Tompkins Corners
Special Events
Films, Talks, Education and more!

"Songs of Slavery and Emancipation"
Film by Mat Callahan with Q&A to follow
Saturday, June 23rd, 7:30 pm $10

The Documentary Film, Songs of Slavery and Emancipation, tells of the discovery of a long-lost revolutionary slave song and the odyssey that led to its recording. Following will be a talk by the Director that expands on the film's material and a question-and-answer period.

A collection of songs composed and sung by slaves either preparing or commemorating revolt, Songs of Slavery and Emancipation also includes songs of the abolitionist movement dedicated to the eradication of the slave system. Many of the abolitionist songs were composed by fugitive slaves or free black people and were widely disseminated in the Northern States between the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Meeting the musicians and educators who joined the effort to bring these songs to life is vividly recalled in this stirring documentary. More than fifty musicians from many parts of the country are shown as they rehearse and perform songs that have not been heard for more than one hundred years. The result is a musical and historical document available for the first time to the general public.

"Mat Callahan's Songs of Slavery and Emancipation restores to view a wonderful trove of verses that give us access to the voices and lived experience of enslaved African Americans and their abolitionist supporters. It is an invaluable historical and musical resource." - James G. Basker, Richard Gilder Professor of Literary History at Barnard College, Columbia University.
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"What's Your Story"
True, life-changing stories of journeys
Saturday, May 20th, 7:30 pm

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"What’s Your Story?” First presented at Tompkins Corners in 2018, we are pleased to bring you a new evening of true stories, told live, without notes, by individuals from different walks of life.

Everyone has a story that is at the core of who they are. Sharing them, we share ourselves. This show’s theme is Journey. You can expect some exciting, life-changing travel adventures and moving personal journeys that take you along on the storyteller’s transformation from one place in life to a new one.

Storytelling, one of our oldest art forms, is enjoying a revival in formats such as “The Moth” and “This American Life.” “What’s Your Story?” brings this riveting spoken word art form to Tompkins Corners.

Be advised that some of the stories may be on adult themes. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased in advance or at the door.

Alexander Harris, Nature Photographer
Documenting the World Around Him
Sunday, March 12th, 11:00 am Free

The Roaring Brook Lake Garden Club, in collaboration with Tompkins Corners, invites you to a presentation by Alex Harris. 

​Alex is a professional saxophonist, mentalist, magician and photographer living in New York’s Hudson Valley. He works on all these disciplines in his home studio; that is, when the work doesn’t take him to royal palaces, world-renowned jazz clubs, or the hippest spots for magic and mentalism in New York City, his native London, and beyond — as it often does.

As a photographer and videographer, his interests lie in documenting the world around him, be it the streets of Manhattan, the edge of the Hudson River, or his wife, daughter, baby son, dog and chickens.

Alex will share and discuss images and experiences from his work as a nature photographer, both in his backyard and beyond.

This event is free, with donations gratefully accepted.
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Join Jim Dale
Stories and Q&A
Saturday, December 3rd, 4:00 pm

Actor, singer, director, author, lyricist, comedian, narrator, and raconteur, Jim was the youngest professional comedian on the British Music Hall stage at seventeen. He became a successful pop singer under Sir George Martin's wing, and at Sir Laurence Olivier's request, he joined the British National Theatre as a leading man in seven productions. Lord Olivier called Jim “God’s gift to Shakespeare’s comedies.”

On and Off-Broadway, Jim has over 16 credits, including the title role in Barnum with Glenn Close, for which he won both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Actor in a Musical. For Jim’s one-man show, “Just Jim Dale,” he won both the NY Drama Desk Award and the NY Outer Critics Award for “Outstanding Solo Performance.”
Jim's last musical on Broadway was as Mister Peachum in Brecht and Weill's, The Threepenny Opera, for which he was honored with a Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Richard Seff Award, Drama League Award, and a Tony Award Nomination. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II honored Jim with the MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire, in 2003, and the American Theatre Critics Assoc. inducted Jim into the American Theatre Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement in 2010.
As a narrator, he recorded all seven books in the Harry Potter series creating over 200 individual speaking character voices, winning him two Guinness World Records, two Grammy Awards, seven Grammy Nominations, four Narrator of the Year Awards, and a record ten Audie Awards.
Jim also has 30 films to his credit, including Disney’s Pete’s Dragon, and won an Academy Award nomination as a lyricist for writing the title song to the film, Georgy Girl.
This film will be shown at the Putnam Valley Library
​30 Oscawana Lake Rd, Putnam Valley, NY

The Pound Ridge Massacre
Documentary Film
Sunday, August 21st, 11:00 am
Shown at the Putnam Valley Library

Jon Scott Bennett, a student filmmaker pursuing a B.A. in History, will present his fascinating documentary,  The Pound Ridge Massacre.

​In 1644, a combined force of Dutch and English colonists attacked a Native American village in present day Westchester, NY. It was one of the deadliest attacks on the indigenous people on the Atlantic Coast. This is the story of that event, the colony of New Netherland (later New York), and the "River Tribes" of the Hudson River Valley.
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This film is being shown by the Putnam Valley Library in partnership with Tompkins Corners.

The Leatherman:
An American Vagabond
Sunday, July 17th, 11:00 am

Jon Scott Bennett, a student filmmaker pursuing a B.A. in History, will present his extraordinary documentary, The Leatherman, An American Vagabond. 
 
This film chronicles the journey and life of a man dressed in leather clothes who traveled through Connecticut and New York year after year from 1857 to 1889, returning to each town about every 35 days. Join us for coffee, bagels, and this fascinating film!

This film is being shown by Tompkins Corners in partnership with the Putnam Valley Library.

FILMS - FREE!
"Fifty Miles from Time Square"
and
"A Tribute to Life on the Lake"

Friday, June 17th, 3 - 6:30pm

In honor of “Celebrate Putnam” and Putnam County’s 210th Anniversary, Tompkins Corners will partner with the Putnam Valley Historical Society to present two short films. 

A new 18-minute documentary, “A Tribute to Life on the Lake,” has been created by the PV Historical Society. Using historic postcards donated to the Historian’s Collection by David and Kathryn Bisbee, this film will feature some amazing Lake Oscawana images and is narrated by Dan Ricci, Town Historian.

Following will be John Cohen’s documentary film, “Fifty Miles from Times Square,” which takes us back to what Tompkins Corners, Putnam Valley and Putnam County looked like 50 years ago.
Watch an excerpt of "Fifty Miles from Times Square" HERE.

Farmers Market Opens
Friday, June 17th, 3:00 - 6:30pm

Putnam Valley Residents Coalition will be presenting the 17th annual Farmers Market at Tompkins Corners Cultural Center on Fridays from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm, starting on June 17th and ending on August 26th.

  • Homestead Farm - Fruit, Produce, and plants
  • Mirthas's Pink Pastries - Cookies, Pastries,  Empanadas, and Coffee
  • ​Mozz4U - Sandwiches, fresh mozzarella and other cheeses
  • Noel's cold brewed coffee
  • Carina's Third Bean - Homemade, all natural, multi- flavored chocolate bars
  • Dell's homemade sorbets by the cup. Flavors change weekly
  • Johanna's Jewelry -   Silver jewelry with semi-precious stones.
  • Kate Hoekstra - Art work printed on handmade bags and accessories, note cards

Hudson Valley Gives
Support your favorite Cultural Center!
Wednesday, May 14th
24-hour online day of giving in the Hudson Valley!

Could you help us raise $2,000 in one day?

May 18th is a 24-hour online day of giving in the Hudson Valley.  HV Gives asks us to imagine that if all 2 million people of the Hudson Valley gave $5 to their favorite cause, 10 million dollars would go to our community organizations.

This summer, we will begin the work of restoring our 190-year-old Carriage Shed. While figuring out how to present concerts outdoors during the pandemic, we found that the shed provided a protected and intimate, yet open, performance space. As our mission includes preserving our church and shed, the only buildings in Putnam Valley recorded on the State and National Register of Historic Places, we will  begin working on our 190-year-old Carriage Shed this summer.

Each gift made during this campaign will go towards this project. You will not only be contributing to Tompkins Corners, but to the preservation of Putnam County history!

Giving starts now and will end at 11:59 PM on May 18, so make sure to get your gift in on time!
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We thank you in advance for your generosity.

"Becoming Geppetto"
Award-winning Documentary film.  Q&A with Director Dale Lindquist
Saturday, May 7th

Director Dale Lindquist will present his award-winning documentary, Becoming Geppetto. This film chronicles the amazing journey of master guitar builder Bruce Petros and his son, Matt.  The film is frequently and delightfully punctuated by wonderful musical performances on these ornate, resonant Petros guitars. Q&A with the Director will follow. 

Surrounded by farmland in a small town in northern Wisconsin, father and son luthier duo, Bruce and Matt Petros make world-renowned acoustic guitars. These guitars have been played around the world by music giants Like Paul Simon, and this documentary showcases the quiet lives that create some of the most skillfully hand-crafted instruments available. The film received both the Jury’s Choice Award and the Audience Choice Award at the Green Bay Film Festival and was an official selection of the Wisconsin Film Festival. 

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the door or in advance at www.eventbrite.com/e/313896070597. All proceeds will benefit Tompkins Corners Cultural Center.

Tompkins Corners joins Sustainable Putnam
The Meadowing Project
In Part I of this project: Operation Mugwort, volunteers at Tompkins Corners Cultural Center dig out mugwort plants that choke out and kill native plants.  Once the land is cleared of this invasive species, a beautiful meadow of native wildflowers will be planted.  Follow us HERE!

Photo by Gerry Katzban