Boston Flora

Category: Author Book Signing

  • Friday, February 7, 7:00 pm – A Planet to Win: Why We Need a Green New Deal

    In the twenty-first century, all politics are climate politics. The age of climate gradualism is over, as unprecedented disasters are exacerbated by inequalities of race and class. We need profound, radical change. A Green New Deal can tackle the climate emergency and rampant inequality at the same time. Cutting carbon emissions while winning immediate gains for the many is the only way to build a movement strong enough to defeat big oil, big business, and the super-rich—starting right now.

    A Planet to Win explores the political potential and concrete first steps of a Green New Deal. It calls for dismantling the fossil fuel industry and building beautiful landscapes of renewable energy, guaranteeing climate-friendly work and no-carbon housing and free public transit. And it shows how a Green New Deal in the United States can strengthen climate justice movements worldwide. We don’t make politics under conditions of our own choosing, and no one would choose this crisis. But crises also present opportunities. We stand on the brink of disaster—but also at the cusp of wondrous, transformative change.

    Alyssa Battistoni is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University and an Editor at Jacobin. Her writing has appeared in the Guardian, n+1, the Nation, Jacobin, In These Times, Dissent, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. 

    Thea Riofrancos is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Providence College and the author of Resource Radicals. Her writing has appeared in the Guardian, n+1, Jacobin, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Dissent, and In These Times. She serves on the steering committee of DSA’s Ecosocialist Working Group.

    The authors will speak and sign copies of their book on February 7 at 7 pm at Porter Square Books, 25 White Street in Cambridge. For more information visit www.portersquarebooks.com

  • Saturday, February 1, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm – Warm Room

    Warm Room: Photographs from Historic Greenhouses (2019) is the culmination of a twenty year project that began at the Planting Fields Arboretum on Long Island where the author Peter Moriarty lived in 1996. Significant American sites were added as the series of gelatin-silver prints evolved. Site notes were made for each of the locations. In 2010 a major grant permitted the addition of British and European works to contrast with the American photographs. Research at the Mertz library at the New York Botanical Garden set the itinerary for a two month excursion. There are 58 photographs in the book, which have been carefully scanned by Thomas Palmer. In addition there are 13 architectural drawings from both Royal and public archives in the US, UK, BE and FR. Botanists at the various conservatories have provided the proper Latin names for plants within his photographs. Ernesto Aparicio designed the book, which will we be printed by Verona Libri, Italy in October, 2019. Prints from this project are now in several collections (Princeton Art Museum, Yale University Art Gallery, Davison Art Gallery at Wesleyan University, Mt. Holyoke College Art Museum, Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College and the Worcester Art Museum) and a key set is in the Mertz Library. Moriarty published Lotte Jacobi Photographs with David Godine (Boston, MA 2003). BigTown Gallery in Rochester, Vermont represents his work.

    Peter Moriarty’s Warm Room photographs and photogenic subject matter lend themselves beautifully to the gelatin-silver technique. The striking plant forms juxtaposed with glass house architecture provides an intriguing contrast between the built and natural environments. The Warm Room series is rich in tonal variation and texture offering a unique viewpoint into a world rarely imagined. Peter Moriarty is an emeritus professor of art, who taught both in the Vermont State Colleges and at the Trinity School in NYC. He is the author of Lotte Jacobi Photographs (2003) and his prints are represented by BigTown Gallery in Rochester, Vermont. His work is in numerous public collections including the Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, Mt.Holyoke.

    Join the author for a talk and book signing on February 1 at Tower Hill Botanic Garden beginning at 1:30 pm. $10 for Tower Hill members, $20 for nonmembers. Books will be available for purchase (extra).

  • Thursday, December 12, 6:30 pm – Decorating “The People’s House”

    Author and renowned event producer Bryan Rafanelli and Jeremy Bernard, former White House social secretary under President Obama, will share their memories of holidays in the Obama White House on December 12 beginning at 6:30 in WBUR’s CitySpace at the Lavine Broadcast Center, 890 Commonwealth Avenue.

    The pair will discuss how the process of designing holiday décor was more than creating visually stunning displays, it was one that honored the history of a great house and the values of the First Family. $10, and door will open at 5:30 Buy tickets at www.wbur.org

    Jeremy Hobson, co-host of Here & Now, will moderate. Copies of Rafanelli’s new book, A Great Party – Designing The Perfect Celebration will be on sale. Rafanelli will sign copies following the discussion.

  • Sunday, November 17, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Laura Dowling: Inspiring Holiday Decor

    As chief floral designer at the White House for six years under President Barack Obama, Laura Dowling was a creative mastermind behind the lavish White House holiday season, working with First Lady Michelle Obama and an extraordinary group of volunteers to create holiday magic. In this November 17 Museum of Fine Arts Boston lecture and floral demonstration, Dowling shares her tips, techniques, and inspiration for creating her favorite White House holiday designs—from Thanksgiving table settings to festive wreaths, trees, and garlands.

    The lecture, in the Remis Auditorium, begins at 1 pm. Book signing to follow in the MFA Bookstore.  $48 MFA members, $60 nonmembers. To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975 ($6 processing fee applies); to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk. To order on line, visit www.mfa.org.

    This event is presented in partnership with the MFA Associates. 

  • Friday, November 1, 7:00 pm – Fungipedia: A Brief Compendium of Mushroom Lore

    Local author Larry Millman presents his latest: an illustrated mini-encyclopedia of fungal lore, from John Cage and Terrence McKenna to mushroom sex and fairy rings. He will speak at Porter Square Books, 25 White Street, on November 1 at 7 pm. For more information visit https://www.portersquarebooks.com/event/lawrence-millman-fungipedia

    Fungipedia presents a delightful A-Z treasury of mushroom lore. With more than 180 entries–on topics as varied as Alice in Wonderland, chestnut blight, medicinal mushrooms, poisonings, Santa Claus, and waxy caps–this collection will transport both general readers and specialists into the remarkable universe of fungi.

    Combining ecological, ethnographic, historical, and contemporary knowledge, author and mycologist Lawrence Millman discusses how mushrooms are much more closely related to humans than to plants, how they engage in sex, how insects farm them, and how certain species happily dine on leftover radiation, cockroach antennae, and dung. He explores the lives of individuals like African American scientist George Washington Carver, who specialized in crop diseases caused by fungi; Beatrix Potter, creator of Peter Rabbit, who was prevented from becoming a professional mycologist because she was a woman; and Gordon Wasson, a J. P. Morgan vice-president who almost single-handedly introduced the world to magic mushrooms. Millman considers why fungi are among the most significant organisms on our planet and how they are currently being affected by destructive human behavior, including climate change.

    With charming drawings by artist and illustrator Amy Jean Porter, Fungipedia offers a treasure trove of scientific and cultural information. The world of mushrooms lies right at your door–be amazed.

    Lawrence Millman is a mycologist and author of numerous books, including Our Like Will Not Be There Again, Last Places, Fascinating Fungi of New England, and At the End of the World. He has done mycological work in places as diverse as Greenland, Honduras, Iceland, Panama, the Canadian Arctic, Bermuda, and Fresh Pond in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he has documented 321 different species. Amy Jean Porter is an artist, illustrator, and naturalist. Her illustrated books include Of Lamb and The Artists’ and Writers’ Cookbook, and her artwork has appeared in such publications as McSweeney’s and The Awl.

  • Sunday, November 3, 12:45 pm – 3:45 pm – Bark: Get to Know Your Trees

    Tower Hill Botanic Garden will host a lecture on November 3 from 12:45 – 3:45 with Michael Wojtech. Tower Hill members $42, nonmembers $56. Register at www.towerhillbg.org

    The traits typically used to describe trees-leaves, twigs, and buds-are often hard to see or seasonally absent. Join Michael for this indoor presentation and outdoor exploration of bark, which is always visible, in any season. As you hone your perceptive abilities you will learn about a system for identifying tree species by their bark, and discover why such a variety of bark characteristics exist. Why do some species have smooth bark, while on others it is thick and broken? Why does bark peel?

    Michael Wojtech is the author of Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast. As a naturalist and educator, Michael strives to share the science and wonder of trees in an accessible and compelling fashion. He writes, photographs, illustrates, and presents programs about the structure, growth processes, and ecology of trees-including their bark, buds, leaves, roots, and wood-for audiences at all levels of experience. He is especially interested in the process of discovery and engagement, and draws his greatest inspiration from sharing the sense of wonder, awe, and the recognition of beauty that result from these investigations.

     

  • Wednesday, October 30, 7:00 pm – The Atlas of Boston History

    Local historian and volume editor Nancy Seasholes presents The Atlas of Boston History: The Making of a City, a unique addition to works about Boston history.​​​​​​​ The talk and book signing will take place October 30 at 7 pm at Porter Square Books, 25 White Street in Cambridge. Visit https://www.portersquarebooks.com/event/nancy-seasholes-atlas-boston-history to pre-order book, and for additional information.

    Few American cities possess a history as long, rich, and fascinating as Boston’s. A site of momentous national political events from the Revolutionary War through the civil rights movement, Boston has also been an influential literary and cultural capital. From ancient glaciers to landmaking schemes and modern infrastructure projects, the city’s terrain has been transformed almost constantly over the centuries. The Atlas of Boston History traces the city’s history and geography from the last ice age to the present with beautifully rendered maps.
     
    Edited by historian Nancy S. Seasholes, this landmark volume captures all aspects of Boston’s past in a series of fifty-seven stunning full-color spreads. Each section features newly created thematic maps that focus on moments and topics in that history. These maps are accompanied by hundreds of historical and contemporary illustrations and explanatory text from historians and other expert contributors. They illuminate a wide range of topics including Boston’s physical and economic development, changing demography, and social and cultural life. In lavishly produced detail, The Atlas of Boston History offers a vivid, refreshing perspective on the development of this iconic American city.

    Nancy S. Seasholes is a historian and historical archaeologist who works as an independent scholar. Her books include Gaining Ground: A History of Landmaking in Boston and Walking Tours of Boston’s Made Land.

  • Thursday, November 7, 6:00 pm – Food in the American Gilded Age

    Food was incredibly diverse in post-Civil War America. The era was one of gross income inequality, and differences in diet reflected the deep disparities between upper and lower classes, as well as the expansion of a flourishing middle class, at a time when technology and industrialization were transforming how and what people ate. Dr. Helen Zoe Veit, Associate Professor of History at Michigan State University, will speak on November 7 at Rosecliff in Newport. The lecture begins at 6 pm, and a book signing follows at 7 pm. $10 for members of The Preservation Society of Newport County, $15 for the General Public. Register at http://newportmansions.org/learn.

  • Saturday, October 19, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – The Vegan Roadie

    The KITCHEN at the Boston Public Market is excited to welcome Dustin Harder, the host and creator of the original vegan travel culinary series, The Vegan Roadie. In this hands-on class, attendees will learn Dustin’s secrets to creating delicious (and beautiful) plant-based meals from his new cookbook, Epic Vegan. Guided by Dustin, you’ll create a three course-menu and become more comfortable with plant-based cooking through new skills, techniques, and flavors!

    Come ready to roll up your sleeves and get cooking! We will also have copies of Epic Vegan for purchase at the class – or bring your own copy and get it signed by Dustin.

    Menu:

    • Unicorn French Bread Pizza with beet marinara, cashew mozzarella, and edible flowers
    • Creamy shells with the cheesiest ‘cheese’ sauce
    • ‘Kale Me Crazy’ ice cream sundaes with cherries, fudge sauce, and sunflower caramel sauce

    This menu is 100% vegetarian and vegan. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate gluten or nut allergies with this menu. Please email kitcheninfo@thetrustees.org to alert us to any other food allergies. Please note that The KITCHEN is not a certified allergy-free kitchen and cross contamination is possible.

    Our hands-on cooking classes are structured as a group learning experience; you’ll work with other students to create a seasonal meal led by our professional chef instructors. We focus on learning new cooking styles and techniques to increase your confidence and enjoyment in your own kitchen. Here are a few things to know before booking a class with us:

    • Each class is centered on the local, seasonal farmers and artisans of the Boston Public Market.
    • During each class, you’ll learn 2 or 3 recipes, you’ll work with between 2 and 4 other students to create each one, and you’ll enjoy a plentiful taste of each.
    • Classes are usually between 2 and 2.5 hours long, unless otherwise noted.
    • Please be prepared to be on your feet, standing at a table, and cooking for the duration of class.
    • We recommend comfortable, non-slip, and closed-toe shoes.

    Tickets: $60 for Trustees member and $75 for Non-Trustees Members. Members must bring their current member card and number. Join The Trustees and save! Members save between 20-40% off all classes in The KITCHEN.

    Dustin Harder is the host and creator of the original vegan travel culinary series The Vegan Roadie. When not traveling, he works as a personal chef, recipe developer, and culinary instructor in New York City. As a graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, Dustin has been featured in such publications as Eating Well, VegNews, Vegan Lifestyle Magazine, and Paste Magazine.

  • Friday, October 18, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm – Winterizing Your Roses

    On October 18 at 11 am at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Teresa Mosher will provide tips for choosing hardy roses, fertilizing, rose dormancy, fall rose care, and winter protection. Photos from her locally revered Zone 5 garden in Methuen are incorporated into the Powerpoint presentation. Each participant will take home a signed copy of Teresa’s book/ journal A Year in My Rose Garden, filled with very helpful rose caring information, photos, information on ordering roses, a list of tools and supplies, her favorite books to read, rose terms, favorite roses and much more. $25 for Tower Hill members. $39 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.

    Teresa Mosher is one of the leading garden and rose consultants in New England. She has over 30 years of experience as an avid gardener and cares for forty flower beds, 250+ roses, and over 2000 perennials, shrubs and trees in her garden. She is currently president of the New England Rose Society, a Horticulture Rose Judge, and Consulting Rosarian for the American Rose Society.