Tag: featured

Join us at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 for a demonstration of traditional Greek dance by the St. Nicholas Greek Dance Troupe. This lively performance will be capped off with a Q&A session with performers. The free event will take place in the UCPL auditorium, and is open to all.

This program is part of the Adult Summer Reading Big Book Challenge featuring Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey. Visit our Adult Summer Reading page for more information.

This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

Join us for a free performance by solo vocalist Aida Ade at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 30 in the auditorium. With inspirations ranging from Nina Simone to Chaka Khan, to Sade to Fall Out Boy to Chronixx, singer, songwriter, and producer Aida Ade displays a truly eclectic sound in each of her works.

Ade is a trauma therapist and classically-trained violist who has transitioned into the world of vocal music. Her most recent EP, The Unbreakable Aida Ade, embodies the unique blending of her many musical influences as well as her mental health background. She was recently featured in St. Louis Magazine as one of St. Louis’s most exciting artists and has recently released a debut album.

This free event will take place in the UCPL auditorium and is recommended for adults, but open to all ages.

Once again, our Adult Summer Reading Program will take the form of a Big Book Challenge, and this summer, we’re focusing on Homer’s The Odyssey, translated by Emily Wilson. While it’s far from the longest book we’ve tackled, the epic Greek poem is one of the most enduring stories in western literature, and Wilson’s translation is first English translation by a woman, giving new insight into The Odyssey nearly 3,000 years after its inception.

Over the summer, we’ll explore this foundational epic in monthly discussions, supplemented by a fantastic line-up of lectures and cultural programming. Our program kicks off at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 28 when participants can pick up books and reading guides. Additional programs include a keynote address from Washington University Senior Lecturer in Classics Dr. Kate Wilson on Wednesday, June 11; a field trip to explore the era and themes of The Odyssey through art at the St. Louis Art Museum; a performance of traditional Greek dance by the St. Nicholas Greek Dance Troupe; and a film screening of O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the Coen Brothers’ satirical take on The Odyssey.

For more information on all of our summer reading programs, visit the Adult Summer Reading page of our website. If you’re interested in participating, please fill out this (very) brief RSVP so we know how many books and other materials we’ll need.

Finally, we would be remiss if we didn’t add our thanks to the Library Services and Technology Act, which is appropriated by Congress and administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Missouri Secretary of State, which makes this program possible. We can’t wait to read with you!