Untitled poem by Ginger McMahon
Written at age six, about herself and her twin, Hominy.
Portfolio: Tatana Kellner
Co-director of the Women’s Studio Workshop in Rosendale, Czechoslovakian-born artist Tatana Kellner speaks about her own work in printmaking, photography, and her current installation that examines the history of women’s domestic labor on the back of white button-down shirts, Iron.
Paperback Writer
Nina Shengold profiles Newbery Honor winner and The Baby-Sitters Club series author Ann M. Martin about her life in prolific publishing.
Book Reviews
Anne Pyburn reviews Do My Story, Sing My Song, and Maiden USA, two books that touch on key current issues: the Texas polygamist cult scandal and our comprehension of females in America.
Summer Reading Roundup For Kids and Teens
When “School’s out!” gives way to “There’s nothing to doooo,” check out our summer reading list of recently published books for kids, teens, and young writers by Hudson Valley authors and illustrators.
The Health Price of Plastics
Plastics are versatile, convenient, and ubiquitous. But recurrent concern over bisphenol A leaching from containers begs the question: Is there a health price we pay, or that our children will pay years from now? Ilyse Simon assess the current debate over BPA.
Local Fresh Market
Wherever you live, you’re bound to find a farmers market selling everything from vegetables to homemade cosmetics.
Horoscopes
What do the planets have in store for you this month? Check it out in your horoscope.
In Canada, They Call it Therapy
Eric Francis Coppolino reflects upon his first experience teaching the Chiron process to astrology students at the Omega Institute.
A Life in Laughs
Brian K. Mahoney’s Q&A with legendary comedy writer Alan Zweibel, who will perform his latest project, the “History of Me” at the Powerhouse Theater at Vassar July 18 through July 20.
What’s Newer Than New?
A cello, piano, and voice blend together to perform “Songs of Songs of Innocence and of Experience: A Musical Illumination of the Poems of William Blake.” Sparrow profiles the Post-Neo Trio, to perform July 25 at Belleayre Mountain.
Soft Return
Maya Horowitz previews the longest-running dance festival in the US, The Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, which runs through August 24, in Becket, Massachusetts.
Tidal Surge
Fifty works from 20 sculptors will appear in the exhibition “Current,” sponsored by the Garrison Art Center. The exhibit will be held at five different landmark sites along the Hudson River through August 10.
A Different Type of Pole Dance
Bandits and ballet: Polish composer Karol Szymanoski’s two largest works for the stage, “King Roger” and “Harnasie,” will be performed at the Bard College’s SummerScape starting July 25.
A Tale of Two Brothers
Jay Blotcher talks with Thomas Kail, recent Tony Award winner for his hit musical “In the Heights” and director of “Broke-ology,” which will be at the Williamstown Theater Festival in Massachusetts, July 9 through July 20.
A Mop, an American Flag, a Sex Doll, and a Bedbug Robot
“Actually, theater has changed considerably, but most of the theater audience doesn’t know it yet. Actors are writing their own shows, combining music, and chanting with traditional acting.” Sparrow previews the fourth annual Berkshire Fringe Festival, to occur July 16 through August 4 at Simon’s Rock College in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Off the Beaten Palate
Editor Brian K. Mahoney shares his experiences in culinary dare devilry—eating oddities from head cheese to cow foot—at several ethnic and specialty food restaurants in the Hudson Valley.
Amy Goldman: Arbiter of Heirlooms
“My mission in life is to get seeds back into the hands of farmers and gardeners.” Jennifer May talks with Amy Goldman about her extensive tomato garden in Rhinebeck, her advocacy for heirloom fruits and vegetables, as well as the several books she has published related to gardening.
The Chief Smiles
Musical genres including Indie, progressive, mental, classical, sweater, and sugar rock are combined in the new album from The Chief Smiles, Great for Terrible Times.
The Gypsy Nomads
French pop tunes are sung in cabaret fashion in the The Gypsy Nomads latest album, Eternal Summer.
Bill Brovold & Larval
Living through five heart attacks within 18 months, and Bill Brovold was still able to produce the suitably titled double CD Surviving Death/Alive Why? with his Detroit-born avant/progressive rock ensemble Larval.
Nightlife Highlights
A list of notable musicians and bands coming to the Hudson Valley in July including Kelleigh McKenzie, Inner Visions, Brion Snyder, Alpha Male Gorillas, The Virginia Wolves, and Blueberry.
Gravity’s Rainbow
“To play [music] correctly, you really have to leave your ego out of it.” Peter Aaron profiles self-taught Cottekill-based saxophonist Joe Giardullo about how music has shaped his life since his discovery of R&B in the early ’50s.
Touch Not the Cat
Beth E. Wilson airs her grievances with the “Cat-n-Around Catskill” project.
A Passion for Piano
“There was never a conscious decision to be a concert pianist. I had thought might want to study something in addition to the piano—criminal pathology or archeology—but I can’t even recall when I went from ‘child prodigy’ to professional pianist.” Dorothy Noe interviews freelance concert pianist Babette Hierholzer about her childhood in Berlin, her home…
Body Politic
Larry Beinhart examines how Dennis Kucinich’s 35 articles of impeachment against George W. Bush were barely covered by the major news outlets in June and why they should have been.
Deadly Harvest
“How they will explode or if they will explode is questionable. I don’t know how long they have been in the ground.” Lorna Tychostup, reporting from Iraq, speaks with members of the Mines Advisory Group about the details of ensuring the safety of Iraqi citizens from explosions.
Esteemed Reader
Jason Stern tests his theory that glaciers are alive on vacation with his family in the Alps.
Editor’s Note
Temperamental electricity, a twisted ankle, and a plethora of ants in his home are having editor Brian K. Mahoney feeling like he’s in a hole.
While You Were Sleeping
Increasing premature birth rates due to unnecessary C-sections, proposed organic ingredients, and decreased shark populations in the Mediterranean Sea are just a few things you may have missed.
Local Luminary Jill Gruber
Hudson Valley Materials Exchange founder Jill Gruber explains how the non-profit organization started, why the program in unique, and what you can do to reduce waste.
Letters to the Editor
Local readers respond to articles featured in the June 2008 issue.
Lobster House
“I would go to flea markets and see really quirky postcards…Why would someone make a postcard of the state highway building of Columbia, South Carolina?” Germantown artist Lisa Krivacka explains her process of rendering vintage postcards of commonplace images into brightly-colored oil paintings.
