Upcoming Events

Staten Island OutLOUD hosts a variety of community gatherings this Spring & Summer.

In May, OutLOUD invites you to gatherings honoring veterans, especially those who served during the Vietnam era.

In June & July, we’ll feature global literature, American classics, creative writing workshops & spoken-word performances.  Join us for “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird”, James Joyce’s Ulysses, Chinese poetry, the Declaration of Independence, Walt Whitman, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, an intriguing memoir workshop series, fun readings for very young children . . . and more!  All our events are free -  Bring your family & friends!

Staten Island OutLOUD will host several in-school events in Spring 2013, honoring our veterans.

These in-school events are a component of our series for The Big Read, highlighting Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, and exploring the veteran experience.

If you are interested in scheduling an OutLOUD event at your school, please email us at sioutloud@yahoo.com.  We’ll be happy to arrange a program that suits your needs, and schedule.    We will prepare a program that is age-appropriate for your students, and coordinates with your curriculum. Thanks!

Staten OutLOUD is proud to join Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries for a Memorial Day tribute to Island veterans. Friday, May 24, 1pm at historic Lake Cemetery, 1688 Forest Avenue, Staten Island 10302 (near Willowbrook Road).  Hosted by our neighbors at Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries. Ample parking on the street.

Staten Island OutLOUD will offer readings from Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, as well as from poetry on war, peace, sacrifice and survival.  OutLOUD will also offer a free book giveaway for veterans (while supplies last).

For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com.

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – A community poetry promenade.  Sunday, June 2 at 7pm on the Platform Promenade of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal (on the Staten Island side of the Harbor, overlooking the Harbor and the Postcards 9/11 Memorial).  This event is a whimsical finale to Art By the Ferry 2013, a weekend-long festival of Island artists.

This Is a gentle poetry promenade that celebrates summer, and Art By the Ferry.  It is the latest in a series of poetry performances that OutLOUD has presented throughout the Island for the past 11 years.  Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird is a free, family-friendly event, open to the public.  Staten Island OutLOUD will also invite Islanders to read their favorite short poems.

Staten Island OutLOUD’s event takes a celebrated poem as its starting point, Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird by American writer Wallace Stevens.  The poem is a series of thirteen short poems, like haikus, reflecting the mystery of the blackbird – and life.  OutLOUD will distribute copies of the poem, and invite neighbors to read stanzas aloud as they stroll along the Harbor, serenaded by blackbird tunes played on ukuleles by Gary & Joan Moore (who call their duo Allergic to Bs), and other musicians TBA.  Everyone is invited to wear black-bird inspired costumes, or just wear black and carry OutLOUD’s feathery banners.

The Ferry Platform Promenade is at the West door of the Ferry Terminal (on the Staten Island side of the Harbor), up the steps from the Postcards 9/11 Memorial, SI Yankee Stadium and  the west parking lots.  You can also access the Platform from inside the Ferry Terminal.  As you face the bus ramps & stairway to Richmond Terrace, turn right; as you walk out the west door, you’ll be on the Platform.

For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com.

Memoirs OutLOUD – A Creative Writing Studio: 1st & 3d Saturday of each month, 10am-Noon, at the St George Library Center, 5 Central Ave, SINY 10301

Staten Island OutLOUD welcomes Islanders (age 55+) to this stimulating writing studio.  Some of our participants are writing for the first time, while others are somewhat more experienced.  It’s a friendly, welcoming group.  If you don’t have much experience in creative writing, we’ll help you explore your potential with intriguing exercises.  If you’ve done a little or a lot of writing, please bring in some of your work to share with the group.  Everyone can work at his/her own pace.  No pressure, just fun & support.  You can come to every session, or drop in and out, according to your personal schedule.

At each session, we explore a different writing challenge.  Participants have the option of reading their work to one another for comments, suggestions, and fun.  We published a book of our participants’ work in 2012, and we plan to publish another book in 2013.

We also present spoken-word performances from time to time, so if you want to get in front of an audience, you’ll have that opportunity in a variety of community venues.  But if you’d rather not, that’s ok.  Just sit back and enjoy.  Our memoir workshop series is free.

For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com.

Memoirs OutLOUD Performance, Saturday, June 8, 2pm at the St George Library Center, 5 Central Ave, SINY 10301 (one block up the hill from the Ferry)

A spoken-word performance, featuring Islanders and their original work.  Participants in Staten Island OutLOUD’s memoir workshop read from their current workshop projects – poetry and prose.

This event is best for ages 16 and up.  Free

For directions to the St George Library Center via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com

Sunday, June 9th,  5-7pm.  We’ll gather in a member’s beautiful North Shore garden.  Address & directions will be provided when you RSVP at 718-907-0709 or  sioutloud@yahoo.com.

Staten Island OutLOUD invites our friends to a relaxed garden party.  Warm conviviality, champagne & light fare, friends and fun.  We’re hosting an informal gathering to support our free programs. We’ll be very grateful for your donation, whatever the amount.

We’ll kick off our Summer 2013 series. We’ll toast the members of our newly-formed Friends of OutLOUD.  We’ll look ahead to our twelfth birthday.  Join us to support OutLOUD’s free programs!

Sunday, June 16, 2013, 6:30pm – 60 Bay St Gallery, 60 Bay St, SINY 10301 (across from Post Office)

Every year on June 16, people around the world gather to celebrate “Bloomsday” – readings from James Joyce’s comic epic Ulysses, considered by many to be the first modern novel.  From Boston to Beijing, from Paris to Perth, people celebrate Joyce’s chronicle of three Dubliners (& everyone they meet) during the course of one day, June 16, 1904.
Staten Island is happy to be part of this global phenomenon: Every June 16, OutLOUD hosts a reading with music of  Ulysses.  Our annual “Bloomsday” attracts a loyal following of Joyceans – plus folks who discover Joyce for the first time with us.
Our 2013 event will take place at 60 Bay St Gallery – next door to Karl’s Klipper, and across the street from the post office.  Plenty of free parking on the street.  Thanks to our friends at Staten Island Creative Community, who run this gallery!  Their work will be on display, so come join us, and enjoy!
Conviviality, James Joyce, a June night, a glass of burgundy – What’s not to love?

For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com

Saturday, June 22, 2pm – At the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, 388 Lighthouse Road, SINY 10306.

Staten Island OutLOUD presents a reading from The Mountain Poems of Meng Hao-jan, 7th century Chinese poet.  This event is good for all ages. Free book giveaway (while supplies last), thanks to our friends at Archipelago Press.

This event is free.  For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com.

Staten Island OutLOUD’s annual reading of the Declaration of Independence on the South Shore: Saturday, June 29, 2pm at the historic  Conference House, 7455 Hylan Blvd, SINY 10307 (southern end of Hylan Blvd, at Saterlee St)

When was the last time you had a chance to read the Declaration?  Join us as we reflect on the meaning of the national holiday – On the sacrifices of our forebears – On the work of our founders.

We’ll read the Declaration together and share ideas on the document that proposed a radical new idea. We’ll also feature a few related texts, plus a literary surprise or two.

Free and open to the public.  Please bring a lawnchair!

Plenty of free parking.  For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com.

Staten Island OutLOUD reads the Declaration of Independence on the North Shore: Sunday, June 30, 3pm at Fort Wadsworth, Bay Street & School Road, SINY 10305 (enter through the Guard Station at the end of Bay Street, near the Verazanno Bridge)

When was the last time you had a chance to read the Declaration?  Join us as we reflect on the meaning of the national holiday – On the sacrifices of our forebears – On the work of our founders.

We’ll read the Declaration together and share ideas on the document that proposed a radical new idea. We’ll also feature a few related texts, plus a literary surprise or two.

Park in the Visitors Center parking lot, then follow the sidewalk to the spectacular Harbor Overlook, where we’ll gather in a shady spot.

Free and open to the public.  Please bring a lawnchair!

Plenty of free parking.  For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com.

Wednesdays, July 3, 17 & 31, 2013 at 3pm – Richmondtown Branch Library, 200 Clarke Ave, SINY 10306

Kids ages 5-10 can have a lot of fun while they strengthen their reading skills and build confidence, by reading aloud to a patient listener: a licensed therapy dog, Sweetie Pie (a kindly boxer) and Gracie (a dachsund princess).  Kids can bring their favorite books from home, or borrow books from the library’s collection. 

Free.  Plenty of free parking.  Wheelchair accessible.  For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com.

Sunday, July 7, 2pm at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave (at Brielle Ave), SINY 10314

Staten Island OutLOUD hosts a community reading from Walt Whitman’s beloved Leaves of Grass at the Greenbelt Nature Center on Sunday, July 7 at 2pm.  Free.  Wheelchair-accessible

If weather permits, we’ll take a brief stroll through the woods as we read Whitman’s thoroughly American poetry, such as “Song of the Open Road”. If it rains, we’ll be comfy inside the Nature Center as we read together, gazing at the woodland scene. Good for all ages – family-friendly.

Free parking.  Wheelchair accessible.  For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com.

Sunday, July 14, 2pm at Killmeyers Old Bavaria Inn, 4356 Arthur Kill Rd (at Sharrotts Rd), SINY 10309

Join us as Staten Island OutLOUD reads from  The Boys of Summer, Roger Kahn’s paean to Ebbets Field and “Dem Bums” – known to laypersons as the Brooklyn Dodgers. (For you young ‘uns, that was before they moved to LA and broke a million hearts.)

If the weather is fair, we’ll meet in Killmeyers’ shady biergarten; if it rains, we’ll be comfy indoors.  Join us, order something from Killmeyer’s delicious (and reasonably priced) menu, and share a few baseball stories.

Plenty of free parking.  Wheelchair accessible.

For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com.

Staten Island OutLOUD’s annual celebration of Moby Dick on Saturday, July 27, 6:30pm at Fort Wadsworth’s scenic Harbor Overlook.(Enter through the guard station at Bay St & School Rd).  Rain or shine; if it rains, we have a comfy indoor location adjacent to the Harbor Overlook, just a few steps away.

Every summer, Staten Island OutLOUD reads Moby Dick in a spectacular setting: the Harbor Overlook of historic Fort Wadsworth.  Music by the Staten Island Philharmonic Orchestra.

As you sit on the bluff listening to Melville’s haunting tale, you’ll feel as if you’re on the prow of a great ship. Our readers share the story of Ishmael, Ahab and the crew of the Pequod as they begin their mystical journey.  This is a place that Melville loved; he wrote lyrically about it in Redburn, one of his first novels. He visited the site during his many trips to Staten Island (where his brother lived), and he wrote about it in one of his last short stories.

Park in the Visitors Center lot, and follow the sidewalk to the Harbor Overlook.  If you have a permit for special-needs parking, ask the guard to direct you to that reserved parking area, located just a few steps from our event locale.

For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com.

This event is perfect for all ages; often three generations of families join us.  Free and open to the public. PLEASE BE SURE TO BRING A LAWNCHAIR!

For directions via public transportation, visit www.hopstop.com.