What's Happening at the Library in February?

Every month the Sachem Public Library brings the community a myriad of fun, interesting and free entertainment. January brings movies, dane shows and a handful of other intriguing opportunities.

Check out some of the top events here:

Online Dating: Tuesday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m.: Not so long ago, blind dates were arranged by family and friends. Today, singles are meeting on websites like match.com, eHarmony, and JDate. Whether you have been online for years or are just thinking about getting started, motivational speaker Connie Lagan will provide you with information, instructions, and encouragement to safely navigate the world of online dating.

The Wedding Series: Part II: Your Vision: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m.: You're engaged...now what?  This four-part series will introduce you to experts who will share ideas and advice, as well as answer questions on all aspects of planning and executing the wedding of your dreams. In this session, Carl Bachmann, owner of Custom Catering, will offer menu ideas and samples. Linda Shapiro, Director of Event Planning at Custom Catering, and Claudia Copquin, of the popular bridal blog GettingMarriedonLongIsland.com.

Celebrate Chinese New Year; Music and Dance of China: Sunday, Feb. 6, 2 p.m.: Celebrate Chinese New Year with Chinese Theatre Works! This award-winning company will present folk dances and songs as well as selections of Chinese classical music performed on the guzheng (zither). 

Who were African-Americans Before They Became Americans? Tuesday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m.: Suffolk County Community College Professor Norman Daniels will examine African-Americans from a historical perspective, a topic which usually begins with enslavement. Professor Daniels will discuss the identity of Africans before their contact with the Western world and explore the psychological effects of looking at the legacy of a people from the perspective of slavery.

What philosophy majors do after college: Friday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m.: After graduating from Dartmouth with a degree in philosophy, Jennifer Dziura held various jobs, including office drone, art model, egg donor, subject of medical studies -- and finally, comedian. Her new one-woman show features a hilarious overview of the work of nearly twenty philosophers, from Thales to Foucault. Jennifer Dziura is a New York-based comedian, blogger, and quizmistress best known for co-hosting the Williamsburg Spelling Bee, the nation’s most popular adult spelling bee, as featured in the New York Times and in international press from Tokyo to Sydney. As a standup comic, she has performed at clubs and colleges nationwide and for the troops in the Middle East, Persian Gulf, and Africa. 

Gospel Choir Concert: Sunday, Feb. 13, 2 p.m.: Experience the power and joy of Gospel music. Join The Lytoe Singers and The Williams Sisters for a musical celebration of African-American heritage. 

Here Comes the Bride: The History of Wedding Planning-1800s-1940s: Wednesday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m.: Artist/educator Emilia Rabito Baer presents a fascinating look at the history of wedding traditions. Discover how the role of the bride, the design of the gown, and the choice of venue have evolved over time.

Steel Impressions: Friday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m.: Made from 55-gallon oil drums, the steel pan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. Steel Impressions, a Long Island family steel band, will present an interactive performance of authentic Caribbean music including calypso, reggae and soca tunes on this very distinctive instrument. 

The Silk Road: A Photographic Journey: Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2 p.m.: Professional photographer Michael Fairchild set out to document life along the ancient Silk Road in China. In this narrative high-definition presentation, he recreates the feeling of Marco Polo's epic 13th century voyage. Be transported to the ancient city of Xian with its terra cotta army, the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Buddhist treasures of the Mogao caves, and remote stretches of the Great Wall.

Extreme Dining: The Best and Worst of Eating Out: Wednesday, Feb. 23, 7 p.m.: Interested in healthy eating, but love to dine out? Certified nutrition expert Alysa Ferguson of Cornell Cooperative Extension will explore the menus at popular restaurants and discuss healthy options.

Memoir: My Journey Through the Civil Rights Movement: Thursday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m.: Joy Smith is a native of Tennessee and the daughter of a Baptist preacher and Civil Rights activist. Her school was integrated when she was in the first grade, the same year that Arkansas' "Little Rock Nine" had to be escorted to high school under the protection of the U.S. Army. At the age of eleven, Ms. Smith met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In this presentation, Ms. Smith will share her personal story along with songs and tales from the movement. 

Pianist: Sunday, Feb. 27, 2 p.m.: Led by jazz pianist Glenn Baldwin, this highly acclaimed six piece Jazz ensemble has played Long Island venues from Mattituck to Manhattan and has produced three CDs. In this live performance the Friends of Jazz will present the best of the standards, from Cole Porter to Thelonius Monk, along with a few of their own compositions.

Film Discussion

Reel Rebels: Tuesday, Feb. 1, 6 p.m.: Catfish: Intriguing, informative, sometimes controversial, but always thought provoking, this monthly series combines the best in film and discussion. This month's selection is a riveting documentary that follows a Facebook relationship from its innocent beginnings to its unexpected conclusion. Simultaneously moving, disturbing and suspenseful, this film is a totally unique cinematic experience.

Foreign Film: Easy Virtue: Saturday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m.: When a young Englishman brings home his new wife to meet the parents, the bride faces disapproval from her mother-in-law over her free-spirited American ways. Based on the play by Noel Coward.

Opera & Art Film Series: La Cenerentola: The Metropolitan Opera HD Live Series, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.: La Cenerentola, composed by Rossini at the age of 25, contains some of his finest writing for solo voice and ensembles. Elina Garanca triumphs as Cinderella. 

Special Film Presentation: Pranzo di Ferragosto (Mid-August Lunch): Tuesday, Feb. 15,7 p.m.: Broke, and armed with only a glass of wine and a wry sense of humor, middle-aged Gianni resides with his 93-year-old mother in their ancient apartment. To help balance his debt, Gianni agrees to look after his building manager's mother... and his aunt... and a doctor friend's mother during the Ferragosto holiday. Can Gianni keep four lively mamas well-fed and happy in these cramped quarters?

Thursday Movies

Eat Pray Love: Feb. 3, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.: Elizabeth Gilbert overcomes a painful divorce through a round-the-world journey of self-enlightenment and discovery. Based on the best-selling 2006 memoir.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice: Feb. 10, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.: In this remake of the Disney classic, modern-day Manhattan sorcerer Balthazar takes a reluctant recruit on a crash course in the art and science of magic to become the ultimate sorcerer's apprentice.

Salt: Feb. 17, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.: When a Russian defector accuses CIA agent Evelyn Salt of being a Russian spy, Salt goes on the run to protect her husband and prove her innocence. 

The Karate Kid: Feb. 24, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.: After Dre Parker moves with his mother from Detroit to China, he is bullied until his building's janitor, a martial arts master, agrees to teach him to defend himself. This is a reinterpretation of the beloved 1984 film.