps. The next is at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Salvation Army auditorium, 110 Saltonstall St., Canandaigua, followed by another at 2 p.m. Feb. 11 at Ferris Hills, 1 Peg Rayburn Drive, Canandaigua. Reader’s theater is a style without costumes, props, scenery or special lighting. Actors use only scripts and vocal expressions to help the audience understand the story. Donations will be accepted to support the student scholarship and community grants programs of the Arts Council. For details, visit www.ocarts.org or call 585-412-6043.
9. ‘Chasin’ the Blues’ in Canandaigua
The Chasin’ the Blues fundraiser will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at Crosswinds Wesleyan Church, 3360 Middle Cheshire Road, Canandaigua. Comedian Paul Aldrich, the Canandaigua Jazz Ensemble and Dan Kulp are scheduled to perform. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door and are available at Mobile Music, Canandaigua National Bank or by calling 585-402-3238. Proceeds go to Called to Care Canandaigua efforts of resettling refugee families.
10. Another Arc Ontario magical night in Clifton Springs
“A Magical Night” fundraiser is planned for 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Clifton Springs Country Club, 2722 Town Line Road, Clifton Springs. The Arc Ontario’s fundraiser will feature a performance by strolling magician Brian Geer, a musical performance by The Uptown Groove and food stations offering an array of culinary delights. Tickets are $80 per person or $150 per couple. Purchase tickets by visiting www.ontarioarcevents.org/a-magical-night.
11. See teen choir perform in Geneva before they travel
The St. Peter's Community Arts Academy Choir is planning a concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 in the sanctuary of St. Peter's Church, 149 Genesee St., Geneva. The 22-person teen choir will tour the United Kingdom during the Presidents Week break. The concert is free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
12. Art and Abraham Lincoln at Cheshire Union
An opening reception for "Lincoln in the Adirondacks" will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, at the Cheshire Union, 4244 state Route 21 South, Canandaigua. Studio artist John Dyer will give a talk at 2 p.m. that will center on Abraham Lincoln and the extraordinary amount of research and rare artifacts that Dyer has studied to complete Lincoln's portrait. Dyer is also offering a free portrait drawing class for kids ages 7 and up on Presidents Day from 2 to 3 p.m. Preregistration is required and can be done online at https://www.cheshireunion.com/event-details/lincoln-portrait-drawing or call 585-394-5530. A selection of oil paintings from throughout Dyer's career is in the Cheshire Union's Rusty Brundage Memorial Art Gallery through Friday, March 8. Gallery hours are Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, noon-5 p.m.
If you have an event you'd like to see listed in the "Things to Do" column, email Mike Murphy at mmurphy@messengerpostmedia.com.
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.
This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Things to do in Canandaigua NY this week
