borscht belt film fest: Judy gold, “Serious talk about comedy.”
A seriously intimate and casual chat with Emmy winner Judy Gold, the outrageous comedian and actor, about her extensive career and how her Jewish identity and the Borscht Belt shaped it. Moderated by Alan Katz, Founder & CEO of The Mountains Media. After a Q&A, Gold will sign her book about freedom of speech, Yes I Can Say That.
Doors open at 3:15pm. Tickets available HERE
Borscht Belt Film Fest: A Conversation with Actor/Director Joel Pérez
From his roles in award-winning Broadway shows to TV work to directing films, like this festival's "Villa Encanto," Joel Pérez is on the rise.
Get your film fest morning going with a discussion with Joel Pérez where he will share stories about his dynamic career with Liz Nord, an Emmy-winning producer, writer, and filmmaker, currently Head of Programs and Creative Development at the New York University Production Lab
Saturday, November 1, 9:30-10:15 at The Common Good bookstore, 119 Canal Street, Ellenville. Limited seating so don't wait to reserve your ticket! Doors open at 9:15 with coffee, pastries and a light breakfast available for purchase.
Tickets Available HERE
Diamond Art Workshop
Join for a relaxing Diamond Art Workshop led by Murial Pagliaroni. Create your own sparkling masterpiece—no experience needed, just bring your creativity! ✨ This free event is open to all, so come craft & unwind.
Live Music: Bryan Dunn & Alex Castle
Bryan Dunn's roots rock sounds like faded denim. Dunn’s songs are instant earworms combining the hooks of the British Invasion, the swagger of Austin, Texas, & the soul of his Irish ancestry. His deft wordplay rewards multiple listens & his exuberant live shows make the whole room dance.
A songwriter’s songwriter, Dunn has shared the stage with a Who’s Who of NYC songwriter talent including Lana del Rey, Lady Gaga, Ingrid Michaelson, Sara Bareilles, & many more you may not have heard of but he’d be happy to talk about. Now the Catskills have called him & he’s excited to explore a whole new songwriting Mecca.
"[R]eal clever, George Jones-worthy" --New York Music Daily
Songwriter/genius/room-reader/it-getter ALEX CASTLE has been making weird magic across multiple media since the turn of the century. After finding his voice in the blissful chaos of late-’90s dotcom San Francisco, Alex flourished in the red-hot 21st century NYC comedy scene, writing and directing a variety of comedy shorts, cocreating and producing THE PACO DOUBLEDOWN VARIETY HOUR, running the booth for The Whitest Kids UKnow‘s NYC residency, and performing frequently on both comedy and music stages.
Along the way Alex wrote a weekly column on pop culture and politics called ENOUGHALREADY for five years; won the Judges’ Choice Award at the 2016 FUNNY SONGS FESTIVAL’s 50 FUNNY SONGS competition; was the first audience-chosen Johnny Utah in the NYC run of POINT BREAK LIVE (can’t take any credit for that but holy shit was it fun); got banned from a coffeehouse in Boulder; and founded the firebreathing 10-piece funk monster that is THE GET IT.
Alex has settled in upstate New York, performing often, working on new stuff, and plotting revenge against a certain coffeehouse in Boulder.
Author Event: Jason Diamond and Sarah Seltzer
Please join us as we welcome Jason Diamond to celebrate the release of his debut novel, Kaplan’s Plot.
Diamond is the author of Searching for John Hughes, The Sprawl and co-author of New York Nico's Guide to NYC (with Nicolas Heller). His work has been published by the New York Times, Esquire, The New Yorker, GQ, The Paris Review, and many other outlets. He publishes the newsletter The Melt, was born in Skokie, Illinois, and currently lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter. Kaplan’s Plot is his first novel.
Diamond will be in conversation with Sarah Seltzer. Seltzer is a feminist journalist, novelist and cultural critic. Her writing for publications including The New York Times, Jezebel, Glamour, Cosmopolitan,The Nation and many other places has covered topics ranging from abortion rights, to Hollywood, to the death of department store shopping. Currently, she's the Executive Editor at Lilith Magazine, a Jewish feminist quarterly. Sarah lives in Manhattan with her family, their overflowing shelves of books and albums, and lots of snacks. The Singer Sisters is her debut novel
Mend & Stitch Circle
Share and learn mending techniques, like patching and sewing, to give your clothes a longer life with simple, creative repairs.
Bring your craft projects—knitting, crocheting, embroidery, or anything else—and enjoy creating with others.
Open to everyone, no matter your experience or skill level.
Kids Yoga!
Yoga for Kids!
A playful and calming yoga class designed just for kids age 4-7! We’ll stretch, breathe, move like animals, and explore fun poses to build strength, balance, and focus. Great for all energy levels, no experience needed!
TCG One Year Anniversary Bash!
It has all gone by so fast! With enormous appreciation in our hearts for all the new friends we’ve made over the last 12 months, we are thrilled to announce an all-day celebration toasting one year in the books ;)
Come for a free glass of bubbly, hunt for free audio book coupons in our stacks, indulge with cookies from Blu Butterfly Cookie Company, and stay for the not-to-be-missed DJ set by Sun Ascendent, and more! We look forward to thanking you for all your support, and partying with you!
Live Music: Eli Lev
Rising singer-songwriter Eli Lev is making the world a smaller place, one song at a time. Eli pens lyrics and melodies for everyday enlightenment—songs that resonate because they’re heartfelt, earthy, and offer the wisdom he’s gained through lifelong travel and self-discovery. The Maryland-based artist has just completed his epic Four Directions project which includes four EPs that were inspired by indigenous traditions he learned while teaching on the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona.
His four part EP releases, All Roads East (2017) and Way out West (2018), Deep South (2019), and True North (2021) - imaginatively and intrepidly connect spheres and generations within a body of work that is irresistibly uplifting, emotionally resonant, and down-to-earth. A cross between The Avett Brothers and The Lumineers, Lev has opened for both Shooter Jennings and Lee DeWyze, performed at The Kennedy Center and 9:30 Club in Washington, DC, and toured extensively around the world.
"Eli Lev has one of the most charming voices we’ve ever heard and his vocal performance in this song is powerful and catchy." - Cheers to the Vikings
"Lev, his craft and his success are indicative of some of the truly incredible things that modern music technology has made possible. By connecting with thousands of people from across the globe and sharing a message of unity, Lev is able to enjoy one of the greatest things that anyone—especially musicians—can enjoy: community." - American Songwriter
Spelling Bee (and fundraiser for Ellenville PTO)
How it Works:
Anyone interested in playing is given a SPB sheet of paper and a red pen. (Spellers play from their seats.)
There are typically 2 rounds consisting of 8 words each - with a Spell Check after each round.
In the event of a tie amongst players, a Bonus Round can be held.
Words derive from a variety of random categories, ie Brands of Power Tools, Weird Ingredients in Diet Sodas, Now Extinct Birds, etc.
Players are asked to donate $5-$10 to raise money for the Ellenville PTO
National Coming Out Day Author Event w. jay blotcher and peter criswell
Book reading and signing on National Coming Out Day
A conversation between Ulster County Legislator Peter Criswell and writer-activist Jay Blotcher about Gilbert Baker's 2019 memoir, Rainbow Warrior: My Life in Color. Baker was creator of the original Rainbow Flag, while Blotcher was his friend and memoir co-author.
Peter Criswell is Chair of the Ulster County Legislature and Executive Director of the Ulster County Historical Society. A longtime LGBTQ+ leader, he previously served as Executive Director of the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus and Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center.
Jay Blotcher is a veteran journalist and editor. He was a member of the founding chapters of ACT UP and Queer Nation in New York City. He co-founded the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center and Ellenville's Borscht Belt Film Fest.
Trivia Night w. jason mcmahon
Not only does Jason McMahon host the best poetry nights, he’s now putting your random knowledge to the test…
Join us for Trivia Night — where the questions are sharp, the competition’s friendly, and the drinks are cold.
Bring a team or come solo, show off those weird facts you’ve been saving, and see if you’ve got what it takes to take the crown (or at least a free round or book!)
Live Music: Mossy Undertones, ERRANT SPACE
Mossy Undertones:
Weaving a tapestry of tape loops, found sounds, and ancient analog waveforms, Mossy Undertones uncovers a landscape of dissolving fragments, drifting inward to a place where time slows and melodies vanish like the memory of a morning dream. This performance marks the release of the debut track Blue Dasher and offers the artist a chance to entwine this new project with his lifelong love of literature.
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.
Live Music: Mosmosis
Ornette Coleman meets Meredith Monk meets Wes Montgomery meets Bonnie Raitt!
Free Admission/Donations Strongly Encouraged
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
Mend & Stitch Circle
Share and learn mending techniques, like patching and sewing, to give your clothes a longer life with simple, creative repairs.
Bring your craft projects—knitting, crocheting, embroidery, or anything else—and enjoy creating with others.
Open to everyone, no matter your experience or skill level.
Fantasy book Club meetup
Come early, grab a drink, make friends, talk about great books!
Back to School w. NAACP and Eric Etheridge
The Common Good is elated to partner with the Ellenville NY chapter of the NAACP to host journalist Eric Etheridge, author of Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders.
Breach of Peace is a stunning book that commemorates the courage of the 329 individuals who sought to draw attention and challenge segregation in Mississippi. The book is a “photo-history told in images old and new. The book includes the mug shots of all 329 Freedom Riders arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, along with contemporary portraits of 99 Riders, supplemented by interviews and brief bios.”
Ulster Literacy Day
Please join us in celebrating Ulster Literacy Day! We are honored to join with 8 other Ulster County bookstores to promote adult literacy, donating 10% of book sales from the day.
ULA’s free literacy programs for adults include one-on-one tutoring, English language instruction, and skill-building resources that empower adults to improve their job prospects, participate fully in civic life, and support their children’s education.
“This is the fourth countywide celebration of the power of literacy to open doors and the generosity of our local book community,” said Amy Lenard, Executive Director of ULA. “By shopping locally on September 20, customers will be directly helping their neighbors who wish to improve the literacy skills they need to thrive.”
Funds raised on Ulster Literacy Day will help ULA:
• Recruit and train volunteer tutors
• Provide instructional materials, assessments, and technology
• Offer customized learning plans for adults with low literacy or limited English proficiency.
Author Event: Margaret A. Brucia
Brucia will be in conversation with poet, Brad Vogel.
Books will be available for purchase and signing after the event.
Trivia Night w. jason mcmahon
Not only does Jason McMahon host the best poetry nights, he’s now putting your random knowledge to the test…
Join us for Trivia Night — where the questions are sharp, the competition’s friendly, and the drinks are cold.
Bring a team or come solo, show off those weird facts you’ve been saving, and see if you’ve got what it takes to take the crown (or at least a free round or book!)
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.
Kids Story Time w. Helen
Join us for story time with Helen Tennenbaum!
Ideal for bookworms between 3 and 7. Grown-ups monitoring of their little ones is highly encouraged :)
Live Music: Justin Cole
"Good ol’ fashioned music for your ears."
Justin Cole, and his haunting, beautiful, and stripped down acoustic sounds hit the TCG stage from 8pm-10pm Sept 13th.
Free/Donations Strongly Encouraged
Fiction Book Club Meetup
Come early, grab a drink, make friends, and talk about The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro
Kids Yoga!
Yoga for Kids!
A playful and calming yoga class designed just for kids age 4-7! We’ll stretch, breathe, move like animals, and explore fun poses to build strength, balance, and focus. Great for all energy levels, no experience needed!
Trivia Night w. jason mcmahon
Not only does Jason McMahon host the best poetry nights, he’s now putting your random knowledge to the test…
Join us for Trivia Night — where the questions are sharp, the competition’s friendly, and the drinks are cold.
Bring a team or come solo, show off those weird facts you’ve been saving, and see if you’ve got what it takes to take the crown (or at least a free round or book!)
DJ RC Romeo
Got your Saturday night plans right here! ✨
DJ RC Romeo will be spinning old school slow jams & classic R&B from the 70’s and 80’s from 8pm-close 🎶 And our bar’s got the perfect summer cocktails and wines to go along with em.
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
Local Author's Night
Please join us for a special evening with seven local authors, each sharing their work through live readings, a Q&A, and book signings to close the night.
Live Music: Barry Adelman
Barry Adelman plays some popular covers, but mostly originals; songs he discovered after going beyond the veil and bringing them back to share with humanity.
He has donated all monetary gain from these songs to https://musicforhumanity.org/, an organization he co-founded 20 years ago that has already given almost $200,000 in music scholarships.
