The past month has been a busy one. The garden keeps growing.
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| The butter beans are forming pods... |
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| These are Biltmore tomatoes... |
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| And these are Paul Robesons. |
I got to spend some time in Brooklyn, which was wonderful. I taught a short story workshop at
The Ali Forney Center to three amazing students. Roque, Paris and Jesus. They were smart, insightful and ambitious and I can't wait to see where they take their writing.
The Ali Forney Center provides support and services to homeless LGBTQ young people. This is an important and deserving cause. I had an absolutely awesome week there.
And I got to visit nearby
Green-Wood Cemetery. This is one of the grandest 19th century cemeteries in the country. Filled with loads of famous dead people and an incredible array of sculpture and monuments.
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| The entrance gates. |
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| A chapel. |
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| A lovely earn. |
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| A temple to John Anderson. |
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| An Egyptian Revival crypt. |
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| DeWitt Clinton. |
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| Even monuments to loyal pets.... |
Back in Providence, I had a great time on a walking tour of the Armory neighborhood given by the wonderful
Providence Preservation Society. They do a fantastic amount of programming and are worth checking out. The structure that dominates the neighborhood is the 1907 Armory building. We got a rare treat--a visit inside.
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| The cavernous Armory space--for military drills and reviews. |
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| They would hold track meets and sporting events here, too. Today, sadly, it is largely unused. |
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| Balconies with elaborate anchor-themed balustrades. |
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| The anchor is a prominent part of the state seal of Rhode Island. |
And I got to make a trip to Provincetown. It was a wonderful week, kicked off by a reading at the
Fine Arts Work Center. Another truly worthy organization. I was thrilled to read from
The Rebel Wife alongside a group of authors who contributed to a new anthology,
The Letter Q. The editors asked gay and lesbian authors to write letters of advice to their fourteen-year-old selves. The readers, including Michael Cunningham, Amy Bloom and Melanie Braverman, spoke beautifully and from the heart. This is definitely a book worth picking up!
And my friend's Jon and Tony had a reception for me after the reading. So wonderful!
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| Tony and Jon with sunflowers. |
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| Stephen and Peter with Clovis bookplates! |
And Clovis got to visit with some friends.
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| With Chui. |
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| Clovis doing his best Greta Garbo. |
You've been busy! That cemetery is gorgeous. I don't think Clovis is too thrilled with Chui.
ReplyDeleteHaha!! Yes! Don't you love the expression on his face? A little wary of the whole thing.... :) And I do love that face he's making, swaddled in his new birthday blanket. :)
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