West Roxbury Reads Events This Week Include Films, Gallery Reception and More

West Roxbury Reads has started and there are several events this week, which lead up to author Justin Martin's appearance on April 25.

Sponsored by the Friends of the West Roxbury Library, this year's book is Martin's "Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted, Abolitionist, Conservationist, and Designer of Central Park". 

Did you know that Olmsted designed the Emerald Necklace, as well as New York City's Central Park? Learn about Olmsted's influence on American with events like the April 1 & 13 (reshowing) of "Olmsted and America’s Urban Parks” with comments by Olmsted experts and a live introduction by Jeanine Knox of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy.

Below is a list of this week's West Roxbury Reads events, which are all taking place at the West Roxbury Library. These events are all free and open to the public. Please see the attached schedule for all events, which include walking tours, films and discussions.

Sat. April 6 

11a.m.-12:30 p.m. Gallery Reception for artists John Vaccaro and Anthony Lobosco.

1:30 p.m. Film. Author of The Way Things Work, David Macaulay demystifies the world’s greatest architectural and engineering achievements, from pyramids to skyscrapers.

3:30 p.m. Film. Maya Lin, artist and architect of the Vietnam Memorial, looks at the crisis of biodiversity and habitat loss.

Monday, April 8 

6:30 p.m. Lecture and slide show. Margaret Dyson, director of historic parks for the city of Boston, discusses “The Emerald Necklace Today/ Muddy River Restoration Project.”

Thursday, April 11 

6:30 p.m. In an armchair tour Hilary Clark, park ranger at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, looks at Olmsted’s contributions to the Arnold Arboretum.

Saturday, April 13

10:30 a.m. Film. Overview of “Olmsted and America’s Urban Parks” with a film panel of Olmsted experts and an introduction by Jeanine Knox of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy.