Join us for any of the upcoming events listed below!
Blind Tiger Improv
The funniest improv this side of the Hudson, brought to you by Blind Tiger Improv.
This show features the cream of the crop, the best in the business: The Blind Tiger House Teams!
All shows are rated PG-13. Although they aren’t vulgar and don’t go blue, they can’t guarantee that their shows won’t feature adult material, like alcohol use or taxes. Parents and guardians are urged to exercise their judgement when bringing children and minors to these shows.
Only $15 at the door or $12 online.
Blind Tiger Improv is committed to creating a space where everyone, regardless of background or experience, can explore the art of improvisation. They seek to create and foster well-rounded improvisers, perform high-quality improv shows, provide an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for all, and support the improv and comedy community in the Hudson Valley. Learn more at www.blindtigerimprov.com.
Short Attention Span Book Club
Short on time? No problem! This book club is designed with minimal reading and maximum impact.
Special Read-Aloud with Author Nancy Castaldo: Whales in the City
Kids age 4-8: Join us for a special read-aloud with local author Nancy Castaldo, and learn about the remarkable history of whales in the Hudson!
What We Carry: Poetry, Identity, and the Work of Becoming
Join poets Susan Michele Coronel, Dawn Leas, and Amy Small-McKinney for an evening of readings and conversation exploring how identity is shaped—and reshaped—across a lifetime.
OTown Reads: The Correspondence
O-TOWN READS AGAIN
Please join us for the next gathering of our in-store book club! On Wednesday, April 8 at 7 PM, we will be discussing The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. We're announcing it now so that you have plenty of time to read.
Those of us in the store who have read it enjoyed it so much that we could not resist choosing it for our spring selection. We think you will love it too.
This "sleeper hit" skyrocketed to the top of the NY Times bestselling fiction list in December for a good reason.
From Goodreads:
“Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. . . . Isn’t there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one’s life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?”
Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime.
We have plenty of copies in the store, at a 10% discount as always for book clubs.
There will be snacks on hand, wine, beer and soft drinks available for purchase, and free tea and water. We hope to see you on Wednesday April 8 at 7 PM.
Please sign up here so that we can save a seat for you.
Happy reading until then!
The enthusiastic HVBH team
Minding Your Memory: Book Talk with Lisa Feiner and Dr. Susanne Saltzman
Join Board Certified Health Coach and Co-Editor Lisa Feiner, and Susanne Saltzman MD, to learn what you can do, starting today, to preserve your most precious asset: a healthy, vibrant mind.
Meditative Drawing Workshop
Quiet Your Mind, Achieve Clarity, and Feel Refreshed
Meditative Drawing is a guided, accessible practice that combines simple drawing exercises with principles of meditation to help quiet mental noise and restore a sense of calm and focus. This workshop is not about artistic skill or making a “good” drawing—it’s about creating the conditions for the mind to settle and move into quieter layers of thinking that are by nature more blissful, peaceful, and enjoyable. Through structured patterns, repetition, and gentle guidance, participants are led out of overthinking and into a state of relaxed attention, where creativity and clarity naturally emerge.
During the workshop, Marisa Löwenstein will guide participants step by step through a series of meditative drawing exercises designed to support deep rest, presence, and creative flow. All materials will be provided, and no prior drawing or meditation experience is required. Participants often leave feeling more grounded, refreshed, and clear, along with a practical tool they can return to whenever they need to slow down, reset, or reconnect.
This is the first of three sessions to be offered. The other two will take place on April 19 and 26 (same time).
Tickets: $20-$30 (sliding scale) per session. Pre-registration required.
Meet Your Facilitator
Marisa Löwenstein is a Creative Director and certified Vedic Meditation teacher with over 15 years of meditation experience. Trained in New York and India, she blends meditation with guided practices such as Meditative Drawing to help people quiet the mind, improve focus, and creative problem-solving. Drawing from her background in design, teaching, and mentorship, Marisa leads thoughtful, practical workshops that support clarity and creative flow. She teaches in English and Spanish and has worked with institutions such as FIT, The High Line, Boston University, and Ralph Lauren.
Meditative Drawing Workshop
Quiet Your Mind, Achieve Clarity, and Feel Refreshed
Meditative Drawing is a guided, accessible practice that combines simple drawing exercises with principles of meditation to help quiet mental noise and restore a sense of calm and focus. This workshop is not about artistic skill or making a “good” drawing—it’s about creating the conditions for the mind to settle and move into quieter layers of thinking that are by nature more blissful, peaceful, and enjoyable. Through structured patterns, repetition, and gentle guidance, participants are led out of overthinking and into a state of relaxed attention, where creativity and clarity naturally emerge.
During the workshop, Marisa Löwenstein will guide participants step by step through a series of meditative drawing exercises designed to support deep rest, presence, and creative flow. All materials will be provided, and no prior drawing or meditation experience is required. Participants often leave feeling more grounded, refreshed, and clear, along with a practical tool they can return to whenever they need to slow down, reset, or reconnect.
This is the second of three sessions to be offered. The final session will take place on April 26 (same time).
Tickets: $20-$30 (sliding scale) per session. Pre-registration required.
Meet Your Facilitator
Marisa Löwenstein is a Creative Director and certified Vedic Meditation teacher with over 15 years of meditation experience. Trained in New York and India, she blends meditation with guided practices such as Meditative Drawing to help people quiet the mind, improve focus, and creative problem-solving. Drawing from her background in design, teaching, and mentorship, Marisa leads thoughtful, practical workshops that support clarity and creative flow. She teaches in English and Spanish and has worked with institutions such as FIT, The High Line, Boston University, and Ralph Lauren.
Short Attention Span Book Club
Short on time? No problem! This book club is designed with minimal reading and maximum impact.
Make an Upcycled Denim Pouch!
Remanufactured Denim Pouch Workshop
Join us for this very special Earth Day activity and learn how to make a new product out of upcycled denim pants. Your facilitators Carolina and Carmen, from MAKE ANEEW, will introduce you to circular fashion through garment deconstruction, pattern copying, and remanufacturing.
Using discarded cotton/blend denim pants, participants will create a functional zippered pouch while learning foundational skills in cutting, tracing, and sewing. The workshop focuses on garment reuse, aligning with MAKE ANEEW’s mission to reframe textile waste as a valuable resource.
In this workshop, you will learn to deconstruct garments to maximize usable fabric, trace a reusable pouch pattern, cut and sew a zippered pouch from upcycled denim. Best of all, you can take home the pouch and the pattern template (to reuse again and again)!
Participants MUST know how to operate a sewing machine and have a beginning to intermediate level of sewing experience.
No cost to participate, but advance registration is required.
About Carolina
Carolina Bedoya is the Ossining-based Co-Founder of MAKE ANEEW, a textile artist, circular systems strategist, and sustainability educator. Her work focuses on extending the lifecycle of textiles through art, remanufacturing, and material transformation, reframing waste as a resource within circular design systems.
About Carmen
Carmen Gama is Co-Founder of MAKE ANEEW and Director of Circular Design at EILEEN FISHER. With over a decade of experience, she develops and leads circular design systems that extend the lifecycle of textiles through remanufacturing, reuse, recycling and regenerative strategies.
About Make Aneew
MAKE ANEEW is a Circular Design Recycling Center and Studio—based in Ossining—that maximizes the value of discarded clothing through repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. We also provide circular education through consulting and workshops. Our services support designers, brands, textile collectors, reverse logistics providers, and other stakeholders in the fashion and textile industries, helping them integrate circular solutions, transform waste into valuable products, reduce reliance on virgin materials, and achieve environmental goals.
Additionally, we invest in workforce development by training local talent from New York’s diverse communities, fashion schools, and Garment District businesses. MAKE ANEEW is driving innovation, creating jobs, and advancing circular fashion.
Meditative Drawing Workshop
Quiet Your Mind, Achieve Clarity, and Feel Refreshed
Meditative Drawing is a guided, accessible practice that combines simple drawing exercises with principles of meditation to help quiet mental noise and restore a sense of calm and focus. This workshop is not about artistic skill or making a “good” drawing—it’s about creating the conditions for the mind to settle and move into quieter layers of thinking that are by nature more blissful, peaceful, and enjoyable. Through structured patterns, repetition, and gentle guidance, participants are led out of overthinking and into a state of relaxed attention, where creativity and clarity naturally emerge.
During the workshop, Marisa Löwenstein will guide participants step by step through a series of meditative drawing exercises designed to support deep rest, presence, and creative flow. All materials will be provided, and no prior drawing or meditation experience is required. Participants often leave feeling more grounded, refreshed, and clear, along with a practical tool they can return to whenever they need to slow down, reset, or reconnect.
Tickets: $20-$30 (sliding scale) per session. Pre-registration required.
Meet Your Facilitator
Marisa Löwenstein is a Creative Director and certified Vedic Meditation teacher with over 15 years of meditation experience. Trained in New York and India, she blends meditation with guided practices such as Meditative Drawing to help people quiet the mind, improve focus, and creative problem-solving. Drawing from her background in design, teaching, and mentorship, Marisa leads thoughtful, practical workshops that support clarity and creative flow. She teaches in English and Spanish and has worked with institutions such as FIT, The High Line, Boston University, and Ralph Lauren.
Jim Martin’s Tire Isle Band
Music While You Shop
Jim Martin, founding member of How to Change a Flat Tire, continues the group’s exploration and love of the music of the British Isles. With Mr. Martin on mandolin, guitar, mandocello, banjo and vocals, Tatayana Gorbunova on flute and the internationally celebrated accordionist Will Holshouser, Martin’s Tire Isle Band celebrates the dance tunes, ballads and Irish Sean-nós tradition of Ireland, Scotland, England and the Hebrides. For more information, the band’s website: Martinmusicdance.com
Free! Donations for the performers gratefully accepted.
Short Attention Span Book Club
Short on time? No problem! This book club is designed with minimal reading and maximum impact.
Short Attention Span Book Club
Short on time? No problem! This book club is designed with minimal reading and maximum impact.
Building Bridges Through Books: March 10 Gathering
Join us for the next gathering of our Social Justice Book Club. We’ll be discussing The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson.
Blind Tiger Improv: Fundamentals Class Show
Fundamentals Class Show, Hey Ma!, & Lottery Team
Graduates of Improv Fundamentals take the stage and showcase what they've learned!! PLUS Gary Goldsmith and Sarah Sommers are both improv duo Hey, Ma!and married! PLUS The Lottery features improv ensembles made-up of both Blind Tiger students and veteran performers. Only $15 here or at the door!
Book Launch: “The Subtlety of the Street” by M. Peregrine Balmat
Celebrate Perry’s new book with a lively discussion of the nuances of everyday communication between institutional professionals and those they serve.
Art Book Reading Party
Come ooh and aah with other art book lovers as you check out some of our gorgeous art books and enjoy a drink or snack from our bar!
Hudsounds: A Songwriter’s Showcase, presented by Eli Musser
A new monthly series, highlighting the best original music of the Hudson Valley
Created by local musician Eli Musser, HudSounds is an up-close, curated, acoustic performance experience focused on the art and craft of our regional songwriting talent. Performers take their melodies and stories to our cozy stage in an intimate setting, all designed to entertain, illuminate and bring together our unique local music scene.
Our first act of this new series features singer-songwriters Siobhan O’Malley and Matt DeMello. (You might hear from Eli, too!) Join us for an inspirational and lively evening.
Tickets: $20 in advance; $25 at the door.
About Siobhan O’Malley
Siobhan O'Malley is a singer-songwriter who released three critically-acclaimed albums, and has played her music all around the country. She was signed to the label Blue Cocoon records. She released two new singles in January 2026 and is happy to be playing out, writing, recording and doing all the musical things again! She also produces the Songwright: Westchester Songwriters' Circle series at Bethany Arts.
“Siobhan is fantastic, super-expressive; she dives deep then surfaces.”—Mike Viola
About Matt DeMello
Matt DeMello is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and singer-songwriter based in Peekskill, New York. His latest album of original music, 2022's Confetti in a Coalmine combines hyperpop energy with classic Great American Songbook and protest folk tropes that painstakingly highlight the ways neoliberalism has eroded our social bonds.
About Eli Musser
Eli Musser has performed on countless stages in the NYC area over the past two decades, has been featured in Billboard, Songwriting Magazine UK and The Big Takeover, and his songs have been spun on SiriusXM. An International Songwriting Competition finalist and longtime rock and roll bandleader, Eli’s robust catalog of guitar-driven solo material also incorporates jazz, folk and classical — all through the lens of his soulful Appalachian roots.
Once I Ate: An Evening of Stories About Food
Join Amy Alpert, Amy Hall, Betsy Kates, Joyce Markovics, Rochelle Udell, and Barbara Worton as they share stories about food as sustenance, communication, identity, and more.
And then it’s your turn!
Do you have a food story you’d like to share? Submit your name at the event, and we’ll randomly select several storytellers. You’ll have 5 minutes to tell your story on stage. No notes!
Tickets: $10 donation to benefit the Ossining Food Pantry. Advance purchase strongly recommended.
Dan Elias Presents: The Villaggio Restaurant Trio
We are delighted to continue our monthly “Dan Elias Presents” series with the Villaggio Restaurant Trio.
Danny Weiss and Marco Brehm will join Dan in a reunion of the Villaggio Restaurant Trio, a mix of jazz, rock, Western swing, and more. Danny is a fine guitarist and singer, having toured for many years with Tony Trischka! They always have fun together.
We can’t think of a better way to spend your Sunday afternoon.
Tickets: $20 here or at the door
About Dan Elias
Daniel Elias has been playing the clarinet since its invention. A product of his surroundings, Daniel brings the streets of Brooklyn alive with his instrument. There is so much good music in the world that Daniel feels would benefit from the clarinet. In playing classical, Klezmer, Greek, Jazz and American Contradance music, this approach seems to work. The clarinet is not apparently suited for Grunge Music or Hurrian Hymns - so he will not be playing those. Daniel is pleased to continue his musical explorations at Ossining’s Hudson Valley Books for Humanity.
Laughter Chapter Comedy Show
Need a laugh?
Join us for a bookstore first: A comedy showcase curated by Ossining native and stand-up comedian Jack Ludlum. And what a show he has put together! Five talented Hudson Valley comedians: Andrew Alfredo, David Beckles, Jr., Gabrielle Johnson, Frankie Maglione, and Andrew Steiner. We can’t wait for you to meet them.
About Jack
Jack Ludlum is a stand-up comedian that has been performing and producing shows all over New York State and the Hudson Valley area for over a decade. A longtime native of Ossining, New York, and a self-proclaimed “encyclopedia of useless information”, Jack Ludlum’s act has evolved from his myriad of interests ranging from science, history, film, music, and even his own turbulent personal life. His influences include George Carlin, Colin Quinn, Patrice O’Neal, Dave Attell, and Doug Stanhope.
Short Attention Span Book Club
Short on time? No problem! This book club is designed with minimal reading and maximum impact.
Valentine’s Day Guest Read Aloud with DD!
Love is in the air!
If you have a young person in your life (age 3 to 8), come on down to the store at 11:30 AM and enjoy a special Valentine’s Day read aloud by DD (a.k.a. Diamondy Doux). A simple craft activity will follow, with DD’s able assistant Betsy.
About Diamondy Doux
DD is a part of Story Time with DD and the founder of Drag Queen Tours, a boutique cultural waking tour company in NYC, where “Fun meets Fabulous!”
Building Bridges Through Books: Feb. 10
Join us for the January meeting of our Social Justice Book Club. We’ll be discussing The Silence of the Choir, by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr.
Asian American Teen Mental Health Workshop
Join the author of the Asian American Teen’s Mental Health Workbook, Dr. Teresa Hsu, for a workshop empowering teens (parents also welcome) to find out what’s important to them and how to live by those values. There will be matcha cookies and a hot chocolate bar as well!
This workshop is free; copies of the workbook will be available for a 10% discount off the $21.95 cover price.
About Dr. Hsu
Teresa Hsu, PhD, is the Founder and Executive Director of S.P.E.A.K., a Supportive Place for Empowering Asian Americans & Kin, which focuses on Asian American mental health and wellness through education, destigmatization, research, and services. She currently holds a dual appointment as an Assistant Professor of General Academic Pediatrics and Assistant Professor of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
As the former Assistant Director of the Pediatric Behavioral Health Integration Program at Montefiore Medical Center, she helped establish one of the largest pediatric integrated behavioral health primary care programs in the nation. Her research focuses on collaborative care, prevention, and population health in diverse, historically marginalized communities. I'm passionate about making mental health accessible to the AANHPI community, which is often marginalized in behavioral health research and practice.
About the Book
It's time to prioritize your mental health and achieve a more balanced, empowered, and confident sense of self.
From navigating academic pressures and planning for your future to dealing with peers and the often-toxic social media arena--being a teen in today's world is hard. And if you're an Asian American teen with immigrant parents, you may also face racism, stigmatization, cultural challenges, and intense family expectations. Juggling the social and emotional demands of two different cultures can leave you feeling stressed, anxious, and depressed. But there is help.
Written by an Asian American psychologist who's been there, this book blends proven-effective therapies with real-world knowledge to help you develop a strong sense of identity, connect with peers, and nurture your bicultural pride. You'll find strategies to help you deal with family expectations, cultural differences, and generational trauma--as well as tools to help you challenge the racism, bullying, and microaggressions you may encounter at school or out in the world. Most importantly, you'll develop the resilience needed to take charge of your life and your future. Discover powerful tools to help you:
Deal with parentification and family expectations
Manage stress and alleviate anxiety and depression
Build close connections with family and peers
Live a more emotionally balanced and rewarding life
If you're feeling disconnected and are struggling to navigate two different cultures at the same time, help is here. This empowering guide--written just for you--will help you gain the skills you need to be confident, independent, and resilient.
Blind Tiger Improv
The funniest improv this side of the Hudson, brought to you by Blind Tiger Improv.
This show features the cream of the crop, the best in the business: The Blind Tiger House Teams!
All shows are rated PG-13. Although they aren’t vulgar and don’t go blue, they can’t guarantee that their shows won’t feature adult material, like alcohol use or taxes. Parents and guardians are urged to exercise their judgement when bringing children and minors to these shows.
Only $15 at the door or $12 online.
Blind Tiger Improv is committed to creating a space where everyone, regardless of background or experience, can explore the art of improvisation. They seek to create and foster well-rounded improvisers, perform high-quality improv shows, provide an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for all, and support the improv and comedy community in the Hudson Valley. Learn more at www.blindtigerimprov.com.
Dan Elias Presents: Swing Du Jour
The incomparable gypsy jazz clarinetist Dan Elias performs with guest musicians on the first Sunday of every month. This February, he brings his very own Swing Du Jour back to our stage, performing in the tradition of Django Reinhard—a jazz form that emanated from France and is often referred to as "Gypsy Jazz". With music that varies from lively to contemplative, Swing du Jour will surely have you tapping and swaying to their infectious sound. Feel free to listen or dance—or listen while you dance!
Tickets: $20 here or at the door.
About the Musicians
(more coming soon)
Dan Elias
Daniel Elias has been playing the clarinet since its invention. A product of his surroundings, Daniel brings the streets of Brooklyn alive with his instrument. There is so much good music in the world that Daniel feels would benefit from the clarinet. In playing classical, Klezmer, Greek, Jazz and American Contradance music, this approach seems to work. The clarinet is not apparently suited for Grunge Music or Hurrian Hymns - so he will not be playing those. Daniel is pleased to continue his musical explorations at Ossining’s Hudson Valley Books for Humanity.
Building Bridges Through Books: Jan. 20 Gathering
Join us for the January meeting of our Social Justice Book Club. We’ll be discussing There There, by Tommy Orange.
(s)mother stories: shedding (y)our skin
(s)mother stories is back!
Put 2025 behind you and kick-start the new year with an evening of poems, stories, and songs honoring the constant state of becoming necessary to survive this brutal world . . .
Let us know you’re coming by registering here or below.
Community Mixer
Community Mixer: Where Creative and Business Professionals Exchange Ideas
Hudson Valley Books for Humanity is honored to host this month’s Community Mixer, a vibrant gathering where connections are made across industries, interests, and identities. Come find out what all the buzz is about!
Community Mixers are designed to bring together people from all walks of life—artists, entrepreneurs, educators, activists, tech minds, and beyond. It’s a space where new ideas spark, collaborations form, and neighbors become allies. Come enjoy a fun ice breaker, light snacks provided by Melike Turkish Cuisine, and jazz in the background.
There is no charge to attend. Cash bar (beer, wine, cider), with complimentary seltzers, water, and tea.
Nonprofit highlight: Our spotlight this time falls on Hudson Link for Higher Education. For nearly 30 years, Hudson Link for Higher Education has provided higher education opportunities to incarcerated people in New York State, as well as reentry resources and support upon their release.
We encourage you to check out these Community Mixer sponsors: Smart Test Prep, Melike Turkish Cuisine, Friends of Music, Well Collab Acupuncture, Ritual Yoga, RL Designs, Sound Safari, Throne & Key, Just Eyes, Form Sense Photos, Health Vibes Only!
Need more info? Contact Community914Mixer@gmail.com
Author Talk and Book Signing with Séamus McElearney and Barbara Finkelstein: Flipping Capo: How the FBI Dismantled the Real Sopranos
Join co-authors Séamus McElearney and Barbara Finkelstein for an in-depth look at how McElearney helped dismantle a murderous criminal enterprise extending from New York to Florida. Book signing and Q&A to follow.
CANCELED: (Re)Writing the Legacy of Trauma: A Discussion with authors Aron Hirt-Manheimer and Ellen Satinof
Local authors Ellen Satinoff and Aron Hirt-Manheimer come together for a discussion of generational familial dysfunction and trauma, and share insights into resilience, healing, and confronting the past. A Q&A and book signing will follow the discussion.
Hudson River Singing Circle
For all who love to sing and make sound! A special New Year’s edition.
Book Launch: "A Walk Down Memory Lane" by Sarah Bracey White
Join us to celebrate the publication of southern storyteller Sarah Bracey White’s new book, “A Walk Down Memory Lane.”
Make a Scene Production: Holiday Story Hour
An evening of scenes, songs, stories and more . . .
Meet & Greet John Cappello
Meet & Greet John Cappello, Democrat for Congress (NY-17)
Come meet Congressional Candidate John Cappello and ask him: Where do we go after Lawler & Trump? If you don’t know about John, this is your chance to learn more about his background and find out how he plans to serve our community. Light refreshments will be available.
Here are a few call-outs from his campaign website:
Service to the Community that Gave Me Everything
"Every opportunity I've had — the opportunity to attend the Air Force Academy, to serve my country, to live my dream — I've had because I was fortunate enough to grow up in this community.
At this time, when so many people are feeling those opportunities are increasingly out of reach and Congress is abdicating its responsibilities, I feel my own responsibility to step up, give back, and serve so future generations can have the same — or better — opportunities than I had."
Recommitting to Equality
"Our country was conceived in the ideal that ‘all men are created equal’ — I still believe in that commitment to equality.
This is who we are as Americans. We must continue to strive to make 'a more perfect union.'
We are at our best when we act in a way that is consistent with our ideals. We must not retreat from this promise to each other."
Better Days Are Within Reach
"I remain incredibly optimistic about the future of America. We've been through tough times before and we've emerged stronger as a country.
My optimism isn't naivety. I've taught history to Air Force cadets who are still volunteering to serve because they believe in America. I've also seen how hard people will fight for democracy.
I have seen what happens when we acknowledge our differences and take a commonsense approach to our common problems: nothing can stop us."