Crochet Revival: Classes Coming Soon!
BY KAREN PERRY
My apartment can be
described as “lean and
mean.” There is a con-stant
cycle of straightening up,
discarding or donating. One glar-ing
exception to this – my mother’s
craft books. I could never part with
a single one of them. Every activity
is represented there, from baby
clothes to bargello to bead flowers.
Every few years, I check to make
sure my favorite one is there. Taped
together, pages yellow with age, it is
“Spinnerin Afghans.” The copyright
date is 1949, and the cover price
an astonishing 50 cents. Located
on page 12, our favorite blanket is
simply called “Granny.” How many
hours the two of us spent together
crocheting squares!
It is true what they say,
“Everything Old is New Again.”
Crocheting has always been very
popular with members of our
NST Knit and Crochet Club.
Their Arcade display window has
showcased a stream of crochet fan-tasy
figures and scenes. However,
something that is very good can
always be made much better. Such
is the thinking behind a crochet
revival.
For the first time, a series of cro-chet
lessons will be offered. With
instruction by the talented Carol
Klinger, classes will be conducted
on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to
7:30 pm and are expected to begin
at the end of November. They will
be held in the large card room,
immediately preceding the club’s
weekly meetings. Students will first
learn how to crochet granny squares
and then how to assemble them. All
materials for crochet classes will be
supplied. The only cost for lessons
is a donation of your choice to the
Knit and Crochet Club.
Broadway musical star Sutton
Foster recently published a book
called, “Hooked: How Crafting
Saved my Life,” in which she
describes her little-known struggle
with anxiety. An illness prevalent
in her family, it was worsened by
pressures in both her personal and
professional life. In the book, she
credits the hobby with diffusing
many life pressures. A bitter divorce
was passed, “… piecing together a
floral blanket, one granny square at
a time.” The star currently estimates
having eight to ten “soul-soothing”
projects going at a time.
Our crochet lessons do not come
with any promises. It is doubtful
that the subtle movement of a cro-chet
hook and yarn will change your
life. Just give the lessons a try. As
the saying goes, “it couldn’t hurt.”
Please direct any questions about
this program to the club’s President,
Judi Ross (347) 235-4509. You
may also contact the program’s
instructor, Carol Klinger, at (347)
408-4600.
A Magical Hour at the University Club
John Kenrick and “Gigi” Delight!
BY IRENE FRANK
It was a perfect pairing: John
Kenrick, our most entertain-ing
lecturer, and “Gigi,” one
of the most endearing musicals of
our time.
Mr. Kenrick was his most infor-mative
and outrageous self on the
evening of September 30. His work
in theatrical and management pro-duction
served him well as he related
behind-the-scenes stories that spiced
up the lecture. And the gossip was
delicious! His love for musical the-ater
pours from his soul. His mimicry
of the stars was “spot-on.” Whether
it was Hermione Gingold teaching
Leslie Caron the ways of Parisian
society or Maurice Chevalier men-toring
Louis Jordan on how to avoid
boredom or Eva Gabor flirting with
everyone in the café, the movements
and accents were perfect. If you
closed your eyes you would have
believed John was the characters.
Our speaker did more than show
clips from the movie. He had us
understand La Belle Epoque soci-ety
of the 1890s, the materialistic,
decadent lifestyle of men of wealth
and their courtesans.
To me, the lush scenery of the
Bois de Boulogne, the elegant
costumes, the architecture, along
with the Champs Elysees and café
nightlife were like moving post-Im-pressionist
paintings. Think Degas,
Manet and Toulouse Lautrec.
Our “Mr. Showbiz” is so com-fortable
with the University Club
that he feels free to be himself—
flamboyant, personal and politi-cal.
One knows exactly where he
stands on every subject that pops
into his head as he lectures.
The talk ended too soon for the
delighted audience, but the walls
of the arcade reverberated a long
time with the sounds of people
singing “The Night They Invented
Champagne,” “I Remember It Well,”
“Thank Heaven for Little Girls” and
“Gigi.”
Thank you, University Club
president Shirley Wershba, for this
wonderful treat.
John Kenrick and University Club
president Shirley Wershba
Kenrick captivates (as always!)
“Granny squares” become a
beautiful crocheted creation
Photo by Judi Ross
The club’s creations on display in
the arcade
Photo by Judi Ross
A seasonal theme
Photo by Carol Klinger
12 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ November 2021