Past Events
A Good Man : A Story in Song
Saturday, April 19, 2025
A Good Man: A Story in Song by Chris Kitlan Burns & Andy Kass. Narrated by Phoebe Blue
Opening Act: Singer-songwriter Joe Endozo
A homeless veteran runs into an old friend by chance. Distrust and disappointment from their past run deep in the songs they throw at each other. Will the memory of friendship be enough to heal them?
Andy Kass returned to music and writing after a long detour as an entrepreneur, participating in the Over50 Project, Art by the Ferry, Staten Island OutLOUD, the Songwriters' Potluck Circle and Folk Music Society of New York's Song Circle, and regularly playing Staten Island Open Mics; recordings collected in The Way So Far EP are available at andykass.bandcamp.com.
Chris Kitlan Burns, MSW, has worked with ex-cons, some of whom were veterans, in a transitional residence in East Harlem, and as a member of the band Such As Us has played original music at concerts, environmental festivals and activist events throughout the tri-state region; recordings are available at https://www.reverbnation.com/suchasus and Spotify.
Opening Act: Singer-songwriter/producer Joe Endozo has performed at ETG Open Mics. You may know him for his 2024 feat of writing a song weekly. Joe's collaborators include Ari Lennox, Hegazy, Telecoms, and The Buffalo 24
Poetic Drip Open Mic
Saturday, April 12, 2025
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
Poetry Month Listening Party!
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
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".
"The Gift From Aelius" Book Event
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Do you enjoy fantasy and sci-fi? Meet A191, a Codex with artificial intelligence, who feels like a misfit in Paradise, a walled city in the middle of an endless desert where humans imprisoned his race long ago. He longs to meet humans and make peace with them so man and Codexes can be reunited in the world. A191 is creation of NYC born author Michael Colon. Come meet Michael and 191!
Launch of Annual Spring Seed Swap!
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Get seedy with us at our annual SEED SWAP. We will ce.lebrate 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.},
Staten History Hub
Friday, April 4, 2025
Join us as we start up the ETG Staten History Hub - First Friday of every month!
Discuss the unique past! Explore the local history of places where we live. Consider making change through the lens of the past.
Each session will include sharing a couple of themes. Our first session looks into First Nations' Lenapehoking People as well as the island's historic lighthouses.
As the sessions are interactive, please feel encouraged to bring any ephemera or stories that you may have.
Book Event: Losing Moments Of Sanity — A Post-Partum Memoir
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Losing Moments Of Sanity — A Post-Partum Memoir is the sensitive and vulnerable personal story of Collette V. Grant, a local Staten Island attorney. Writing her memoir took immense courage because postpartum depression is often surrounded by shame and silence. Collette wants women to understand that seeking help—whether through therapy, medication, and/or a strong support system—is not a sign of failure. She shared the earlier stages of the book with us at the cafe and is now ready to share the published book with the broader community! A brief reading will be followed by a Q & A!
"A Journey Through the Tarot" Book Event and Readings
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Hannah Troyer's "A Journey Through the Tarot" was birthed from Hannah's intention to see people empowered to understand & place themselves inside the story of the tarot. Each card has a slightly different application for each person's life, and she aims to help people intuit their own meanings rather than always having to rely on others."
Hannah is an akashic records channel, energy work practitioner & lover of esoteric knowledge.
Celebrating Staten Island Women Musicians: Welcome Shoshana and Samantha!
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Shoshana Vogel is a human of many gifts and she fuses them in her music. Shoshana does specific work with babies and brain development as part of her musical life. In addition she organizes community engagement and teaches and plays music. She grew up in the ETG hood, plays in a local band and loves to support local community in all she does.
Samantha Echo is a singer, songwriter, and actress who has been performing since the age of six. She loves incorporating fairy tales and mythology into her work. Her music video “Nick’s Mom” was described by actress Ruby McCollister as “the most beautiful, nuanced work of our time.”
Poetic Drip Open Mic
Friday, March 14, 2025
Poetic Drip Open Mic invites all art forms to flow freely. Share, create and amplify your voice in poetry or song. Bring your musical energy or enjoy witnessing performers take the stage.
Featured March Poet: Jenny Pisani is a local Staten Island multidisciplinary artist and educator. She has called many places home, yet always returns to pray at the temple of poetry. Take down any walls you have built, and meet her here, in this honest place.
Featured March Musician-Comedian: Seann Cantatore is an NYC musician-turned-comedian who combines musical theater, improv and silly goose-ness. A classical and jazz-trained singer and pianist with over 12 years of professional experience, she believes in humor that welcomes everyone to the party: belly-laughing and confronting deep emotional vulnerabilities, alongside her.
International Musical Women's Night at ETG: Renaps, Kay and Leahy!
Saturday, March 8, 2025
ETG is thrilled to be celebrating International Women's Day with a warm musical and tale-telling evening event. Introducing three musicians; Renaps, Kay and Leahy.
Sit back, enjoy and celebrate!
Renaps is a songwriter/multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Staten Island. She'll be here with her traveling companion John to tell some tales ranging from an imaginary bird fighting a king to questioning how one even knows they're in love at all. She is honored to celebrate a special evening of creative women, and also to be a woman too.
Kay Ashley is a talented singer, guitar player and songwriter with a deep passion for justice for all. Author and music critic Andrew Hultkrans had this to say specifically about Kay's debut album, Heliotrope -
“Kay Ashley's gorgeous, moving "Heliotrope" occupies a charmed point triangulated by Joni Mitchell's "Hejira,” Paul Simon's "Graceland," and Nick Drake's “Pink Moon." A master of stacked vocal harmonies and alternate guitar tunings, Ashley's melodies are instantly memorable yet devoid of cliche. Copies will be available on the night.
Leahy Ardon is a cellist and singer-songwriter. Her soulful music ranges from mellow ballads to raging anti-war songs. Imagine Regina Spektor meets Dolores O’Riordan meets Mike Block. As a lifelong feminist and activist, Leahy believes in the power of music to inspire and empower us to keep fighting the good fight.
Meet Volunteer Team for African History Month Children's Book Drive
Sunday, February 23, 2025
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.
African American Rebel Poets of the 1960s
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Join us for a night of poetry remembering the African American Rebel poets of the 1960s. Jimmy Wright is joined by fellow poet Alicia Dunnigan and actor Karen Murphy to share the poets' works and a taste of the history about this movement. Pictured is poet Nikki Giovanni, one of the poets whose work will be featured.
Banisher — A Different Type of Game Experience!
Friday, February 21, 2025
Banisher, a creation of Hypothesis, is a psychospiritual board game for liberating humanity from sinister forces. Up for a challenge? Come learn how to play.
WWW! Wild Writers' Workshop
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
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!!
Poetic Drip Open Mic
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Poetic Drip Open Mic invites all art forms to flow freely. Share, create and amplify your voice in poetry or song. Bring your musical energy or enjoy witnessing performers take the stage.
Featured February Poet: Grei from Queens, NYC, is a published poet, a filmmaker and educator. They were a featured poet at the NYC Poetry Festival among several other popular open mic venues. Grei is a former 2018-2019 Fulbright U.S Student Researcher, exploring the intersections of film and folklore in the Dominican Republic and creating their award-winning short film “Si Ardiera La Ciudad.” They are currently host of Queens Get the Mic and Masquerade Open Mic.
Self-Care for Our Hearts
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Valentine’s Day can be a Challenge!
Join us for “Self-Care for Our Hearts," a participatory program led by Laura Martocci. We'll begin with a guided meditation, which will lead into a short writing exercise.
The Black King of Vaudeville: Remembering Bert Williams
Friday, February 7, 2025
Bert Williams (1874-1922) was one of the pre-eminent entertainers of the Vaudeville era, and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. In an age when racial inequality and stereotyping were commonplace, he became the first Black-American to take pioneer leading roles, both on Broadway and in the 1914 film Darktown Jubilee, pushing back racial barriers in his 3-decades long career. Tony-nominated actor Larry Marshall who starred in "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Hair", and "Porgy & Bess” rejuvenates the life and music of Bert Williams. Larry Marshall will be joined by Rick Cordova on piano.
Foot Tapping Fun with Bob Conroy, Norm & Jean Pederson and Bill Doerge
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Bob Conroy and Norm Pederson are committed to the preservation of traditional folk songs that illustrate the life, values, and work ethic of the American people. Since the 60s they have performed at festivals locally, throughout the country and abroad.
Bob plays five-string banjo, six-string guitar, and twelve-string guitar. You may know him as one of the mainstays of the monthly sea shanty sing-along on Staten Island. Norm plays multiple instruments, including fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and guitar. Jean grew up in the folk revival among family of noted singers and musicians. Bill also plays multiple instruments including 12 string guitar and accordion.
Liberation Open Mic
January 31, 2025
Liberation Open Mic invites you to sense liberation —
To express yourself richly
To be heard by fellow humans
Sound off about the state of the world,
Imagine a better one.
Bring a poem, a song, your guitar or ukelele, an artwork or anything at all that you wish to share with us, your local community.
Read-in Cafe
Friday, January 31, 2025
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!!
Reynaldo's Piano Bar
Saturday, January 25, 2025
You choose the song and you sing! Reynaldo will accompany you live on the piano. Join and sing along or just come and listen.
Poetic Drip Open Mic
Friday, January 17, 2025
Poetic Drip Open Mic invites all your art forms to flow freely. Witness creativity drip as fellow performers take the stage. Share your poems, comedy, music, dance, art and speech. Or simply come listen and be the audience we love.
Featured Performer: Urban folk singer/songwriter and guitarist, beloved neighbour Saint Maurice Phillips of "Outside the Temple".
Host Cynthia Rodriguez @Cyn.is.Cyn For more info, send email to Createdbycyn@outlook.com.
Friday Evening Film and Q&A— “The Interview": What's Wrong With Our Parole System?
Friday, January 3, 2025
Join us to watch a striking short film on our parole system. We follow this with a panel discussion featuring people in the documentary and/or others who have gone through the parole release system. We close with a Q&A.