Creativity Workshop: Inspired by The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad

Tap into your creative spark in this uplifting online workshop! We’ll explore prompts and exercises inspired by The Book of Alchemy—designed to help you transform your stories, challenges, and dreams into something luminous.

In this 60-minute session, we’ll explore themes from the book and engage in hands-on creative prompts designed to create, reflect, and connect in the spirit of alchemy—turning the everyday into the extraordinary.

Bring a notebook, any art supplies you love, and an open heart. No experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to play. Leave with new tools to infuse more creativity and imagination into your everyday life.

Best Things I Read in 2025

Did you fall in love with a book this year? Discover an unforgettable story? Join us for our year-end celebration called Best Things I Read in 2025, where we swap our favorite reads from the past year!

Whether you devoured five books or fifty, this is your chance to share what moved you, inspired you, or made you stay up past your bedtime.

We’ll open the floor for informal sharing, so come ready to talk books—and to take notes. You’re guaranteed to leave with a library hold list full of treasures and a fresh spark for your 2026 reading life.

✨ Bring your best recommendations.
🖊️ Have a pen and paper ready.
📖 Reinvigorate your reading life.

We can’t wait to hear what you were loving most this year!

🍲 Seasonal Recipe Swap🍁

Join us for a cozy evening of community and culinary inspiration at our Virtual Seasonal Recipe Swap! Whether you’re cooking up comfort food, sharing a family favorite, or just curious to see what others bring, this is a celebration of the season through food and connection.

What to Expect:
🌿 Bring a dish or recipe to show and tell us about — no need to cook live unless you want to!
📖 Share the story or tradition behind your recipe
📝 Swap recipes, tips, and seasonal cooking ideas
👩‍🍳 Casual, friendly, and perfect for all experience levels

Grab your favorite beverage, a pen and paper, and bring an appetite for discovery.

We can’t wait to gather with you and share the best flavors of the season!

Virgo Season Astrology Circle

Harness the grounded, introspective energy of Virgo season in a guided astrology circle designed to help you reflect, connect, and set meaningful intentions for the season ahead.

Astrology isn’t about predicting the future—it’s about recognizing the cosmic rhythms around us so we can live with more awareness and purpose. Together, we’ll explore how astrology can support our self-discovery and personal growth as we move into fall.

Drawing Mandalas to Create Calm

Learn to create original freestyle mandalas using colored pencils, markers, or gel pens in this introduction workshop. No art experience is required.

Facilitated by SheReaders member, Victoria Van Zandt, licensed marriage and family therapist and art therapist in Los Angeles, CA. Victoria has been working with women for over 20 years helping them access their creative selves using poetry, art making and journaling. Creativity aids in managing depression, anxiety and promotes greater sense of self all around.

Join us for this fun and creative event on Zoom!

Bowling and Dinner at Radio Social

Bowling and Dinner at Radio Social
Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Radio Social, 20 Carlson Rd, Rochester, NY

🎳📚 Strike Up Some Fun!

You’re invited to an evening of fun, food, and fabulous company!
Join SheReaders Book Club for a special night out at Radio Social, one of Rochester’s most exciting venues for entertainment experiences.

We’ll kick things off with bowling and laughs, then gather for a delicious dinner and conversation—no book discussion this time, just book club ladies hanging out and having a good time.

Why Yoga Now with Peggy H

Peggy Hill is a Certified Yoga Instructor and Founder & Educator at Yoga with Peggy H™, a health/ wellness business that specializes in improving the quality of life, health, and productivity within communities. She customizes and teaches transformative yoga programs to adults at community-based organizations and workplaces. Her motto is Yoga with Peggy H is Simple. Effective. For LifeT™.

Prior to starting her wellness business, Peggy spent over 30 years at Fortune 100 companies in various strategic and innovative roles including Engineering, Strategic Marketing, Process Improvement, and Program Management. Her non-profit board experience includes River Network, Connecticut Ballet, and George Street Playhouse. Peggy is an avid reader, and is passionate about healthy cooking and eating, urban gardening, guiding others to a healthier and vibrant lifestyle.

Creativity Workshop featuring Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles

“When the there are ugly things happening, we must search for beauty.”
– Amy Tan

Get ready, because Amy Tan, novelist turned naturalist, is about to make you fall allthe way in love with birds! At this discussion we’ll talk about her newest book, “The Backyard Bird Chronicles”.

We’ll discover new ways to connect with the world around us through nature journaling and we’ll learn how Amy gets to know herself better by closely watching the animals around her.

Once you get your copy, grab a pair of binoculars, a sketch pad, your favorite drawing instruments, and head outside!

Come to this meeting and share what is happening in your own backyard. If you would like to, bring one of your journaling creations to share with the group. We can’t wait to see what you see!

Jewelry & the Art of Story

Jewelry and books, like wine and cheese, make a perfect pairing! Join fellow SheReaders member and award-winning author, Linda Rosen, for an engaging conversation about the heirloom jewelry featured in her novels. Bring your own piece of jewelry to share, and together, we’ll weave a captivating story around your grandmother’s pearls, your mother’s charm bracelet, Aunt Mildred’s earrings—or any other cherished treasure you have tucked away. This is a delightful and creative event you won’t want to miss!

Taurus Beaver Full Moon Circle: With Bonnie Ho Gabaeff

For generations, women have revered the moon as a mystical force connecting us to our spiritual feminine essence. At this Taurus Beaver Full Moon, guest speaker Bonnie Ho Gabaeff (Tarot Intuitive & teacher at thejourneycircle.com) will be discussing Taurus energy as the divine feminine and facilitating reflections on how best to embrace the feminine side of Taurus that can sometimes be hidden behind its bull (masculine) symbology. Join us in a circle of celebration, as we honor growth and release the past, clearing the path for a new cycle of possibilities.

Full Moon Circle: Snow Moon

For generations, women have revered the moon as a mystical force connecting us to our spiritual feminine essence. During a full moon, our psychic and emotional sensitivity is heightened, offering an opportunity to tap into its gifts. By embracing this precious time, we open ourselves up to a deeper understanding of the world around us and embark on transformative journeys within. Join us in a circle of celebration, as we honor growth and release the past, clearing the path for a new cycle of possibilities. Prepare to be inspired and renewed as you depart from this event.

Non-fiction Workshop: Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin

Here we’ll discuss the non-fiction book, Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin and explore how to tap in to the power of our five senses as a path to a happier, more mindful life. We’ll discover together how to better engage with the world around us, deepen our connections, and experience more joy. Take the Five-Senses Quiz to find out your most neglected sense: https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz/the-five-senses-quiz/

Summer Reading Kickoff Party

Let’s celebrate the unofficial season of reading for pleasure. Recreational reading is all about enjoyment but sometimes we need to stir up the embers in order to reignite the passion. Reading should feel rewarding. Like a dollop of whipped cream on the strawberries of regular life. At this event, we’ll talk about some helpful tricks to add more fun and get the most out of your reading life this summer. We will also exchange recommendations so you’ll be sure to leave with a long list of book titles to pursue.

Ice Cream Social with Leigh at Pittsford Dairy

Come and enjoy an ice cream, coffee, or a pastry with Leigh while she’s in town for a visit!

I expect that it will be busy at the Dairy, especially if we’re lucky enough to have nice weather, so if we can’t find a spot to accommodate, we’ll take our treats down by the canal where we can sit and chat. I’ll send a message with my cell phone number to anyone who RSVPs so we can coordinate.

I hope many of our Rochester members can make it! Looking forward to seeing you there.

Non-fiction Workshop: Bitter-sweet by Susan Cain

Here we’ll discuss the non-fiction book Bittersweet by Susan Cain to discover how sorrow and longing make us whole. Some of our heaviest emotions can teach us to see the light. By learning to tap in to the power of a melancholic outlook, we can reap more creativity, spirituality, and love in our lives.