What’s on in York: The Secret Life of Shoes
Fairfax House : Thu 26 May : 7.00pm – 9.00pm approx :
£14.00 (Members & Friends £12.00), the price includes a glass of wine.
In this talk, Dr. Ceri Houlbrook will explore the theory that shoes were employed as protective devices, concealed within homes to protect the inhabitants from evil forces.
Within walls, up chimneybreasts, and under floorboards are just some of the strange places in which shoes have been found. Accidental loss cannot account for their locations; they must have been deliberately secreted away with no intention of retrieval. This custom of concealment was evidently popular throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, with almost 2000 concealed shoes on record, but it remains a mystery to us. Why were such shoes concealed? What were their concealers hoping to achieve? In this talk, Dr. Ceri Houlbrook will consider possible answers to these questions.
Ceri Houlbrook is a historic ethnographer and archaeologist, whose primary interests include the materiality of post-medieval magic and ritual, and contemporary folkloric practices. She attained her doctorate in Archaeology from the University of Manchester in 2014, having written her thesis on the British custom of coin-trees, and is currently a postdoctoral research assistant on the ‘Inner Lives’ project, University of Hertfordshire. This role sees her mapping concealed deposits across the British Isles and engaging with their contemporary finders.
For more information or to discuss your requirements, please contact us on 01904 655543, email info@fairfaxhouse.co.uk, or visit our website at http://www.fairfaxhouse.co.uk/.
What’s on in York: Elmers Special Storytime tomorrow (Thursday)
What’s on in York: Walk to Jog
Various Venues : Tue 24 May & Wed 8 Jun :
6.30pm – : £10
Due to the hugely popular programmes already delivered we have two new ‘Walk 2 Jog’ Courses now available for bookings, including the next step of a 5k to 10k course.
We are running the sequel to Walk to Jog again this year of a 5k to 10k course of 9 weeks. This longer distance course offers ideal progression for anyone wanting to increase their jogging distance.
- Every Tuesday beginning 24th May at 6.30pm from Rowntree Park.
The course costs £9 for all 9 weeks. Again, that is just £1 per session.
The next Walk 2 Jog is a progressive 10 week programme that will take you from a power walk on week one to a 5km Jog on week ten. The course is designed for all abilities and we welcome all regardless of past experience.
Following the success of current Walk to Jog session in Acomb, we will be running another session. The course details are as follows,
- Every Wednesday beginning 8th June at 6.30pm from Energise (Acomb), Meeting next to the cycle parking.
The course costs £10 for all ten weeks. That is just £1 per session. Those that complete the course will receive a free t-shirt.
If you would like to participate please contact Hannah via email hannah.higginson@york.gov.uk and include which course you would like to attend.
What’s on in York: Felt Making – Felted spring flowers (wet felting)
York Art Gallery : Sat 21 May : 10:30am to 3:30pm :
£35 plus £3 for materials
Learn how to use simple wet rolled felting methods to roll and model the fleece into beautifully felted flowers. Finished items can be used to make brooches, hair accessories or decorations.
Taking inspiration from garden flowers, the tutor will demonstrate how to use simple wet “rolled” felting methods to roll & model the fleece into beautifully felted flowers. Finished items can be used to make brooches, hair accessories or decorations.
Book on Yortime.org.uk or call 01904 552806 or for further information contact york.learning@york.gov.uk
What’s on in York: Helping people with dementia
What’s on in York: An Evening of Calm
York Explore Library : Thu 19 May : 6.30pm – 7.30pm : £2
Whether it is to unwind, to focus, to practice mindfulness or just as a method to de-stress, Art Therapy has become a craze across the world. We are inviting you to an evening to explore your creative side whilst taking a step back from the hustle and bustle.
All the materials will be provided for you to enjoy an hour of zen.
There are a maximum of 20 tickets and can be bought online at http://www.feelinginspired.co.uk/detail/aneveningofcalm-19-05-2016 or at any York library.
What’s on in York – Lara Williams: Treats
York Explore Library : Tue 17 May : 6.30pm – 7.30pm :
Tickets cost £4 (£3 with a York Card)
Come meet and hear debut author Lara Williams talk about her writing and what it is was like to create and publisher her first short story collection.
“Dance like nobody gives a crap. Drink like you don’t have a family to go home to. Love because what else is the point.”
So says one of the characters in Lara Williams’ extraordinary debut story collection. Treats is a break-up album of tales covering relationships, the tyranny of choice, and self navigation. This fresh, beguiling new voice paints a portrait of contemporary adulthood, balancing wry humour with a pervading sense of alienation in the digital era.
Williams’ characters struggle with how to negotiate intimacy within relationships and isolation when single, the pitfalls and indignities of dating, dragged down by dissatisfaction. Meanwhile the dilemmas of life play out, including abortion, depression, extra-marital affairs, infatuation, new baby anxiety, bereavement, hair loss, sexual ethics, cats, and taxidermy.
For more information about the author please visit https://larawilliams.wordpress.com/ or http://www.freightbooks.co.uk/treats-by-lara-williams.html
There are a maximum of 50 tickets and can be bought online at http://www.feelinginspired.co.uk/detail/larawilliamstreats-17-05-2016 at any York library.
What’s on in York: Free Guided Bike Rides in York!
Various meeting points : Sun 15 May : Various Times : Free
The City of York Council Sport and Active Leisure Team have continued their partnership with British Cycling to provide the Sky Ride Local programme to York residents. The Sky Ride Local programme offers free guided bike rides starting at a variety of locations across the city.
This year’s programme offers riders with progressive rides over a 10 week block starting from one of three locations within the city. This article is promoting the rides taking place around the Heslington area. The programme offers three beginner/easy rides, followed by four steady/intermediate rides, followed by three challenging rides.
It is encouraged that people book onto these rides in advance via http://www.goskyride.com/. The website also provides further information about the rides, including ride duration and meeting points. Information on rides starting from different locations within York is also available via the above link. If you have any questions please contact Matt Orme (Matthew.Orme@york.gov.uk) on 01904 551577.
The first two rides take place at the York Cycle Circuit, the timings for which vary. Following this all rides will start at 10am, although the finish time will depend upon length/difficulty of ride. Exact timings for all rides are available at http://www.goskyride.com/.
Plus many more cycling events throughout May.
- Bike Belles Social ride to Askham Bryan follow link here
- Try Cycling Saturdays follow link here.
- Bike Belles York Greenways Charity ride in aid of York Blind and Partially Society follow link here
- Coffee and Cake Bike Maintenance Workshop follow link here.
What’s on in York: Fairfax House After Dark
Fairfax House : Sat 14 & Sun 15 May : 7.30pm – 8.45pm approx :
Adult £14.00 / Friends & Members £12.00 / Child £7.00. The price includes refreshments.
As part of Museums at Night, and Illuminating York Festival, Fairfax House is opening its doors after dark for a highly unusual and illuminating candlelit performance by the mansion’s ‘original Georgian inhabitants’.
Electric lighting will be strictly taboo! You will be take through the House by Lord Fairfax and members of his household staff by candlelight and given an unvarnished insight into 18th-century life.
For more information or to discuss your requirements, please contact us on 01904 655543, email info@fairfaxhouse.co.uk, or visit our website at http://www.fairfaxhouse.co.uk/.