June Events Bulletin

A chorus of twittering, buzzing, humming hellos-

June is upon us. Somehow we've made it halfway though this impossible year, and the soft green world is here to hold us (and help us hold it) for a spell. We have so many opportunities to be in community this month -- books and poetry and nature walks abound! -- that this email is already quite long without a preamble. But more as invocation than preface, I just want to wish each and every one of you one sweet, sun-dappled hour off your phone. Whether its a lunch hour in a parklet or an after dinner hour in a friend's garden, the world beyond the glass is free therapy right now, and I hope you can access it. <3

In gratitude,

Chris

- UPCOMING EVENTS -

Tuesday June 2nd / 7pm - 9pm / Chicory Book Club Makeup Date - Due to group availability, May's book club for How Flowers Make Our World will be held tomorrow instead, with a venue change to the Rondout Community Garden -- what better place for floral appreciation! RSVP encouraged to chris@chicorynaturalist.com. Kingston, NY.

Sunday June 7th / 2pm - 4pm / Free Nature & Poetry Walk with Rich Parisio - "What is so rare as a day in June?" asked James Russell Lowell, 19th Century New England poet. Join lifelong environmental educator and award-winning poet Richard Parisio for a nature poetry walk on the shore of the Hudson River. We'll take in expansive views of the river from Kingston Point Beach (meeting at the pavillion) as we explore the Point's flora and fauna while sharing poems that celebrate the natural world. This event is free and rain-or-shine, but please email chris@chicorynaturalist.com to register for any major weather contingencies. 25 Broadway / Kingston, NY.

Wednesday June 10th / 6pm / Astonished by Beauty Book Event at Chicory - Join visiting author and natural historian Tom Fleischner for an intimate reading and discussion of his diminutive and dazzling new book, Astonished by Beauty: A Field Guide to the Practice of Paying Attention. Booklist praises, "Whether new to the field or seasoned naturalists, readers will delight in and be inspired by this ode to the marvels of natural history." Refreshments and a signing will conclude. 25 Broadway / Kingston, NY.

Thursday June 11th / 6pm / Astonished by Beauty Book Event at The Hub - Scenic Hudson welcomes visiting author Tom Fleischner at their impressive new headquarters in Poughkeepsie! Nature Nuggets fans will rejoice to see Fleischner in conversation with Laurel Maccurdy, along with a reading, Q+A, and signing. Books for sale on site from Chicory Naturalist. 58 Parker Ave / Poughkeepsie, NY.

Monday June 15th / 6pm / Harbinger Quarterly - Join us at Chicory Naturalist as we anticipate the oncoming seasons with our seasonal and seasonally themed casual poetry share. This go, we are welcoming the oncoming summer, and so we ask you to bring writing on a summer theme. Bring about 10 minutes (or less...less is totally fine) worth of reading, poetry or prose, yours or others, that you want to share. Bring extra if you'd like in case we have extra time to fill. This is a low stakes and deeply free event. Please reach out to elyse@chicorynaturalist.com with any questions. 25 Broadway / Kingston NY.

It's down to the wire for pre-orders on Weaver and the Web, which comes out in ONE MONTH! The Horn Book Magazine calls it a "beguiling peek at and appreciation of one of nature's everyday wonders," Publisher's Weekly says, "Weaver's instinct-led exploits make for riveting reading," and Kirkus praises, "an exceptional pairing of text and art that will reward arachnophobes, spider lovers, and the generally curious" in each of their starred reviews.

That said, pre-orders are really where the magic happens, and with the algorithm against us these days there's some ground to make up this month! If you appreciate oft-maligned critters, stepping into radically different experiences of the world, or are "generally curious" (I know that's all of you reading this newsletter!) please consider pre-ordering for a kid in your life - or, ya know, yourself. ;) To sweeten the deal (sticky the web?), all pre-orders from Chicory will ship with a gift or two as thanks!

Friday June 26th / 6pm - 8pm / Tending to the Spirit: Psychological First Aid & Ambient Music/ In collaboration with Caroline Contillo and Miyaxx, Kailea Loften and Kate Weiner of Compassion in Crisis: Building Disaster-Resilient Communities will be co-facilitating an immersive workshop at the Good Works Institute braiding together psychological first aid practices and nervous system-nourishing ambient music. This event is free, but registration is appreciated as are donations. Books available for purchase at the event and in-store from Chicory Naturalist. 65 St James St / Kingston, NY.

Saturday June 27th / 11:30am / Story Time with Amanda - Gather your little nature-lovers to the rug at Chicory for a free story time with the enchanting Amanda Marlow of Eco Art! Weather permitting we'll visit the ducks (with healthy duck snacks) down at the Rondout after reading some good books. 25 Broadway / Kingston NY.

Sunday June 28th / 10am - 12pm / Mushroom Foray at Opus 40 - We're back at it baby! Come along with Chicory founder & certified forager Chris Baker for an hands-on, educational, and highly enjoyable walk through the dreamy woods surrounding one of the Hudson Valley's most iconic art destinations. Participants will learn important skills for mushroom identification, sustainable foraging practices, and appreciation for the many roles fungi play in our ecosystem. Please bring a basket for picking and sensible shoes for heading off trail. Register here!Opus 40 / Saugerties, NY.

Sunday June 28th / 1:30 - 3:30pm / BUGS! Conversation & Reading - Come through for a reading and conversation with authors Chris Baker, Maria Pinto, and Patricia Ononiwu Kaisian to celebrate BUGS! This year’s exhibition at Foxtrot Farm & Flowers centers on bugs and their vital role in sustaining ecosystems. How do insects connect to every living thing around us? The show invites artists to consider these small but powerful creatures and the ecological networks they support. Curated by Charlotte Woolf, his year brings together more than 40 artists living across the U.S. and Canada, with continued attention to queer ecology and interdependence. 6862 NY-82 / Stanfordville, NY.

Tuesday June 30th / 6pm - 8pm / Chicory Book Club - *DATE CHANGE from the original schedule* This month we're reading the newest offering from renowned forest ecologist Suzanne Simard, When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World. Zoë Schlanger calls it, "A masterclass on the inner workings of forests. . . . This is science as an act of love for the world.” Our book club is open to all, but RSVP encouraged to chris@chicorynaturalist.com. 25 Broadway / Kingston, NY.