Total Eclipse in Vermont
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| With my fav astronomer Michael |
Thanks to the town of St. Johnsbury for welcoming thousands to view the total solar eclipse in April. My favorite astronomer, Michael, and I headed north with our friend Bill Newell to view this celestial event. For more on our adventure, see my article on page 15 of Sky WAAtch, the award-winning newsletter of the Westchester Amateur Astronomers.
American AirPower
On Memorial Day weekend, we saluted the Greatest Generation by visiting the American AirPower Museum in Farmingdale (NY). Imagine, here is the Mitchell B-25 bomber, “Miss Hap,” and the father of our friend Barbara Dickinson flew the sister B-29 version, “Miss Take”! We are grateful to parents who helped turn the tide of war. Thrilling also to see the Blue Angels take off for a practice run.
The Enchanted Highway
How to attract tourists to the North Dakota town of Regent? Try seven larger-than-life metal sculptures off Exit 72 on I-94 that transformed a rural road into the Enchanted Highway. Sculptor and Regent native Gary Greff went all out to create the sequential art—everything from a 70-foot fish to Teddy Roosevelt riding a horse. Definitely a must if you are in the area!
Lost New York
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| Old Penn Station |
This New-York Historical Society exhibit shares a treasure trove of historical objects. Discover Manhattan’s elevated railways, original Penn Station, old Croton Reservoir, Chinese Theater, Central Park Hooverville, and Bowling Green's monument to King George III. Yes, people once swam in the New York rivers—and not just Elaine and Kramer from Seinfeld. Purchase tickets ($24 adults) here.
Creative Opportunities
All About Animals, three poems, Word doc, Ashley.edgepoet@gmail.com, by June 16
The Indiana Review, call for poems on the Zodiac, by July 1
Pure Slush Press, call for work on theme “death,” by June 16
Rhino, open for poetry, by June 30
We’ve Got Some Things to Say, poems and memoir on sexual assault, by July 1
New and Recent Releases
Richard Deming, This Exquisite Loneliness (Viking)
Gabriel Gómez, Samsara at Quantum Zeno (Mouthfeel Press) (preorder)
Bob Heman, Washing the Wings of Angels (Quale Press) (available in July)
Hannah Loeb, Meats I Remember (L+S Press)
Creative Workshops
Writing Ecopoetry with Mary Newell, June 5-26, weekly Zoom workshop, register here; $180
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| Kevin Pilkington |
Maine Media Workshops, July 22-26, The Teacher on the Bookshelf: A Poetry Workshop with Kevin Pilkington; register here (limited spots—register SOON)
Racoco Productions, Tuesdays (Zoom) and Thursdays (Live), improvisation classes; email info@racoco.org
Mahopac Poetry Workshop, 6pm, second Wednesdays
Mahopac Writers Group, 6:30pm, Thursdays
ModPo, University of Pennsylvania’s free poetry course and global community
Norwalk Poetry Workshop, first and third Mondays, 6:30pm; email poet_laureate@norwalkpl.org to register
The Peekskill Writing Table, serious critique for writers, second and third Tuesdays via Zoom; email tpwritingtable@gmail.com
The Poets Salon, led by Ed Ahern and Alison McBain of Fairfield Scribes Press, 10am, every second Saturday
Writers and Artists Lunch Conversation, second Fridays, noon
Yorktown Poetry Workshop, 6pm, fourth Wednesdays
June+ Events – ET
Neue Galerie (NY), June 6-September 9, first US retrospective of work by early modernist German artist Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876-1907); purchase tickets ($15-28) here (see June 27 below)
Studio Theater in Exile, June 7-23, I Am My Own Wife, a play by Doug Wright, starring Thomas Kramer, directed by Mara Mills; purchase ($20-25) tickets here
Červená Barva Press, June 14, 7pm, Cindy Hochman; via Zoom: register here
San Antonio Central Library, Linda Simone and other poets’ original work inspired by Norma Jean Moore paintings; poetry and art on display through June 15
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| Cecily Spitzer, “Sunburst” |
Bryant Park, June 19, 12:30pm, WritersRead featuring Sarah Bracey White
Neue Galerie (NY), June 27, 6:30pm, art historian Diane Radycki, Professor Emerita, Moravian College, on Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876-1907); purchase tickets ($15) here
Brownstone Poets, June 29, 2pm; Ron Bremner, Jada Gordan, Margaret Sáraco, host Patricia Carragon; limited open mic, via Zoom: register here and pay ($5) here
New York Historical Society, Lost New York, exhibit through September 29, purchase ($6-24) tickets here
New York Public Library, Polonsky Exhibition of the NYPL’s Treasures, free; plan your visit here
Monthly Readings – ET
First Sunday, 4pm, Poetic License (Austin)
Second Mondays, 6:30pm, BACCA Poetry Chats with host Christina Rau
Every Tuesday, 2pm, Spoken Word World (Paris)
Every Tuesday, 7pm, Curley’s Diner
Third Fridays, 7pm, Hudson Valley Writers Center Open Mic – click third Friday for details
Frequent Saturdays (check Facebook), 5pm, LitBalm
Grilled Corn with Cilantro-Lime Butter
Summer is all about fresh veggies, especially corn. Here is some inspiration to start an outdoor feast, and you get to decide how to grill your corn.
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
1/4 teaspoon lime zest
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Mix butter, cilantro, lime zest, and sea salt in a small bowl and put in fridge. Next, choose how you’d like to grill your corn. Slather butter on corn once the ears of corn are grilled.
Grilling with husks: Remove the silk. Peel back husks on each ear of corn, leaving them attached at base. Remove as much silk as you can. Soak corn. Pull husks back over corn, soak cobs in cold water 10 minutes (prevents husks from burning), drain, and pat dry. Grill corn in husks over medium-high heat, rotating every 3-5 minutes, until all sides are cooked—about 15 minutes.
Grilling without husks: Shuck corn and remove silks. Place corn directly on grill over medium-high heat, rotating every 3-5 minutes. You want kernels cooked on all sides and light grill marks to form—about 15 minutes. Note: It’s easy to overcook grilled corn. Those grill marks we love can dry corn. Instead, cook until light char marks form and kernels are bright yellow.
ʼRound the Net
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| Grace Slick |
Poet and translator Chen Du on the debut of Paper Republic, a nonprofit that promotes Chinese literature
Chen Du and Xisheng Chen on their Ma Ting essay being long-listed in The Best Literary Translations 2025 (Deep Vellum)
Poet Terry Dugan (1947-2023) for leaving us with her memorable poetry
Music educator, and my uber-talented niece, Elizabeth Hulse on being awarded Elementary Fine Arts Teacher of the Year by her school district
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| Terry Dugan (1947-2023) |
Poet and essayist J. Chester Johnson on Damaged Heritage: The Elaine Race Massacre and A Story of Reconciliation (Pegasus/Simon & Schuster), selected for study by the St. Luke in the Fields anti-racism group
Poet Heller Levinson on work in Word for Word
Poet Maria Lisella on winning third prize in the Amilcare Solferini Poetry Competition (Italy) for her poem, “I Blame”
Poet Mary McCray on this great trailer for Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb (Sony Pictures, 2022)
Yorktown Poet Laureate John McMullen for inviting me to be the guest poet at his May monthly poetry workshop
Poet Mary Newell on her video interview with The Brooklyn Rail
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| Sarah Bracey White at City Winery last month |
The New York Public Library for honoring late poet, essayist, and translator Paul Auster (1947-2024)
The New Yorker for “The Battle for Attention”
Poet Kevin Pilkington on having four poems in The Galway Review and being interviewed by the Maine Media Workshop
Poets and Writers for this article on revising a poetry manuscript
Poet Christina Rau on having work in the Journal of Expressive Literature and read on the 41st Anniversary show of Destinies: The Voice of Science Fiction (poem at 23:54)
Poet Linda Simone on her poem, “Miss Makrina,” in The Vincent Brothers Review
Poet Bianca Stone on being named Vermont Poet Laureate
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| Linda Simone |
Historian David Waldstreicher, in his recent Preservation Long Island talk, noting that poetry during the Revolutionary War was a common communication device, says “The couplet was the Tweet”
Poet and memoirist Sarah Bracey White on her Lemons to Limoncello Podcast interview, parts one and two; and on her rock-star WritersRead event last month at City Winery
Wishing you a magical, refreshing summer!
Until next time,
