Bo Diddley

Welcome to sultry, stormy September!  I am celebrating three poems that will appear in the anthology Theories of HER and two in the upcoming Opossum Lit's debut issue on music. Of course, you may have the blues because summer is fast coming to an end….

Across 110^th Street

How I’ve enjoyed Saturday errands listening to “Across 110^th Street”! The Columbia University radio program features blues, funk and soul, noon – 2pm. I had a religious experience hearing Bo Diddley’s “Pretty Thing”; I stared open-mouthed at my car radio as if it were radioactive.  But so hard to find authentic blues: try the Record Company and Lisa Mann, discovered online by bassist Larry Schwartzman, and Jack Broadbent, recommended by poet Linda Simone after Jack’s recent San Antonio concert.

Beth Gersh-Nesic

Beth New York performance and lecture

Multitalented Beth Gersh-Nesic invites you to see her performance piece, “Word Exchange,” at Saunders Farm, 863 Albany Post Road, Garrison, NY on September 3 at 2pm.  Hers will be one of four performances staged in the farm’s open field. Beth, also an outstanding lecturer on art history, will speak on “The Jewess in Art from Medieval Times to Today,” 10:00am on Thursday, September 10, at the JCC of Greenwich; register online.

©Deborah Coulter 2016

Deborah Coulter collage and exhibit

Artist extraordinaire Deborah Coulter celebrated my last poetry reading with this amazing collage.  She writes it is "inspired by one of my favorite poets,  Ann Cefola, and the exquisite poems from her book Face Painting in the Dark." Thank you, Deborah!  And now you can see her work in a Faculty Art Show at the JCC of Mid-Westchester September 6 - October 14.  

Celia Pilkington

Bigger than you, bigger than me

Celia Pilkington will perform in an Off-Off Broadway production of Kathryn Coughlin’s searing new play Bigger Than You, Bigger Than Me, a riveting study of our shared anxieties in the age of terrorism.  Working with longtime collaborator, director Adam Thorburn, Celia promises this drama will be “one of the most exciting undertakings in our artistic partnership.” To help bring this important work to the stage, please make a fully tax-deductible donation to Fractured Atlas.

Treasures of the night sky

Few people know the thrill of looking through a telescope at the night sky.  You can have this experience on September 24, at Ward Pound Ridge with members of Westchester Amateur Astronomers.  If daytime is more to your liking, see outstanding photos by astrophotographer Scott Namacher on exhibit at the Greenburgh Public Library through September 9.

Dogs and ghosts, oh my!

Poet Linda Simone and I are thrilled to have poems in respective anthologies To Unsnare Time’s Warp and Polterguest from Main Street Rag Press.  You can pre-order Unsnare, the dog-poem collection, and Polterguest, from the publisher now.  These anthologies make great gifts—especially for dog lovers, and the ghost collection is perfect for Halloween, or treat yourself to both!

What mistakez? How to prep your manuscript

Learn from literary proofreader Cindy Hochman in my Ragazine interview with her.  The delightful Cindy shares common errors to avoid, and winning attitudes that help nudge writers into the limelight.  The interview is chockfull of useful information and a sprinkling of Cindy's trademark humor—be sure to take a look!

You wrote a book, now what?

Learn essentials of pitching, selling and marketing your book at the Mini-Unicorn Writers’ Conference on Saturday, September 10, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Groton Senior Center, 102 Newtown Road, Groton, CT 06340. The $49 cost includes a light breakfast and lunch, and access to wisdom of publishing insiders.  Register online or email unicorn4writers@gmail.  See this video for more details.

 Follow Ronit and Jamil

Get to know Ronit and Jamil, the Palestinian-Israeli Romeo and Juliet who will debut in a book of verse by Pamela Laskin from Harper Collins in early 2017 and keep up with them on Twitter @RonitandJamil.

Poetry readings / opportunities

HVWC – Friday, September 9, 7:30pm, David Kutz-Marks and Justin Boening, $10

The Y Writers’ Voice – 8 Saturdays starting September 10, Poetry Workshop with Estha Weiner, $252

Natalie Safir's new book from
Dos Madres Press

The Spectrum - Sunday, September 11, 3pm, Patricia Brody, Philip Fried, David McLoghlin, Bertha Rogers, Neil Shepard, Estha Weiner

HVWC – Friday, September 23, 7:30pm, Anya Silver and Sally Bliumis-Dunn, $10

HVWC – Saturday, September 24, 7:30pm, Noah Warren and Joshua Bennett, $10

JCC on Hudson – Sunday, September 25, 1:30pm, Natalie Safir

Katonah Village Library – Sunday, September 25, 4pm, Kathleen Ossip, $10

HVWC – Friday, September 30, 7:30pm, Steph Burt and Craig Morgan Teicher, $10

Gluten-Free Zucchini Brownies

This King Arthur Flour recipe is wowing friends and family. Its not-so-secret ingredient is fresh zucchini, which reduces the sugar and makes for a delectably moist brownie.  Chill in the fridge for a cool chocolate treat.  

8 oz zucchini (one 8" fresh, trimmed), cut into chunks

3 tablespoons butter, melted

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon espresso powder or 1 teaspoon strong liquid coffee

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup gluten-free flour

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Frosting

1/4 cup heavy cream or 3 tablespoons milk

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Lightly grease an 8" square pan. Combine zucchini, butter, eggs, and vanilla in a food processor or blender, and process until smooth. Add sugar, cocoa, espresso powder, baking powder, salt, and flour; process briefly until well combined. Add chips, pulse to break up them a bit. Pour into pan. Let rest for 15 minutes, while you preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until toothpick in center comes out clean, or with a few crumbs; you shouldn't see any wet batter. Remove from oven, and cool completely before frosting.

 

Frosting: Combine chocolate chips and milk or cream in microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan. Heat until milk is steaming, and chips are soft. Remove from heat, and stir until smooth. Spread frosting atop brownies. Place in the refrigerator for an hour or so, to set; then store at room temperature, covered, for several days.  Yield: 16 brownies.

'Round the Net

Al Filreis

Photographer Jeanette Briggs and watercolorist Randy Briggs on having work in the Art Society of Old Greenwich's Midsummer Night's Dreaming Exhibition

Architect Fred Cox on his Hollywood-inspired natorium featured in Westchester Magazine

UPenn Professor Al Filreis for reminding us to sign up for ModPo

Poet Gary Glauber for work in Verse-Virtual , Sick Lit, Your Daily Poem, Public Pool, Red Rose Review, and Panoply

Eric Holstein and Neil Spillane

The Guardian for advocating for creativity

Entrepreneur Eric Holstein for this great article on his Maine Fork Labs Food Kitchen

Translator Sylvia Kofler on having work in the 24th Annual Poet's House Showcase this month

Actor Tony LoBianco on winning an Emmy for Just a Common Soldier

Jimmy Santiago Baca

Poet Mary Ladd McCray for her latest Big Bang Poetry newsletter and this extraordinary trailer for a film on poet Jimmy Santiago Baca

Cellist Jay Shulman for this performance of a Bach aria; and for remembering the late Jack Davis, a lovely Southern gentleman, friend of my parents, and one of the original Mad Magazine artists

Celeste Barber spoofs model

Poet and artist Linda Simone for this article highlighting a Japanese word we could use in English; this art exhibit for dogs; this article on tidying up your writing, and this hilarious parody of Instagram poses (see at right)

Photographer Joe Vericker on being inducted into the Hall of Legends by the International Live Events Association

Filmmaker Frank Vitale for sharing "Bench Experiments," episodes 21-25 of The Metropolis Organism

In New York, we're awaiting Hurricane Hermine...stay safe everyone!

Until next time,

Ann