Visitors welcome!        

Meeting for Worship, children’s story, worship sharing

More Info: StatenIslandQuakers.org

A unique chance to experience a poetical and musical Abolition teach-in with Spirit and friends. Supporting the freeing of political prisoner Kamau Sadiki.

Join us for social connection after the teach-in!

The event is jointly hosted by 

• Maroon Party for Liberation

• The Legacy Eric Garner Left Behind

• International Campaign to free Kamau Sadiki

• SI4P

Cyn's Poetic Drip Open Mic is a rich experience for both performers and audience. And deepening each month as we grow our experience of returning poets. Join us with your offering or your presence as an audience member.

Featured this month — Poets Destiny Padilla and Matt Figgz

Destiny Padilla is a spoken word artist and multi genre creative, from the Bronx, New York. Spirituality, NYC, Womxn, Boriken, and the Diaspora experience are driving forces behind her work. In 2020, she was recognized as a premier artist of her borough. Destiny is the previous host and curator of Word Masters Poetry Showcase, MiCasa Writers Group at the Bronx Art Space, and Women Orators Wednesdays at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. In 2021, she founded The Healing Vida, through which she organizes her annual healing arts gathering — The Summer Ceremony. Destiny is also an actress, with lead roles in indie short films such as Apocalyptic Hearts (2020) and Sweet Boys (2024).

Matt Figgz is a math & creative writing educator who loves reading, anime, and cold leftovers. He is also the co-founder of "Poetry in the Park" (@official_poetryinthepark), a free outdoor open mic series. Matt's poetry collection, "Adolescence", is available on Amazon.

grand pepper of reality is a Psychedelic/Alternative Rock band that sometimes gets Proggy or Folky. It features the music of Doug Principato and his band. For this event at ETG, he will be joined by band members Shoshana Vogel and Josh Manashowitz. Based in NYC, songs resonate from the heart for the heart.  They have released two albums, Songs That Saved My Life and Calling The Air (available as CD and/or download). See https://www.grandpepper.com/. 

$5 suggested donation. No one turned away.

ETG is thrilled to host a bilingual event celebrating poetry and poets. 

Roxana Crisólogo, a Peruvian-born activist-poet, now lives in Finland. Crisólogo’s poetry presents power relations in everyday life in the post capitalist era. She includes traditionally silenced voices to decolonize poetry, constructing new epic with new heroes.

2 Manhattan poets will accompany Roxana: Joaquin Badajoz, from Cuba and Lea Diaz from Spain

Cyn's Poetic Drip Open Mics monthly at the Book Cafe are growing a following — both with performers and an audience. Join us with your offering or your presence as an audience member.

Featured this month — Rezt Les and Yetvart (Ed) S. Majian.

Rezt Les is the goth pop alter ego of Staten Island rapper and musician Joey Patches. He hopes to capture the darkness and danciness latent in all of us with a synthy, sardonic, and snappy set of new songs and unlikely covers.

Yetvart (Ed) S. Majian is a first-generation Armenian-American poet / performer, a Sifu in Chinese Kung Fu tradition, a facilitator experienced in healing modalities tied to inter-generational trauma and the current Poet in Residence for Washington Park Association in Hudson County, New Jersey. He has two collections of poetry. In “Survival Witness,” dedicated to the Armenians of Artsakh and Palestinians of Gaza, he focuses on subtleties of human intersubjectivity, drawing from his Armenian legacy of genocide and diaspora, themes of social justice, memory and political witness.  | IG: @emajian

$5 Suggested donation. No one turned away. 

Do you love to read but never have enough time? Join us at ETG’s Read-in Cafe. Where we read, share book ideas, and meet kindred spirits! Relax with your own book or one you find in our Book Cafe while enjoying refreshments.

Enjoy the vibes. Bring yourself or friends and have some fun!!

Questions? Call us at 718-447-8256.

We'll be listening to recordings of poetry on vinyl! Selections by poets T.S. Eliot, Dylan Thomas, and Robert Penn Warren, reading their own works.

This is the second in a series, highlighting overlooked LP's for sale in our "record room".

Get seedy with us at our annual SEED SWAP!

We will celebrate EARTH DAY all month with our seed swap which will commence today!

Bring seeds you'd like to give to other folks- seeds you collected/saved as well as seeds you purchased but didn't use.

Take home seeds that others have brought. 

Our SEED SWAP continues all month.

{You don't need to bring seeds in order to take seeds.}

We'll be listening to recordings of Irish music and Irish authors on vinyl! Selected readings by Sean O'Casey and W.B. Yeats of their own works. Also some foot-tapping Irish music, some 78s and some 33s!

This is the first in a series, highlighting overlooked LPs for sale in our "record room".

Do you love to read but never have enough time? Join us at ETG’s Read-in Cafe. Where we read, share book ideas, and meet kindred spirits! Relax with your own book or one you find in our Book Cafe while enjoying refreshments.

Enjoy the vibes. Bring yourself or friends and have some fun!!

Questions? Call us at 718-447-8256.

ETG partners with the Staten Island Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc by hosting their 6th annual book drive! Throughout February, bring in children's books in good condition from home, and/or you may like to purchase our second-hand books and donate them to the book drive. Simply add the books – from home or bought here – to the collection box at the Book Cafe.

If you would like support in choosing appropriate books or would appreciate connection with the volunteers involved, drop by on Sunday, February 23, from 12-3PM, when the collected books will be sorted. The vibe last year in the Book Cafe as people prepared the stash for the children was so energizing!!

For more information please visit the website at dstsialumnae.org.

Come find yourself the writer — it's inside us all.

Use the ink of a whole pen at a wild writer’s workshop obstacle course led by Renaps. 

Open your mind to new ways of putting yourself on the page 

And most importantly, have a blast getting deep with creativity

All are welcome!!

$5,00 suggested donation, no-one turned away!

Do you love to read but never have enough time? Join us at ETG’s Read-in Cafe. Where we read, share book ideas, and meet kindred spirits! Relax with your own book or one you find in our Book Cafe while enjoying refreshments.

Enjoy the vibes. Bring yourself or friends and have some fun!!

Questions? Call us at 718-447-8256.

Join Michael & Laura O'Connell and friends as they perform their new album, “Interweave"— a collection of songs inspired by our human capacity to bridge dimensions while discovering stillness in chaos, and wisdom in uncertainty. Each song is a mantra, a meditation and prayer to surrender to the spectrum of personal experience.

Michael and Laura will also spend time discussing their songwriting process and share stories of their inspirations. 

This production is made possible by a DCLA Premier Grant from Staten Island Arts, with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

What is Interactive Dialogue at Destiny’s Happy Hour? Participants engage with each other through conversation on a topic. This month we are focusing on Valuing Oneself. Destiny facilitates questions and comments, ensuring everyone has a chance to be heard. One question area for this month could be —

How can I learn to recognise when I’m not valuing myself?

Am I living according to my agenda and values or someone else's?

Who should attend? Any adult over 21 who is keen to connect with others through meaningful conversation.

What is the goal? To create a safe environment for people to share their ideas about topics and themes that affect us all and our emotional wellness. Some people experience a sense of release when sharing.

 How can I stay connected? Follow @DestinyHappyHour on IG for monthly events and content.

$5 donation suggested.

You choose the song and you sing! Reynaldo will accompany you live on the piano. Join and sing along or just come and listen. 

(Tips appreciated!) 

The Black Maverick will involve children in the exciting afternoon's events!

Step into the year 2172 with D-Voyant: The Forgotten Hero Rises, a riveting creation by Hutchinson Boyd, also known as The Black Maverick. Inspired by his brother's challenges and resilience, Boyd crafts a tale where Darren, an unconventional hero with mysterious powers, becomes humanity's last hope in a war-ravaged world. This narrative not only pulses with high-stakes action and deep emotional layers but also illuminates the struggles of the marginalized. Boyd's personal connection and vivid storytelling invite readers into a universe where courage and compassion reign supreme. Meet the author behind this powerful saga and discover the superhero in all of us.

Come join us in an intimate evening of songs, stories, and spoken word, featuring 3 singer/ songwriters, poets and all around nice people — Phoebe Blue, Thomas Patrick Maguire and Vincent Vok (AKA Father Crime). They will be sharing the stage, taking turns sharing original songs and welcoming comments and questions from the audience.

THOMAS PATRICK MAGUIRE — Like the best American singer-songwriters, "Basement Folk" artist Thomas Patrick Maguire tells stories. Influenced equally by melancholy troubadours like Elliott Smith and Nick Drake, and by iconoclastic '90s alternative rock like Sebadoh and Nirvana, he sets his low-key tales of working-class life to deceptively simple stripped-down melodies that haunt the listener long after they've first heard Thomas's music. No wonder New York Newsday has twice lauded him as one of New York's best local artists in its year-end wrap-ups, calling his music "utterly hypnotic." 

PHOEBE BLUE is a singer, songwriter, performing  artist, and community activist, keeping Staten Island’s music scene thriving and relevant with creative happenings and her unique format of open mics, most recently teaming up with comedian Nanci Richards to provide spoken word, poetry, comedy, and music to the event.  Her latest collection of new music and spoken word poetry is called “Post Apocalyptic Apothecary!? — The place we go to when the world ends and we are still here; for all our medicinal needs.” And it features her band The Make Baleaves.

VINCENT VOK (AKA Father Crime) has been an integral part of Staten Island’s arts and music scene for the last twenty years, he has played countless shows, hosted singer/songwriter events, directed and performed in local theater. He earned his degree on the streets and in the clubs of the West Village, learning his craft from the likes of Dave Van Ronk and Suzanne Vega. His first album, “Survivor,” released to critical acclaim (Billboard magazine listed it as one of their top 10 favorite LPs, and the original vinyl is now a cult favorite on the internet) is in the process of being remixed and remastered.  His latest release “Unspecial Pain,” can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube under his AKA Father Crime.

Do you love to read but never have enough time? Join us at ETG’s Read-in Cafe. Where we read, share book ideas, and meet kindred spirits! Relax with your own book or one you find in our Book Cafe while enjoying refreshments. Questions? Call us at 718-447-8256.

Martin Reuter is an independent jazz/funk artist known for deep grooves and dreamy, psychedelic, ambient soundscapes. The composer and multi-instrumentalist has lived a life dedicated to perfecting his craft.

Martin Reuter - drums. Charles Flanagan - Korg Synthesizer. L.A. Perez - Bass. Mathieu Cerepi - Guitar.

Read more about his life here.

For samples of his music, go to this link.

{Suggested admission $5.00, but no-one will be turned away!}

Book reading  The Last Brass Ring written by author Liz Hill and set in Staten Island. Meet the author, hear some excerpts, participate in a Q&A session.

Liz will talk about her inspiration for the book, set in 1980s Staten Island with a parallel story told in flashbacks to the 1940s, as well as decisions related to the publication process.

To learn more about Liz Hill, see www.lizhill.net. She is available for media interviews.

St Patrick’s Eve and do you know where your Irish Is? Bob Wright does, and he'll share it with you in songs celebrating the fair isle both traditional and new, including songs from his upcoming illustrated book  Ginger Sea ‘Neath the Celtic Moon, which is being sponsored by the New York State Council on the Arts and City Lore in Manhattan. {See City Lore mission statement for more info on that organization!}

Bob is a native Islander, award winning songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose songs often document local history, maritime history, and his Irish roots.

Staten Island Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Diversity Book Drive: Celebrating Black History Month through reading.

We are excited to partner with the Staten Island Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc by hosting their 5th Annual children's book drive! 

The book drive will benefit students from the most deserving areas on the North Shore of Staten Island.

In their words: "Our mission is to enrich the literary landscape of our community, specifically focusing on students in Pre-K through 8th grade. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion by collecting new or gently used books that reflect the experiences of all students, with an emphasis on literature authored and illustrated by Black individuals, people of color, and featuring multilingual content. These books will help students and teachers at some of Staten Islands most deserving school libraries and classrooms."

If you have children's books in good condition, we encourage you to bring them into ETG Book Cafe during these special hours on two Sundays in February.  OR you may also purchase our second-hand books and donate those books to the book drive,.

During this time, members of the Staten Island Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will be available to welcome community members, assist in selecting appropriate books, and facilitate the donation process.

Three millennia of passion, despair, and mystical mingling.  Live and recorded music from Sappho to Savvopoulos, including rhythmic, poetic verses of Parmenides and Empedocles (who viewed Aphrodite as a trickster goddess).  In the spirit of Bacchic Frenzy, group chanting and singing will be encouraged. 

[Due to the highly salacious nature of some of the content, no children under 16 will be admitted.]

A (lapsed) member of Actor's Equity, Jonathan Bricklin has performed in numerous musicals, at venues including BAM and Off-Broadway. He is the author of The Illusion of Will, Self, and Time (SUNY Press), numerous essays for international journals (including a study on Parmenides), and is the editor of Sciousness (a collection of essays on nonduality). Jonathan spent much of his twenties studying Greek at several New York universities and received a Certificate in Advanced Greek Studies from the Latin/Greek Institute in 1982.  Since then he has continued to be inspired by ancient and modern Greek culture — especially its poets, songwriters, and singers.

www.jonathanbricklin.org/

Staten Island Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Diversity Book Drive: Celebrating Black History Month through reading.

We are excited to partner with the Staten Island Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc by hosting their 5th Annual children's book drive! 

The book drive will benefit students from the most deserving areas on the North Shore of Staten Island.

In their words: "Our mission is to enrich the literary landscape of our community, specifically focusing on students in Pre-K through 8th grade. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion by collecting new or gently used books that reflect the experiences of all students, with an emphasis on literature authored and illustrated by Black individuals, people of color, and featuring multilingual content. These books will help students and teachers at some of Staten Islands most deserving school libraries and classrooms."

If you have children's books in good condition, we encourage you to bring them into ETG Book Cafe during these special hours on two Sundays in February.  OR you may also purchase our second-hand books and donate those books to the book drive,.

During this time, members of the Staten Island Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will be available to welcome community members, assist in selecting appropriate books, and facilitate the donation process.

Jazz musician and composer Kevin Norton (vibes, drums) joins Julia Sane Simoniello (singer. songwriter and visual artist) for an evening of musical treats.

Julia Sane Simoniello and Kevin Norton have been collaborating on music (and multimedia, activist) projects for about 10 years now. They connect on several levels, but the main idea behind their collaboration is that music is more than just notes and rhythms. Music has the power to bring people together. Music has the power to motivate people and change our lives for the better.

Julia comes from a deep singer/songwriter background, as well as a visual artist and social activist. Kevin’s musical background is in jazz, new-music, “classical” and soundtrack venues, and, like Julia he is also a committed social activist.  

Together, they make music that defies easy definitions, but they do seem to connect with listeners that seek a deeper interaction with music.   

Julia https://juliasimoniello.com/

Kevinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Norton

Local singer/songwriter Frank Troy returns to the neighborhood stage! Accompanying himself on the guitar, Frank's singing will touch your heart! 

He performs his original songs, as well as some of our favorite covers!

The Return of  Vince and Andy: A Holiday Show, featuring Singer/Songwriters Vince Vok and Andy Kass

Commemoration of World AIDS Day, in collaboration with the PRIDE Center of Staten Island and CHASI

Please join us to support people living with and affected by HIV, and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS.  We invite all to come together for Education, Prevention and Overall Support.  Poetry, spoken word, guest speakers and participants who want  to share or show support are welcome to share their voice.  Snacks and beverages will be provided.  Free HIV home testing kits, condoms  and resources will be available