Marine Mammal Center - August 5th

The Marine Mammal Center recognizes human interdependence with marine mammals and their importance as sentinels of the ocean environment, the health of which is essential for all life. The Marine Mammal Center rescues and treats ill, injured, or orphaned marine mammals, and returns healthy animals to the wild. Join us for this interactive and informational program about marine mammals. For children of all ages. Space is limited. Please call (415) 355-2868 for reservations.

Wednesday, August 5th @ 2 p.m.

TUESDAY TIPS (I didn't know I could do that!)

TODAY'S TIP - Click on a bestseller, find it at the San Francisco Public Library

You’ve thought: “Wouldn’t it be great if I could click on the Bestseller List and see if my branch has a copy of a book?” Dream no more - with the NextReads newsletter, you can do just that. Click on the NY Times Bestseller Newsletter to read it, and click "check library catalog" to see if we have the book you want.

You can also subscribe to the newsletter to get it in your inbox each week. To get started, click the NextReads link at http://www.sfpl.org/news/sanfranciscoreads.htm. You might want to check out the other newsletters while you're at it.

Excelsior Librarians and Staff share tips & tricks to help you make the most of the San Francisco Public Library catalog, databases and website. New tips posted Tuesdays on the Excelsior Blog. Watch this space!

First Monday Movies - Clash by Night - August 3rd

Barbara Stanwyck plays Mae Doyle, a hardened woman returning from big-city life to her girlhood home, the fishing village of Monterey, California. She meets and marries a simple fisherman (Paul Douglas) but is pursued by his brutal friend (Robert Ryan). Film noir master Fritz Lang directs a stark tale of lives shattered by human failings. See Marilyn Monroe in an early role as Stanwyck’s sister-in-law, Peggy. (1952, 105 mins.)

Monday, August 3rd - 6:30 p.m.

Braided Belt Making for kids - July 28th

Art Braiding is an historic art form found in many countries and well known in Colonial America. Thrifty American women recycled old woolen clothing into braids, then made rugs, pot holders, mats, belts, baskets and more. Continuing in this tradition, Arlene Magarian uses recycles materials to teach the basic craft of braiding the fabric and joining the braids to make a belt. For ages 8 and up. Space is limited. Please call (415) 355-2868 for reservations.

Tuesday, July 28th @ 1:30 p.m.

TUESDAY TIPS (I didn't know I could do that!)

TODAY'S TIP – Freezing Holds

You are next in line for a book, and suddenly you find that it might arrive while you are out of town. You don't want to start all over again at the bottom of the holds list. What do you do? Freeze the hold until after you return. Find out more at http://sfpl.org/sfplonline/faq/libraryrecord.htm#freeze

Excelsior Librarians and Staff share tips & tricks to help you make the most of the San Francisco Public Library catalog, databases and website. Go to sfpl.org and have fun exploring.

New tips posted Tuesdays on the Excelsior Blog. Watch this space!

Teens - Make a T-shirt Bag! - July 29th

Make a T-Shirt Bag ... and save a Turtle!

Old t-shirts crowding your drawers? Turn your old T into a new bag while saving wildlife*! We’ll transform t-shirts into bags, then paint, sew and customize them. Materials provided, but you are welcome to bring a t-shirt. For ages 12-18. For information or to register, contact Marla at (415) 355-2868.

Wednesday, July 29th from 4 - 5:30 p.m.

* Over 1 million plastic bags are used every minute globally. Marine wildlife, such as sea turtles, mistake plastic bags for food and die. Using a cloth bag will potentially eliminate 100s of plastic bags in one cloth bag’s lifetime.

TUESDAY TIPS (I didn't know I could do that!)

TODAY'S TIP – Keeping Track of What You Read

Patrons frequently ask for a printout of what they’ve read. The Library doesn’t keep a record of what you read. But you can – just by using the ratings feature in the SFPL Catalog. The ratings feature not only helps you keep track of what you have read and whether or not you liked it, but ratings also help other library patrons decide what to read. To find out more about ratings, see http://sflib1.sfpl.org/screens/ratings.html.

Excelsior Librarians and Staff share tips & tricks to help you make the most of the San Francisco Public Library catalog, databases and website. Go to sfpl.org and have fun exploring.

New tips posted Tuesdays on the Excelsior Blog. Watch this space!

Grizzly Road - Excelsior Branch Arts & Culture Salon - July 22nd

Gracing the California state flag is the grizzly bear. It is estimated that 10,000 grizzly bears once roamed the golden state. The call of Manifest Destiny for westward expansion sealed the great bear's fate. Grizzly Road - The Last Days of the California Grizzly is a feature documentary exploring not only the lonely path of the California Grizzly’s extinction, but the fate of the California landscape. Director Sabrina Alonso in person.

Wednesday, July 22nd @ 7 p.m.

Rebecca, the Bubble Lady - July 21st

Meet the Bubble Family: Spirit Bubbles, Baby Bubbles, Brother & Sister Bubbles, Momma & Poppa Bubbles. With creative stories woven throughout the show, the Bubble Lady selects volunteers to help her in creating amusing bubble sculptures. When one bubble pops there is always another close behind. The excitement mounts towards the finale as the BUBBLES GROW IN SIZE, finally large enough to put an audience member inside!!! For children of all ages.

Tuesday, July 21st @ 11 a.m.

Crosspulse Rhythm Duo - July 8th

From bells and banjos to body music, boxes and balls, the Crosspulse Rhythm Duo makes music out of anything and everything. Blending traditional and contemporary music and dance, Keith Terry & Evie Ladin bring together Jazz and World Music, Appalachian Banjo and Step Dancing traditions, and Found Sound - with delightful humor and skill. The Crosspulse Rhythm Duo offer a captivating performance that will entertain and educate young audiences about the rhythmic possibilities in the world around us. For children of all ages. Space is limited - please call (415) 355-2868 for reservations.

Wednesday, July 8th @ 11 a.m.

Excelsior Knitters - July 13th and August 10th

Knitters and crocheters join us at the Excelsior Library and make new friends in the neighborhood. Come chat, knit, purl, and spin! Have fun comparing patterns, sharing techniques and trading tips on stitches, sweaters, and mittens. Intermediate and advanced, please come and share your experience and ideas. Beginners are welcome to come look at patterns and get acquainted. Please bring your own materials. We welcome all.

Mondays, July 13th and August 10th - 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.