Not that you have the bandwidth for any extra holidays before the end of the year, but on the off-chance that you’re looking for something more to celebrate … did you know that tomorrow is Repeal Day? Celebrated on Dec. 5 each year, this day marks the passing of the 21st Amendment, which effectively repealed the 18th Amendment and ended the prohibition on alcohol. As of Dec. 5, 1933, Americans have the choice to drink (or NOT drink) whichever beverages they choose!
Fairly recently, I was chatting with a library patron who mentioned that they published a book about cocktails and mixed drinks, and they followed it up with “but you probably don’t have anything like that at the library.” Au contraire! A well-rounded library collection includes books on all different subjects, including those about cocktails and mocktails for every occasion and taste. One of the best and most comprehensive guides is the “Ultimate Bar Book” by Mittie Hellmich, a James Beard nominee for the Best Wine and Spirit Book, which includes over a thousand different recipes, tips, tricks, and more. There are a number of similar title if you’re looking for a basic guide, but there are also a lot of fun, themed books on the subject!
If history interests you (and, especially, the laws surrounding alcohol) “Give Me Liberty and Give Me a Drink!” by Dieterle C. Jarrett describes various oddball laws related to booze that are still on the books, and pairs each with his own crafty cocktail recipe. “Contraband Cocktails: How America Drank When It Wasn’t Supposed To” by Paul Dickson is a fun and fast account of the most popular drinks during the prohibition era. For something with more emphasis on history, “Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition” by Daniel Okrent is regarded as the most complete history of this period in time, and makes for a fascinating read. You can also watch “Prohibition,” a 2011 docuseries by Ken Burns that draws heavily from Okrent’s book.
Cinephiles would likely enjoy “Cocktails of the Movies” by Will Francis, an illustrated guide to some of the greatest characters in cinema and their trademark cocktails (think Carrie Bradshaw and her Cosmopolitans), while literary lovers may be drawn to “Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist” or “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margarita,” both by Tim Federle. There are even books with recipes that appeal to foragers, witches, geeks (with recipes related to Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, etc.) and many more.
There has definitely been a rise in non-alcoholic recipe books over the last few years, and we have a plethora of great options for those who choose not to imbibe. Elva Ramirez’s “Zero Proof Cocktails” is a great starting point, as is “Mocktails” by Caroline Hwang. “Trejo’s Cantina: Cocktails, Snacks & Amazing Nonalcoholic Drinks from the Heart of Hollywood,” by famously sober actor Danny Trejo, offers a little bit of everything! So grab a book, your cocktail of choice, and enjoy the holiday!
Top Requested Books
1. “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett
2. “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride
3. ““Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese
4. “The Exchange” by John Grisham
5. “The Woman in Me” by Britney Spears
6. “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus 2
7. “None of This Is True” by Lisa Jewell
8. “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
9. “Resurrection Walk” by Michael Connelly
10. “Alex Cross Must Die” by James Patterson
Top Requested DVDs
1. “Oppenheimer”
2. “Barbie”
3. “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1”
4. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”
5. “The Equalizer 3”
6. “A Haunting in Venice”
7. “The Miracle Club”
8. “My Big fat Greek Wedding 3”
9. “The Good Mother”
10. “Retribution”
This Week
MONDAY — 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Crafternoon To-Go | Handmade Holidays – Pick up your to make Frosted Luminaries; 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Kids Take & Make – Pick up your kit to make bead mosaics; 9 a.m.-8 p.m., December Storywalk – Stroll through the park and read “Home for the Holidays: A Little Book About the Different Holidays That Bring Us Together” by Craig Manning; 11-11:30 a.m., Mini Monets – Kids ages 2-5 will create art in the style of animator Mary Blair; 2-4 p.m., Quilting Group – Bring your supplies and practice your crafting skills with others; 4-5 p.m., Hydro Hangout – Teens are invited to explore our new hydroponic garden in the library; 4-5 p.m., Tween Crafternoon – This month we’re making gifts for family and friends; 6-6:30 p.m., Laser Cutting Basics – An info session on engraving with the Glowforge; 6:30-7:30 p.m., Laser Club – Bring your lasercrafting ideas and learn how to print them on the Glowforge.
TUESDAY — 1-4 p.m., Community Resource Advocate – Get connected with local services/resources; 1-2 p.m. & 4-5 p.m., Tween D&D – We now offer 2 Tuesday programs for tweens to play Dungeons and Dragons; 4-5:30 p.m., Dungeons and Dragons – This program is for teens in grades 7-12; 4:30-5 p.m., Remote Control Car Showdown – Remote control car racing in the Kids Room; 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Knit and Crochet Group – A friendly yarn craft club; 6-7:30 p.m., Support Group – Drop in to this support group for survivors and those whose lives have been impacted by suicide.
WEDNESDAY — 10-10:30 a.m., Storytime – Join us for weekly storytime; 4-5 p.m., Pride Club – Hang out with other LGBTQIA2+ teens and allies; 5-6 p.m., Tween D&D – Space is limited; 4-8 p.m., Holiday Pop-Up Shop – We have gifts available to purchase for all the literature lovers in your life; 5-7 p.m., Sandi Gold Exhibit | I Chose Love – Meet the artist whose work will be up in the Hoxie Gallery through the month of December; 6-7:30 p.m., Dante Society presents Storytelling & Music with Frank Pendola & John Roarke – An evening of storytelling and music on “Growing up Boomer, Italian (and a little Irish) in Westerly, presented by Dante Society!
THURSDAY — 10-10:30 a.m., Baby Playtime – A lap sit program for ages birth through 18 months; 1-2 p.m., Kids, Tween, and Teen Homeschool Hangouts – Time for homeschool families to connect with each other, grouped by ages; 4-5 p.m., Teen Special Edition Crafternoon – Make custom cards with LED lights; 4:30-7:30 p.m., Shoreline Robotics – A robotics team open to children in grades 7-12; 5:30-7:30 p.m., Chess Club – Players of all skill levels are invited; 6:30-7:30 p.m., Learn the Language of Ireland – This free, introductory-level class is perfect for beginners.
FRIDAY — The library will close at 1pm for staff appreciation. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Gifts from the Heart – Kids can drop in and create a handmade gift for someone special; 10-11 a.m., Project Outreach Veterans Assistance – Members of organization are on site to aid veterans in navigating available benefits and other services.
SATURDAY — 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Storytime with Ballet RI | The Nutcracker – an interactive telling of the classic holiday fairytale, performance of dances and crafts presented by Ballet RI.
Cassie Skobrak is an adult services librarian at the Westerly Library and Wilcox Park.