New York, 1986: Wall Street boomed while thousands faced homelessness, AIDS, and deep inequality. Between 1986 and 1989, events like the crack epidemic, the rise of ACT UP, the Central Park jogger case, and the release of Do the Right Thing reshaped the city’s identity. Journalist Jonathan Mahler explores this turbulent era and the influential figures who defined it, including Ed Koch, Donald Trump, Al Sharpton, Spike Lee, Rudy Giuliani, and Larry Kramer. Elm Street Books will be on site…

On June 14th, to celebrate America's 250th, and in partnership with New Canaan Library, Connecticut Stage Company presents playwright Heidi Schreck’s boundary-breaking play that breathes new life into our Constitution and imagines how it will shape the next generation of Americans. Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful and achingly human new play, she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of…

Experience the revolutionary spirit of American modern dance in a performance that celebrates two historic milestones: the Martha Graham Dance Company’s 100th anniversary and our national America 250 commemoration. There will be two identical performances, one at 5:30 PM and one at 7:00 PM. There is a separate registration link for each performance.

The New York Botanical Garden is a vital link between the preservation of historic, picturesque landscapes and the development of sustainable future cities. Just as it preserves legacy designs, including the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden and other spaces that highlight the work of early 20th-century landscape designers such as Beatrix Farrand and Marian Coffin, over the last 20 years it has restored approximately 150 acres of landscape while completely changing its gardening practices to balance horticultural beauty with environmental responsibility.…

Join AL Hospitality Group and Crystal Cruises for a complimentary evening of luxury travel inspiration at New Canaan Library on Thursday, June 18, from 6:00–7:30 PM. Featuring Claude Girard, Northeastern Regional Director of Crystal Cruises, this special presentation will offer an insider's look at one of the world's most celebrated luxury cruise lines, known for its exceptional service, elegant accommodations, exclusive culinary experiences including Nobu and Beefbar at sea, and extraordinary itineraries across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska, and the…

Join us for a viewing of Zootopia! We will provide popcorn, candy, and drinks. Who should sign up? This class welcomes adults with developmental disabilities. In order to attend alone, participants need to be independent in a group and able to follow 1-2 step directions with prompting or volunteer assistance. If they require additional support, a caregiver must stay with them. About the instructors: Led by Tess and Addi MacKenzie whose lived experience and professional backgrounds in disability advocacy, and…

Join our Adult Librarians (Anna, Flannery, Kassidy, James & Tara) as they showcase the upcoming, must read books of the Summer. After discovering your next favorite read, you can officially register for our Adult Summer Reading Challenge, learn how to enter into a drawing for a chance to win cool prizes, and walk away with your exclusive 2026 sign-up gift (while supplies last). The evening will end with a reception.

Peek into the world of nature’s tiniest superheroes in The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a beautifully shot 60-minute documentary that reveals the vital—and often overlooked—role caterpillars play in our ecosystems. From blooming meadows to city parks and backyard gardens, this inspiring film celebrates the magic of nature while showing families practical ways to make a difference. Along the way, you’ll see the groundbreaking work of The Caterpillar Lab, entomologist David Wagner, and Doug Tallamy, co-founder of Homegrown National Park.

Drop in and celebrate the start of Summer Reading! We are celebrating RIBBIT RIBBIT READIT for a fun frog summer! Join us as we play a life-sized frogger game, help make GIANT frog artwork, eat some green ice cream, do a scavenger hunt to earn frog tattoos, design a frog RV with author Suzanne Nelson, and enjoy more crafting fun! Bring the whole family to jump into Summer Reading!

Please join Janey & Friends in an hourlong string quartet concert, as we journey through the diverse landscape of American Musical History from a Native American lullaby, to spirituals, Dvorak’s “American Quartet”, Joplin rags, Ellington, Gershwin, the American Songbook, Broadway, Motown, and modern pop chart toppers. This interactive sampling will be more than a melting pot of sound, it will illuminate the richly distinctive, yet intertwined pathways that our musical culture travels. We are pleased to present this program in…