Fiction Book Club Meetup
Join us to chat about Meg Charlton’s debut novel, Voyagers!
And make sure to swing through Sunday, August 8 from 4-5 when Meg Charlton visits The Common Good to sign books and talk all things Voyagers.
First Fridays Happy Hour
Kick off the holiday weekend with $1 off wines, NY Beers, and $3 off cocktails from 4-6pm
Herbal Study Group
Come by for the inaugural meeting of the Herbal Study Group, led by Adriana Magaña.
Author Visit: Deirdre Sinnott
Join us for an evening with historical fiction author Deirdre Sinnott as she celebrates her latest novel, The Loyalist's Wife.
“It’s 1777 in New York’s fertile Mohawk Valley, and tenant farmers Jane and Philip Hopper have very different ideas about the war for independence that has consumed the 13 colonies. To Philip, rebellion against the king is appalling. But Jane, recovering from the death of a newborn son, has taken solace from the hope embedded in the simple phrase “the pursuit of happiness.”
The war comes home when Philip is arrested for his Loyalist views and then escapes, leaving Jane to fend for herself. She is brought before the Patriot’s Commission to Detect and Defeat Conspiracies. One wrong move could land her in the Watchhouse. Help comes in the form of Lady Prudence Safford who puts Jane under her protection. However, it is not without cost.
With its rich panorama of characters, including a Hessian deserter, Jane’s alcoholic brother, and his wife, a member of the Oneida Indian Nation, The Loyalist’s Wife presents a unique perspective on America’s War of Independence. It is a timely and thrilling tale of American history and personal integrity.”
Good Work: A Series, with Nikki Volpicelli
Join writers in all genres as they read from works in progress. Sign up are first come first serve, with 7-10 minutes per reader. Guests and readers are encouraged to stick around after the event to shop, have a drink, and discuss work.
Sign up in person or online
*If signups fill up, we’ll add you to the top of the list next month
Live Music: Marianne Osiel & School Girl Crush
Double bill Magic!
We are delighted to welcome singer/songwriter Marianne Osiel back to the TCG stage. Osiel crafts melodic, roots-inspired songs, and her energetic and emotive performances are not to be missed.
"Marianne has a gift for very original songwriting combined with a beautiful voice - Dave Sancious, Keyboardist (Eric Clapton)
Joining Osiel will be School Girl Crush. School Girl Crush (Anna White) is an award-winning songwriter, vocalist & multi-instrumentalist. Her songs describe personal but relatable experiences, weaving an intimacy that invites the listener to contemplate while singing along. She leans into authenticity, speaking honestly about queerness, mental health, love, family & more. Her debut solo album is due in late 2025.
Good Work: A Series, with Nikki Volpicelli
Join writers in all genres as they read from works in progress. We are excited to welcome Cara Benson, who will be reading from her debut work, An Armsfull of Birds. Signs up are first come first serve, with 7-10 minutes per reader. Guests and readers are encouraged to stick around after the event to shop, have a drink, and discuss work.
Sign up in person or online
*If signups fill up, we’ll add you to the top of the list next month
Live Music: Soulful Guitar w. Richard Rice
Don't miss renowned Texas guitarist and singer-songwriter Richard Rice as he brings his signature blend of exceptional musicianship, heartfelt original songs, and beloved classic favorites to The Common Good. Known for his dynamic performances and soulful guitar work, Richard creates an engaging musical experience that connects with audiences of all ages, helping celebrate the spirit, culture, and community of the Borscht Belt.
Cindy Lou sings bessie smith
Step back into the golden age of the blues as an incredible Bessie Smith tribute artist brings the legendary "Empress of the Blues" to life! With a voice full of soul, power, and passion, this unforgettable performance celebrates one of America's most influential musical icons, whose groundbreaking style helped shape blues and jazz for generations.
(Note: Cindy Lou returns for a second set from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM).
Borscht Belt Fest: Laughing with Dummies: Unpacking the History & Humor of Ventriloquism
Explore how ventriloquism shaped the voice and the wit of a nation with Al Getler, a seasoned ventriloquist who runs the Vent Haven International Ventriloquist Convention, and Kelly Benning, the daughter of comedic genius Rickie Layne, whose Yiddish-inflected Velvel, appeared dozens of times on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Velvel, recently restored, will come out of retirementment on the West Coast to join the event!
Moderated by pop culture historian Ron MacCloskey.
Tickets available HERE
Author Meet & Greet: Joel Dinerstein
Join us during the Borscht Belt Festival for a special meet & greet with acclaimed cultural historian Joel Dinerstein as he celebrates the release of The Last of the Ellis Island Jews: A Brooklyn Memoir. Through funny, heartfelt stories spanning four generations, Dinerstein explores immigration, identity, family, and the changing face of New York, capturing a world that is quickly disappearing from living memory.
Stop by to meet the author, chat about the book, and have your copy signed.
Borscht Belt Fest: "Before Woodstock: The Music of The Original Catskills Counterculture."
This panel focuses on the music that "Progressive" Jews in the mountains played, sang, and listened to from the 1930s onward — union songs, Spanish Civil War songs, peace songs, lullabies, songs of love, songs of protest, songs for a hopeful future, songs in English, Yiddish, Russian & Spanish. We'll listen, and we'll talk about this music as part of the larger cultural project — for every set of social movements needs a soundtrack.
Tickets can be bought HERE
Live Music: Justin Cole, Amanda Jerry, Charles Bollin
Justin Cole is a Port Jervis-based singer-songwriter whose thoughtful blend of indie folk and Americana pairs memorable melodies with deeply personal storytelling.
Amanda Jerry has written scores and songs for short films, dance films, and theatrical productions. As a performer, she plays intimate singer/songwriter sets stacked with inventive covers and heartfelt originals
Charles Bollin is a musician based in Saugerties, New York, in the scenic Hudson Valley. A longtime local with deep roots in the area, Charles has become something of an undiscovered gem for visitors and residents alike — the kind of artist people in the know look forward to seeing and happily recommend to friends. He brings a warm, heartfelt energy to his solo acoustic performances, delivering fresh takes on beloved songs with skill and personality. Charles specializes in acoustic renditions of punk, post-punk, and new wave classics — think The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Clash, Bauhaus, and similar artists — along with a growing selection of his own original material. His style is intimate and engaging, perfect for intimate venues and special events. You’ll often find him playing around Saugerties and the broader Hudson Valley/Catskills region.
All ages Open Collage Workshop
Join us for a creative experience transforming recycled books and magazines into unique works of art. We will begin by scavenging for "sparks" in text and images, letting the found materials - rather than a rigid plan - drive the creative process. Through the relaxing process of cutting, tearing, and layering, a new visual narrative will unfold. No artistic experience is required to enjoy this low-pressure afternoon [or evening] of reimagining the printed word.
Step 1: Discovery. We begin with a curated scavenger hunt using recycled pages from books and magazines to gather images and words that resonate or just feel right. The goal is not to overthink, but to allow the materials to provide inspiration. Guests are also welcome to bring their own materials.
Step 2: Deconstruction. Using scissors or tearing, we will break the materials to be reassembled into a unique composition.
Step 3: Intuitive Assembly. As we begin to place and layer our selections, images and words will start to drive the process. Each element will inspire new combinations and arrangements allowing the composition to unfold in unexpected ways. Once we are satisfied with the placements, we'll begin gluing them down to bind everything into the finished piece.
$10 (cash or Venmo)
Live Music: Megan Gugliotta
Megan Gugliotta has been playing the violin for over forty years. Venturing outside of her classical training, she has spent more than two decades playing with musicians from a wide variety of genres, from singer-songwriter to bluegrass to jam band. In her solo work as Gardenfiddler, she draws on her array of experience in both formal rehearsal settings and free-form jam sessions to create soulful and contemplative soundscapes; a sonic foliage of layered and soulful improvisations that evolve into their own naturalistic form with each performance.
Experimental Music and Dance w. Neil Rolnick, Alex Oliva & Errant Space
Composer and laptop performer Neil Rolnick will play a program including electronic mash-ups of music by Robert Johnson and the Everly Brothers, as well as Messages, a mosaic of undeleted phone messages from his late wife Wendy. To end the program he’ll be joined by choreographer/dancer Alex Oliva for their collaboration So Many Me’s, exploring the many personalities we all manifest. And she does it atop an 8-foot ladder. Measuring, selling, falling apart, acting out, surrender …
Errant Space: A project of composer/recordist Craig Chin. Its goal is spatio-temporal dilation through sound. Performances are site-specific, spontaneous compositions influenced by both the physical characteristics of the space they are performed in and the occupants of that space.
Author Event: Leslie Sharpe
Leslie T. Sharpe is a well-known naturalist and the author of The Quarry Fox and Other Critters of the Wild Catskills, just published in a new trade paperback edition, with stunning color cover and black and white interior illustrations by the celebrated Catskills artist Will Lytle, by Woodstock’s own Golden Notebook Press. The Quarry Fox has won an Independent Book Publishers Gold Medal award for excellence, and it is also available as an audiobook, with Leslie reading, produced by Silver Hollow Audio. She was also chosen as one of the “50 Stewards of the Catskills” by the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, in 2019, for her work promoting the protection and preservation of Catskills ecosystems.
Music for Humanity, Free Concert Series: Featuring Lydia Adams Davis
On the second Friday night of each month we present a free concert featuring the finest musicians in the Hudson Valley and beyond. For July, Lydia Adams Davis is our featured artist.
Lydia grew up in New England and the Hudson Valley, where she was active with Pete Seeger and the Hudson River Sloop Singers.
Lydia is a relaxed and warm-voiced balladeer, Lydia brings an improvisational flair to her original and traditional songs. She has performed at the Bottom Line, the Gaslight Café and enduring Folk venues such as the People’s Voice Café, the Towne Crier and the Hudson Valley Folk Guild.
“One of our finest folk composers”
– The New York Times
“Lydia’s voice can lift and carry you into laughter, into singing along, into dancing in the aisles”
– Woodstock Times
“It’s the beauty of her voice and the depth of her lyrics that make a Lydia Adams Davis performance so memorable.”
– Times Herald Record
This is a Free Event. Tips/donations are accepted.
Music for Humanity, Free Concert Series: Featuring Kyle Hancharick
On the second Friday night of each month we present a free concert featuring the finest musicians in the Hudson Valley and beyond. For August our featured artist is Kyle Hancharick.
Kyle Hancharick is a singer songwriter From Warwick New York. His roots are firmly planted in contemporary folk music. Kyle takes in the world, processes it, and turns it into song with his own special touch. Music for Humanity has known Kyle since he’s eight years old. He was better than most people at the open mics back then. Now, he’s as good as touring professionals.
Find out more here: https://kylehancharick.com/index.html
This is a Free Event. Tips/donations are accepted.
History on Tap: America 250 w. Bucky Green
Extend your commemoration of American 250 with an engaging “History on Tap” lecture with historian, Bucky Green.
Henry "Bucky" Green is a native of the town of Wawarsing, which includes the village of Ellenville. An active participant in community life, he is the town historian, author of “Images of America: Ellenville,” and also serves on the museum advisory board of Ellenville Public Library & Museum.
All Created Equal: Reading on Equality & the American Project
Ellenville’s July 4th celebration is one of the community’s great traditions, and this year’s 250th anniversary is going to be even more special. Between the parade, fireworks, and new festivities our hard working July 4th Committee has planned, we hope you’ll make a day of it—and while you’re here, stop into The Common Good for “All Created Equal: Readings on Equality and the American Project.”
Whether you have a favorite passage you’d love to share or simply want to listen, this is meant to be a relaxed, informal gathering, just community members reading words that have inspired, challenged, or shaped the way they think about America’s ongoing pursuit of equality. We’ll even have some of Matthew faves to peruse.
We’ll also have a special America 250 book display centering works that explore the diverse experiences of the people who have called this country home, its history, ideals, contradictions, and unfolding story. We hope you’ll celebrate with us.
Check out a video Matthew recorded for more.
First Fridays Happy Hour
Kick off the holiday weekend with $1 off wines, NY Beers, and $3 off cocktails from 4-6pm
Good Work: A Series, with Nikki Volpicelli
Join writers in all genres as they read from works in progress. This week, we are excited to announce that Cara Benson will be reading from her recently published work, An Armsfull of Birds.
Signs up are first come first serve, with 7-10 minutes per reader. Guests and readers are encouraged to stick around after the event to shop, have a drink, and discuss work.
Sign up in person or online
*If signups fill up, we’ll add you to the top of the list next month
Braids and Brews
Calling all girl dads!
Ever wanted to feel more confident doing your daughter’s hair but weren’t sure where to start? Braids & Brews is a fun, relaxed, and beginner-friendly class designed to teach dads the basics of hair care and styling while enjoying a brew and some good company.
In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn:
Proper nighttime hair care and maintenance
How to detangle hair safely and comfortably
Simple ponytails and everyday styles
Basic braiding techniques you can practice at home
Tips for keeping hair healthy, neat, and manageable between styles
Ticket includes one instructional session, one beer, and a take-home goody bag.
Spots are limited! Reserve yours HERE!
Live Music: Reese Fulmer & Route One
Reese Fulmer:
“Smart, emotionally tuned arrangements and a stage presence that balanced earnestness with unpredictability…Fulmer, equal parts folk craftsman and indie provocateur, seemed fully in sync with the band’s fluid musicianship. Their live performance thrives in the liminal space between genres folk, Americana, jazz and the result is a sound that’s complex without being convoluted.”
- NYS MUsic
Route One:
With scores of clever and catchy original music, along with handfuls of complementary covers, Route One touches on notes of folk, pop, rock and blues, combining the standard musical forms into a package that is all their own. Between sweet, mellifluous harmonies, shadowy minor-key pieces, or charging rock progressions, Route One explores the range of the American musical idiom, with lyrical content that does just the same. The clean, unburdened two-piece arrangement between Federici & Savchuk gives listeners a chance to connect with both the duo and the songs they deliver, making for intimate performances audiences are sure to remember.
Good Work: A Series, with Nikki Volpicelli
Join writers in all genres as they read from works in progress. Signs up are first come first serve, with 7-10 minutes per reader. Guests and readers are encouraged to stick around after the event to shop, have a drink, and discuss work.
Sign up in person or online
*If signups fill up, we’ll add you to the top of the list next month
Romance Book Club Meetup
A safe space to uncork the wine & discuss the literature we love.
🍷Whether you’re here for the tropes, the tension, or just a really good glass of red, you’ve found your circle.
The Perks of the Circle:
✨ 10% OFF all official book club reads at The Common Good.
✨ 10% OFF all books and bottles of wine the day of our meetup!
Upstate Art Weekend: Janet Gunderson, A World Of Color
We are thrilled to be a part of the Ellenville Art’s Collective exhibit taking place during Upstate Art Weekend, June 25–29, 2026
EAC is bringing together a growing network of exhibitions, installations, and special projects across the village — all designed to support artists, activate local spaces, and make Ellenville easier and more exciting to explore through art.
Check out the map here, but especially don’t miss Janet Gunderson’s work, “A World of Color,” displayed at The Common Good all week long.
Hudson Valley Documentary Club
Join us at DocuClub HV for a night of documentary screenings of works-in-progress (trailers, samples, and rough cuts) for feedback. Food and drink available for purchase.
Live Music: Xondra & Amanda Jerry
Born and raised in New York, Xondra transforms her personal journey into emotive, genre-blending music. Her sound blends indie pop, folk, and rock elements, creating songs that are intimate yet universal, exploring longing, growth, and self-discovery.
Her upcoming album, Good Things Take Time, is a raw and introspective exploration of heartbreak, resilience, and personal evolution.
To celebrate its release Xondra will be playing acoustically across the Northeast, from New York City to Philadelphia and beyond, bringing her storytelling-driven performances to audiences near and far.
As a composer, Amanda Jerry has written scores and songs for short films, dance films, and theatrical productions. As a performer, she plays intimate singer/songwriter sets stacked with inventive covers and heartfelt originals.
Poetry Reading: featuring Kat Anderson, Chiara Di Lello, Andy Izenson
Come celebrate the release of Kat Anderson’s new poetry book, Etymology of Break. Joining Kat will be Chiara Di Lello and Andy Izenson.
Kat Anderson (She/They) is a Panamanian poet born, raised, and living in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her first collection will be coming out with Game Over Books in 2026. Her previous work was most frequently shared within the privacy of Boston Poetry Slam’s weekly show, where she was a regular attendee, volunteer, and board member over the last 3 years. Info about their upcoming shows can be found on Kat-Anderson.com
Chiara Di Lello is a queer writer, artist, and educator who loves coffee and bees and unequivocally supports the movement for Palestinian liberation. Born and raised in New York City, she now resides in the Hudson Valley where she teaches students of many ages in creative and academic settings. Her poems and essays have appeared in Ninth Letter, Catapult, Okay Donkey, and Whale Road Review, and have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Her spare time is spent trying to be a better gardener and spoiling her friends' kids.
Andy Izneson is a transsexual wizard, anarchosurrealist ancestor worker and Jewish ritualist, and probably your lawyer, who lives on a trans commune on unceded Lenape land in the Hudson Valley. You can find Andy's other writing in the Advocate, Scarleteen, the Brill Journal of Religion and the Arts, the Journal of Critical Research on Religion, the Queer Magic Anthology, 24 Magazine, Sibling Rivalry Press, the Texas Journal on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, Nerve Endings: The New Trans Erotic Anthology, and the After Marriage Equality collection as well as the first Listen To Your Skin anthology.