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Pirates of the Golden Age
Tue, October 21, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
This resplendent "audio-visual" program examines the "Golden Age" of piracy; why it flourished; the treasures sought; personalities, crews, weapons, and hardships. Learn why pirates' lives were usually nasty, brutish, and short. Presented by Steve Valdespino.
The Dutch East India Company
Tue, November 18, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
Before Apple, Toyota, or Walmart, there was The United Dutch East India Company, one of the most powerful businesses in history. Hear the fascinating tale of the world's first mega-corporation, which for 200 years stretched from Amsterdam to Japan. Presented by Steve Valdespino.
Medieval - Renaissance Art & Music
Tue, December 16, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
Join us for a wonderful example of extraordinary culture from the Middle Ages through the 16th Century. Presented by Steve Valdespino.
Against All Odds: Shackleton and the Endurance, Part 1
Tue, January 20, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
Learn about Sir Ernest Shackleton's ambitious attempt to traverse Antartica and what led to one of the greatest survival stories ever told. Presented by Steve Valdespino.
Goya: His Life and Times
Tue, January 27, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) is the most important Spanish artist of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Over the course of his long career, Goya moved from jolly and lighthearted to deeply pessimistic and searching in his paintings, drawings, and etchings. This lecture will investigate the forces, both personal and historical, behind Goya's life. Presented by Jose Jueves.
History of Rock & Roll: The British Invasion
Tue, February 3, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
Music historian Denny Vincent discusses the effect of the British Invasion of the mid-1960's on Rock & Roll music in the USA.
Against All Odds: Shackleton and the Endurance, Part 2
Tue, February 17, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
Steve Valdespino presents Part 2 of Against All Odds: Shackleton and the Endurance. Learn about one of the greatest survival stories ever told.
Frida and Diego: Their Lives and Times
Tue, February 24, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
As artists, Frida Kahlo and Diego Garcia shaped our understanding of Mexican native cultures, while as activists, they interfaced with many leading historical figures. This lecture will examine their lives, their loves (which were many), their political ideologies, their love for Mexico, their successes, and their flaws. Presented by Jose Jueves.
Against All Odds: Shackleton and the Endurance, Part 2
Tue, March 17, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
Steve Valdespino presents Part 3 of Against All Odds: Shackleton and the Endurance. Learn about one of the greatest survival stories ever told.
Birds: Beyond Feathers and Song
Tue, March 24, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
Birds have long inspired human imagination and curiosity. This lecture illuminates the origin, evolution, and incredible adaptations that make bird unique. Do they sleep while flying during migrations? Are they really descendants of dinosaurs? Are they intelligent? While this is not a birdwatching seminar, this lecture is sure to impart wisdom and wonder to your birdwatching. Presented by Jose Jueves.
Treasure: Flora and Fauna of South Florida
Tue, April 21, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
A beautiful look at the natural treasure we have here in SW Florida. Presented by Steve Valdespino.
Horses and Human Cultures
Tue, April 28, 2:00 - 3:30pm in Meeting Room AB
The close relationship between horses and humans has changed both. People have remade horses, creating dozens of breeds. But horses have also changed us. The ways we travel, trade, play, work, and fight wars have all been profoundly shaped by our use of horses. This lecture will explore what horses are; their evolution, anatomy, behavior, and breeds. It will present the multiple roles played by horses in human history. Presented by Jose Jueves.
