Tues, Sept 28, 4pm at Port Richmond Library, 77 Bennett Ave, SINY 10302.
Past Events
These events have come and gone!
True Grit Community Conversation @Port Richmond
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Frontier Justice
Saturday, April 21st, 2pm at the historic Conference House, 298 Satterlee St (at the end of Hylan Blvd), SINY 10309
Staten Island OutLOUD explores a point in American history, as our sense of justice was formed. During the Westward Explansion, justice was often swift. Sometimes it was fair, sometimes justice miscarried. How do modern views of the 2nd Amendment reflect those conflicts? Free & open to the public. Book & bandana giveaway. This event is part of OutLOUD’s series on Charles Portis’ classic novel “True Grit”, for The Big Read/National Endowment for the Arts. We’ll gather in the historic Conference House. Free – Best for ages 10 and up.
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Cowboy Poetry
Saturday, April 7th, 2pm at the Stapleton Branch Library, 132 Canal St, SINY 10304.
Staten Island OutLOUD presents an afternoon of Cowboy Poetry with our friends at the Stapleton Library, with music of the Old West by Elle La Forge and Rob Landsman. Free & good for all ages.
American cowboy poetry originated in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Cowboys and ranchers swamped stories around the campfire, and started to improvise verse, in somewhat the same way that urban rap originated in the late 20th century.
OutLOUD will share a selection of works by cowboy poets, and anyone who wants to read with us is welcome to join in. Throughout the afternoon, Elle and Rob will share American songs of the Westward Expansion.
Book & bandana giveaway too (while supplies last).
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True Grit on the Prairie: The Life & Novels of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Sunday, March 25th, 2pm at the Alice Austen House Museum, 2 Hylan Blvd, SINY 10305.
Laura Ingalls Wilder entertained generations of children with her Little House series, which was loosely based on her family’s pioneering life. Her memoir, Pioneer Girl, was published in 2014
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The True Grit of the Suffragettes
- Sunday, March 11th, 2pm. At Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave, SINY 10306
Staten Island OutLOUD collaborates with historian Patricia Salmon and the Staten Island Women’s Bar Association to present a special event honoring the centennial of women’s suffrage in New York State. With co-hosts SIWBA & its President Manju Sunny, Esq., historian Patricia Salmon & Edwina Martin (past-President, SIWBA).
Please note: This is a neighborly, non-partisan event.
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True Grit: A Dance & Spoken Word Performance
Saturday, March 3rd, 8pm. At Be Yoga & Dance Studio, 1270 Bay St, SINY 10305
Choreographed by Rosita Roldan. Original music by Rob Keay.
Readers: Vincent Vok, Melanie Randall, John Bostrom & others TBA.
Dancers: Renee Leibowitz, Larissa Schiano-Gonzalez, Rosita Roldan, Simone Johnson & Alyssa Rapp.
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True Grit: Black Cowboys
Saturday, Feb 24th, 2pm at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave, SINY 10314.
Staten Island OutLOUD presents this special event for Black History Month, in connection with the National Endowment for the Arts/The Big Read. OutLOUD continues its celebration of Charles Portis’ classic novel True Grit. One compelling character, Yarnell Poindexter, works on the Arkansas farm owned by the Ross family. When Mr. Ross is murdered by a drifter who worked briefly as a farmhand, Mattie Ross, his 14 year-old daughter sets off for Oklahoma Territory to find her father’s killer and bring him to justice. Yarnell doesn’t want Mattie to travel alone, so he accompanies her and protects her – until Mattie asserts her independence. Though Yarnell appears briefly in this novel, his character is striking because it raises the issue of how freed slaves survived in the deep South & in the West, during the latter part of the 19th century.
In the post-Civil War years, African-American men comprised 25% of the workers in the cattle industry. Before transcontinental rail travel, cowboys were essential in leading cattle drives to market. Those black cowboys were freed slaves and their sons & grandsons. They played a vital role in post-Civil War development, but many of us don’t know much about their lives and work.
Join Staten Island OutLOUD as we explore this important facet of American history. Book & bandana giveaway! Family-friendly.
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True Grit: Chinese Settlers
Saturday, Feb 10th, 2:30pm at the Sand Lane Branch Library, 21 Robin Road, SINY 10305.
Staten Island OutLOUD’s Big Read series continues, as we consider an intriguing character on Charles Portis’ classic novel “True Grit”. The story of Chinese Americans in the Westward Expansion is not well known to many. We aim to help change that with this special event.
In “True Grit”, a 14 year old girl sets out from her family farm in Arkansas to find her father’s killer in Oklahoma Territory. Along the way, she encounters a kindly Chinese shopkeeper, who gives her a safe place to stay.
Free & family friendly.
Book giveaway.
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“True Grit” & True stories of Annie Oakley & Buffalo Bill on Staten Island
Tuesday, Dec 12th, 2:30pm at Todt Hill-Westerleigh Branch Library, 2550 Victory Blvd, SINY 10314
Librarian and local historian Andrew Wilson leads a lively book chat series, which will focus on Charles Portis’ novella True Grit. Andrew will also share images and stories about Annie Oakley & Buffalo Bill Cody on Staten Island. In the late 19th century, their Wild West Show was performed on the North Shore, in Mariner’s Harbor – in an area that was then called “Erastina”. Here is a link to Andrew Wilson’s blog:
https://www.nypl.org/blog/2016/09/23/clone-found-staten-island-stories-3-buffalo-bills-wild-west-mariners-harbor-1886-and
Free. Book giveaway while supplies last. 
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“True Grit” & Readings for Kidz @Richmondtown Library
Tuesday, Nov 21st, 4pm. Richmondtown Branch Library, 200 Clarke Ave, SINY 10306
Kids ages 5-10 (older siblings welcome) can build their reading skills & gain confidence by reading aloud to JJ, an adorable licensed therapy dog. She’s gentle, child-friendly, and a very good listener.
Free bandanas for little cowpokes, while supplies last. Children must be accompanied by an adult guardian.
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