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.

05/21/2026

May's installment might've been the hottest night of the year so far... but it's time to properly welcome summer with a pre-solstice post-graduation installment of Night School, our monthly reading series! Join Lindsey Danis, Corey Haydu, Emily Nemens, Miranda Schulman, and Sarah Wang on Tuesday June 16th for readings, giveaways, toasts, signings, and more!

Free to attend, as always—but we'll have some tasty sips and treats for you. Plus, pick up the Night School books in a batch and get 'em at a Night-School-only discount! (Members *always* get a discount!)

05/21/2026

May’s featured tea latte:

The Passionfruit According to G.H. 🌱

Thai tea from , passionfruit, mint, condensed coconut, and your milk of choice.

Tropical vibes, slightly sweet, refreshing—terrific served iced on a hot day.

Available all month long!

Drink design by .

05/20/2026

Today is Hudson Valley Gives Day!

Find your cause. Ours this year is the Ulster County SPCA ♥️

The is our local no-kill animal shelter, and they’re almost entirely donor-funded. They do incredible work on a shoestring budget, and they need our help!

Today only, there’s a $5000 match available. Give to the UCSPCA, and see your donation double instantly.

And if not this cause, find one that means the most to you!

05/20/2026

Jesmyn Ward, Mary Beard, Ali Smith…

Ancient Sparta, alien abduction, ending loneliness…

…and everything in between.

A big new book day, as we approach Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start to summer. Grab one of these plus a cold, cold beverage, and make a day of it!

📸 by .

05/18/2026

MISSION MONDAY!!

A portion of today’s sales will go to !

Hudson Valley Amps is an arts and activism organization for girls, trans and gender expansive youth ages 14-17.

“Our mission is to create a safe space for rockstars to learn about music, social justice, and leadership skills in order to give each camper the tools they need to become empowered advocates for themselves and their communities. We prioritize amplifying voices that embody intersecting marginalized identities. We support these teens as they find a way to express themselves through art & music. In order to reach the students we intend to serve, it is part of Hudson Valley Amps’ mission to offer all programming for free or on a sliding scale and to provide instruments for the duration of camp.”

Swing by today to learn more and/or contribute to this great local cause!