3/2 All Good Things
Hi everyone!
First, last month, I wished everyone a happy January even though it was the beginning of February. Did anyone notice? I did but only after I sent it out.
And now—
THINGS HAPPENED
Gregory Alan Isakov and the Colorado Symphony played Radio City, and for two hours, I sat rapt up and broken in the best way. On Valentine’s Day, I wrote on-the-spot poems at a wedding before seeing a planetarium show about constellations in which stars turned into hearts. The best part—aside from writing a poem for a nine-year-old girl about soccer about which I know nothing—the Vanderbilt had their telescope open, and we got to see Venus and a few moons. Burnout Paradise offered folks on treadmills entertaining an audience for 70 minutes, and everyone must go see it like I did. Book club had a riotous time talking about romance with ghosts; ICYMI here’s a recap. I also dropped in on an online reading with the Journal of Expressive Writing, which is a cross-genre reading, a nice change of pace. I was going to appear on The Gagootz Show on Strong Island TV, but a blizzard happened, and the chat is postponed until a less snow-filled time, if that exists anymore. Also, I filled a bucket of candy at iCandy in Times Square, and now I own a bucket of candy that may last me for the rest of the year.
WELLNESS CORNER
I’m looking forward to another session of Meditate, Move, & Create this month, this time at NCC. Additionally, as always, I’m getting my slow flow on at Sukha Studio every Tuesday night at 7:15. Join us!
I still have limited availability for Reiki, meditation, yoga, and wellness endeavors throughout the month. Info here.
If you want to get your exercise in through osmosis, I recommend the aforementioned Burnout Paradise.
I found one of my favorite yoga music compilations on Spotify almost in full. You can listen here:
KUDOS!
Jared Harel’s poems “Winter Olympics” and “Desires of the World” appear in The Southern Review!
Suzette Bishop's chapbook, Were-Jag, has been published by Bottlecap Press!
BOOKSHELF
This month was filled with poetry books since I got ahead with the book club books. I’m reading an anthology of nature poems that will last for a while since it’s too much to read all at once. I also read a lot of journals again. I’m working my way through a book about Buddhism as well as a few pages at a time of Figuring. I picked up an Italo Calvino book for a train ride, so now I’m in the middle of that shortish novel. I also borrowed a book from the library about Japan because now that I watch the Japanese channel, I cannot get enough.
Poetry
divining by Deborah Akers
Betweenness by Varun Ravindran
Zoodikers: A Bestiary by Flower Conroy
City of Dis by Randall James Tyrone
half dead women by Jessica Chappell Sumbury
Mix-Mix by Dani Putney
Mele by Kalehua Kim
mother, daughter, augur. by Mary Simmons (So good!)
Fenestration: Poems by Othuke Umukoro
Missing The Owl by Richard Widerkehr
“what are these signs?, asks the woman” by Mayra Santos-Febres, Trans. from Spanish by Seth Michelson
“Shadows on the Snow” by Luljeta Lleshankaku, Trans. from Albanian by Shpresa Qatipi & Henry Israeli
“The Monologue for an Onion” by Suji Kwock Kim
“Harm” by Hillary Gravendyk
“A River for Ophelia” by Danny Daw
“Given Limits Exist, Streets, Oblivion” by Chelsea Dingman
“Catherine Benincases and I meet on the next plane and talk about possession” by Lotte Mitchell Reford
“Letter to Bruce Wayne” by Matthew Olzmann
“Ode to Northern Alberta” by Billy-Ray Belcourt
“Hotel Letter” by Cynthia Cruz (this is one of several by this title)
“The Fabulous” by Ted Kooser
Three poems by Melissa Sauma
“That man put on a new woolen coat and went away like a thought” by Vinod Kumar Shukla Trans. from Hindi by Arvind Krishna Mehrota
“Algarve” by Sarah Arvio
“[since feeling is first]” by e e cummings
Fiction
Two stories by Lydia Davis
“When The Ghosts Come Tumbling In” by J. S. Douglas + a photograph by Arthur Rosenstein 1936
Art
Eerie works by Pete Kornowski
Cover art by Caitlyn Kurilich
Mixed Media / Cross Genre
“After Grand Coulee” by Fawn Emmalee Ward and Madeleine Kaudy
“Multiple Witnesses Accuse Uncle Toby….”
Internet
Have you met Coalie yet?
Poet Voice. It’s a thing.
Thanks to Stephen Cipot, “Learning To Ice Climb in Wyoming”
“The Crisis of Taste: Why Discernment Matters More Than Ever”
Safe payment for publishing
And of course check out these:
Typewriter photographs! Erasure poems! Post card sentiments! Signed copies of How We Make Amends!
LISTEN
Sunday Funday Book Club’s soundtrack for The Dead Romantics
“The Goldilocks Condition” aired on Destinies: The Voice of Science Fiction radio show on WUSB. Poem at 21:12.
“Things Are Getting Weird Around Here” also aired. Poem at 15:40.
The Crafty Lumberjacks chatted with Into The Mud about The Death of the Hobby.
If you miss listening to music by choice, are interested in avoiding AI bands, and/or like a good mystery, this episode of Hyperfixed is for you. “Desperately Seeking Sjowgren.”
And here’s Sjowgren.
How To Do Everything has had a bunch of interesting episodes:
With thanks to Brendan McEntee, 99% Invisible’s episode about The Em Dash.
Mark Kyungsoo Bias’s Space Music
Crosswalks and government failures (especially important to LA!)
WATCH
From the Rubin:
Secret Mall Apartment (Netflix) (It’s so good!)
Skyscraper Live (Netflix)
The Accountant 2
When Worlds Collide (and now I know what that Rocky Horror Picture Show song is referencing)
OPPORTUNITIES
The Other Folkaccepts horror prose, Rolling deadline
Brief Ecology/The Rotting Leaf accepts eco-fiction/eco-horror/eco-gothic prose, and photography, Rolling deadline
Long Island Arts Alliance Job Bank (includes LI and nonLI jobs)
Shanghai Writing Program
Dance Workforce Resilience Fund, Rolling deadline to March 3
Silent River Poetry Prize, Deadline March 31
Keyholder Residency at LES Printshop, Deadline April 1
Corning Museum of Glass Residencies, applications open in 2026
dxrose on Threads listing opportunities that pay
Oak Spring Garden Foundation Eliza Moore Fellowship, Deadline May 2026
SUGGESTED THINGS
Tara Elliott, writer, teacher, and creative community organizer
Ponycam, the creators of Burnout Paradise
The Gagootz Show! You will not be able to watch just one!
Amy King, poet, activist, and teacher
MISCELLANY
Freecycling sounds like a good idea until you try to give away stuff in one of those FB groups and folks start fighting about who wanted it first and then decide they don’t want it after all. So now that the winter is coming to a close, I’m returning to how I used to get rid of things—I’m leaving stuff outside my house with a sign that says Free Stuff. Come on by and pick up old mugs and salad tongs.
All good things,
Christina
Sure, you can forward this email to those you think may have interest. If you post information publicly, please link back to me. Appreciate it.
THINGS ARE HAPPENING
My calendar
Updated book club info.
Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 11 AM
Locust Valley Library presents Gayl Teller plus open mic
170 Buckram Road, Locust Valley, hosted by Patti Tana
Free
Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 7 PM
Hope for the Children Benefit supported by The Vault at Chaminade HS Hearst Theatre, Mineola, NY. Text to RSVP: 718-479-2594
Saturdays, March 7, 14, 21, & 28 at 12-2pm ESTPlay With Matches – Workshop #16: Horse and Rider; layers of consciousness in art with Cori Kresge. Register here. $222, scholarships available, returning members pay-as-you-wish
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 11:30AM -12:45PM
Meditate, Move, & Create with Christina M. Rau
Nassau Community College, Garden City, NY
Email for info: christinatheyogapoet@gmail.com
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 7 PM
An Intimate Chat with Valerie Bertinelli at Madison Theatre, Molloy College, RVC. Tickets here.
Saturday – Sunday, March 14 and 15, 2026
Moonlight Market Expo at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Tickets here.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 12:00-2:00 PM, EDT
The Kupferberg Holocaust Center, Queensborough Community College, presents Across Continents and Generations, Poetry as Memory and Witness: A Poetry Reading and Conversation with acclaimed poets Julia Kolchinsky and Luisa Muradyan
Register to watch online. Register to attend in person. Free
Friday, March 20, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Suffolk NOW Poetry Reading at Teatro Yerbabruja, Bay Shore
Email donnac1920@hotmail.com for info
Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 3-5 PM
Cedarmere Poetry Series presents Peter Balakian
Cedermere, Roslyn Harbor, NY
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Pride Poetry Workshop: Queer Homage with Marlena Chertock and DC Pride Poets
Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 10-noon
Sunday Funday Book Club reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir at Great South Bay Brewery
Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 3-5 PM
Cedarmere Poetry Series presents Long Island Writers Group members
Cedarmere, Roslyn Harbor, NY
Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 10-noon
Sunday Funday Book Club reading Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Imposter Syndrome by Aparna Nancherla at Great South Bay Brewery
Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Sunday Funday Book Club / Threes Book Club Crossover reading Shutter by Ramona Emerson at Threes Brewing in Huntington
Saturday, June 18, 2026 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Writing Retreat at Cedarmere with Stefanie Maura and Christina M Rau
Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 10-noon (tentative)
Sunday Funday Book Club reading Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg
Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 2-3:30 PM
The Gypsy Felons at the Center Moriches Free Public Library
On The Regular (Always check with venues. If no contact info is listed below, google it. If your series has changed, let me know for next time. If you want to add your series, drop me a line).
One Sunday a month: Mid-Island Y JCC Poetry Series 2-4 PM
First Sundays: Poetic License, online, 4 PM
One Sunday a month: Speculative Sundays with Akua Lezli Hope, online, 7 PM EST
Third Sundays: Sunday Reading Series at The Hungry Brain, 6:30 PM,
Every Monday: Open Mic at Great South Bay Brewery, Bay Shore, 6:30 PM
Every Monday: Restless Open Mic, Marché Le Woof 31-03 Vernon Boulevard Astoria. Signups at 6:30 PM
Every Monday: Phoenix Reading Series, Shades of Green 125 e 15th NY NY, 6:30 PM, $5 plus food purchase
Every Monday: The Underground Open Mic at Bar Freda (Queens/Brooklyn Border), 7:30 PM
Every Monday: Easy Paradise Open Mic at KGB Red Room, 8 PM, sign up in advance, 21+, 2 drink min
First Tuesdays: First Tuesdays Series, Espresso 77 Cafe, Jackson Heights, 6:40 Sign up, 7 PM open begins, feature follows, $5 purchase
First Tuesdays: Poetry At Book and Mortar 157 N Country Rd Mount Sinai, NY 11766 7 PM (open mic sign up 6:30), jeweliasdad@aol.com for info
First Tuesdays: Calling All Writers Spoken Word Open Mic, Urban Coffee, 101 Broadway, Greenlawn, NY, 7-8 PM, 5 minute limit, kindness required
Every Wednesday: Wednesday Night Poetry, Kollective Coffee and Tea, Hot Springs, AZ, 6:30-9 PM
First Wednesdays: The Platform, Madison Community Arts Center 10 Kings Rd Madison NH, 8 PM
Second Wednesdays: Poetry: It's a Shore Thing!, Long Beach Library (NY), 6 PM
Second Wednesdays/Thursdays: The Muse at Neirs Tavern, Queens, 7 PM
Fourth Wednesdays: Risk of Discovery at QED Astoria, 7:30-9 PM
First Thursdays: BVAC at Jack Jacks, Babylon, 7 PM
First Thursdays: Poetry Circle Open Mic, Living Room Café, Ardmore, PA, 6:30 PM
Third Thursdays: Poetry Pairs Series, Literature Repository Reading, Bohemia, 7 PM
Third Thursdays: NeuroNautic Institute Presents open mic with features, Otto’s Shrunken Head, NYC, 7-9 PM
Third Thursdays: At Brookline Booksmith, MA, 7 PM
Third Thursdays: SAFTA Reading Series, Pretentious Beer Co, Old City Knoxville, TN
Every Friday: Fridays: Seed Café Open Mic, 250 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI, 6:30 PM
First Fridays: Revolutionary Poetry Nights, Grounds Books and Coffee, Tuscon, AZ
First Fridays: Maryland Writers’ Association, 7 PM EST, online
Third Fridays: Hudson Valley Writers Center in person and online, 7 PM
Last Fridays: Northport Arts Coalition Poetry Reading, Northport and online, 7:30 PM EST
Last Fridays: Friday Night Fire, Teatro Yerbabruja Second Avenue Fire House, Bay Shore, NY, 7 PM,
Last Fridays: Redmond Association of Spoken Word, Centro Cultural Mexicano Redmond, WA, 7-9 PM
Every Saturday: Astoria Music Collective Saturday Songwriters at The Local Bar, 3 PM,
Every Saturday: Cultivating Voices Live, online, 3 PM EST
Biweekly Saturdays: Lip Balm, online, 5 PM EST
First Saturdays: PPA East Meadow Library, 1-3 PM, hosted by J R Turek and Margarette Wahl
Third Saturdays: PPA Levittown Town Hall, 1-3 PM, hosted by J R Turek
Various Saturdays: It’s Poetry Baby!, Oceanside Library, NY, 2 PM
Last Saturdays: Poetry Street On The Road at Riverhead Library and online, Riverhead NY, 2 – 4 PM,
Various monthly: Ludy Café and Hudson Valley Poetry, Irvington, NY
Congrats! You've made it to the end! As always, this newsletter is gratis. If you wish to at any time, you can feel free to buy me a tea (or a coffee).