7/1 All Good Things
Hello!
Breaking news: We’re getting the team back together! Walk2EndAlz arrives in October, so we’re gearing up now. Go here for details.
THINGS HAPPENED
Dog school ended for the summer! I am a better person for it. Sukha Backyard Book Club met for the first time, and it was a lovely day, sitting under trees in the studio’s backyard, chatting about life, meditating, and feeling those Reiki vibes. With thanks to the Friends of Cedarmere and Stefanie Maura, our writing retreat unfolded on a perfect-weather day during which we read and chatted about and wrote poetry on the grounds and in the house of William Cullen Bryant’s weekend home. Sunday Funday Book Club met up and antics ensued as usual (ICYMI go here) — I know, two book clubs in one month, and I am living for it. Pound class finished, and I’m missing it already! Instead of explaining it, watch this and see what it is for yourself. I made it back to the Uptown Showdown at Symphony Space; this time, they debated robots versus aliens, aliens won, and I realized my heart lies with robots. Go ahead and do a gut check—you probably fall hard on one side, too.
On another city adventure, I got to see the Analog Photobooth Gallery and Museum, which has a small exhibit about photobooths, a short stop-action video about owning and being a repair tech for photobooths, and several working photobooths that take photos very quickly, which means I also own several unflattering photos from photobooths. In the same-ish neighborhood, I checked 60 White and The Hole galleries, which means I also got lost on the hottest day this year so far, and thank goodness for maps.
Most importantly, I got back to the beach with my mom! We got to hear two women shout-talking about how their retirement packages are incorrect for about an hour. Now everyone at the beach has learned an important lesson about checking twice on retirement dates before actually retiring.
WELLNESS CORNER
Super excited to sub Sukha Sculpt throughout the summer! Meet me on the mat for yoga with weights! Check the calendar for dates and sign up for this and my regular slow flow classes!
As aforementioned, October 18 is the Walk2EndAlz. Donate or root us on!
Also as aforementioned, Pound class ended. If you want a workout that involves squatting a lot and banging things, this workout is for you! I’m tempted to take the training. It was a lot of fun, especially because of the instructor. Visit Francesca here.
If you enjoy pork fried rice but don’t like or don’t want the rice (like me), I found a recipe that uses riced cauliflower, and it’s become a staple dish. Drop me a line if you want the recipe. It’s delicious and nutritious. No, I'm not a vegetarian, though for some reason, a lot of folks think I am.
KUDOS!
Ann Cefola’s book Sequence Long Island is now available!
WNYC aired Molloy College’s Writer-in-Residence Barbara Novack’s poem “Eulogy” and included it in their favorites roundup!
BOOKSHELF
Have you visited Bookshop.org yet?
Y’all, I finished the hair metal band book! Everything about it made me happy. If you know of an oral-history-type book about the grunge scene in the 90s, please let me know — though I don’t know if anything can come close to how nostalgic this read was. I finished SFBC’s Fried Green Tomatoes and am about to start the next one, Didion and Babitz. Still slowly reading through the nature poem book as well as the current issue of Spiral. Did I also start to read another Buddhism book? Yes, the answer will always be yes.
Poetry
My poem “Whatever Happened to Baby J” appeared in The Disappointed Housewife. Kevin is the best editor; even his rejections are great.
“The Circus Fire Corona, 1944/2024, IX-XII” by Sandra Yannone
“Young Gannet” by Damon Hubbs
“Mountain Language” by Öykü Teketen
“I Ask My Sister’s Ghost to Take Me with Her” by Ben Gucciardi
“Americium” by Éireann Lorsung
“Lie” by Janet McAdams
“Greensickness” by Laurel Chen
“Common Cause” by Bob Hicok
“Soft Hands” by Chad Rutter
“The Barrens” by Karen Solie
“diario Verano | chronicle” by Jonathan Chan
“Siphonophore” (and one other poem) by Puneet Dutt
[“The mountains heave themselves up”] by Charline Lambert, Trans. from French by John Taylor
“In Tatters if Need Be” by Andrea Giedinghagen
“TM” by Eran Eads
“One Way or Another” by Maya C. Popa
“Divorce Song” by Jameson Fitzpatrick
Poems from Coral Bracho’s Debe ser un malentendido Trans. by Forrest Gander
Poems from V. Sackville-West’sThe Land
or a short snippet of The Land
“Creatures Abandoned By Time” by Jackie Wang
“After Turner (‘Sunrise with Sea Monsters’)” by Bin Ramke
“Mercy” by Jose Antonio Rodriguez
“[—What did you say? Lost empires,]” by Marie-Claire Bancquart Trans. from French by Jody Gladding
“When Silence Falls” by Alex Carrigan
Two poems by Jehanne Dubrow
“New Restrictions” by Dean Young
“The Bench” by Mary Ruefle
“Black Snow” by Carl Adamshick
“How the Stars Understand Us” by Christopher Gilbert
“ ‘Stop. Go put your shoes back on. They’ll know we Okies,’ a Lost Image Reclamation” by Anthony Cody
“For everyone who tried on the slipper before Cinderella” by Ariana Brown
Fiction
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg (Sunday Funday Book Club Book!)
“Margaret” by Kellan Jansen
“#HumansOfMars” by Lavie Tidhar
Nonfiction
“Robert Motherwell in Mexico” by Daniel Barbiero
“Poem’s Origin Story: Hiram Larew,” part of a series
Nothin’ But A Good Time: The Uncensored History of the 80s Hard Rock Explosion by Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock !!!!!!!
Mixed Media / Cross Genre
“Case Notes for Snow White Ref 01812 ~ Victim Referral Form” by Kathryn Aldridge-Morris
Internet
NYC offers Rat Tours and this is a thing and I’m questioning all decisions I’ve ever made.
Blue Light Press’s crash course in book promotion
What World Cup tourists love more than soccer/futbol in the USA
Hot Podium Guy—he’s real and he’s so pretty
And of course check out these:
Typewriter photographs! Erasure poems! Post card sentiments! Signed copies of How We Make Amends!
LISTEN
My poem “The Poison Game” aired on Destinies. (Poem at 7:40)
Sunday Funday Book Club’s soundtrack for Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café
The soundtrack to Fantasy Kills
G Flip, especially the album Dream Ride
A playlist for Nothin’ But A Good Time(the book I keep raving about)
WATCH
Miracle: The Boys of ’80 (Netflix doc)
Fall (2022) — I’m back on movies about climbing that sometimes involve avalanches.
Bros (2022)
Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)
Million Dollar Secret, all seasons on Netflix
One of Them Days (2025)
Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)
Vertical Limit (2000) — see?
The Singers (2025)
How To Train Your Dragon (2025)
Bugonia (2025)
Masters of the Universe (2026) — It’s exactly what you expect.
OPPORTUNITIES
Pioneer Works Residencies, Deadline July 13
The Saturday Evening Post accepts nonfic, fic, and cartoons.
Luna Station Quarterlyopen for sci fi fic by women, Deadline August 15
Translunar Travelers Loungeaccepts sci fi stories during various windows.
Take and teach classes at Arts Corps.
The Boundary Waters Journal accepts articles and photographs
Certain Ageaccepts pieces of various genres from women of a certain age
SUGGESTED THINGS
Connecticut Poetry Calendar
60 White Gallery, NYC (Haring currently on exhibit)
The Hole Gallery, NYC (glass art currently on exhibit)
MISCELLANY
Thanks, Mark Doty (written in the most sarcastic tone—if you know, you know. if you want to know, drop me a line).
All good things,
Christina
THINGS ARE HAPPENING
My calendar is here.
Updated book club info is here.
Now – August 23, 2026
Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition featuring Sarah Maple
Thursday, July 2, 2026 at 2 PM
Musical Poetry at Cedaremere, Roslyn Harbor, NY. Register here.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 12 PM EST
Radcliffe Book Talk with Lauren Groff online
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 7 PM
Creative Writing Workshop with Barbara Novack at Rockville Centre Library 221 N. Village Ave. Rockville Centre, NY 516.766.6257
Wednesdays, July 15, August 5, and August 19 at 11 AM
Creative Writing Workshop with Barbara Novack at Oceanside Library
30 Davison Ave. Oceanside, NY 516.766.2360
Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 10-noon
Sunday Funday Book Club reading Didion and Babitz by Lili Anolik
Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 2-3:30 PM
The Gypsy Felons at the Center Moriches Free Public Library
Thursday, July 30, 2026
On-The-Spot Poetry Private Event. Book yours here.
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 7 PM
Creative Writing Workshop with Barbara Novack at Rockville Centre Library 221 N. Village Ave. Rockville Centre, NY 516.766.6257
Monday, August 31, 2026 at 7 PM
Summer Gazebo Reading Series features Christina M. Rau, Chip Williford, and others Schoolhouse Green, Foxhurst Rd, Oceanside, NY
Also on zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82944633771?pwd=LHEsaXFNTzavARjQ174yi76lVgaBPt.1
Meeting ID: 829 4463 3771 Passcode: 844607
FREE
Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 6 PM – 8 PM
Tactile Poetry Workshop at Walt Whitman Birthplace, Huntington, NY
Register in advance: waltwhitman.org
Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 12:30-2 PM
Sukha Backyard Book Club reading Saltwater Buddha. Register in advance.
Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 10 AM - 4 PM
Cedaremere Writing Retreat with Stefanie Maura and Christina M. Rau
Registration link coming soon
Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 10 AM
Walk2EndAlz with Team J and J. Donate or root us on here.
Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 6 PM – 8 PM
Reiki & Write at Walt Whitman Birthplace, Huntington, NY
Register in advance: waltwhitman.org
Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2PM to 4 PM
Cedarmere celebrates William Cullen Bryant’s Birthday
Registration link coming soon
Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 10 AM – 12 Noon
Hike Around and Write with Walt Whitman Birthplace, Jayne’s Hill, Huntington, NY
Register in advance: waltwhitman.org
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
Later-in-the-month Sundays: Book Club at Great South Bay Brewing, Bay Shore, NY from 10-noon
Third Sundays: Sunday Reading Series at The Hungry Brain, 6:30 PMLast Sundays: Po’Jazz with Golda Solomon at Blue Door Arts Center, Yonkers, NY, 2-4 PM, Free
RETURNED: Every Monday: Summer Gazebo Reading Series, Oceanside, NY and on zoom, 7 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
First Thursdays: Lowell Writers Open Mic, lalabooks, Market St, Lowell, MA, 6:30-8PM
ON HIATUS UNTIL OCT. 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, onlineSecond Fridays: Open Mic at Deja Brew Café, 102nd&Jamaica Ave Queens, 7:30-9 PM, hosted by Michael Alpiner
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).