This week, we have another great lineup of literary events in the region. Here’s a quick look at the upcoming book discussions, readings, open mics, and workshops.
Thursday, February 1
4:30 PM – Sandra Guzmán, Afro Indigenous Storyteller and Literary Editor @ University at Albany
Sandra Guzmán, Afro Indigenous storyteller and literary editor, presents her new anthology, Daughters of Latin America: An International Anthology of Writing by Latine Women (2023).
6:30 PM – Book Launch: Michelle Horton – Dear Sister: A Memoir of Secrets, Survival, and Unbreakable Bonds” @ Oblong Books
Presented by Grand Central Publishing in partnership with the Nicole Addimando Community Defense Fund & Oblong Books. With support from River Valley Arts Center. in conversation with Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier. Books will be available for purchase at this event courtesy of Oblong Books. A percentage of the profits from ticket & book sales from the event will be donated by Oblong Books in support of the Nicole Addimando Community Defense Fund.
7:00 PM – A Galère of Poetic Autopsies @ Park Theater
“A Galère of Poetic Autopsies” is held the first Thursday of the month at Hudson’s historic Park Theater, featuring poets, writers, and other creatives.
7:00 PM – Poetry Night @ Noble Coffee Roasters
A monthly poetry open mic hosted by Robert Milby in Campbell Hall. This month’s featured poet is Walter Worden.
Friday, February 2
6:30 PM – Calling All Poets Series
CAPS is monthly poetry series with featured poets reading new and selected works. A two poem open mic follows. This month’s featured poets are Christopher George, Cindy Hochman, and Tim Tomlinson.
7:30 PM – Open Mic & Slam @ Cafe Euphoria
A laid-back open mic and fun slam at a cafe founded and run by trans and gender non-conforming folks.
Saturday, February 3
1:00 PM – The Hudson River Poets @ Bank Arts Center, Newburgh
Monthly poetry open mic hosted by Hayden Wayne.
8:00 PM – “Lightning Striking” with Lenny Kaye @ The Local, Saugerties
Join Lenny Kaye of the Patti Smith Group for an intimate evening of strumming, musings, and readings from his new book “Lightning Striking”, Lenny’s insider’s take on the evolution and enduring legacy of the music that rocked the twentieth century.
Sunday, February 4
2:00 PM – Sweet Sonnets and Sugar @ Eureka Books & More
Come and have fun writing a sonnet at Eureka Books & More (3 Romers Alley, Sugar Loaf). Refreshments will be provided. $5.00 donation.
Monday, February 5
6:00 PM – Write Your Own Sestina Worskhop with Natalya Sukhonos @ Bethlehem Public Library
Created by troubadours in the 12th century, the sestina is a poetic form of patterned repetition. It relies on key end words that are repeated in a certain highly codified order. The sestina is a fascinating form in that it was used by Sydney, Spenser, Dante Gabriel Rosetti and others in the 19th century, but it also became a popular poetic form in the 20th century with poets like Elizabeth Bishop, spend fifteen minutes analyzing how the form is connected to the meaning, and then spend the rest of the workshop writing sestinas, sharing them in pairs, sharing out with the rest of the group, and reflecting on the process.
8:00 PM – Invocation @ Lark Hall
Invocation, Albany, NY’s open mic for poetry and the spoken word, returns to Lark Hall on Monday, February 5. Hosted By R.M. Engelhardt and Samuel Maurice. Sponsored By Dead Man’s Press Ink Albany NY. This event Is open to all poets, writers, and the general public.
Tuesday, February 6
2:00 PM – FFAPL Book Talk @ Albany Public Library – Washington Ave. Branch
Thomas J. O’Grady, PhD, MPH, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, U at Albany, SUNY presents Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America by Beth Macy.
6:00 PM – Writers Night Out in February @ Forbes Library
Join the Straw Dog Writers Guild on Tuesday, February 6, 6:00-8:00 pm for Writers Night Out with featured writer Alexis Johnson at Forbes Library. In addition to reading from Playing With A Full Deck, she’ll also read from her new books Dancing with Words and I Wanted to Write a Book but Forgot What I Wanted to Say.
6:00 PM – Jacqueline Boulden – “Family Ties Family Lies” @ Northshire Saratoga
Award-winning mystery author Jacqueline Boulden returns to Northshire to celebrate the release of her new novel, Family Ties Family Lies, in which a photojournalist’s startling discovery in the attic of her childhood home sends shockwaves through her family.
6:00 PM – Claudia Coenen – “Seasons of Grief: Creative Interventions to Support Bereaved People” @ Oblong Books – Rhinebeck
Personal experience is woven together with expert knowledge in this compassionate, heart-centered guide to practicing creative grief therapy edited by Claudia Coenen. Easy-to-use exercise guides work alongside poetic reflections on the nature of bereavement to create an accessible resource for practitioners to support their clients’ journey through grief.
7:00 PM – Poets Creating Conversation – Fragment @ Unitarian Universalist Church, Pittsfield
Equal parts art and community, WordXWord is where words go to be heard. Poets Creating Conversation is an ongoing series of events that challenges poets (and soon-to-be-poets!) to circle loosely around a theme or issue in the current social discourse to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.
Wednesday, February 7
5:45 PM – Writers Group @ Schenectady Public Library – Central Branch
Whether you’ve been doing it forever or just starting out, bring your written words to this volunteer run community group and receive feedback from fellow wordsmiths as time permits.
6:00 PM – Cookbook Book Club @ Stillwater Public Library
The Stillwater Public Library hosts Cookbook Book Club. Critique and discuss different cookbooks by trying the recipes and bringing a dish to pass.
6:00 PM – Daniel Killion and Matthew Klane – “Portrait of a Bank Robber” @ Northshire Saratoga
Artist, small-business owner, and formerly incarcerated bank robber, Daniel Killion will join us with co-author Matthew Klane to discuss his memoir. In the mid-’90s, pre-consciously aware of “wage slavery” and “systemic racism,” and after seeing the iconic film Point Break, he was inspired to rob banks. The memoir follows him into the correctional system where he served 12 years, and then to his life after prison.
7:00 PM – Straw Dog Writes Weekly Writers Meet Up
Straw Dog Writers Guild members who would like to spend some time writing together can join a Zoom session. We will spend 15 minutes on introductions, a 45 minute writing session, have a 15 minute discussion, then write for a second 45 minute period of time. Afterwards, the Zoom room will remain open for a half hour for discussion and chat.
7:00 PM – Caffe Lena Poetry Open Mic Featuring Samira Sangare and SG @ Caffe Lena
On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, Caffè Lena will present a poetry reading by Samira Sangare and SG. An open mic poetry reading will follow.
Did we miss anything? Let us know at info@hvwg.org, and be sure to check out https://hvwg.org to find out more about our vibrant literary and arts community.
