Book Events for July 29

Two regular appraisers for the popular PBS program Antiques Roadshow will join the distinguished group of speakers at the 2012 New Orleans Antiques Forum, taking place Thursday-Monday, Aug. 2-5, in the French Quarter. Robert Cheney, a clocks and watches appraiser, and Christopher W. Lane, an expert in maps and prints, are among the speakers scheduled to address participants.

Presented by The Historic New Orleans Collection, the four-day forum is centered on talks by local and national decorative arts experts, plus social events and two optional preconference tours. Registration for the event is currently open, and seats are still available for the sessions and the optional activities.

This year’s theme, “Circa 1812,” recognizes the bicentennials of Louisiana’s statehood and the War of 1812, and explores the prevailing decorative styles of the period. The state, by way of New Orleans and its port, became a magnet for the importation of decorative arts from around the country and overseas, transforming it into the epicenter of the Mississippi River valley’s arts and antiques community.

A third-generation clockmaker and dealer, Cheney has served as a consultant for more than 35 museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Peabody-Essex Museum; and the Concord Museum. Cheney’s presentation will focus on the multi-faceted clockmaking trade in 18th- and 19th-century America and the magnificent pieces produced during these periods.

Lane, co-owner of the Philadelphia Print Shop, Ltd., and manager of the Philadelphia Print Shop West in Denver, will discuss Alexander Wilson’s American Ornithology (1808–14), the first natural history focused solely on American birds, which predated John James Audubon’s similar work by about two decades. Both talks will take place Saturday, Aug. 4.

The weekend will also include presentations by Priscilla Lawrence and John H. Lawrence of The Historic New Orleans Collection; Eugene D. Cizek, professor of architecture and Latin American studies at Tulane School of Architecture; Morgan Delaney, private collector; Lynne Dakin Hastings, independent museum consultant; Peter Kenny, Ruth Bigelow Wriston Curator of American Decorative Arts and administrator of the American Wing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Marsha Mullin, vice president of museum services and chief curator at The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson; William Seale, author and historian; and R. Scott Stephenson, director of collections and interpretation at the American Revolution Center.

Tom Savage, director of museum affairs at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Delaware, is returning as the forum’s moderator.

Designed for a general audience, the forum sessions will take place at THNOC’s Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St., and are accessible to scholars, collectors and newcomers to the field. This year’s topics include cabinetmaker Duncan Phyfe and his influence, the popularity of the Kentucky Rifle (or long rifle) during the 19th century and the blending of Creole and Federal architecture styles in the French Quarter.

New to this year’s program is a choice of two preconference tours—a day trip to visit three plantations in St. Francisville, or a walking tour of the historic French Quarter. Following the final session on Sunday, guests will also have the option to join speakers and fellow participants for brunch at Antoine’s Restaurant. Separate registration is required for the preconference tours and brunch.

Registration for this event is required, and packages start at $100. For more information on the event or to register, visit http://www.hnoc.org/antiques.htm or call (504) 523-4662.

EBR Library

Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life book discussion group will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, at the Main library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. The groups holds a monthly discussion group of Karen Armstrong’s Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, which focuses on instilling the Golden Rule in a secular way in our everyday lives. This month’s meeting will cover steps 6 and 7.

For more information, call (225) 231-3710.

Book club

•  Science Fiction Book Club will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, at Greenwell Springs Road Regional branch, 11300 Greenwell Springs Road. Members will discuss The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury.

Livingston Parish Library

Young Writers Club will meet 5-6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, at Denham Springs-Walker branch, 8101 U.S. 190 in Denham Springs.

Adult Writers Circle will meet 6:30-7:30 pm. Thursday, Aug. 2, at Denham Springs-Walker branch, 8101 U.S. 190 in Denham Springs.

Ascension Parish Library

If you have a perfectly good item that you’d like to be rid of, or are you in the market for discarded items, Galvez branch, 40300 La. 42 in Prairieville, is connecting people who want to get rid of stuff with people who can use it at Free + Recycling = Freecycling at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 28. Bring in gently used, unwanted items, and see if there are things that you need or want. Avoid the hassles of garage sales and thrift stores. It will be an opportunity to clean out your attic and help the environment at the same time. Registration is required, call (225) 622-3339 to reserve your spot.

Book clubs:

•  Donaldsonville Book Club will meet noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, at the Donaldsonville branch, 500 Mississippi St. in Donaldsonville. Members will discuss Eva Moves the Furniture by Margot Livesey.
•  Dutchtown Book Club will meet 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, at the Dutchtown branch, 13278 La. 73 in Geismar. Members will discuss In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White.
•  Gonzales Book Club will meet 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, at the Main branch, 708 South Irma Blvd. in Gonzales. Members will discuss The Seige by Helen Dunmore.

W. Feliciana Parish Library

The Genealogy Guild will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 29, at the library at 11865 Ferdinand St. in St. Francisville. For more information, call (225) 784-0260.

Audubon Regional Library

The library is sponsoring an appearance by L. Kevin Johnson, blues musician and storyteller, at Grace Nursing Home, La. 19, Slaughter, at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, and at East Feliciana Council on Aging, 11102 Bank St. in Clinton, at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 2.

The event is funded by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

Lafayette Public Library

From 9:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, Aug. 4, Lafayette Genealogical Society will hold Genealogy 101, a series of presentations for the research novice and expert alike, at South Regional Library, 6101 Johnston St. in Lafayette. “Genealogy 101” is held the first Saturday of each month. The group also holds monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of each month. Each meeting features a guest speaker. Anyone interested in genealogy may attend either event.

Armstrong to speak

Annabelle Armstrong, author of Historic Neighborhoods of Baton Rouge, will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 9340 Florida Blvd., at the annual Presbyterian Women’s Pie and Ice Cream Social. Armstrong will tell stories of the developers of 50 neighborhoods, many of them preservationists and environmentalists.

Writers’ Guild of Acadiana Meeting

Writers’ Guild of Acadiana (WGA) will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, at Barnes & Noble, 5705 Johnston St. in Lafayette. WGA is an organization made up of local writers, published and unpublished, who meet on the last Tuesday of the month to share and gain knowledge in the craft of writing. Beginners and veterans of the writing industry are all welcome.

Signings

Ryan Holiday, author of Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator, will sign copies of his book at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, at Octavia Books, 513 Octavia St. in New Orleans.

Items for Book Events were provided by The Historic New Orleans Collection, East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Ascension Parish Library, West Feliciana Parish Library. Audubon Regional Library, Lafayette Public Library, Annabelle Armstrong and Barnes & Noble.