Select admission-free metro area activities, events, entertainment & exhibits December
ACTIVITIES
Tales for Tiny Tykes, Dec. 1, 10:30-11:15 a.m., Kansas City, Mo., Public Library Plaza branch, 4801 Main St., KCMO, kids ages 18-36 months, story time for little ones, https://www.kclibrary.org/library-locations/plaza-branch, 816-701-3481
Introduction to Internet Genealogy, Dec. 1, 7 p.m., Midcontinent Public Library, Antioch Branch, 6060 N. Chestnut Ave., Gladstone, Mo., adults, beginner level, registration required, http://events.mymcpl.org/register.php?eid=eid-9967, 816-454-1306
Conversando en inglés, Dec. 3, 9 a.m., Johnson County Library Oak Park, 9500 Bluejacket Street, Overland Park, Kan., Adultos interesados en practicar el idioma inglés están invitados a las clases de conversación que se llevan a cabo en la Biblioteca de Oak Park los sábados por la mañana. https://www.jocolibrary.org/events/espanol?field_agegroup_ref_tid=All, 913-826-4600
Hands-On: Gingerbread Houses & Paper Gingerbread Men, Dec. 3, 10-11 a.m., Johnson County Library, Shawnee, 13811 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kan., kids accompanied by an adult, create a gingerbread house, registration required, http://jocolibrary.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?eventid=36241&lib=11 or 913-826-4600
Coterie Theatre: Blizzard, Dec. 4, 2 p.m., Kansas City, Mo., Public Library Plaza branch, 4801 Main St., KCMO, Coterie actors read from the award-winning book by John Rocco about the wonder of a winter storm, registration required, https://www.kclibrary.org/node/20885/register, 816-701-3407
Snow Much Fun! Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Johnson County Library, Lackman, 15345 W. 87th Street Pkwy, Lenexa, wear winter jammies for winter crafts, music, activities & hot chocolate, https://www.jocolibrary.org/events/arts-leisure?
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Native Plants of the Midwest, Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m., Kansas City, Mo., Public Library Plaza branch, 4801 Main St., KCMO, Alan Branhagen, Powell Gardens director of horticulture discusses his new book, Native Plants of the Midwest: A Comprehensive Guide to the Best 500 Species for the Garde, registration required, https://www.kclibrary.org/node/20879/register, 816-701-3407
Family Movie Night, Dec. 8, 6 p.m., KCK Library, South Library, 3104 Strong Ave., KCK, all ages, The Secret Life of Pets, animated adventure comedy, http://kckpl.evanced.info/eventcalendar.asp, 913-722-7400
Board@the Library, Dec. 11, 1 p.m., KCK Library, West Wyandotte Branch, 1737 N. 82nd St., KCK, adults & teens, try out & share board games, http://kckpl.evanced.info/eventcalendar.asp, Joseph Smith, 913-279-2106
Colectivo de Escritores Latinos, Dec. 13, 6 p.m., Johnson County Library, Oak Park, 9500 Bluejacket Street, Overland Park, Kan., adults, ¿Quieres mejorar lo que escribes? Ven a las reuniones del Colectivo de Escritores Latinos, aquà corregimos y pulimos nuestros trabajos, en un proceso de autocrÃtica y ayuda grupal. Trae tus poemas, cuentos, relatos, novelas o artÃculos periodÃsticos. Te esperamos, la participación es libre y abierta a todos. https://www.jocolibrary.org/events/espanol?field_agegroup_ref_tid=All&page=1, 913-826-4600
Bilingual Cooking, Dec. 15, 4 p.m., KCK Public Library, South Library, 3104 Strong Ave., KCK, children & tweens, make fun snacks & learn the names of ingredients & basic words & sentences in Spanish or English. Los niños harán divertidos bocaditos y aprenderán nombres de ingredientes y palabras/frases básicas en Español o Inglés, http://kckpl.evanced.info/eventcalendar.asp, Jaky Mera, 913-722-7400
Spanish Singing Lessons, Dec. 17, 12:30 p.m., Kansas City Kansas Public Library, South Library, 3104 Strong Ave., KCK, children, learn to sing Spanish songs, http://kckpl.evanced.info/eventcalendar.asp, Lidia Rodriguez, 913-722-7400
Fantastic Beasts of Harry Potter’s World, Dec. 29, 2-4 p.m., Johnson County Library Gardner, 137 E. Shawnee Street, Gardner, all ages, visit various stations with activities to help you become immersed in the magical world created by J.K. Rowling, https://www.jocolibrary.org/events/arts-leisure?field_event_library_tid=All&field_agegroup_ref_tid=All&page=7, 913-826-4600
EVENTS
Medicare Part D Enrollment Event, Dec. 2, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Midcontinent Public Library, Parkville Branch, 8815 Tom Watson Pkwy, Parkville, one-on-one personal appointment with a Missouri State Health Assistance Insurance Program counselor. http://www.mymcpl.org/events/calendar, call 800-390-3330 to make an appointment.
Medicare Part D Enrollment Event, Dec. 6, 2-5 p.m., Midcontinent Public Library, North Independence Branch, one-on-one personal appointment with a Missouri State Health Assistance Insurance Program counselor. http://www.mymcpl.org/events/calendar/medicare-part-d-enrollment-event-6, call 800-390-3330 to make an appointment.
Thomas Hart Benton: An Artist in Kansas City, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Midcontinent Public Library, Colbern Road Branch, 1000 NE Colbern Road, Lee’s Summit, Steve Sitton, director of the Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site, tells about Benton's involvement in the 1951 Flood, the Bobby Greenlease kidnapping, the Kansas City Art Institute, and his Truman Library mural, registration required, http://events.mymcpl.org/register.php?eid=10003, 816-525-9924
R.L.Y. Peyton: Missouri’s Secessionist Senator, Dec. 20, 6:30 p.m., Midcontinent Public Library, North Oak Branch, 8700 N. Oak Trfy, KCMO, discover R.L.Y. Peyton, the fiery orator and passionate Secessionist, registration required, http://events.mymcpl.org/register.php?eid=10109, 816-436-4385
MUSIC
IMP Ensemble, Dec. 1, 5 p.m., Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes St., KCMO, Improvisational Music/Media Performance Ensemble directed by Dr. Paul Rudy, http://conservatory.umkc.edu/calendar.cfm#/?i=1, 816-235-2799
Doctoral Recital, Dec. 3, 5 p.m., Asbury United Methodist Church, 5400 W. 75th Street, Prairie Village, Kan., pianist Jordan Voth performing works by Prokofiev, Janacek & Schumann, http://conservatory.umkc.edu/calendar.cfm#/?i=1, 816-235-2799
1940s Canteen Dance & Concert, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., KCK Library, West Wyandotte Branch, 1737 N. 82nd St., KCK, all ages, dance & listen to the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra play big band music, 1940s dress or military attire encourage but not required, http://kckl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/home, 913-279-2106
Senior Recital, Dec. 11, 2:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1700 Westport Road, KCMO, soprano Chloe Stewart singing pieces by Donaudy, Schubert, Debussy & Moore, http://conservatory.umkc.edu/calendar.cfm#/?i=2, 816-235-2799
PERFORMANCE
Fall 2016 Honors Recital, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m., White Recital Hall, James C. Olsen Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry St., KCMO, outstanding Community Music and Dance Academy students perform, http://conservatory.umkc.edu/calendar.cfm#/?i=2, 816-235-2741
EXHIBITIONS
Cuba Bound: Photographs by Jesse A. Fernández, now thru Dec. 31, Kansas City, Mo., Public Library Central branch, 14 W. 10th St., KCMO, portraits by Cuban artist & photographer Jesse A. Fernández (1925-1986), portraits will also be shown simultaneously at two other Kansas City venues: the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (http://www.nelson-atkins.org/art/exhibitions/cuba-bound/, 816-751-1278) & the American Jazz Museum (americanjazzmuseum.org/exhibitions/cuba-bound-photographs-by-jesse-a-fernandez/, 816-474-8463).
City of Tomorrow: Kansas City’s Postwar Urban Renewal, now thru Dec. 31, Kansas City, Mo., Public Library Central branch, 14 W. 10th St., KCMO, fifth floor, before-and-after photographs, maps & other documents track Kansas City’s post-World War II redevelopment, curated by Michael Wells, Missouri Valley Special Collections, http://www.kclibrary.org/event/city-tomorrow-kansas-city-s-postwar-urban-renewal
Ribbons Across the Land: Building the U.S. Interstate Highway System, thru Feb. 11, Linda Hall Library, 5109 Cherry St., KCMO, all ages, an exhibition on the system’s history & engineering & construction to mark the 60th anniversary of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 establishing the nation’s interstate highway system, http://www.lindahall.org/exhibitions/, 816-363-4600
Gas, Food, Lodging, now thru Feb. 11, Linda Hall Library, 5109 Cherry St., KCMO, all ages, an exhibition recalling the story of Route 66 – once the symbol of the romance of the open road, http://www.lindahall.org/exhibitions/, 816-363-4600
In the Line of Duty: A History of the Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department, 1868-1968, thru March 25, Kansas City Museum’s Corinthian Hall, 3218 Gladstone Blvd., KCMO, artifacts from the Kansas City Fire Historical Society’s collection include a restored 1927 Ahrens Fox fire truck, http://www.kansascitymuseum.org/
