“There is no better tonic for the heart than poetry,” says Alice Hutchinson, owner of Bethel’s decade-young independent book shop, Byrd’s Books. “It can soothe, incite, educate, fortify, and more — but it is always best when heard read aloud by the poet.” On Friday, March 11th at 7:00pm Byrd’s Books will kick off a return to its popular monthly Spring Poetry Series as the community for which it serves as a unique gathering place begins to re-gather and re-buzz.
Poets participating in the March 11th evening reading, to be presented virtually on Crowdcast, include Leslie Bulion, Susan Hood, Alan Katz, Gail Carson Levine, Marilyn Nelson, and Bethel’s newly named poet laureate, Rick Magee. A professor at Sacred Heart University since 2003, Rick will participate in all four Spring Poetry Series readings. Known for his in depth interest in ecocriticism, he is equally recognized among the top ten competitive cyclists locally.
In keeping with a care-full return to everydayness, the first evening of the Series will be presented virtually on Crowdcast, but the second evening in April will be hosted both in store and on Zoom, and the last two events, both in May, will join poetry fanatics (what is the word for a lover of poetry?) in store. Registration is required and can be made by visiting ByrdsBooks.com, where you’ll find complete details and updates.
Byrd’s Books is located at 178 Greenwood Avenue, across from the Bethel Public Library. Author discussions and Book Group gatherings are regularly added to Byrd’s Books’ calendar of events at ByrdsBooks.com Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays 10:00am to 6:00pm and Sundays 12:00 noon to 4:00pm. Byrd’s Books requires masks and provides a hand sanitizer for everyone’s safety. For directions to the store or more information, call Byrd’s Books at 203-730-2973. To review the shop’s expanded catalog of new titles, go to ByrdsBooks.com
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