Ooh la la! Get ready for a fabulously fancy afternoon at the Sawyer Free Library!
On Wednesday, October 22, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., join Robin Preiss Glasser, the bestselling illustrator of the beloved Fancy Nancy books, for a sparkling celebration of creativity, confidence, and charm.
Attendees of all ages are encouraged to dress in their fanciest outfits (costumes welcome—it’s almost Halloween!) and enjoy an afternoon full of glitter and giggles as Robin greets guests with hand-drawn butterflies, shares her inspiring journey from professional ballet dancer to celebrated illustrator, reads one of her favorite stories on the big screen, and teaches everyone the art of “banana walking.” Afterward, stick around for crafts, book signings, and plenty of fancy fun!
This free program is perfect for all ages. Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org
About the Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser Robin Preiss Glasser wore tiaras and tutus when she danced as a soloist with the Pennsylvania Ballet. Now she happily spends her days in jeans, drawing. She has illustrated many acclaimed picture books, including the now-classic Fancy Nancy series. In 2013, she won the Children’s Choice Book Award for Best Illustrator of the Year for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet.
Join author Alice Markham-Cantor at the Sawyer Free Library on Tuesday, October 29 from 5:00 to 6:00 pm as she discusses her book, The Once & Future Witch Hunt, which investigates the Salem witch trials and their lasting impact.
Past and present collide in this page-turner investigation of Salem’s irrepressible question: How could this have happened?
In 1692, Martha Allen Carrier was hanged as the “Queen of Hell.” Three hundred years later, her nine-times-great-granddaughter, Alice Markham-Cantor, set out to discover why Martha died. As she chased her ancestor through the archives, graveyards, and haunted places of New England, grappling with what we owe the past, Alice’s connection to Martha led her to a shocking truth: witch hunts didn’t end in Salem.
Extensively researched and and compulsively readable, told through alternating fiction and non-fiction chapters, The Once & Future Witch Hunt does not treat Salem as a cautionary tale. It treats Salem as an instruction manual—not on how to perform witch hunts, but how to stop them.
The author talk is taking place at Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street. Registration is not required. All welcome. Questions? Contact: lsvensson@sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Prepare yourselves, honored guests, for an adventure unlike any other, as the late John Hays Hammond Jr. comes to life for a gathering of his dearest friends and respected colleagues. Within the medieval walls of Hammond’s castle home, secrets and curiosities await.
As you travel through the castle’s darkened corridors and rooms, you’ll encounter some of the most peculiar guests ever assembled. Are they members of a secret society, social and Hollywood royalty, or leaders straddling the boundaries of science and the occult? These mysterious figures have converged at Hammond Castle for a reason, and you’re about to find out why.
This unique promenade theater performance will transport you through time and space. You’ll step into different rooms and meet a captivating cast of characters ranging from Hillman, Hammond’s loyal butler to the eccentric Hammond and his glamorous wife, Irene – each with their own extraordinary tale to share. These stories have been expertly adapted by the talented Doug Cowell and are based on Hammond’s original ghost stories. Hammond’s writing style, reminiscent of the 1920s Weird Tale and the 1950s Pulp Fiction offers a unique blend of supernatural intrigue and kitschy charm.
Starring:
Anthony Lentz as John Hays Hammond Jr.
Shari Chaplin as Mrs. Irene Hammond
Lauren Casey as the Reporter
Michael Greene as Hillman, the Butler
James “Jimmy T.” Tarantino as the Sailor
Alison Landoni as the Mason
Beginning on the drawbridge, and leading through multiple rooms within, this walking, theatrical program runs just shy of 60 minutes in total. Performances begin at 6 pm and run every 15 minutes through 9 pm. **Roaring 1920s and similar attire are encouraged!**
PETER KRASINSKI, WORLD-FAMOUS SONIC ARTIST AND MAESTRO OF THE PIPE ORGAN, IMPROVISES MUSIC FOR TWO GREAT SILENT MOVIE CLASSICS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 AT 7:30PM IN THE HISTORIC GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE!
$15 GENERAL ADMISSION, $ 5 STUDENTS, UNDER 12 FREE. COME EARLY FOR THE BEST SEATS. MAIN ENTRANCE ON THE GREEN, CORNER OF CHURCH AND MIDDLE STREETS; ACCESSIBLE SIDE ENTRANCE AT 10 CHURCH STREET. COSTUMES OPTIONAL BUT ENCOURAGED. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
PROGRAM: the famous and exciting PRELUDE AND FUGUE IN D-MINOR BY J.S. BACH; the hilarious slapstick comedy ‘THE HAUNTED HOUSE’ STARRING BUSTER KEATON; and the spooky, Halloween classic that takes you deep below the street level of Paris, France in ‘THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’ STARRING LON CHANEY.
Join Sawyer Free Libraryand Backyard Growers on Saturday, October 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. to hear pumpkin stories while decorating your own pumpkin. All supplies and pumpkins will be provided.
What better place to trick or treat than at an old seaside castle? We have everything you need to ignite your child’s imagination: a drawbridge, spiral staircase, and a Great Hall We will have spooky music, multiple trick or treat stations inside the castle and bubbles, snacks, spooky stories and a craft at the 13th Century arches. You bring the scary costumes.
Timed Trick or Treat sessions will last approximately 15 minutes with five treat stations set up within the Castle starting on our drawbridge and leading into the Great Hall. The program will conclude with bubbles, a craft, spooky stories and snacks outside at the Arches.
*This ticket grants you access to the Trick Or Treat event. At the time of this event, the Museum will be closed to tours. If you wish to tour Hammond Castle Museum on the day of the ticketed event, Self-Guided Tour tickets may be purchased in the Museum Shop at a 20% discount. Last tours begin at 2pm. Proof of purchase of the Trick or Treat event will be required.
All proceeds from this program will support the restoration and preservation of the 13th century, French cloister archways which are located at the front of the museum. Reservations available at: bit.ly/3g5ZqBv
Second Glance’s Jackie Colussi Shares Tips and Tricks for Creating a Costume from Scratch
With pumpkins on doorsteps, falling leaves and a crisp breeze in the air, the time has come to start planning your annual Halloween costume.
For Jackie Colussi, shift leader at Second Glance, the thrift store of The Open Door, thrifting for Halloween costumes is a beloved tradition she maintained with her daughters as they grew up and enjoys to this day. She previously owned a business selling vintage items, and has a love of fashion that fuels, in part, her love of crafting an entirely unique costume.
“We always enjoyed thrift shopping anyway. When it was Halloween time, we took it as a personal challenge,” Colussi said. “We always wanted to come up with something unique and different, and something we created ourselves. It took time and imagination, and we had fun doing it.”
She says one of her favorite thrifted costumes was a dead prom queen look her daughter once wore, which included an all-gray formal outfit and a poufy veil.
“You’re only limited, in my opinion, by your imagination,” Colussi said. “You might have to purchase some makeup or fake blood, but it definitely makes for an interesting costume. I think there’s a lot to be said for buying and reusing as well, and its more cost efficient.”
“There’s not a lot a pair of scissors and a hot glue gun can’t do,” she added.
Colussi also says for many, thrifting for a costume at Second Glance is a more meaningful experience, because patrons know all revenue supports the programs at The Open Door and helps feed local people.
For those looking to thrift their costume this year, Colussi has shared tips and tricks for getting started:
Brainstorm costume ideas before you shop. Go to the thrift store with a few costume ideas in mind and know what you might need to build that costume. Colussi says this is particularly helpful for parents and guardians shopping for a young child’s costume.
Keep an open mind. She says you never know what you mind find, or what item(s) might stick out to you as you browse.
Give yourself time and don’t limit yourself to the clothing section. Don’t rush the creative process—part of the fun is browsing the various clothing departments, accessories, jewelry, shoes, fabric, art supplies, household wares, and so on that could be turned into clothing and props for your costume.
Think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to turn your costume into an art project or re-imagine something. For example: a curtain or lace tablecloth can be cut and sewn to suit a wide variety of costumes, fake flowers can be fashioned into a flower crown, and a large frame without a painting or photo in it can be perfect for someone who would like to dress up as a painting themselves.
Don’t forget the classics. She says classic Halloween costumes, like a witch or warlock, are often easy to shop for at a thrift store as black tops and dresses are almost always in stock, and accessories can be found to suit the look too.
Once you have your costume ready, don’t forget to enter Second Glance’s Halloween contest! Details below.
Second Glance Halloween Costume Contest Details:
Second Glance is holding its FIRST EVER Halloween Costume Contest this year. To enter, participants must create a costume using at least one item from Second Glance, post a photo on Instagram and tag the thrift store at @secondglancethriftstore. The deadline for entry is midnight on Oct. 31, and the winner will be announced Nov. 1 on Instagram after being selected by a small panel of staff and volunteers. The winner will receive a $50 Second Glance Gift Card.
Cape Ann Community 