Rough Draft Bar & Books

08/14/2026

Happy August, RD friends and fam! This is a bit of a quieter month at your neighborhood bookstore bar, as we do our best to soak up these fleeting final weeks before the back-to-school routines set in. We're still here every day, though, and the new books keep rolling in. Just this week we've got fresh titles (https://bookshop.org/lists/new-books?bkshp-astro=t) from Chang-Rae Lee, Téa Obreht, Richard Russo, and more -- plus an always rotating list of local beers and a fantastic slate of monthly coffee and tea specials (https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbe1oIZhx-8/) . Plus, the few events we are hosting in August are pretty good ones, if we do say so ourselves. Stop in for a trivia night, a book club meetup, a drink in the parklet, or one of the special occasions below. And don't forget to do your summer reading!

QUICK LINKS

• Try Our New August Drink Specials (https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbe1oIZhx-8/)
• NYT's Best Thrillers Of the 21st Century (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/books/best-thriller-books-21st-century.html?unlocked_article_code=1.4lA.ne7C.GQJxpyz2fkL2&smid=url-share)
• A Summer Reading Challenge For Adults (https://bookshop.org/lists/summer-reading-adventure-the-national-book-foundation-s-reading-challenge-for-adults?curated=false&bkshp-astro=t) (With Prizes!)
• Bookshop.org Gift Cards (https://bookshop.org/gift_cards) : For Book Lovers Anywhere!

UPCOMING BOOK CLUBS

Tuesday, August 25: Policy + Politics Book Club discusses The End of Reality by Jonathan Taplin

Monday, August 31: Rewind Vintage Book Club discusses The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Tuesday, September 6: The Usual Suspects Book Club discusses The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer

Monday, September 14: Upsate Reads Book Club discusses Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

More about our book clubs
Do you have your own local book club? Email [email protected] if you're interested in meeting at Rough Draft, group book discounts, or joint promotional efforts!

THIS WEEK'S STAFF PICKS

NEW RELEASES

Email [email protected] to reserve a copy for in-store pickup, or click the links below to order for home delivery from Bookshop.

Open 7 days | 8 am to 8 pm
[email protected] | 845-802-0027

Click here for an update from Rough Draft Bar & Books!

07/23/2026

This summer so far is one for the weather books, with everything from heat waves to wildfire smoke to tornado watches in just the last couple of weeks. And as much as we love curling up inside with a good book, we're big outdoors people, too -- watching the forecast eagerly for those perfect Hudson Valley days for hiking, swimming, or just laying in a hammock under the maple tree in our yard.

Today has turned into one of those days, actually, as we write this newsletter from our porch, with RD mascot Brutus Springsteen sunbathing nearby in the grass. So it's fitting that we're welcoming author Robert Moor to the shop this evening to celebrate his new book, In Trees, a highly anticipated follow-up to his bestselling On Trails. We hope you'll join us or pick up a signed copy afterward, and that his work inspires you to explore a deeper relationship with nature here in this beautiful region we call home.

Of course, there are plenty of other things going on in and around the shop, too: Read on for more upcoming events, new books this week, staff picks, and more. And we hope you have a lovely weekend ahead, whether you find yourself indoors or out.

QUICK LINKS

• Friday: Ambient Sounds Night (https://www.roughdraftny.com/events/2026/7/24/ambient-sounds-night-with-dj-die-cry-h8) from 6:30 to 8:30
• Try It: The Tea-rrible, Herb-ible So Good Berry Rad Latte (https://www.instagram.com/p/Danbp4kh4gv/)
• Drew's Latest Book Picks (https://www.wamc.org/podcast/the-roundtable/2026-07-14/book-picks-the-rough-draft-bar-books-and-odyssey-bookshop) on WAMC's Roundtable
• Bookshop.org Gift Cards (https://bookshop.org/gift_cards) : For Book Lovers Anywhere!

UPCOMING BOOK CLUBS

Monday, July 27: Rewind Vintage Book Club discusses And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

Tuesday, July 28: Policy + Politics Book Club discusses Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria

Monday, August 3: Upsate Reads Book Club discusses American Fantasy by Emma Straub

Tuesday, August 11: The Usual Suspects Book Club discusses First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Thursday, August 13: Read Like a Writer Book Club discusses What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

More about our book clubs
Do you have your own local book club? Email [email protected] if you're interested in meeting at Rough Draft, group book discounts, or joint promotional efforts!

THIS WEEK'S STAFF PICKS

NEW RELEASES

Email [email protected] to reserve a copy for in-store pickup, or click the links below to order for home delivery from Bookshop.

Open 7 days | 8 am to 8 pm
[email protected] | 845-802-0027

Click here for an update from Rough Draft Bar & Books!

07/10/2026

Summer is in full swing and we've got a big weekend ahead of us: Today we're screening the World Cup at 3 pm and hosting live music with Groovepin from 6:30 to 8:30, while over at our sister shop, Kingston Bread, we've got falafel night and a midtown block party on Field Court!

Tomorrow should be a busy farmers market morning, and in the afternoon we'll be screening the Norway v. England World Cup Quarterfinal. Then we head over to Senate Garage for our event with author Daniel Mason and his new book, Country People. This special night (in our future home!) is almost sold out, but there are a few tickets left!

Sunday we're hosting a special story hour with children's book author Meghan Arcuri, who will read from her new book, Hobie the Bear -- a sweet story that highlights those who have physical disabilities, celebrating their efforts and those of the parents who support them.

Details on these events and more below! Stop in this weekend for a cold drink (https://www.instagram.com/p/DaP8bUkB81P/) , pick up a new read, and say hi to your neighbors. We hope you have a So Good Berry Rad (https://www.instagram.com/p/Danbp4kh4gv/) weekend!

QUICK LINKS

• Our 2026 Chronogram Readers Choice (https://www.instagram.com/p/DaeUAwNh47r/) Wins!
• Bestselling New Paperbacks (https://bookshop.org/lists/new-books-in-paperback?new-list-page=true&curated=false) Summer Vacay
• RD Recommends: Chill Books to Beat the Heat (https://bookshop.org/lists/beat-the-heat)
• Bookshop.org Gift Cards (https://bookshop.org/gift_cards) : For Book Lovers Anywhere!

UPCOMING BOOK CLUBS

Monday, July 13: Upstate Reads Book Club discusses Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber

Tuesday, July 14: The Usual Suspects Book Club discusses Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Tuesday, July 28: Policy + Politics Book Club discusses Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria

Monday, June 29: Rewind Vintage Book Club discusses Martyr! by Kaveh
Akbar

More about our book clubs
Do you have your own local book club? Email [email protected] if you're interested in meeting at Rough Draft, group book discounts, or joint promotional efforts!

THIS WEEK'S STAFF PICKS

NEW RELEASES

Email [email protected] to reserve a copy for in-store pickup, or click the links below to order for home delivery from Bookshop.

Open 7 days | 8 am to 8 pm
[email protected] | 845-802-0027

Click here for an update from Rough Draft Bar & Books!

07/03/2026

The holiday weekend is upon us, and so is the heat. Our A/C will be on full blast all weekend, and we've got lots of cold drinks (https://www.instagram.com/p/DaVNHoPBWzN/) and chill reads (https://bookshop.org/lists/beat-the-heat) to take your mind off the temps outside. (Just sayin', books don't heat up the way electronics do ...) We'll be open regular hours every day this coming week, and we're also popping up at the Farmers Market with author Julia Turshen on Saturday!

Meanwhile, seats are filling up for our very first event at our future home, Senate Garage. On Saturday, July 11, we're welcoming Daniel Mason, author of 2023's bestselling North Woods, to Kingston to celebrate the launch of his NEW novel, Country People. Tickets for this event come with a copy of the book and are available now, and we hope you'll take the opportunity to come see our new space and help us envision the next iteration of Rough Draft.

Get more details on these events below, plus next week's live music from Groovepin, upcoming Kids' Story Hours, new books, this week's staff pick, our new Membership Program, and more. Stay cool!

QUICK LINKS

• Summer Reading (https://www.kingstonlibrary.org/childrens-library/summer-reading-program/) at The Kingston Library
• America at 250 Reading List (https://bookshop.org/lists/america-at-250-celebrating-our-triumphs-confronting-our-truths) : Celebrating Our Triumphs; Confronting Our Truths
• Bestselling Games & Puzzle Books (https://bookshop.org/categories/m/gifts-games-puzzles) for Summer Vacay
• RD Recommends: Chill Books to Beat the Heat (https://bookshop.org/lists/beat-the-heat)

UPCOMING BOOK CLUBS

Thursday, July 9: Read Like a Writer Book Club discusses Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver.

Monday, July 13: Upstate Reads Book Club discusses Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber

Tuesday, July 14: The Usual Suspects Book Club discusses Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Tuesday, July 28: Policy + Politics Book Club discusses Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria

Monday, June 29: Rewind Vintage Book Club discusses Martyr! by Kaveh
Akbar

More about our book clubs
Do you have your own local book club? Email [email protected] if you're interested in meeting at Rough Draft, group book discounts, or joint promotional efforts!

THIS WEEK'S STAFF PICKS

NEW RELEASES

Email [email protected] to reserve a copy for in-store pickup, or click the links below to order for home delivery from Bookshop.

Open 7 days | 8 am to 8 pm
[email protected] | 845-802-0027

Click here for an update from Rough Draft Bar & Books!

06/24/2026

Happy New Title Tuesday (well, it's Wednesday now, but you get the idea), and Happy Anti-Prime Day for those who celebrate —and we hope that includes you! Because every time you choose to shop at a local small business or independent bookstore (and not Amazon) you’re strengthening community ties, building more sustainable neighborhoods, and helping us booksellers foster a love of reading for generations to come. So instead of ordering online this week, drop in and browse the stacks, ask for a personal recommendation from our team, sip on a beer or coffee, and enjoy some World Cup action. You know, human stuff.

If you do need a book delivered, consider shopping on Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/info/anti-prime-day) . A portion of every sale can go to your favorite indie bookstore, and they have free shipping now through Friday!

Speaking of in-person events, seats are filling up for our very first event at our future home, Senate Garage! On Saturday, July 11, we're welcoming Daniel Mason, author of 2023's bestselling North Woods, to Kingston to celebrate the launch of his NEW novel, Country People. Tickets for this event come with a copy of the book and are available now, and we hope you'll take the opportunity to come see our new space and help us envision the next interation of Rough Draft.

Get more details below, plus next week's events with author Julia Turshen, Friday's live music from The Danny Silversmith Trio, upcoming Kids' Story Hours, new books, this week's staff pick, our new Membership Program, and more. School may be out for the summer, but books and brews are always in!

QUICK LINKS

• Meet the Union Leader (https://bookshop.org/info/anti-prime-day?bsbanner=1 ) Who Took On Amazon & Won
• The 100 Best Novels (https://bookshop.org/lists/the-100-best-novels-of-all-time-according-to-the-guardian?new-list-page=true&curated=false) of All Time
• Bestselling Games & Puzzle Books (https://bookshop.org/categories/m/gifts-games-puzzles) for Summer Vacay

UPCOMING BOOK CLUBS

Monday, June 29: Rewind Vintage Book Club discusses Martyr! by Kaveh
Akbar

Thursday, July 9: Read Like a Writer Book Club discusses Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver.

Monday, July 13: Upstate Reads Book Club discusses Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber

Tuesday, July 14: The Usual Suspects Book Club discusses Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Tuesday, July 28: Policy + Politics Book Club discusses Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria

More about our book clubs
Do you have your own local book club? Email [email protected] if you're interested in meeting at Rough Draft, group book discounts, or joint promotional efforts!

THIS WEEK'S STAFF PICKS

NEW RELEASES

Email [email protected] to reserve a copy for in-store pickup, or click the links below to order for home delivery from Bookshop.

Open 7 days | 8 am to 8 pm
[email protected] | 845-802-0027

Click here for an update from Rough Draft Bar & Books!

06/11/2026

Hey, Kingston! It's about to be that time again: Every four years, your favorite neighborhood bookstore-bar-coffee shop becomes (gasp!) a sports bar?! No, we're not talking about the Knicks; we're talking about the World Cup! Matches start this Sunday, and we'll be playing the ones that line up with our schedule and with popular demand.

Meanwhile, we're also every excited to be planning our very first event at our future home down the street and around the corner at Senate Garage. On Saturday, July 11, we're welcoming Daniel Mason, author of 2023's bestselling North Woods, to Kingston to celebrate the launch of his NEW novel, Country People. Tickets for this event come with a copy of the book and are available now, and we hope you'll take the opportunity to come see our new space and help us envision the next interation of Rough Draft!

Get more details below on both of these developments, plus next week's Night School reading series, tomorrow's live music from The Broken Heartstrings, new books, this week's staff pick, our new membership program, and more. And stop in this week to try our new June drinks (or an affogato (https://www.instagram.com/p/DZadoNjhE-n/) !), browse the stacks, and enjoy some time in the A/C or the parklet.

QUICK LINKS

• Get 15% Off (https://bookshop.org/info/pride) Select Books for Pride Month
• Shop Bookshop.org for E-Books for Under $4 (https://bookshop.org/lists/ebook-deals:-less-than-$4?new-list-page=true&curated=true)
• Bestselling Games & Puzzle Books (https://bookshop.org/categories/m/gifts-games-puzzles) for Summer Vacay

UPCOMING BOOK CLUBS

Thursday, June 11: Read Like a Writer Book Club discusses We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, tr. Robin Myers.

Monday, June 22: Upstate Reads Book Club discusses Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild.

Tuesday, June 23: Policy + Politics Book Club discusses Master Plan
The Hidden Plot to Legalize Corruption in America by David Sirota and
Jared Jacang Maher

Monday, June 29: Rewind Vintage Book Club discusses Martyr! by Kaveh
Akbar

More about our book clubs
Do you have your own local book club? Email [email protected] if you're interested in meeting at Rough Draft, group book discounts, or joint promotional efforts!

THIS WEEK'S STAFF PICK

NEW RELEASES

Email [email protected] to reserve a copy for in-store pickup, or click the links below to order for home delivery from Bookshop.

Open 7 days | 8 am to 8 pm
[email protected] | 845-802-0027

Click here for an update from Rough Draft Bar & Books!

05/27/2026

Greetings from John and Crown streets. We've got lots of news to share!

First, please note that we'll be closing early on both Friday (6:30 pm) and Sunday (1 pm) for a private event and a staff outing, respectively. We apologize for the inconvenience, but are grateful to have some time to kick back and relax with our amazing team!

Second, we've got lots of events coming up next week: Read on for details about the new books and authors we're celebrating both in-store and off-site -- there's even a companion movie screening at Upstate Films in Midtown!

And finally, we're thrilled to announce a brand new Sustaining Member Program here at Rough Draft. Members will contribute a monthly amount (at various tiers, starting at $5) in return for some members-only merch, discounts, and events over the coming year. As we gear up for our move and expansion into a larger space next year, our hope is that these memberships help fund our goals of adding more books, menu options, new staff, and community programing.

This membership model is one that's increasingly being adopted by indie bookstores around the country, and we're eager to see how it works for us. But don't worry: Rough Draft will never be a members-only space or an exclusive club; in fact, we hope this program will help us maintain our values of inclusivity and accessibility for many years to come. These extra perks are just our way of saying an extra thank you to the folks who keep us going day in and day out -- whether you're supporting us in person or from afar. Visit our membership page to learn more (https://withfriends.co/Rough_Draft_Bar_and_Books/join) .

See below for upcoming events, new books, staff picks, and more. Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you soon!

QUICK LINKS

• Get 15% Off (https://bookshop.org/info/mental-health-awareness-month) Inspiring Titles for Mental Health Awareness Month
• Gardening Books (https://bookshop.org/lists/gardening-books-for-a-greener-world) for a Greener World
• Bestselling Games & Puzzle Books (https://bookshop.org/categories/m/gifts-games-puzzles) for Summer Vacay

UPCOMING BOOK CLUBS

Tuesday, June 9: The Usual Suspects Book Club discusses Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell.

Thursday, June 11: Read Like a Writer Book Club discusses We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, tr. Robin Myers.

Monday, June 22: Upstate Reads Book Club discusses Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild.

Tuesday, June 23: Policy + Politics Book Club discusses Master Plan
The Hidden Plot to Legalize Corruption in America by David Sirota and
Jared Jacang Maher

Monday, June 29: Rewind Vintage Book Club discusses Martyr! by Kaveh
Akbar

More about our book clubs
Do you have your own local book club? Email [email protected] if you're interested in meeting at Rough Draft, group book discounts, or joint promotional efforts!

THIS WEEK'S STAFF PICK

NEW RELEASES

Email [email protected] to reserve a copy for in-store pickup, or click the links below to order for home delivery from Bookshop.

Open 7 days | 8 am to 8 pm
[email protected] | 845-802-0027

Click here for an update from Rough Draft Bar & Books!

05/26/2026

Tuesday = New Books!

A gorgeous day for a coffee, a book, and a beer…not necessarily in that order. ☕️ 📖 🍺

Open til 8pm.

📸 by

05/25/2026

Saturday night, May 30th, over at !

Join us as we raise funds for a cause near and dear to our hearts: Our furry friends at the , and all the lovely humans that take care of them.

The Ulster County SPCA is a private, nonprofit organization that has been serving its namesake county since 1891. They are a no-kill shelter providing temporary homes for animals seeking adoption, as well as a host of other services that aim to reduce the abuse and homelessness of animals.

Believe it or not, they are funded almost entirely by private donations. Thats where you come in!

Saturday night we’ll be hanging at Tubby’s alongside some wonderful DJs. Donate at the door, grab a beverage, enjoy the music, and know you’re helping to save a furry (or scaly, or feathered) friend or two 🐶 🐱 🐹 🦎 🐓

05/22/2026

Our killer kick-off to June continues on Wednesday 6/3 with a return to our beloved Brunette! We're bringing the incredible Courtney Maum and her new hilarious summer romp ALAN OPTS OUT—in conversation with the one and only Halimah Marcus! They'll be chatting about capitalism, comedy, horse girls, and more.

Come for a bite and a sip and a book, it's gonna be a delightful evening! Words start around 7pm, but get there early and treat yourself! At Brunette, it's *always* worth it.