“Speakeasy Sessions” are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 12-2pm upstairs at the Reading Room. Our upstairs space is open during these hours for lunch and community. Topics and guests will be ever changing and light. We’re just looking for a little community, a little lunch time banter, some good food and happy people. In these post covid, work from home times, whether you are a new transplant to Katonah or have lived here forever, we are seeking light and smiles and new friends. Join us. No reservation necessary. Fun chatter, new friends, community, a cup of coffee. Come out, come out. We’re here and ready to welcome you.
Below are our past guests so you can get a flavor of what events are like.
“Behind Broadway”. Join Broadway director and actor, Trey Ellett, and get behind the scenes stories from his time on Broadway in such productions as “Dear Evan Hansen”, “The Maccabees”, “Next to Normal”, “Rent”, “Amelie”, “if/then”, “Mamma Mia”, and MORE!
Lee Apgar from Mill River Supply “Let’s Talk about Micro-Greens” to chat about planting micro greens and other early spring fun.
Emily Woods of @FarmerNick Terrarium Building Workshop. Fee for materials and donation to the Poughkeepsie Farm Projects.
Cellist Gwen Krosnick has appeared across the world as recitalist, chamber musician, and exuberant advocate for music. She is known for her ecstatic and luminous voice; for her incisive, smoldering intensity; and for her deep, burnished palette of sounds at the cello. Her artistry, concert programming, and teaching center joy, immediacy, daring, and emotional connection between audience, players, and composers. Krosnick was the founding cellist of Trio Cleonice, with whom she performed to widespread acclaim across the United States, Europe, and Asia from 2008 to 2016; and most recently became the new cellist of the NYC-based Cassatt String Quartet, which group – founded in 1985 – focuses both on serious, joyful reimaginings of standard quartet repertoire and on a huge range of contemporary music, including by composers whose backgrounds have traditionally been underrepresented on classical music stages. In addition to an active life in chamber music, Krosnick’s concert seasons include recitals of solo contemporary American cello music and teaching, in the summers, at Kneisel Hall in Blue Hill, Maine. Gwen is a recent transplant to northern Westchester, and lives in South Salem with her rescue Australian Shepherd dog, Anya. She is a virtuoso home cook, a tea drinker, and a passionate reader (an impromptu visit to the Katonah Reading Room, on her first real estate jaunt, made her suspect that she was on the right track): especially of contemporary literary fiction (especially by women of color); love poetry of all ilks; and long, long-form novels, the last in what is perhaps a throwback to her college major in Russian.
Musician Pete Belasco, listening party. “Humans have issues and drama, and musicians are human…so, you can fill in the blanks. There’s a template, an overlay of life issues for all of us. Mine is possibly not that different than yours.” – Pete Belasco
Westchester Land Trust. WLT staffers leading the chat are Susan Leighton and Jaelen Ferrebee who will share their knowledge on getting out on the land, local hiking and walking trails, the food pantry garden at WLT, and more. Come learn how you can find great trails, volunteer or get involved with nature with all ages through the Land Trust. Come ask questions or just come to have lunch with some knowledgeable local folks!
Daisy Florin, author. Join us in conversation with author Daisy Florin about her new novel “My Last Innocent Year”, which also happens to be our book club pick this month. Enjoy lunch and a coffee with Daisy and chat about her book or her writing process, come and have your book signed or just spend time with us.
Artist Aki Kano. Aki will be sharing tips and techniques that she uses in her art with anyone who wants a tutorial. Aki Kano is a representational watercolor painter. Her meticulous and sensitive watercolor paintings, which consist mostly of portraits, have been accepted into prestigious juried shows in galleries, museums, and have won numerous awards. Her work has been featured in magazines including Fine Art Connoisseur and American Art Collector. She is the current President of the American Artists Professional League, a non-profit organization founded in 1928, consisting of some of America’s most accomplished realist artists.
Writer’s Group Chat. Group event and book release/signing.
On Marcia Bradley: Marcia Bradley began her second life, earning an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College in 2017 just after receiving her BA from Antioch University LA. She received a Bronx Council on the Arts/New York City BRIO Award for Fiction and has numerous published stories. A native of Chicago, Marcia teaches at The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence and lives in the Bronx. https://marciabradley.com/
The Home for Wayward Girls “On Goodreads 105 of the buzziest novels of 2023 list!”
Growing up in the 1990s, a young girl escapes her abusive parents–and the “ranch” they run for “bad” girls—becoming an advocate for teen runaways and a foe of today’s Troubled Teen Industry where teens are sent to programs in isolated locales and wilderness camps. This heartfelt novel offers hope despite the harrowing circumstances and will appeal to fans of Joanna Goodman and Lisa Wingate.
On Kate Brandt: Kate Brandt is a writer, adult literacy teacher, traveler, and student of Buddhism. She is a graduate of the MFA Writing program at Sarah Lawrence College, and her work has appeared in literary anthologies and a number of publications, including Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, Literary Mama, and Redivider. Hope for the Worst is her first novel: “Ellie is twenty-four years old, stuck in a dead-end job, and questioning the meaning of life when she meets the much older Calvin. When she becomes the center of his attention, it's almost pure bliss...until it becomes clear that Calvin expects sex as part of the bargain. Calvin's lectures stress the Buddhist concept of non-attachment, but that doesn't salve her wounds when he abandons her. Suddenly alone, Ellie must find a way to heal from her loss-but not before devotion to her teacher takes her halfway across the world to Tibet, and puts her life in real danger.”
On Jimin Han: Jimin Han was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Providence, Rhode Island; Dayton, Ohio; and Jamestown, New York. Her work has been supported by the New York State Council on the Arts. She is the author of The Apology and A Small Revolution. Additional writing of hers can be found online at American Public Media's Weekend America, Poets & Writers, and Catapult, among others. She teaches at The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, Pace University, and community writing centers.
On Deborah Laufer: Deborah Zoe Laufer's plays have been performed in hundreds of theaters around the world. They're published by Samuel French, Smith & Kraus, and Playscripts, Inc. www.DeborahZoeLaufer.com
Story time with author Ran Wei Baker. Ran will read her Boba Bear books and talk a bit about Chinese language basics (suited to the ages and interests of the group). Ran Wei Baker is a Chinese American children's book author. The Boba Bear Bilingual series are Ran's first self-published children's board books. She saw a need for more bilingual books in the children's books market, especially for modern families like hers with mixed-heritage children.
Katie Sise, author. Lunch and chat with our favorite sassy local author Katie Sise. Katie will share about her NUMEROUS young adult and adult novels and you can ask her ALL the questions about writing and publishing and being awesome.
I Had My MTV. Pete Menzies had a front row seat at the circus that was MTV during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Join him for his experiences during the era when music was the “M” in MTV.
Dr. Brittny Howell, MD vascular surgeon and Morph Med Spa owner for a chat about Ozempic, wellness content and self care. Dr. Howell will answer questions about medical weight loss and talk about the following: How do weight loss medications like Ozempic work? What are the indications for use? What are potential side effects or risks? What are the components of a good medical weight loss program? How does one get insurance coverage? Followed by an Open Q&A. Don’t miss this Speakeasy Session covering all the newest buzz words and information.
Palomino Band is a duo made up of Pam Hervey & Tom O’Brien. Playing covers and originals and putting their own unique spin on songs you know! They perform acoustic - or plugged in for a bigger sound - with intertwined vocals, guitar and percussion.
Fern Hill Project. Jenny Indig and Fran Hauser are coming together for a special breakfast session “Unlock your Ideas”. Visit www.fernhillproject.com for more information on upcoming sessions and to get involved in the Fern Hill Project, “A local network of women supporting and inspiring one another, being resources for each other, our businesses, ventures, endeavors and dreams.”
Artist Katie Goldberg “Getting Started with Collage” Workshop. Katie Goldberg is a local artist from Mount Kisco who specializes in painting and collage. Her love of paper and paint is shared through her classes in Chappaqua and Scarsdale, www.katiegoldbergart.com. In our workshop Katie will share the basics of collage with paper and glue techniques.
Photographer Amy Drucker “iPhone Photography Tips & Tricks Mini Workshop”. This mini-workshop is a condensed version of Amy’s popular iPhone Photography Workshop. Learn some of the quickest and easiest ways to improve your iPhone photography during this 1 hour mini-workshop. Amy will show you some of the hidden capabilities of your phone camera and share some tips for specific applications (portraits, action shots, landscapes). She’ll also discuss some basic photo concepts (exposure, and focus) and how they apply to iPhone photography. If you have a second hour to hang around, Amy will be available for Q&A. Please note that this workshop is iPhone specific and that phones 8 and newer will have the features we’ll be discussing. Disclaimer: this is not a tech support session and a working knowledge of your phone is necessary to benefit. You will need: a charged iPhone (8 or newer), that’s it! Amy Drucker is an award winning lifestyle and documentary photographer who works with families, brands and businesses in the Greater Westchester Area. She writes for many online and print publications and has authored a book on the topic of family photography. She teaches photography workshops in her Katonah studio and believes that the best camera is the one you have with you—she shoots many of her personal photos with her iPhone. www.amydrucker.com.
Freddy’s Restaurant Comes to Katonah. Chef Mathew Safarowic will teach a “Ricotta Gnocchi & Pea Pesto” making class. Chef Matt will provide instructions from start to finish on how to make airy and light ricotta gnocchi dough and a quick pea pesto (no nuts), the perfect thing to impress and delicious and light for your summer entertaining. Chef Matt is the owner and chef of Freddy’s Restaurant in Pleasantville. Get ready for a FUN and tasty workshop!
Musician Jaime Babbitt. Jaime Babbitt: One of Jaime’s greatest pleasures is to recapture the joy of playing guitar and singing songs for friends and neighbors. As a NYC session singer, she’s “jingled” for Coca-Cola, Pillsbury, Folgers and Chevrolet, to name a few. She’s toured with Leon Russell, Sam Moore and also sang background vocals for George Strait, Courtney Love, Barbra Streisand, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Webb, Miley & Billy Ray Cyrus, Johnny Mathis and others. She coaches voice and performance privately and wrote Working with Your Voice: The Career Guide to Becoming a Professional Singer (Alfred Publishing). www.workingwithyourvoice.com
Musician Rufus Jones Jr. Rufus Jones is an American guitarist, singer/sing-writer, producer, and band leader from Memphis who studied in New England and is best known for combining the Blues/Soul/Folk influences of BB King/Al Green/James Taylor. After a career on Wall Street and after the death of his father, Rufus, Sr., Jones released his first self-produced 20-track album, Article Blues (December 2020), a personal and historic narrative that captures the 2020 pandemic year in songs that were inspired by the words of journalists in their newspaper articles and blogs. To read more, visit www.rufusjonesmusic.com
Artist and Yoga Teacher Katy Ferrarone. 12-2pm. Join artist and yoga instructor Katy Ferrarone for a discussion on how yoga and meditation allow us to tap into our most authentic creativity.
Speakeasy Session with the Memory Circle’s Barri Leiner Grant. “Getting Summer Write”. How to Get Your Journaling Practice On...Crafting a journaling practice can be a profound and personal experience. A way to keep memories, tap the subconscious, create poetic narrative and hone meaning of the life around you. Barri Leiner Grant is an author, former Chicago Tribune journalist and the founder of The Memory Circle. She will share some prompts to allow for expression, automatic writing techniques and tips to help you begin a practice of daily writing or encourage you to begin again. Bring your own journal or buy one here!
Speakeasy Session: Serena Norr, Playwright. Join Serena Norr of Let's Make a Play to learn how to write your own monologue from your personal story. This fun and informal session will also include shared readings and prompts to inspire your writing/storytelling.
Speakeasy Session: Classical Guitarist Jack Ward. 12-2pm. Jack Ward is a classical guitarist, teacher, and arranger based in Westchester, NY. Jack’s repertoire includes music from across all periods, including Bach, Sor, and Tárrega, as well as Latin classical composers such as Piazzola and Villa-Lobos. Jack performs regularly as the guitar half of the Ringston-Ward guitar and flute duo.
Speakeasy Session: Author Jimin Han and her newest release “The Apology”. 12-2pm. In South Korea, a 105-year-old woman receives a letter. Ten days later, she has been thrust into the afterlife, fighting to head off a curse that will otherwise devastate generations to come.
Hak Jeonga has always shouldered the burden of upholding the family name. When she sent her daughter-in-law to America to cover up an illegitimate birth, she was simply doing what was needed to preserve the reputations of her loved ones. How could she have known that decades later, this decision would return to haunt her—threatening to tear apart her bond with her beloved son, her relationship with her infuriatingly insolent sisters, and the future of the family she has worked so hard to protect?
Part ghost story and part family epic, The Apology is an incisive tale of sisterhood and diaspora, reaching back to the days of Japanese colonialism and the Korean War, and told through the singular voice of a defiant, funny, and unforgettable centenarian. To Pre-order and save a spot at the signing, text us ahead at 914.334.8019.
Speakeasy Session: “Wild Nearby” Foraging Talk with Heather Flournoy. 12-2pm. Heather Flournoy of Wild Nearby talks wild food, folk medicine, art and poisons! Join her for a wild “speakeasy” session and learn about the native and invasive plants and fungi Heather forages in our area. She’ll share photos, stories, and take us on a foraging walk right at the Reading Room to see the wild magic right under our feet. About Wild Nearby: Heather Flournoy, chief forager of Wild Nearby, has been exploring flora and foraging for over 25 years. In 2019 she launched Wild Nearby to share her knowledge and love of wild food and medicine. Many locals know Heather as the founder of the “Katonah Green” environmental Meetup group, co-founder of Really Social Strategies, or chief technical wizard of Cyber Marm. Throughout her life she has also studied herbalism, healing, nutrition, spirituality, and intuitive horsemanship which inform her approach to work with the wild plants. Her work now includes healing, meditation and foraging with horses. Her story of how foraging and wildcrafting helped her own healing after a serious accident is inspiring.
Heather founded Wild Nearby to help people connect with the natural world. She believes that the more we learn about the symbiotic processes of the natural world, the more we appreciate our role as members of an ecosystem. This connects people of all backgrounds to a sense of place no matter where they are in the world. SERVICES: Foraging Walks, public. Workshops 3+ hours with focus on wildcrafting foraged plants into preserved foods, wild remedies, and art. Examples: Forage, Cook, Bottle: plants of early spring. Spiritual Wildcrafting. Wild Plant Medicines: Poultices, Balms and Teas. Private Forays, length from 1.5 to 3 hours at a mutually agreed upon location. Property Consultation: Wild Edible & Medicinal Plant Cataloging. Inquire about cataloging the wild, medicinal and poisonous plant resources of your property. Wintertime Indoor Foraging Talks (in person or virtual presentation) Foraging with Horses VA: 2x a year with FreeHorse Arts, Richmond, VA. Coming soon: Foraging with Horses NY: 3x a year with D.I.G. Farm (Dealing in Good) on a farm in Bedford Hills, NY. Foraging with Horses Private (your farm): Since it requires multiple sessions with you, your horse and property, contact to discuss. Connect: Email: wildnearby "@" gmail.com, Upcoming classes: www.heather-flournoy.com, Instagram: @wildnearby Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildnearby Class calendar: https://heather-flournoy.com/2023/01/27/wild-nearby/
