5/1 Creative Things Newsletter
Hi everyone,
Quick! RSVP to attend Cedarmere May 3 (open mic is probably already filled, but we have a waitlist):
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTz446HsXlC-GQGnRfYzT6fFXlu48kVHD1hRNmLvqASPTL6A/viewform
And now—
THINGS HAPPENED
I attended ESWA’s online writing workshop Your One Wild and Precious Life: Eco-Poetry and the Modern Adventurer with Anne Marie Wells, and I haven’t written anything yet, but I got a lot of poem parts from it. If you haven’t attended any ESWA programs, make a point to do so—they are magnificent. I also got to co-feature for Spring Tides, a seasonal poetry series directed by Emily Brandt and Cori Kresge. It was at The Curry Club in Port Jeff, which meant I got to have lentil soup and enjoy an evening of poetry. Also, I caught Moon As Sacred Mirror at a church in Garden City accompanied by organ music, lots of it. Finally, my mom came to book club this month! Since we read The Radium Girls, her time as a research scientist came flooding back to her, and she shared a story about how she used to clean chemicals off her brush by tapping it against her wrist. OSHA, take note.
KUDOS!
Me! I was Poet of the Week for Poetry Super Highway, and they shared two of my poems! https://www.poetrysuperhighway.com/psh/poetry-from-jonathan-hayes-and-christina-m-rau/
Chanice Cruz’s poem “Ars Poetica In Blue” was long-listed for the Plaza Poetry Prize judged by Natalie Diaz! https://theplazaprizes.com/the-plaza-poetry-prize-60-lines-max-winners/
Donna J. Gelagotis Lee received On Deck recognition for her poem “A Ballplayer’s Grace” in the 2025 National Baseball Poetry Festival!
BOOKSHELF
This month was devoted to book club for the most part. Also, I read Mother Water Ash by Nicole Cooley, who was the featured reader at Cedarmere last month, and her words on the page are as powerful as her words in person out loud. No progress on Figuring this month, though. Instead, more Murderbot!
Fiction
Rogue Protocol (The Murderbot Diaries #3) by Martha Wells
Nonfiction
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
[You can read the follow up for book club here: https://www.christinamrau.com/blog/april-25-sunday-funday-book-club-follow-up ]
Radium Girls by Cy
Poetry
Mother Water Ash by Nicole Cooley
“Learn Your Song” by Gabriel Ramirez https://poets.org/poem/learn-your-song
“Séance in Daylight” by Yuki Tanaka https://poems.com/poem/seance-in-daylight/
“Picking Peaches with Family at the Brief Break of the Plague” by Soleil David https://therumpus.net/2025/04/22/npm-soleil-david/
“I Give Birth To A Shadow” by Mathias Svalina https://therumpus.net/2025/04/17/npm-mathias-svalina/
“Pre-Apocalyptic” by Ava Chen https://poetrycurrency.com/poem/ava-chen/pre-apocalyptic/
Internet
Zingara Poetry Review offered a prompt a day during April along with poems to read that already encompass the idea, and this one included my poem “Gleeful” as a reference. https://zingarapoet.net/2025/04/28/childs-play/
Emily Mohn-Slate interviews June Gervais https://emilymohnslate.substack.com/p/be-open-for-the-moments-of-pleasure
Getting Organized About Grants: https://www.nyfa.org/news/getting-organized-about-grants/
Write a blitz poem: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/poetic-form-the-blitz-poem
Not everything is a catastrophe: https://theonion.com/woman-reminds-self-not-to-catastrophize-after-spotting-4-skeletal-horsemen-on-horizon/
Marlena Chertock’s Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/marlenachertock/p/support-new-literary-magazines
Jami Macarty’s reader's response reviews on Newpages:
The Dove that Didn’t Return, by Yael Hacohen. Holy Cow! Press, 2024. https://www.newpages.com/blog/books/book-reviews/the-dove-that-didnt-return-by-yael-s-hacohen/
and
earthwork, by Jill Khoury. Switchback Books, 2024. https://www.newpages.com/blog/books/book-reviews/earthwork-by-jill-khoury/
and
For Today, by Carolyn Hembree. LSU Press, 2024. https://www.newpages.com/blog/books/book-reviews/for-today-by-carolyn-hembree/
and
Book of Kin, by Darius Atefat-Peckham. Autumn House Press, 2024 https://www.newpages.com/blog/books/book-reviews/book-of-kin-by-darius-atefat-peckham/
And of course check out these:
How We Make Amends, post card sentiments, typewriter photographs, found poetry, and new inspirational stickers.
LISTEN
Destinies aired my poem “Brighter Materials” (Poem at 25:47) https://captphilonline.com/Destinies/Destinies_04_18_25.mp3
Here’s Sunday Funday Book Club’s soundtrack for The Radium Girls.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7n21HZQ22WhZ2WMLkIuF6K?si=8PqTfLwQSzikcNvi0gqYtA
Beyond The Rotunda interviews JR Turek
https://rss.com/podcasts/beyond-the-rotunda-pod2/1976950/
This episode of The Gayly Dose is my favorite so far:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gayly-dose-014-science-fiction-double-feature/id1477555097?i=1000703994090
Wiser Than Me: Julia Louis-Dreyfus chats with Dr. Sylvia Earle
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/julia-gets-wise-with-sylvia-earle/id1678559416?i=1000704422633
WATCH
A collaborative five-minute animated mandala meditation for National Poetry Month with Somnambulant Visuals
https://youtu.be/OivX5dGI1j8?si=q86MbiinbN0mjSqW
Geostorm
Black Bag
OPPORTUNITIES
Mineral Arts & Residencies (11 Fellowships), Deadline May 15, $25
https://www.nyfa.org/opportunities/opportunity-info?id=88ea5afd-f1a5-4c29-81ce-58006e9da7cd
Art Omi: Critics/Curators in Residence, Deadline May 15
https://artomi.org/residencies/art/#open-call
Research Out Loud 2025: Met Fellows, Deadline May 23
https://www.nyfa.org/opportunities/opportunity-info?id=c0eadfef-f58d-41b5-84d1-6147519962a0
Highland Park Poetry is open for submissions for its summer anthology, Deadline May 25 https://highlandparkpoetry.org/
The Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation 2025 Grant for Sculpture, Deadline May 31 https://www.nyfa.org/opportunities/opportunity-info?id=5a562bc5-49d8-4ce1-9cf7-6451cd6cca23
Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence, Deadline May 31
https://www.osgf.org/fellowships/eliza-moore-artistic-excellence
Media Arts Assistance Fund / Wave Farm Regrant Program
https://wavefarm.fillout.com/t/qMjPhd5DAYus
NYSCA Reserve Fund Grants https://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/nysca-reserve-fund-grants/
The New York Community Trust Grants https://thenytrust.org/grant-funding/arts-longisland/
Ceramics Kiln and Inventory Assistant, Union City, NJ
jonopandolfi.com/studio
Director of Technology Services, Remote, NY roundabouttheatre.org
Marketing Copywriter, NY Philharmonic, Hybrid, NY
https://www.nyphil.org/about-us/careers/
SUGGESTED THINGS
The Now: Materiality at Pen & Brush, through June 7
https://www.penandbrush.org/
Anne Marie Wells: https://annemariewellswriter.com/
MISCELLANY
I now have two lavender plants outside my front door. That means I now have bumblebees outside my front door, which remind me why I never wanted plants outside my front door.
All good things,
Christina
**Of course, 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 https://www.christinamrau.com/calendar
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 2 PM
Balance and Flow Vinyasa Yoga and Oracle Reading at Third Season Yoga $25
https://www.thirdseasonyoga.com/event-details/balance-flow-yoga-oracle-2
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 3 PM
Cedarmere Poetry Series presents Martha Rhodes 225 Bryant Ave, Roslyn Harbor, NY RSVP to attend and/or read at the limited open mic: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTz446HsXlC-GQGnRfYzT6fFXlu48kVHD1hRNmLvqASPTL6A/viewform
FREE but you can certainly donate any time
Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 7-11 PM
Victory Is Ours: An Other-Worldly Art Showcase presented by Unknown Legends NYC
Supporting Autism Awareness, Barrier Brewing Company, Oceanside NY
Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 2pm
Molloy University Reading Series presents Nicole Cooley
Reception Room, Kellenberg Hall,1000 Hempstead Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY Hosted by Barbara Novack, Writer-in-Residence, Open mic follows feature. Refreshments!
516.323.3000 directions; 316.323.3260 information
Free
Sunday, May 4 from 3:00 to 4:30 EST
“Science/Fiction” book release readings featuring Kim Roberts, Michael Gushue Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/685251748906097/?locale=cx_PH
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cultivatingvoicesvideoarch5830
Free
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 7-8 PM
Calling All Writers Spoken Word Open Mic organized by Frank Rinck and Tammy Green Urban Coffee, 101 Broadway, Greenlawn, NY
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 7 PM
Lit Youngstown First Wednesdays featuring Jon Graham & David Prather, Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave, Youngstown OH
Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 4-6 PM
Highland Park Poetry: Trey Baker features plus open mic at The Wayfarer Theater, Highland, IL
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trey-baker-reading-poetry-open-mic-tickets-1265771188699?aff=oddtdtcreator
Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 5 PM
Second Sunday Poetry featuring Lynda V. E. Crawford and Juan Vásquez Varela plus open mic The Studio Theatre at St. Denis Building, 3433 Cahuenga Blvd West Los Angeles 90068
Monday, May 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Mockingbird Poetry Society presents Diane Kendig reading of her ekphrastic poems with art slides from Woman with a Fan, Heard-Craig Center for the Arts 205 West Hunt Street - McKinney, Texas
Register: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/heard-craig/mckinney-visiting-poet-event-meet-diane-kendig
Friday, May 16—Sunday, May 18
Bookstock! Woodstock, VT
https://bookstockvt.org/bookstock-workshops/
Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 10-noon
Sunday Funday Book Club at Ghost Brewing Company reading The Startup Wife by Tahmima Anam
Sunday May 18, 2025 at 10 AM – 6 PM
Poetry Day at Manor Mill with keynote speaker Tara Elliot
Monkton, MD, Registration: $100 (includes workshops and afternoon tea!) https://manor-mill.com/poetryday
Friday, May 23, 2025 at 6:30 – 9PM
AAAfter Dark: Shorts Screenings and Comic Readings at Smush Gallery
$10 suggested
https://www.smushgallery.com/calendar/2024/8/20/happening-smush-crafting-circle-hosted-by-jc-crafting-circle-94b5e-x7jf9-sbcge-57rcw-7ps9h-98fnk-9j5wc-seex7-j5ka2-t7534-z2ktn-4hmnb
Wednesday, May 28, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Workshop: Crafting Formal Verse: Dodging Common Pitfalls with Nicole Caruso Garcia
Poetry by the Sea Conference, Mercy Center, Madison, CT. Accessible.
Register: https://poetrybytheseaconference.org/2025-faculty/ Cost: $150
Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 7-8:30 PM
Brian Geraghty’s book launch for This Too Is A Place
Jack Jack’s Coffeehouse, 223 Deer Park Ave, Babylon, NY 11702
Monday, June 2, 2025, 6pm
Poets House Walk Across The Brooklyn Bridge: https://poetshouse.org/event/27th-poetry-walk-across-the-brooklyn-bridge/
Sunday, June 8, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Workshop: Turning Lead into Gold: The Alchemy of Peer-Workshopping Your Poems.
Instructor: Nicole Caruso Garcia
In Person: Trumbull Public Library: 33 Quality Street, Trumbull, CT.
Register: https://trumbull.libcal.com/event/14317729
FREE, Accessible.
Saturday, June 16, 2025 at 10 AM
Hike Around And Write with WWBA
Registration link coming soon
Sunday, June 22, 2025 noon to 4 PM
Empowered Path Expo Holistic Festival—join for Reiki, meditation, and Somnambulant Visuals
KOC Park 759 Long Island Avenue Deer Park, NY, 11729
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 6 PM
Green Pavilion Reading hosted by Evie Ivy plus an open mic
4307 18th Ave, Brooklyn NY
Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 10-noon
Sunday Funday Book Club, Lithology in Farmingdale, reading Mortals by John Dermott Woods and Matt L
July 17-20, 2025
ReaderCon in Burlington, MA
I’ll be paneling! Details on the way…
Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 10-noon
Sunday Funday Book Club at Ghost Brewing Company reading Saltwater Buddha by Jaimal Yogis (nonfic)
Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 11 AM
Tactile Poetry Workshop at Oceanside Library (NY)
Registration link on the way
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 https://www.gaylteller.com/mid-island-2/
First Sundays: Poetic License, online, 4 PM, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82298684083#success
One Sunday a month: Speculative Sundays with Akua Lezli Hope, online, 7 PM EST https://akualezlihope.com/speculative-poetry
Later-in-the-month Sundays: Book Club at Ghost Brewing Company from 10-noon
Third Sundays: Sunday Reading Series at The Hungry Brain, 6:30 PM,
http://www.hungrybrainchicago.com/
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, https://firsttuesdays.net/
First Tuesdays: Poetry At Greenspace, 47 Broadway Rocky Pt, NY, 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, https://www.madisonartsnj.org/about/community-arts-center
Second Wednesdays: Poetry: It's a Shore Thing!, Long Beach Library (NY), 6 PM https://longbeachlibrary.org/
Second Wednesdays/Thursdays: The Muse at Neirs Tavern, Queens, 7 PM
Fourth Wednesdays: Risk of Discovery at QED Astoria, 7:30-9 PM
https://www.pw.org/content/the_risk_of_discovery_reading_series_and_the_queens_literary_scene
First Thursdays: BVAC at Jack Jacks, Babylon, 7 PM babylonvillagearts.org
First Thursdays: Poetry Circle Open Mic, Living Room Café, Ardmore, PA, 6:30 PM livingroomardmore.com
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, www.brooklinebooksmith.com
Third Thursdays: SAFTA Reading Series, Pretentious Beer Co, Old City Knoxville, TN https://www.sundresspublications.com/safta/reading-series/
Every Friday: Fridays: Seed Café Open Mic, 250 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI, 6:30 PM https://allevents.in/pawtucket/seed-caf%C3%A9-open-mic-fridays/200025919132025
First Fridays: Revolutionary Poetry Nights, Grounds Books and Coffee, Tuscon, AZ www.revolutionarygrounds.com
First Fridays: Maryland Writers’ Association, 7 PM EST, online, https://marylandwriters.org/first_fridays
Third Fridays: Hudson Valley Writers Center in person and online, 7 PM https://writerscenter.org/calendar/
Last Fridays: Northport Arts Coalition Poetry Reading, Northport and online, 7:30 PM EST https://www.northportarts.org/
Last Fridays: Friday Night Fire, Teatro Yerbabruja Second Avenue Fire House, Bay Shore, NY, 7 PM, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friday-night-fire-featured-artist-and-open-mic-event-tickets-488297128857
Last Fridays: Redmond Association of Spoken Word, Centro Cultural Mexicano Redmond, WA, 7-9 PM, www.centroculturalmexicano.org
Every Saturday: Astoria Music Collective Saturday Songwriters at The Local Bar, 3 PM, https://happeningnext.com/event/saturday-songwriters-open-mic-at-the-local-bar-astoria-eid3a0889pfbk
Every Saturday: Cultivating Voices Live, online, 3 PM EST https://www.nmpoetry.com/wp/events/cultivating-voices-live-poetry-online/
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 www.oceansidelibrary.com
Last Saturdays: Poetry Street On The Road at Riverhead Library and online, Riverhead NY, 2 – 4 PM, poetrystreetontheroad.com
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).