events

Come witness the connection of words and people – live!

If you’ve landed here looking for info about MetroWest Reader Fest, we’re over HERE!

PAST EVENTS:

Modern Fireside Poets with Erica Bauermeister and Karen Karbo : Tuesday, November 10, 2020 @ 7 pm ET (in partnership with The Wayside Inn Foundation) [Although the registration link below is now closed because dinner reservations are closed, please email Amy@ALifelyRead.com for information on acquiring a Zoom link.]

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The Wayside Inn Foundation and A Lifely Read are pleased to host authors Erica Bauermeister and Karen Karbo at “Modern Fireside Poets” on Tuesday, November 10 at 7 pm. This virtual event will bring Bauermeister (the NYT bestselling author of four novels, including Reese’s Book Club pick The Scent Keeper and The School of Essential Ingredients) and Karbo (author of 14 award-winning books including her memoir The Stuff of Life and the novel Motherhood Made a Man Out of Me, both NYT Notable Books) together around a virtual hearth to discuss food, hospitality, and travel.
 
The “Fireside Poets” were a group of 19th-century American poets who wrote popular verse, often with domestic themes. The Wayside Inn, the ancient hostelry, is known for its hospitality, hearty food, and ready hearths; Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a “Fireside Poet,” based his poetry collection ‘Tales of a Wayside Inn’ on a group of friends sharing stories at the Inn’s tavern. During the early months of the pandemic, when The Wayside Inn was closed to diners and overnight guests, the Inn was missing an important essence: People coming together to share stories, food, and the warmth of each other’s company. Although the historic site has opened up again in many capacities, we are offering “Modern Fireside Poets” as a way to replicate the spirited and spontaneous conversation that we will one day be able to enjoy again in full.
 
Tickets to this event are $10/household for Zoom access to the authors discussion and an additional $25/takeout meal prepared by The Wayside Inn.
Register at http://bit.ly/ModernFiresidePoets. Your zoom link will be e-mailed by Sunday, November 8th.
Dinner can be picked up from The Inn between 5:00-6:00 pm.
The take-away menu* includes:
– Innkeeper’s salad (assorted field greens with dried cranberries, candied pecans, blue cheese crumbles, and a cranberry vinaigrette)
– Roast stuffed chicken breast with spinach, boursin cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes
– Duchess potatoes and roast root vegetables
– Rolls and muffins
– Harvest pumpkin pie‍
* A vegetarian option is available. Please note that you’d prefer the vegetarian option when registering.

Book Covers : Thursday, June 11, 2020 @ 8 pm : ātac (Amazing Things Arts Center), 160 Hollis St., Framingham [WE ENDED UP GOING VIRTUAL! Did you miss it? You can watch the Zoom recording right here.]

We’re piecing together interesting readers…to read interesting pieces together. Hop online for a fun evening to hear the following folks read passages – and then engage in a lively Q + A –all about “Fate”:

  • Hank Phillippi Ryan: Emmy-winning investigative reporter for WHDH and award-winning crime novelist
  • Rep. Jack Lewis: Democrat, 7th Middlesex; former Executive Director, OUT MetroWest
  • Marjan Kamali: Author of Together Tea and The Stationery Shop
  • Grace Talusan: Author of The Body Papers; Fannie Hurst Writer-in-Residence at Brandeis University
  • Jen Maseda: CEO and President, She’s Local; Founder, MetroWest Conference for Women, South Shore Conference for Women, and Merrimack Valley Conference for Women

This event will be streaming live via Facebook and Zoom. (Register HERE.) Quick shoutout: Paul @ Silver Unicorn Books in Acton was slated to be selling books at this event. Please direct book-buying needs right HERE!

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Framingham Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Stay at Home, Story at Home: Elizabeth Ames [Virtual Event] – Thursday, May 28 @ 7:30 pm EST

You can’t go to an author reading just now, so let us bring an author reading to you! ātac and A Lifely Read present “Stay at Home, Story at Home.” On Thursday, May 28 at 7:30 pm EST, cap off your week with a “story time” and discussion with Elizabeth Ames, who will read from her novel The Other’s Gold and then discuss not just the book, but also how the notion of “story” might help us – especially now.

 
We will be using Zoom; register HERE!

 
As a lead-up to this event, we will be giving away 3 copies of The Other’s Gold. To enter this giveaway, please watch the Facebook and Instagram posts of ātac and A Lifely Read.

 
Although a donation is not required, your continued support through ātac’s GoFundMe is much appreciated.

 

Stay at Home, Story at Home: Katrin Schumann [Virtual Event] – Sunday, April 26 @ 11 am EST

You can’t go to an author reading just now, so let us bring an author reading to you! ātac and A Lifely Read present “Stay at Home, Story at Home.” On Sunday, April 26 at 11 am EST, kick off your week with a “story time” and discussion with Katrin Schumann, who will read from her novel This Terrible Beauty.

Stay at Home, Story at Home: Grace Talusan [Virtual Event] – Sunday, April 12 @ 7 pm EST

We were so grateful to have Grace Talusan, author of The Body Papers, kick off our “Stay at Home, Story at Home” series. 

 

Book Covers : Thursday, November 14, 2019 @ 7 pm : Amazing Things Art Center, 160 Hollis St., Framingham

We’re piecing together interesting readers…to read interesting pieces together. Come enjoy an evening of literary entertainment as you listen to selected works – from classic to contemporary, all revolving around the theme of “Home” – read aloud by members of our community. A moderated conversation about reading and “home” – including how we sometimes feel “at home” in the pages of a book – will follow. This event is produced by A Lifely Read, with assistance from Fugitive Productions. (The Silver Unicorn Bookstore will be on hand selling a selection of books from which the readings will be excerpted!)

Come hear from readers including:

Mira T. Lee; author of Everything Here is Beautiful

Jennifer De Leon; writer, editor, speaker, creative writing professor at Framingham State University

Brandale Randolph; founder & owner, 1854 Cycling Company & poverty alleviation advocate

Michael J. Lee; Architectural Photographer; Owner, Michael J. Lee Photography

Whitney Scharer; author of The Age of Light

 

Be Bold: Sharing Stories…’Outside the Box’ edition! On Tuesday, March 12, 2019, six panelists shared their own ‘outside the box’ journeys at the Goodnow Library in Sudbury. The Facebook livestream of this event can be found here. (This event was sponsored by the Goodnow Library Foundation.)

Be Bold: Sharing Stories…Art & Science edition! On Tuesday, January 8, 2019 nine participants from the arts and/or sciences shared their thoughts about the interplay between the two disciplines at the Goodnow Library in Sudbury. The Facebook livestream of this event can be found here. (This event was sponsored by the Goodnow Library Foundation.)

Be Bold: Sharing Stories. On Tuesday, October 23, 2018, six MetroWest women shared their stories at the Goodnow Library in Sudbury. Participants included: Ruth-Anne Adams (Chef & Restauranteur, Real Lincoln), Jill Dixon (President & Co-Founder, Taly), Jen Maseda (Founder, MetroWest Conference for Women and CEO, She’s Local), Rose Saia (Moth StorySLAM & Massmouth StorySLAM winner; Pantry Director, Open Table), and Liz Sower (Creator, Ghosts in the Burbs Podcast). (This event was sponsored by the Goodnow Library Foundation.)