It looks like the rain will be pushing off just in time for the weekend, so get ready to get out there and have some fun! Not sure what’s going on in the Historic Triangle? We’ve got you covered with some of the best bets for weekend fun right here in WYD, which stands for What You’ll Do.
We pull these ideas off our community calendar, which you can find on the right side of WYDaily.com. Submitting to the calendar is free and easy, so make sure to add upcoming events for your group or organization.
This weekend, there are a few outdoor activities for those of you ready to celebrate the end of the rain, including a mountain bike ride in York River State Park. There are also lots of films showing in Williamsburg, as well as a continuation of the popular “Constitutional Conversations” workshop. Also, a well-known young adult fantasy author will be speaking at the library. Read on to get the skinny on what’s going on around town.
Books, Films and Other Art
Award-winning young adult fantasy author Tamora Pierce will speak at the library on Thursday evening. She’s been writing for 30 years; her works include “The Song of the Lioness,” “The Immortals,” “The Circle of Magic,” “The Protector of the Small,” “The Circle Opens,” “Tricksters,” and, most recently, “Beka Cooper.” Pierce’s works have appeared on young adults, science fiction, fantasy and horror booklists and in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Publisher’s Weekly booklists. Visit the calendar to find out more about the event.
Films from all over the world for both adults and children will be shown for free on each Saturday afternoon for the next few weeks leading up to William and Mary’s Global Film Festival. The first matinee, “Lotte from Gadgetville“(2006/Estonia-Latvia/appropriate for all ages), will be this Saturday at the Kimball Theater. A sweet and gentle-spirited crowd-pleaser, this film is full of wacky contraptions, silly and happy songs, and a refreshingly un-cynical sense of humor. Lotte is a cheerful girl-dog who lives in the seaside town of Gadgetville, a village crazy about inventing. This first feature-length animated film from Estonia was enormously popular in its home country, besting “The Incredibles” at the box office, winning the prize for best animation, and becoming something of a national treasure. Get details on our calendar.
If you are in the mood for more mature films, the Kimball is also showing two movies for the over-17 crowd this weekend: “A Royal Affair” and “A Late Quartet.” If you want to read more about the plot of these shows and to find out when they’re playing, visit the Kimball Theatre website.
William & Mary is hosting a reception for Christopher DeLaurenti’s new exhibition “Thrill: A Love Song” at Andrews Gallery on Thursday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m. DeLaurenti, a sound artist and Professor of Music at William & Mary, will showcase his work that is inspired by Elizabethan madrigals and remixed a cappella tracks dropped by club DJs. “Thrill: A Love Song” showcases an unsettling version of “You’re My Thrill” sung by four jazz singers. The exhibit will run the rest of the month – get details on the College’s website.
Lectures and History Happenings
Constitutional Conversations, an award-winning nine-month long examination of our nation’s founding document, will continue of its workshop series on Thursday evening at the library. Participants will be divided into discussions on constitutional topics led by William and Mary law students. January’s adult workshop will discuss “Recent and Upcoming Supreme Court Cases,” including topics such as affirmative action, the Voting Rights Act, searches by police dogs, and more. The middle and high school student section will cover “The Criminal Process,” looking at how the Fifth and Sixth Amendments affect our modern society. Get all the details on our calendar.
Outdoor Fun
This weekend is your chance to go out for a bike ride with members of the Eastern Virginia Mountain Bike Association at York River State Park. You’ll be riding the park’s trails with the people who created them, and who maintain them. The ride is open to riders of all skill levels. The ride will take place Sunday morning, and you can get more information on our calendar.
While you might not classify this as fun, it may be a much-needed lesson: Carol Fryer and James City County/Williamsburg Master Gardeners will hold a tree and shrub pruning workshop on Saturday. They will discuss the basics of pruning trees and shrubs and will demonstrate the proper use of pruning tools. The program is free and open to the public, and will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Freedom Park Interpretive Center.
Fundraisers
Sunday afternoon is a Quarter Auction to benefit the York High after prom program (you’ll need to bring quarters with you). Items that will be included in the auction are items from Scentsy, Pampered Chef, Partylite, Arbonne, Wildtree, Stampin’ Up, Mary Kay, Avon, Beijo Bags, Origami Owl and lots more. To find out more about how the auction works and when it starts, visit the calendar.
