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!)
Good Trouble Lives On: John Lewis Rally
TCG is proud to host this gathering in commemoration of the life’s work of John Lewis.
“Join NAACP Ellenville and Indivisible Ulster NY 18/19 on Thursday, July 17, at 5:30 p.m. to remember John Lewis on the fifth anniversary of his passing. We will honor his legacy by recommitting to work for equality and justice for all.
See you at The Common Good for an evening of inspiration, music and action.”
"When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up." ~John Lewis
Food, drinks, (and books!) available!
Live Music: Justin Sutherland
Justin Sutherland is a composer and songwriter based in Parksville NY. He is the owner of an organic vegetable farm called Somewhere In Time Farm where he farms with his family. His music is influenced by nature , family , and growing up here in the mountains. You can find his full length album “The Answers” on all streaming platforms and hear his piano compositions on his Instagram page @sutherlandmusicofficial
Fantasy Bookclub Meetup
Come early, grab a drink, make friends, talk about great books!
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.
Borscht Belt Festival: The Jewish Dating Game
Not Your Motha's "Dating Game!" The Jewish Dating Game is a hilarious interactive dating game show with delicious prizes. Hosted by modern matchmaker, Linnea Sage. Watch people fall in love or sign up to be a contestant! A show for Jews and allies, singles and couples, all are welcome to this night of joy, fun, and love!
The show will be from 6-7:30, and stick around after the show for a single-mingle and raffle with more fun and delicious prizes from local Jewish vendors!
If you want to submit to be a contestant, please buy a ticket and fill out this form!
Tickets on sale HERE
Borscht Belt Story Hour
Come share your favorite Catskill memories at a Borscht Belt-themed "Story Slam." Sign up for a chance to tell a true, personal 5-minute story about your time in the Catskills. Inspired by The Moth Story Hour, story-teller names will be drawn at random for a chance to pay tribute to those wonderful bygone days and nights. Whether your story is funny, poignant, or wistful, we're sure the audience will love our story-slam trip through time as they vote for the best story. The winning storyteller will receive a prize.
Tickets Available HERE
Borscht Belt Author Talk: Gary Shteyngart & Aaron Hicklin in conversation
Join acclaimed author Gary Shteyngart for a lively and thought-provoking conversation on the intersection of writing, Jewish identity, and cultural memory. In a discussion moderated by Aaron Hicklin, director of the Deep Water Literary Festival, Shteyngart will reflect on his literary journey, from his early days in Leningrad and summers at a Catskills bungalow colony, to his rise as one of America’s most celebrated novelists, and explore the lasting influence of Jewish heritage and the Catskills on his work. With humor, insight, and sharp wit, this promises to be a highlight of the festival.
Tickets Available HERE
Author Event: Aatish Taseer
Join us for a special book release event: A Return to Self: Excursions in Exile, by Aatish Taseer
AATISH TASEER is the author of the memoir Stranger to History: A Son’s Journey Through Islamic Lands and the acclaimed novels The Way Things Were, a finalist for the 2016 Jan Michalski Prize, The Temple-Goers, short-listed for the Costa First Novel Award, and Noon; and the memoir and travelog The Twice-Born. He is also the translator of a volume of Saadat Hasan Manto’s short stories from Urdu, Manto: Selected Stories. His books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He is a Writer at Large for T: The New York Times Style Magazine. Born in England and raised in New Delhi, educated in the US and previously a journalist in the UK, he now lives in New York.
Music & Book Event — Camp Woodland: The Improbable Community
Join author Bill Horne, Pat Lamanna, and more for an unforgettable live music and literary event exploring the origins and impacts of the legendary folk music camp, Camp Woodland.
In 1939, a group of idealists inspired by the spirit of New Deal reform put their vision of American democracy into practice by creating Camp Woodland, a racially and ethnically inclusive summer camp for city kids located in the remote and scenic mountains of upstate New York. The camp's innovative programs profoundly influenced campers for 24 summers from 1939 through 1962.
The founders of Camp Woodland were united by the progressive politics of the 1930s. Some were teachers influenced by educational reformers of the early 20th century. Some contributed administrative skills. And all were committed to racial and social justice well before the civil rights movement became a force in the 1950s and 1960s.
Unlike some experimental communities that isolate themselves and withdraw into a world of their own, Camp Woodland by design sought to have its diverse population of campers and staff (most from the New York City metropolitan area) become part of the rural, traditional community in which they lived. It was able to earn the acceptance and respect of its neighbors through a program of honoring and preserving the community's music, folklore and history. Local musicians, storytellers and artisans participated along with Woodlanders in musical and dramatic performances that celebrated the rich cultural resources of the region. Camp Woodland quickly became a center (and later, a model) for the preservation of local traditions that attracted musicologists and musicians, like Pete Seeger, who supported and participated in its programs.
The Improbable Community tells the story of the people whose dreams created Camp Woodland and whose talents enabled it to succeed. It tells the story of the rural neighbors whom Woodlanders came to know and of the music, history, homespun skills and folklore that they freely shared with their newfound friends. It tells the story of the musicians, performers and musicologists who contributed creativity, zeal and scholarship to Camp Woodland's summer programs as well as their legacy of collected traditional music
Live Music: David Oliver Till & Elena Ramos Pascullo
Elena Ramos Pascullo is a musician, actress, songwriter, poet, and creative. Performing has taken her around the world, and when she’s not on the road, she spends her time between NYC and the Catskills. Follow along @elenalenabobena and listen along on all streaming platforms.
Dave Tillistrand “David Oliver Till” - Actor, singer, and musician who very nearly appeared on Broadway and television…. but did not. But did appear in over a hundred roles in NY and regionally over three decades - including a few down the street at Shadowland. Very nearly had a thriving career in opera….but did not….not even nearly. With his third act foray into folk music, he’s proving to be a true triple threat - able to lose money in three genres. For Dave, it’s all an opportunity to tell a story. Tell it with a guitar in a coffee shop, sing it with an orchestra, or bring a playwright’s words to life. As long as he’s sharing a story, Dave is home. A recovering New Yorker, he lives with his family in Rahway NJ.
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!)
Fiction Book Club Meetup
Come early, grab a drink, make friends, talk about great books!
Kevin & Steve Play the Hits
Swing by after the Fourth of July Parade, enjoy our Aperol Spritz special while Kevin and Steve play your favorite songs from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
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 :)
Open Mic Poetry
Calling all lovers of poetry, readers and writers alike - come read your favorite poem, original or not
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.
Trivia Returns 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!)
Children's Music Workshop
“If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing.” — Zimbabwean Proverb
Join us for a fun and inspiring interactive workshop. Sonic Institute brings instruments and songs for kids of all ages to connect with music as a universal human activity.
$8-15 suggested donation
“Music has been shown to activate some of the broadest and most diverse networks of the brain.” — Harvard Health
Music-making develops creativity, imagination, focus and coordination. Learning an instrument and practicing music enhances these capacities. Music provides a means of nonverbal communication, providing an outlet for connecting with and expressing emotion. As a safe and healthy activity, it helps deemphasize obsessive thinking and compulsive behavior. Shared music-making and dance can promote meaningful relationships and connections within and across social groups, leading to an improved quality of life, shared values and sense of belonging.
Live Music: Ezra Gale & Ben Ratliff
Come check out Ezra Gale (Sexfresh, Molly Tigre, Funkmobile, The Ear Goggle) and Ben Ratliff, longtime collaborators & current bandmates in Bourbon Sprawl, as they showcase their solo works.
Free for all. Donations encouraged.
Juneteenth Celebration: Hidden Messages from The UnderGround Railroad
Come celebrate Juneteenth at The Common Good with Sisters in Support, with generous support from Shadowlands Stages.
Hidden Messages is a powerful and educational live presentation that explores the secret codes embedded in quilts used along the Underground Railroad. Blending storytelling with the soulful sounds of old spirituals, the show reveals how enslaved people used fabric patterns and songs to communicate escape routes and survival strategies. This performance brings history to life celebrating the resilience, creativity, and courage of those who sought freedom
Free for all
@ The Common Good, 119 Canal St, Ellenville, NY
Author Event: Bonnie Chalkin
Join us for a special evening with author and artist Bonnie Chalkin, as she reads from and shares the inspiration behind her memoir, Roam With Me
Following the conversation, Bonnie will be available to sign copies of Roam With Me.
Play Reading: Bubba Weiler's "Well, I'll Let You Go"
Join us for our first ever play reading!
A salon-type gathering, local actors will be reading actor Bubba Weiler's wonderful, unpublished, new play, "Well, I'll Let You Go." Free to the public.
Stacks & Tracks: Live Music w. The Embellishments
Come hang out, browse our stacks, grab a bite or a drink while enjoying The Embelishments, playing an afternoon set of familiar, feel-good jams!
Donations encouraged
Ellenville Teacher Appreciation Party
We’re throwing a Teacher Appreciation Party for the amazing educators of Ellenville —because we know how important and how demanding your work is, and we want to say thank you. 💛
Join us for an evening of books, drinks, and well-earned celebration. Swing by for:
🎧 A free audiobook credit (courtesy of Libro FM)
📚 A Penguin Random House book (while supplies last) and🍷 Two free drinks (both courtesy of KSB Build)…
And to discuss how The Common Good can support the work of you, your colleagues and your students next year — but mostly, we hope you’ll kick up your feet and celebrate the end of another school year. 🎉
📅 June 11th, 5:30-6:30pm
📍 The Common Good, Ellenville
Ellenville school teachers only, with ID or other proof.
This event is made possible through the generous support of @ksb.build who wish to extend a true thank you to all the teachers.
Benefit Concert for Isabella Neville
Come show support and help rally the community around Isabella and her family.
We’ve got some great artists lending their talents to this great cause🎗️
Playful Hearts: Children's Reading and Acting Workshop
Join local author Sophia Taylor ( @sgtaylorwrites ) & teaching artist Lucia Brizzi ( @luciabrizzi ) to read and act out “What Cats Dream About.” Expect a magical hour of theatrical, imaginative play! Ages 4-8
$8- $15 Suggested Donation
Book Release & Author Visit: Andrea Bartz
Join us as we welcome New York Times bestselling author, Andrea Bartz, to The Common Good to celebrate the release of her new thriller, The Last Ferry Out. Bartz is journalist and author of Reese’s Book Club pick We Were Never Here, The Spare Room, The Lost Night, and The Herd.
Come out for an unforgettable evening as Bartz and special guests share hair-raising vacation tales. TCG will be offering Last Ferry Out-specific cocktails, as well as book/drink deals! See below for more info.
The Last Ferry will be available for purchase, and Bartz will be available to sign copies.
TCG is excited to offer our guests a discounted book/drink ticket for this event. This ticket can be redeemed at the event for a hardcover copy of The Last Ferry Out as well as the LFO-themed special cocktail of the evening, “The Isla Colel.”
Secure your discounted copy/drink HERE
Live Music: Constant Smiles, Nora Knight, Hannah SParrow
Over the last half decade, the music collective Constant Smiles has produced a prolific output of acclaimed music, culminating in their latest record Kenneth Anger, masterfully brought to life by engineer Jonathan Schenke (Parquet Courts, Liars, Dougie Pool). The group is known most recently for their much-praised debut album for Sacred Bones records, Paragons, an emotionally resonant offering of indie folk masterpieces that all confront the internal ways we process our struggles with intimacies, addiction and humanity - produced by Ben Greenberg.
Constant Smiles, led by Ben Jones, began in 2009 on his home of Martha’s Vineyard, inspired by the music scene centered around the island’s now defunct community record store, Aboveground Records. They made their live debut as a noise duo opening for Ralph White (Bad Livers) and, working in series, began churning out homemade releases influenced by friends, art film icons, and fellow musicians.
In the time since, Constant Smiles have amassed a discography a couple dozen releases deep, containing contributions from more than 50 members of its extended family. Along the way, the group has shared stages with Molly Nilsson, Black Marble, Oneida, Editrix, Frank Hurricane, Olden Yolk, and Purple Pilgrims; their shows are endlessly unique experiences for which Jones has a tendency of writing whole set’s worth of new material
“The Evolution of Ecological Consciousness,” Film Screening and Discussion
Permaculture designer Andrew Faust gives us an inspiring and heady narrative about the evolution of all life and human consciousness on Mother Earth — outlining a new paradigm and direction for education that promotes greater ecological literacy.
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Author Event: Jennifer Kabat
We are thrilled to host author, Jennifer Kabat in support of her newly published work, “Nightshining: A Memoir In Four Floods.”
Kabat was a finalist for the Notting Hill Editions’ essay prize and has been published in BOMB and The Best American Essays. The author of The “Eighth Moon,” her writing has also appeared in Frieze, Harper’s, McSweeney’s, and The Believer. She’s received an Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant for her criticism and teaches at the School of Visual Arts and the New School.
An apprentice herbalist, she lives in rural Upstate New York and serves on her volunteer fire department.
Jennifer Kabat will be in conversation with author, Danny Goodman. Books will be available for purchase, with a signing to follow.
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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
Hip Hop Showcase
Come on out to TCG’s first Hip Hop Showcase, hosted by Reggie St. Louis.
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 :)
"Borscht Belt Reborn: Art, History and the Ellenville Legacy!"
We are proud to host guests following the Ellenville Historical Marker dedication ceremony for themed cocktails and an engaging discussion on Ellenville’s Borscht Belt history. Photographers Isaac Jeffreys and Marisa Scheinfeld will be in the house for Borscht Belt Reborn: Art, History, and the Ellenville Legacy (5-6:30), and will be followed by a book and print sale.
Mend & Stitch Circle (and clothing swap!)
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.
This meeting will also include a clothing swap!