May at the Library: Violas; Ancestry; and Meet the Authors

So, it should come as no surprise that the Lakewood Public Library — consistently ranked among the best in the county — has a full lineup on Detroit Avenue.

From a viola concert to meetings with authors, the library has a little bit of something for everyone.

Here’s the May lineup, courtesy of the :

• The NorthCoast Consort of Violas: 2 p.m. May 13; You already know the paintings, sculptures and architecture of that remarkable period in history that delivered mankind from the Dark Ages into the Enlightenment. Now listen to the music that got the Renaissance humming played on authentic reproductions of viola da gambas, recorders and other instruments of the time.
• Meet the Author: “Out and About with Winsor French” by Jim Wood. Presented by the Lakewood Historical Society, this event is slated to take place at 7 p.m. May 16. The “uncloseted” Winsor French was one of the most faithfully read columnists in the history of Cleveland journalism. For more than forty years he covered the jazz beat and cafe society of the 1920s and 1930s and the local "Jolly Set" of the postwar years. Jim Wood, author of Out and About with Winsor French, will discuss the personal and public persona of this groundbreaking newspaperman. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.
• Introduction to Ancestry: Back by popular demand, the library is offering a free how-to session for folks looking to dig deep into their genealogy at 6 p.m. May 17. The Ancestry genealogy resource is free to use every day at the Library. How far back would you like to trace your family tree? Genealogist Deborah Abbott will show you how to unlock the secrets held by census reports, military records, birth certificates and death notices in this hands-on workshop. Unravel your history with professional results. Space is limited, so call 216-226-8275, ext. 127 to register.
• Five Star Films Presents: Simone (2002): Directed by directed by Andrew Niccol, this film will be shown in the main auditorium at 6 p.m. May 19. Desperate film producer Al Pacino has a movie to make but no star. His ex-wife, studio chief Catherine Keener, is less than sympathetic. Then, somewhere out of the shadows, a dying genius appears with a CD containing a secret computer program. He begs the filmmaker to take it. What’s on the disc is nothing less than manna from heaven. This film series is sponsored by the Friends of Lakewood Public Library.
• Wallace Coleman, Deeply Rooted in the Blues: Lyrics tell the basic story, but the characters are found etched into every piece of gravel in his voice. Wash away the worries of times long gone with the golden tones of his harmonica. Wallace Coleman plays old school blues with friends, D.C. Carnes and John Lucic. When we say that the man is a legend, we mean it. The show — presented by the Friends of the Lakewood Public Library — is set for 2 p.m. May 20.
• Meet the Author: “Addie Joss: King of the Pitchers” by Scott Longert. This book event, focusing on the great pitcher Addie Joss, will take place at 7 p.m. May 24. Joss lived and died before Ty Cobb's career was even a quarter over, before George Ruth became the Babe, before the Snodgrass muff, before the miracle Braves and before newsreel cameras could capture what made him a legend. This long-overdue biography reminds us a time long-gone, a way of life and a game we love as it once was played. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.
• Lakewood Art House Cinema: “My Own Private Idaho” (1991). Directed by Gus Van Sant, this film is set for a 6 p.m. May 26 showing in the main auditorium — as the library looks to bring the art house home.  River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves are professional hustlers prowling the streets of Portland. Phoenix searches desperately for the mother who appears during his epileptic black outs while Reeves bides his time, waiting for a sizable inheritance from a father he seeks to annoy with his daily tricks.