Pianist Einav Yarden is praised for her “imagination and exceptionally vivid playing…sense of immense majesty, tempered by gentleness and quiet grace” (The Washington Post, USA), and “glistening rapture…ingenious humor” (Tagesspiegel, Germany). She has been regularly presented in recital at important venues around the world and as soloist with orchestras including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin (and the Rundfunkchor Berlin), Minnesota Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Bradenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt, Bucharest Philharmonic, and Jerusalem Symphony, under conductors such as Sir Neville Marriner, Leon Botstein, Steven Sloane, Frédéric Chaslin, Stefan Blunier, Aldo Ceccato, Mendi Rodan, and Simon Halsey, among others.

The James Book Club meets monthly at the library unless otherwise noted. All are welcome to join!

Looking for something fun to do during spring break? Join us at the James for an indoor round of mini golf. The entire building will be transformed into a 10-hole mini golf course with greens and holes winding through the stacks, around the art gallery, and through the concert hall. Everything is provided, including clubs, balls, scorecards, and fun!

Come see Yale’s oldest, hottest, and jazziest a cappella group perform at The James!

The James Book Club meets monthly at the library unless otherwise noted. All are welcome to join!

Puerto Rican saxophonist, pianist, and composer Edmar Colón explores the connections between the West African musical heritage in the Americas and the idiosyncrasies of classical music from Europe and beyond. By amplifying the similarities of these and other musical traditions, Colón achieves a distinctive homogenous blend of sounds, textures, and rhythms in his original work.  This program will also include some selections from the expansive and ever-so-beautiful Puerto Rican songbook by composers such as Bobby Capó, Julio Guitiérrez, and Sylvia Rexach. 

The year is 1815, and Miss Austen has just returned from a visit to the Prince Regent’s London residence. The honor of this invitation prompts her to reminisce about the events that led the daughter of a country clergyman to a position of such notoriety. She shares her thoughts and feelings about her novels and how their publication changed her life forever.

Playwright and actress Laura Rocklyn portrays Jane Austen, with discussion and Q&A about Regency deportment and etiquette.

The James Book Club meets monthly at the library unless otherwise noted. All are welcome to join!

The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. It was first developed in Britain in about 1802 by John Nash, with the construction of Cronkhill in Shropshire. This small country house is generally accepted to be the first Italianate villa in England, from which is derived the Italianate architecture of the late Regency and early Victorian eras. The Italianate style was further developed and popularized by the architect Sir Charles Barry in the 1830s. Barry’s Italianate style (occasionally termed “Barryesque”) drew heavily for its motifs on the buildings of the Italian Renaissance, though sometimes at odds with Nash’s semi-rustic Italianate villas.

The James Book Club meets monthly at the library unless otherwise noted. All are welcome to join!

The trio of pianist Laszlo Gardony, bassist Avery Sharpe, and drummer Yoron Israel is among the most seasoned, soulful, sensitive, and swinging groups around.

—Kevin Lowenthal, Boston Globe

The James Book Club meets monthly at the library unless otherwise noted. All are welcome to join!

NOT SURE WHAT THE BEST BOOKS ARE FOR CHILDREN?

Former Inly School librarian, author, and national book reviewer Shelley Sommer and Buttonwood Book Manager Kristine Jelstrom-Hamill will present their top picks for holiday gifts.

On November 30th, Buttonwood Books and Toys will donate 20% of their online and in-store sales if you mention The James! Online sales, please note "The James" in the comment section. This fundraiser cannot be combined with any other discounts.

The James Book Club meets monthly at the library unless otherwise noted. All are welcome to join!

Every Bostonian has walked through the Public Garden and enjoyed the beauty of the first botanical garden in the country. Learn the untold stories of its history and look at both natural and man-made features. The various statues and monuments: Make Way for Ducklings, George Washington, and the Ether Monument will be included in this tour along with a look at the planting design and some of the outstanding plantings. The 19th-century plan for the lagoon and the iconic Swan Boats will be included along with ongoing care and plans for the Public Garden, an oasis of beauty in the middle of our city. Presenter Rose Doherty has been delivering Osher Lifelong Learning Institute presentations since 2015.

Each visionary performance of the award-winning Borromeo String Quartet strengthens and deepens its reputation as one of the most important ensembles of its time.

Admired and embraced for both fresh interpretations of the classical music canon and championing works by 20th and 21st century composers, the ensemble has been hailed for its “edge-of-the- seat performances,” by the Boston Globe, naming the ensemble “simply the best.” Performing artists include Nicholas Kitchen, violin, Kristopher Tong, violin, Melissa Reardon, viola, and Yeesun Kim, cello.

Come learn all about hauntings and the haunted with Greater Boston Paranormal Associates. You’ll hear all about their spookiest experiences investigating and learn how paranormal investigations work. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in a mini investigation, right here at The James!

The James Book Club meets monthly at the library unless otherwise noted. All are welcome to join!

In 1765, Dr. James Baker of Dorchester stumbled upon Irishman John Hannon crying on the banks of the mighty Neponset River. Hannon, though penniless, possessed the rare skills required to create chocolate, a delicacy exclusive to Europe, and Baker, with pockets bursting, wished to make a name for himself using a mill powered by the same river upon which they met, the duo built America's oldest and most beloved manufacturer of this rich treat. Local historian Anthony Sammarco details the delicious saga of Massachusetts's Baker Chocolate Company, from Hannon's mysterious disappearance and the famed La Belle Chocolatiere advertising campaign to cacao bean smuggling sparked by Revolutionary War blockades. Both bitter and sweet, this tale is sure to tickle your taste buds.

All are welcome to this monthly book club.

Writer Chris Haraden shares his stories of literally growing up in the shadow of Paragon Park’s Giant Coaster.  From his home on the hill behind the park, Chris learned the stories of Paragon, and the broader scope of Hull’s history, from his grandfather, a park employee best known for walking the tracks of the roller coaster each morning before the gates opened.  Chris’s first job was in the penny arcade, where he might have embellished his age to be hired and where met his future wife, Marilyn – one of the many love stories that began on the shores of Nantasket Beach.

All are welcome to this monthly book club at the James.

Join us as the James transforms into an intimate nightclub, complete with Emmy-winning pianist, composer, and producer Lenny Williams, and a cast of talented local celebrities. Let us entertain you with music and storytelling that is sure to leave an impression. Come laugh and lament to tunes you know well and songs and lyrics you’ve never heard before. It is sure to be an incredible evening! A full list of performers is coming soon!

Join us as the James transforms into an intimate nightclub, complete with Emmy-winning pianist, composer, and producer Lenny Williams, and a cast of talented local celebrities. Let us entertain you with music and storytelling that is sure to leave an impression. Come laugh and lament to tunes you know well and songs and lyrics you’ve never heard before. It is sure to be an incredible evening! A full list of performers is coming soon!

All are welcome to attend the james Library’s monthly book club meetings.