Best Bets: New Yorker Artist, Broadway in Provincetown, and books galore are on the agenda
This week offers a trip from the big city (Bob Staake's art including The New Yorker covers to fine arts) to the buzz-worthy news of pollinators and how a new group of puppets is telling the story of how these busy insects keep our world alive.
At Osterville Village Library on July 14, you can "borrow" a live person to learn about their life and two days later, on Sunday, you can attend a benefit party during which you can chat with characters from books while nibbling on retro snacks.
On Thursday, Mr. Monopoly, the millionaire turned billionaire is visiting Hyannis to collect well-established businesses and nonprofits to fill the squares of a new Cape Cod edition of Monopoly, expected out in June 2024. All are invited to the John F. Kennedy Museum at 10 a.m. to share their input.
In Provincetown, Sundays @5 is all about Broadway music. Nature writer Robert Finch visits Sandwich, a pirate's wife is on tap at the Mashpee LIbrary and Carol Ayotte's work is honored with a show at Tumbleweed Quilt Shop in Barnstable.
So let's get to it!
On the cover again and again
If you are a fan of The New Yorker magazine, you won’t want to miss this retrospective, titled “The Endless Imagination of Bob Staake,” including an ongoing exhibit of Staake’s work and events from July 12 to Oct. 15.
The show’s opening reception is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, 60 Hope Lane, Dennis. It is free but reservations are requested at www.CCMoA.org/bob-staake
Staake, who is internationally known for his New Yorker covers, illustrations and children’s books, is also a fine arts artist in other mediums. What makes this exhibit one of a kind, said museum spokeswoman Joyce Groemmer, is that the exhibit demonstrates the broad expanse of Staake’s work.
“I have a great appreciation for Bob Staake’s iconic New Yorker covers and his joyful children’s books but the creative range in his works of fine art reveal an elastic mind that is always at play,” noted Benton Jones, the museum’s director of art.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Staake will present a story reading and stroll for families at 2 p.m. July 25; a creativity workshop at 4 p.m. Aug. 3 and, for adults, “Uncovering The New Yorker” at 4 p.m. Sept. 21. See the museum’s website for reservations.
Everybody has a story … what’s yours?
The Human Library https://humanlibrary.org/ returns to Osterville Village Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 14.
“The Human Library creates a safe space to ‘check out’ a Human Book and have honest conversations that explore the stereotypes and prejudices in society … Participants at the event 'read’ the books by way of a one-on-one or small group conversation with the volunteer to learn about their experiences with discrimination,” write library organizers, who say people should allow 25 minutes to visit with each ‘human book.’
Human Books are volunteers who hail from all walks of life, including a politician, chaplain, foster parent, wheelchair user, suicide hotline counselor, recovering addict, Black advocate mom and more.
Books come to life for ‘Night at the Library’
As someone who pretty much grew up in the branch library nearest to my house, I could not be more excited about this Osterville Village Library fundraiser and the Human Library program.
“Adding extra whimsy to the (‘Night at the Library’) evening, characters from beloved literary genres will step out from the pages of history, romance, cooking, fiction, nonfiction, and children's books to engage and interact with guests,” write fundraiser organizers in a release announcing the July 16 fundraiser.
‘Night at the Library’ is at 7 p.m. It includes music by Bart Weisman, retro snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails.
Tickets are available at NightattheLibrary.org or can be obtained directly at the Osterville Village Library at a cost of $65 for adults, including a drink ticket, and $35 for under 21, including a nonalcoholic drink ticket.
Give your regards to Broadway
This “Broadway Curtain Up Concert” will raise the curtain on the 25th concert season for Great Music on Sunday @5 in Provincetown. Offering favorite songs from great musicals throughout the decades, the concert will feature a dozen singers accompanied by music director and pianist John Thomas. The extravaganza will start at 5 p.m. July 16 at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House. Tickets for general admission are $25, senior tickets are $20 and limited priority seating is $50. All tickets have a service fee. If you would like the tickets mailed to your house through USPS, first class is free, priority is $9.70 and express is $27.85.
Do you want your Cape Cod business or nonprofit on the Monopoly board?
Mr. Monopoly, the diminutive guy with the tophat and flowing white mustache, will be at the John F. Kennedy Museum, 397 Main St., Hyannis at 10 a.m. July 18 to gather input for Monopoly: The Cape Cod Edition. Locals with a well-established business or nonprofit can pitch their organization for a square on the board of Cape Cod Monopoly, scheduled to be released in June 2024.
“Cape Cod is just such a unique place, from its rich history and pristine shorelines to its fantastic restaurants and local businesses," said Tim Barney, representative of Top Trumps USA, the American division of Winning Moves International, licensed by Hasbro to produce the local game.
“Our goal is to try and encapsulate everything that makes Cape Cod a place that is so near and dear to locals and tourists’ hearts alike all in one game.”
To ensure the board captures the most essential elements of Cape Cod, Top Trumps is seeking recommendations from the public about which locations should be included as squares on the board.
Created in 1935, Monopoly is played in 114 countries. To learn more about Monopoly city experience boards, visit www.top trumps.us.
This is a story about a pirate’s wife – we ‘Kidd’ you not.
Author and historian Daphne Palmer's new book, The Pirate’s Wife: The Remarkable True Story of Sarah Kidd, is having a one-night-only author's event. Come learn about this fascinating story and meet the author in person. Sarah Kidd was the wife of Pirate Captain Kidd and was also a member of the High Society of New York. Sarah Kidd's life serves as a lesson in reinvention and resourcefulness. This event is free of charge and begins at 4 p.m. on July 20 at the Mashpee Public Library, 64 Steeple St.
A stitch every day creates a show
Local Cape Cod fabric artist Carol Ayotte, who has taught at Tumbleweed Quilt Shop for about 30 years, is now having an exhibition of her work at the shop. Her creations include abstract quilts and fairytale cloth sculptures. Her work will be on display from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays in July at Tumbleweed Quilt Shop, 1919 Route 6A, West Barnstable. This exhibit is free. Ayotte will be at the art exhibit from 11- 2 p.m. every Monday and 1-3 p.m., on July 12 and 26.
Spend an evening with Cape Cod writer Robert Finch
Robert Finch of Wellfleet, author of “The Outer Beach” and “The Cape Cod Notebook,” will speak from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. July 20, at Titcomb’s Bookshop, 432 Route 6A, East Sandwich. The event is free but registration is required at titcombsbookshop.com or by calling the store at 508-888-2331. In addition to writing Finch hosts “A Cape Cod Notebook,” which airs weekly on WCAI, the Cape and Islands’ NPR station.
“Robert Finch takes the reader on a journey through the seasons in many well-known and beloved essays … that have the power to immediately connect the reader with the natural world of this region and that speak to the mysterious qualities of this peninsula that have drawn people to it for centuries,” wrote event organizers.
Pollinator Pal Puppets are creating a buzz at Fuller Farm
In celebration of its 40th Anniversary year, Barnstable Land Trust (BLT) is debuting a new four-week puppet series called “Pollinator Pal Storytime with Mr. Tim” starting on Tuesday, July 18. Designed for young conservationists (ages 4-8) and their parents, this magical puppet series is designed and created by West Barnstable local Tim Johnson, a retired educator and artist. During the free half-hour program, children will learn about flower pollination, and about the life cycle of a major local pollinator. Each week, a different pollinator puppet will host and tell its pollinator tale. The half hour will end with a fun interactive game for children and parents, after which families will be invited to explore the trust's Fuller Farm nature trails. Preregistration is required at https://blt.org/events.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Mr. Monopoly visits Hyannis, New Yorker artist exhibit, Human Library
