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Join a small group of MI members in a relaxed setting to improve your chess skills. Did you learn how to move the chess pieces as a child? Would you like to learn more? This class is for you! In four Wednesday evenings you will dramatically improve your game, learning:

Major Openings
Check Mate Patterns
Endgame Strategies

When: Wednesdays, May 9 - 30, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Where: Room 407, 4th floor
Cost: 4 classes - $40 for MI members , $50 for non-members

Join a small group of MI members in a relaxed setting to improve your chess skills. Did you learn how to move the chess pieces as a child? Would you like to learn more? This class is for you!

In four Wednesday evenings you will dramatically improve your game, learning:

• Major Openings
• Check Mate Patterns
• Endgame Strategiese

When: Wednesdays, March 7-28, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Where: Mechanics’ Institute • Room 407, 4th floor
Cost: $30 for 4 classes. MI members only, who have not played chess recently.

I’m willing to bet that at least 25% of our membership has more than a kiss of Irish blood. If not, you’ll still find plenty of entertainment at the 9th Annual Crossroads Irish-American Festival. This year’s festival features the ‘best and brightest’ of Irish-America in San Francisco throughout the month of March! This year Crossroads is hosting thirteen events in multiple venues featuring authors, musicians, historians, dancers, poets, and more - including one with MI member Renee Gibbons.

The Mechanics’ Institute is pleased to be a cosponsor of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco’s BookFest 2012!

February 23 – February 28, 2012
MI Members qualify for a special rate! Use the code: BOOKFESTPARTNER to get JCCSF member rates for BookFest Sunday.

All events held at the JCCSF, 3200 California Street (x Presidio)
Pick up your program at the Reference Desk on the 3rd floor of the Library!
For tickets, please contact our box office at 415-292-1233 or visit jccsf.org/arts

Available in [Print] (936.3 K921)

Available in [print].

This book is a very readable translation/retelling of Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur.

If you love King Arthur stories this is a primary source but previous editions have been difficult to slog through as Sir Malory wrote in the 15th century.

Peter Ackroyd has done a fantastic job of bringing this classic work linguistically into the 21st century while retaining Malory’s lyrical prose and vivid plots. His introduction to the work and brief biography of Malory also is worth a read.

I didn’t always love beer.

I had my first taste when I was probably 5 or 6 years old, stolen from my dad’s can of Coors. Or was it Black Label when he left it on the porch he was building one warm summer day? It tasted flat, strongly of aluminum, and generally yucky. To this day I can’t stand beer in a can but the taste of beer grew on me.

Purchase a new membership as a gift and save 20% off the regular price.

The Mechanics’ Institute is pleased to announce the winner of its recent contest for an image to represent the Authors’ Carnival.

We received many wonderful submissions but the winning design was created by MI member and graphic designer Vandy Ritter.
 
Vandy Ritter Design
vrdesign@comcast.net • phone 415-931-7476

The Mechanics’ Institute Authors’ Carnival series of literary events is looking for a new logo! Design us a logo and win some free publicity! The winner will receive mention in Mechanics’ Institute publications,, a notice on our website, and a congratulatory notice in our monthly newsletter! This is a great opportunity for a graphic designer to show off his/her talent to our membership of nearly 5000!

Contest Deadline: September 15