On June 17, 2023, The Writing Institute co-hosted the first Books on the Barge event with Groundwork Hudson Valley and Tables of Contents. This unique literary event focused on climate fiction, with small bites inspired by Allegra Hyde’s short story collection The Last Catastrophe. Chef Evan Hanzcor, creator of Tables of Contents, brings stories to life with menus inspired by fiction, paired with thoughtful author interviews. In The Last Catastrophe, characters grapple with a world broken by climate change. Named a best book of the year by the Chicago Review of Books, this collection was the perfect centerpiece to our climate fiction literary event.
When Writing Institute instructor and alum Kathy Curto ‘89 MFA ‘12 first introduced the idea of collaborating with Tables of Contents, it only made sense to bring this unique event to a unique venue. The Science Barge is an off the grid floating farm on the Hudson River in Yonkers, and Groundwork HV was keen on co-hosting this special evening of literature and food with us. The mission of Groundwork HV is to create sustainable environmental change in urban neighborhoods through community-based partnerships. Books on the Barge is an example of bringing arts and science together for the Yonkers community.
Pop-up thunderstorms chased the event inside to Sarah Lawrence College CURB, where guests were greeted with homemade biscuits and anchovy butter to kick off the evening. With views of the moody Hudson River, guests gathered at tables in the science center, flanked by burbling tanks of turtles and other river creatures. After a reading by Allegra, Chef Evan Hanzcor and team brought out sardine sandwiches in fresh pita, inspired by the visceral description of caravan life in the collection’s first story “Mobilization.”
“As a person and as a writer, I’m oscillating between catastrophe and possibility,” Allegra said during her interview with Evan Hazncor. Her collection of short stories have been praised for their ability to bring humor and humanity to the climate crisis. “No one really wants to think about climate change. It’s a challenge to emotionally engage with it…it’s pushed me as a writer to bring as much humanity and love and care and beauty to make this material resonate.”
It was uplifting to listen to Allegra in conversation with Evan, as they discussed everything from favorite snacks while writing (Allegra makes a mean granola) to what climate fiction can make possible. As the evening wrapped up, Allegra produced a copy of her own book and asked guests and others to sign it, as she’d been having audiences do throughout her book tour. It was a memorable way to mark such a memorable evening.
This project was made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by ArtsWestchester.
