October 2009 Events

The Bertrand Russell Society

Hosted by: Dr. David White
Thursday, October 1, at 7:00 pm
Admission: Free to W&B Members; $3/General Public
Special Meeting. John Novak

The Bertrand Russell Society was formed shortly after Russell’s death in 1970. Russell was born in 1872 and worked in fields such as mathematical logic; philosophy; social, religious, and educational reform; anti-war protests and politics. An accomplished writer, Russell received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. This ongoing lecture series promises to enlighten and entertain. Monthly meetings are open to everyone, not just to members of the society.

First Fridays

October 2, 6 p.m.
Free and open to the public

Join us as we kickoff this year’s Big Read program with a publication party for Writers & Books’ Big Pencil Press edition of Nevermore: Prose and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe and enjoy the unique vocal work of Rochester’s own F’loom, a trio that draws freely from the highest and lowest in music and literature to produce an intensely seriocomic audiovisual experience, who will be presenting a new body of work based on the writings of Poe. We will also be holding a scavenger hunt as part of First Friday, with prizes! Visit five venues and have your card punched, then come to Writers & Books by 10:00pm to pick up your free copy of Nevermore: Prose and Poems. Find the raven or the gold bug and win a pair of tickets to our Masque of the Red Death Masquerade Ball at the Memorial Art Gallery on Oct. 30. This Big Read kickoff event is free and open to the public. For information on W&B events visit www.wab.org. For information about the monthly First Friday events visit www.firstfridayrochester.org. To learn more about F’loom visit www.floom.com.

The Bertrand Russell Society

Hosted by: Dr. David White
Thursday, October 8, at 7:00 pm
Admission: Free to W&B Members; $3/General Public
Topic: Paul Mitacek on Russell and John Dewey

The Bertrand Russell Society was formed shortly after Russell’s death in 1970. Russell was born in 1872 and worked in fields such as mathematical logic; philosophy; social, religious, and educational reform; anti-war protests and politics. An accomplished writer, Russell received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. This ongoing lecture series promises to enlighten and entertain. Monthly meetings are open to everyone, not just to members of the society.

Genesee Reading Series

Hosted by: Wanda Schubmehl
Featuring: Leah Ruekberg & Claudia Stanek
Tuesday, October 13 7:30 pm
$3W&B members, $6 general public

Now in its 26rd year, the Genesee Reading Series presents writers from the greater Genesee Valley region reading in the Verb Cafe. Learn more about our featured authors.

Senior Reading Group

Tuesday October 13 2:00 pm- 4:00p.m.
Free and open to the public

Share your writing with other seniors in a comfortable, supportive atmosphere at W&B.

Open History Reading Group

Hosted by: Steve Huff
Thursday, October 15, at 7:00 pm
Free to W&B members, $3 general public
Topic: The American Anti-Imperialist League.

Join us for meetings of an open history-reading group. In these gatherings we choose historical topics rather than specific books, and then you choose a book on the subject that most interests you. The discussions are convivial, exciting, and informative.

25 And Under

Hosted by: Sally Bittner Bonn
Tuesday October 20 7:00 pm
Free to W&B members, $3 general public

More than a quarter century ago W&B first opened its doors. To celebrate that milestone anniversary we initiated a brand new monthly reading series featuring writers who are 25 and younger. Join us as we discover a new generation of writers for the next quarter century.

Visiting Writers Series Presents: Allen Hoey and Thom Ward

Thursday, October 22, 7p.m
$6 W&B members / $4 general public

Poets Allen Hoey and Thom Ward will read from recent works, Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. at Writers & Books, 740 University Ave., Rochester, as part of the community literary center's Visiting Writers Series. Admission is $4 for Writers & Books members, $6 for general public. A reception and book signing will follow.

Thom Ward, whose most recent book is The Matter of the Casket, is an Editor for BOA Editions, Ltd., an independent publishing house of American poetry and poetry in translation, headquartered in Rochester. In his seventeen years at BOA, he has edited more than 90 collections of poetry. He is the only editor ever to edit two poetry collections nominated in a single year for The National Book Award for Poetry: Kim Addonizio's Tell Me and Lucille Clifton's Blessing the Boats - the eventual winner of the 2001 Award. His previous books include Small Boat with Oars of Different Size and Various Orbits. He lives in Upstate New York.

Allen Hoey, poet, novelist, and literary critic is the author of a recent book of poems, Country Music. He completed his graduate work at Syracuse University where he studied with Hayden Carruth . In 1990 he took a teaching position at Bucks County Community College where he teaches writing, literature, and Buddhism. In 1994 he received the precepts and formalized his commitment to Rinzai Zen Buddhist practice. He currently lives with his wife, Debra, outside of New Hope, Pennsylvania.