CRAM IT IN!

I mean, come on.

There always comes a point at the end of the summer, or the end of a vacation, or the end of a long weekend, or the last minutes of sunlight on a single day off, that I go into a panic because I have not read as much as I was planning to when said vacation was spread in front of me.

With that in mind I feel a little guilty laying a booklist roundup on you so close to the end of summer. But one of them is a list of books that don't even exist yet, so take a deep breath, and take a look...

TRASHY READS (via Flavorwire)
This is the only true "booklist" I'm including, meaning it's ALL books, and they all exist. Most available at your local library (ahem). Oh man, there are some amazing trashy books on this list, that have been SO MANY people's first introduction to topics people may not want young folks to know about. And they are salacious and page-turning and as good as staring at a Real Housewives marathon, I promise you. I have been meaning to read Scruples since I was about 12 years old. Before the summer is over! New goal!

FEMINIST SYLLABUS (also via Flavorwire)
 This list is cool because it's not just books, it's movies, youtube clips, songs, TV shows, art, you name it. Feminism is a huge, sprawling study and you'll find a lot of different ideas, presentations and styles on this list. I'd like to personally put in a plug for Julia Sugarbaker and her rant about ladies enjoying the company of other ladies. PREACH IT, JULIA SUGARBAKER! 

FUTURE BIOGRAPHIES (via BookRiot)
I like this idea. We're able to follow the lives of musicians, actors, writers and artists we admire minute to minute to second these days, but their story might change with some space and perspective. Something to keep in mind as you pass through TMZ...

CRAM IT IN!

I mean, come on.

There always comes a point at the end of the summer, or the end of a vacation, or the end of a long weekend, or the last minutes of sunlight on a single day off, that I go into a panic because I have not read as much as I was planning to when said vacation was spread in front of me.

With that in mind I feel a little guilty laying a booklist roundup on you so close to the end of summer. But one of them is a list of books that don't even exist yet, so take a deep breath, and take a look...

TRASHY READS (via Flavorwire)
This is the only true "booklist" I'm including, meaning it's ALL books, and they all exist. Most available at your local library (ahem). Oh man, there are some amazing trashy books on this list, that have been SO MANY people's first introduction to topics people may not want young folks to know about. And they are salacious and page-turning and as good as staring at a Real Housewives marathon, I promise you. I have been meaning to read Scruples since I was about 12 years old. Before the summer is over! New goal!

FEMINIST SYLLABUS (also via Flavorwire)
 This list is cool because it's not just books, it's movies, youtube clips, songs, TV shows, art, you name it. Feminism is a huge, sprawling study and you'll find a lot of different ideas, presentations and styles on this list. I'd like to personally put in a plug for Julia Sugarbaker and her rant about ladies enjoying the company of other ladies. PREACH IT, JULIA SUGARBAKER! 

FUTURE BIOGRAPHIES (via BookRiot)
I like this idea. We're able to follow the lives of musicians, actors, writers and artists we admire minute to minute to second these days, but their story might change with some space and perspective. Something to keep in mind as you pass through TMZ...

AMAZING CONTEST ALERT!

We're hosting the Boston Teen Author Festival here at the Cambridge Public Library in the fall. (More details on that to come! It's going to be amazing! YA authors are going to rain down on the library, and you can be there to meet them and ask them all your burning questions!) Anyway, before that happens, the folks from the BTAF are running a contest for teens! SHOW 'EM WHAT CAMBRIDGE IS MADE OF!

Questions? Ask a librarian!

AMAZING CONTEST ALERT!

We're hosting the Boston Teen Author Festival here at the Cambridge Public Library in the fall. (More details on that to come! It's going to be amazing! YA authors are going to rain down on the library, and you can be there to meet them and ask them all your burning questions!) Anyway, before that happens, the folks from the BTAF are running a contest for teens! SHOW 'EM WHAT CAMBRIDGE IS MADE OF!

Questions? Ask a librarian!

96 years ago, Ella Fitzgerald was born

And a good thing too.

Image: Carl Van Vechtan (Library of Congress collection)

Happy Birthday Edward Gorey!

Wherever you are...

Truly an ingenious man, who lived the later part of his life in our own Cape Cod.  You can dress in your finest Gothic Victorian garb and visit his house!

He may have written about beastly things
happening to children, but he loved cats.

If you don't know who the heck Edward Gorey is, you can get started by reading The Gashlycrumb Tinies, one of the most famous and macabre alphabet books on record.

















This was my first introduction to his work:


And I wonder now as I did then, "Why doesn't she just untie her feet?"

Links N' Videos

• The Museum of Fine Arts is seeking teens for the 2013 summer Teen Arts Council (TAC).  Members work on a variety of museum activities and attend workshops and training sessions to develop creative and critical thinking skills.  And they get paid!  Contact 617-369-4359 or tac@mfa.org.

• Ice carts in China! Why don't we have these?

• Reflection in Action is back, with their annual contest about health and fitness.

If you have been leery of French comics (bande dessinee) this trailer will change your mind.




I don't need to explain this, do I?


Yeah. Insanely awesome.

Sadly, these amazing pumpkins may be underwater

But you can revel in the artistic process!




Up until now I thought Martha Stewart was all that, but she does not tend towards the gory. That's okay, Martha, we all have our own skill set.

Another example of incredible pumpkin-talent here:

Are you still here, reading this? Get on over to the hardware store for woodcarving tools and LED light fixtures! Do you prefer to make your Jack-o-lantern scary or friendly? And do you try to roast the seeds (and end up setting the kitchen on fire) or do you just chuck the insides? Share, share in the comments!

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are in their 90th year! Here's your chance to participate in the nation's longest-running, most prestigious educational initiative supporting student achievement in the visual and literary arts and today's largest source of scholarships for creative teens.

If you are a teenager in grades 7-12 (from public, private and home schools or an American-run school abroad) you are eligible to submit your art and writing for consideration.


To learn more, visit the links above or the Scholastic Art & Writing Facebook page.

The Old Man and the Sea

in 4 minutes...

Win $$$ for your school's art program

Vans is holding a national shoe customization contest that will award $50,000 to a high school art program.  'Cause when money gets tight, art classes are early up on the chopping block and it's a dang shame.

You will need a teacher to register for the contest so hurry! time is running out and only the first 1,000 schools to register will be eligible.

SWOON at the ICA

Street artist, Swoon, has an exhibit at the ICA, which will be up until December. She's got a GIANT instillation on the museum's entry art wall, reaching 40 feet tall. Not only is this is the largest instillation the museum has had on the wall, but it is so very amazing as well. The photo to the right is not in this exhibit, but displays Swoon's intricate paper-cutting techniques. So pretty. And I bet most of you have seen her work, as she's plastered images up in Central Square. I could say so much more...or you could just watch this video of some teens interviewing Swoon.




(P.S. The ICA is always free for ages 17 and under, and free for all every Thursday evening from 5 to 9 pm).
http://www.icaboston.org/visit/

Reflection in Action multimedia art contest

Reflection in Action is an extension of the Harvard Medical School Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership Explorations program.  RIA promotes careers in science and medicine for Boston and Cambridge middle school students, as well as healthy living and the national Let's Move! campaign.

As a part of their spring program RIA is holding a Building Healthy Communities contest.  Eligible participants* may submit a work of visual art, performing art, or written art.  Three winners will receive cash prizes or gift certificates.

*6th, 7th and 8th grade students who live in Boston or Cambridge, or attend Boston or Cambridge schools, organizations, after-school programs, community programs or religious institutions.

Breaking Up

So, there's book coming out at the end of the year, and it's about a breakup. A horrible, heart wrenching breakup. The kind that can only come at the end of an amazing, exciting, against-all-odds, oh-my-god-all-my-friends-hate-me-because-i-am-obnoxiously-in-love love. This book tells both stories, the beginning and the end. At the same time.

It's a pretty great book. It's by Daniel Handler (who you THINK you haven't heard of, but trust me, you have). It also has illustrations (illustrations!) by the amazing Maira Kalman. If you like love stories, sad stories, realistic stories, funny stories and beautiful art, this book is for you, trust me.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! Mr Handler has started a website where people can share their own breakup stories -- both regular people AND your favorite authors. I kind of expected it to be funny and goofy, and some of the stories are, but it's also sad, true, beautiful and most of all (worst of all), familiar.

Check it out guys. Laugh/cry.

DIY today at 4:00

It's wicked easy.  Yet super fun!

Meet author/illustrator Kadir Nelson

From We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

This Friday, October 14 from 3:30 to 4:30 PM.

Discover how this award-winning author and illustrator creates his books! Kadir Nelson has made nearly thirty books for children. His paintings invite us into stories of famous and not-so-famous people. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom and Henry's Freedom Box received coveted Caldecott honors. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball won a Coretta Scott King Author Award and Illustrator Honor. His newest book is Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans.

Books will be available for purchase and autographing. Sign up is required. For ages 9 and older.

TOMORROW! MARK YOUR BOOK!

Do you guys have any idea what kind of crazy things we find in returned library books? I once heard a story about an entire smooshed Cadbury Egg in a returned library book.



Do you guys need bookmarks? I kind of feel like you need bookmarks. Tomorrow in the Teen Room we'll have all the stuff you need to mark your page in style.



When: Wendesday @ 2pm

Where: Teen Room

What: Making bookmarks that are NOT made of Cadbury Eggs.

World travel

This is elegant and clever! It both makes me want to travel and makes me want to get a camera and try to put together a tour of Cambridge. What would you document?

Healthy Visions Poster Contest

Get creative for a good cause! Design a poster promoting healthy eating and healthy neighborhoods for the Healthy Visions Project. You must be 18 years old or younger to participate and can use any kind of paper and art materials just so long as you do it all yourself!

Posters are due by 5pm on Friday, October 8, 2010 and prizes will be announced at the end of October. Puh-leeze include your name, your age, and contact information (phone number plus address or email) on the back of the poster in ink.

PRIZES!

• Poster prizes will be announced at the end of October.
• Posters will be displayed on the website of Northeastern’s Institute on Urban Health Research.
• Age categories for prizes are as follows: 8 yrs. old & less; 9-13 yrs. old; 14-18 yrs. old.
• All entries will be recognized by Northeastern’s Institute on Urban Health Research.

Mail your poster to:
The Institute on Urban Health Research
ATTN: Lindsay
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue
310 INV
Boston, MA 02115

If you have questions, email: L.Rosenfeld@neu.edu, or call: 617-373-2673

Opportunity for fashion designers

This sounds completely cool. Learn from the best about sneaker design, at this free weekend workshop! You need to submit a portfolio, though, so polish up your sketches and give it a go. If you can't see that url, it's: femalesneakerfiend.com