Something to check out while you purchase your wine tasting tickets

The Accidental Connoisseur, by Lawrence Osborne, is an informative and slightly irreverent tour of all things wine. Osborne talks to everyone in the wine world, it seems, about all sorts of topics from local terroir to the globalization of the palate. While Osborne's research has been thoughtful and thorough, his tone in this book is very down-to-earth and accessible. While you are buying your tickets to the Friends' October 16th Wine Tasting, you can check it out. Or order it on-line by clicking this link (have your card and PIN handy): http://library.minlib.net/record=b2210108 . If someone else is borrowing it right now, you can order it from another Minuteman Library, and have it delivered to Dover for you to pick up.



My only disappointment in this very entertaining read was that I did not have the wines Osborne describes at hand: you will read his descriptions and want to taste along with him. Maybe some entrepreneur can package an Accidental Connoisseur kit: book and bottles, all together!

Mark Richards' Work to be on Display in Library in October

Artist of the Month's Mixed Media Works Will Reflect Theme of "WMD's and Other Personnel Effects"

The Friends of the Dover Library is proud to announce that Needham-based artist Mark Richards will be the Artist of the Month for October. The theme of his mixed media works is "WMD's and Other Personnel Effects." Richards' work will be on exhibit in the library from October 1 to October 30.

In Richards' work, simple household objects are captured in black and white digital images; they have then been embellished and altered using words, images (scans of newspaper images), charcoal, graphite, oil-stick, pastel, acrylic paint and gold leaf. 

"The rich eclectic mix of media supports the changed reality of our lives post 9/11," said Richards. "Mundane objects of every day have become a threat to national security. The effects are far reaching."

Richards is based in Needham, and his gallery, Mark Richards Fine Art, is on Falcon Street. In addition to mixed media, Richards' works include American realist oil paintings of Boston and the surrounding areas. For more information, please visit www.markrichardsfineart.com.

The Artist of the Month program is sponsored by the Friends. Each month a different local artist's work is displayed in the library. Pieces are for sale and 20% of all sales goes to the library.

Baskets for Auction - Thank You!

The baskets are in the library so bid, bid, bid! Full descriptions of the baskets are below on the blog. 

A special thanks to the following who donated items for the baskets:

• Wellesley Booksmith - Wellesley
• Wellesley Toy Shop/Wellesley Gift Shop - Wellesley
• Magic Beans - Wellesley
• Decor and More - Westwood
• John Dewar's Meats - Wellesley
• The Friends of the Library members

"Mommy's Time Out" Basket

"Mommy's Time Out" Basket - Value $105

• "Time Out Spot" sign
• "Please STOP Whining" pillow
• "Mommy's Time Out" Sauvignon Blanc - 2 bottles
• Child-friendly "unbreakable" wine glasses - 2
• The Three Martini Playdate
• Box of earplugs
• Gel eye mask
• "Mommy's Time Out" mug
• Tea & Cookies - lemon shortbread and lemon tea
• $25 gift card to Wellesley Booksmith

"Grill, Baby, Grill" Basket

"Grill, Baby, Grill" Basket - Value $115

• $25 gift card to John Dewar's Meats
• Stainless brush and baste set
• Stainless vertical roasting wok
• Stainless BBQ tongs
• Stainless BBQ fork
• Stainless spatula
• Spice It Up steak marinade
• Stubb's BBQ sauce
• The Big Book of Barbequing and Grilling
• Red Sox Wine - Vintage Papi
• Red Sox Wine - Captain's Cabernet
  
• Red Sox Wine - Sauvignooouk Blanc
  

"Domestic Bliss" Basket

"Domestic Bliss" Basket - Value $150

• $50 gift card to Decor and More
• "House Wine" white wine
• Kimono Rose hand cream
• Kimono Rose perfume
• Carrot soap and hand cream set
• Clementine soap
• Makeup bag
• Floral note cards
• Watch luggage tag
• WebKinz pig
• Tea & Cookies - butter toffee shortbread and Earl Gray tea
• "Teddy Fur" throw
• Shell box
• Toile laptop bag

"Kitchen Edition" Basket

"Kitchen Edition" Basket - Value $110

• "House Wine" white wine
• From Our House to Yours cookbook
• Stainless tea kettle
• Pumpkin spice scone mix
• Nesting bowls - set of 3
• Hot pad and dish towel set
• Apple harvest simmering potpourri
• Coffee mug
• Asparagus place cards - set of 12
• Yankee Candle - Berry Crumble scent
• $25 gift card to Bed, Bath & Beyond

"Family Night in the 'Den'" Basket

"Family Night in the 'Den'" Basket - Value $165

• Bear's Lair Cabernet Sauvignon
• Bear's Lair Chardonnay
• Family-friendly "unbreakable" wine glasses - 2
• Wine bottle stopper and pourer set
• New Yorker cocktail plates - set of 6
• Cocktail Food cookbook
• A Family Fireside Companion
• Sipping Chocolate
• Classic Dominoes
• Zimbbos! stacking elephant game
• Columbia fleece throw
• Wine travel box/suitcase
• $25 gift card to Wellesley Toy Shop/Wellesley Gift Shop
• $15 gift card to Magic Beans

Life in the Fast Lane Basket

"Life in the Fast Lane" Basket - Value $135

• Scrub-A-Dub gift card for "Quick Shine" express hand wax
• Scrub-A-Dub "The Book" pack of 5 express washes
• $40 gift card for oil change at Dover Automotive
• Armorall sponge
• Carpet and upholstery wipe off stain remover
• Moist wipe cleaning towel - lemon fresh
• Royal pine air freshener
• Vanillaroma air freshener
• Flashlight
• Snickerdoodle cookie mix

House Tour Celebrates 21 Years

The Friends of the Dover Library's 21st annual Holiday House Tour will be held on Sunday, November 9, from 11:30 am to 3 pm. It will give patrons the opportunity to visit four magnificent private homes in Dover. For many, the House Tour has become the traditional kick-off to the holiday season. 

This year's tour features historic residences on Wilsondale and Main Streets, as well as new constructions on Farm and Pine Streets. Houses will be festively decorated by local garden clubs and floral designers and will offer gourmet fare from local restaurants and caterers.

Advance tickets are $35 ($30 for Seniors and Friends). They will be available at the library starting October 3 and online at www.doverlibraryhousetour.org. If available, tickets will be $40 the day of the event. 

October Meeting

The Friends' next meeting is October 6 at 9 am in the library's Community Room. We welcome new members and encourage everyone to attend. We will finalize details for the Oct. 16 wine tasting and get an update on the Nov. 9 house tours. 

Tickets for both events are available at the library. Wine tasting tickets are $15 each or two for $25; they must be purchased by Oct. 14. House tour tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door.

Gift Baskets at Library

The Friends are auctioning off six gift baskets in conjunction with the wine tasting. The auction will end October 17, the day after the wine tasting. Themes for the baskets are: Mommy's Time Out; Life in the Fast Lane; Grill, Baby, Grill; Kitchen Edition; Domestic Bliss; and Family Night in the "Den". Each basket is valued at over $100. We'll have a full list of what is in the baskets posted later this week but check them out at the library and make a bid! Thanks to all who solicited gift certificates and purchased items to make these possible. 

Dover Days a Hit!

Thanks to all who volunteered and/or stopped by to support the Friends at Dover Days. We sold books as well as wine tasting and house tour tickets. It looks like there is a lot of interest in both upcoming events so get your tickets now! We also got our opening bids on the gift baskets so keep checking in at the library to make sure you win what you want.

The Friends at Dover Days

Be sure to stop by the Friends' booth at Dover Days. In addition to books, the Friends will be selling tickets to the upcoming wine tasting (Oct. 16) and house tour (Nov. 9). This is a great chance to get your tickets early. Wine tasting tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple; the house tour tickets are $35. Also, we will have on display in the library gift baskets for silent auction. Come check them out and make a bid!

Books Needed!

We need your books! The Friends of the Library is collecting books to sell at its booth at Dover Days. Please bring books in good condition to the library by September 18. Books may be dropped off in both the upper and lower level lobbies. A great way to clear out clutter and help the library!

Wine Tasting on October 16

The Friends of the Dover Library will host a wine tasting at Dover Library on Thursday, October 16, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bob Harkey of Harkey's Wine and Spirits in Millis will lead the event. Featured will be wines from South Africa, where Harkey recently returned from a tasting trip.

The event is open to all members of the community who are of legal drinking age. 

Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple and must be purchased by October 14. 

Tickets may be purchased at the Dover Library or by mail. To purchase by mail, send a check to the Friends of the Dover Library, c/o Dover Library, 56 Dedham Street, Dover, MA 02030. Please note "wine tasting" on the memo line of the check. Prepaid tickets will be available at the door at the event. 

Don't Forget!!!

Don't forget the Friends' Meeting on Monday, September 8th at 9AM. Members and nonmembers are welcome! Call or write to Lorie Linnell, President of the Friends, for more information about the meeting or about the Friends. lorielinn@aol.com or 508-785-9766.