Bethel Poet Laureate

08/28/2026

😻

08/26/2026

What a night! 🌿📚✨

A huge thanks to Byrd's and Cortney Davis for hosting a wonderful poetry book group at the bookstore. We discussed Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz.

Afterward, we headed over to Notch8, where we streamed the beautiful and deeply inspiring documentary Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World through the sound system and on the large screens throughout the bar. It’s now streaming on PBS, highly recommend!

What a turnout, and what a wonderful way to gather around poetry, art and community. Thank you Tony Heslin for all you did to make this happen for us last minute. 🙏🙏🙏

08/24/2026

Make your Tuesday Evening this week extraordinary! August 25th!

Join us in Bethel for a wonderful evening of poetry

📚 7:00–8:30 PM
The Byrd’s Books Poetry Group will be discussing Postcolonial Love Poem by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natalie Diaz. Location is at Byrd's Books

🎬 9:00 PM
Then head over to the patio at Notch8, where we’ll be streaming the premiere of the new American Masters documentary:

MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD

The film celebrates the life, work, loves, and extraordinary legacy of one of America’s most beloved poets. It premieres nationwide on PBS tomorrow night at 9 PM ET. (PBS)

Drop-ins are welcome for BOTH events! Come for one or make a whole evening of poetry out of it.

📍 Notch8, 1 Front Street, Bethel
🎥 Documentary begins at 9:00 PM

Hope to see you there! 🌿

Byrd's Books Bethel Arts Town of Bethel - CT CT Poets Laureate Danbury Poet Laureate Barb Fulton JennesRick Magee

08/21/2026

Honored to be part of this wonderful poetry event in Norwalk, hosted by the ever-effervescent Norwalk Poet Laureate, Katherine E. Schneider.

Come join us! Sign up through Eventbrite using the link below. Hope to see you there!

An exciting evening of featured poets & writers + open mic on the patio at The Spread in South Norwalk!

08/10/2026

Young Poets, this is for you!

Young poets: only a week left to enter our current writing challenge! Write a poem inspired by the world of dreams for the chance to win poetry prizes and opportunities ☁️

Find prompts and enter by 16 August on Young Poets Network: bit.ly/DreamsYPN

Young Poets Network is The Poetry Society’s online platform for young poets up to the age of 25. Here you’ll find features about poets and poetry, challenges and competitions to inspire your own writing, new writing from young poets, and advice and guidance from the rising and established stars of the poetry scene. We also bring you the latest news and ideas from the writing world, and a list of competitions, magazines and writing groups which particularly welcome young writers. Find out more at ypn.poetrysociety.org.uk

08/06/2026

These are zoom workshops. 🥰

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming August Workshops! ✍️☀️📝 Our August workshops include both Multi-Week and Weekend Intensive Workshops.

Multi-Week Workshops are typically 4- to 6-week classes that meet at the same time each week and are conducted via Zoom. Our Weekend Intensive Workshops are each 2–4 hours long and will be conducted via Zoom, with one in-person option! Participants will have the opportunity to explore poetry and prose through weekly writing prompts, readings, and engaging discussions.

Don't miss out on learning from and creating with incredible authors. Sign up today: https://www.writerscenter.org/workshops

08/06/2026

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbqiV7xASMB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

08/04/2026

Only 6 spots available for this Pop-Up Poetry Prompt Writing Workshop - August 5th from 1-2:30 pm in my studio upstairs in Molten Java. It's free. Please register to attend. If the workshop is full, there will be another on August 19th from 1:00-2:30. Hope to see you Wednesday!

Register using this link for the August 5th Worshop - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pop-up-poetry-prompt-writing-workshop-tickets-1996531572679

Register using this link for the August 19th Workshop -
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pop-up-poetry-prompt-writing-workshop-august-19th-tickets-1996531923729

08/03/2026

🍂 We’re back!

Happy to share our featured poets for our Open Mic nights and the leaders for our Poetry & Storytelling Writing Workshops over the next three months.

Join us beginning September 1 at Molten Java Coffee Roasters.

📚 Save the dates.

We can’t wait to welcome you back! ❤️

Please follow on FB and Instagram for all events.

Bethel Arts Barb Fulton Jennes Robert Piazza Hannah Lipman Town of Bethel - CT Molten Java Phin Knapp Danbury Poet Laureate