Join Old Fox Bibliophiles for a discussion of Birding to Change the World, Trish O’Kane’s inspiring memoir about finding purpose, community, and hope through birding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Blending environmental reflection with personal storytelling, O’Kane explores how paying closer attention to the natural world can transform the way we live within it. A thoughtful and uplifting read about resilience, curiosity, and the power of noticing.

For our April gathering, Versed Fox welcomes poet Erin O’Luanaigh, who will read from her debut book, Avail. The event will be followed by an open mic. Erin is a former jazz singer who earned an MFA in Poetry from the University of Florida. Her work has appeared in The Yale Review, AGNI, The Southern Review, and more. She is currently a Steffensen Cannon Fellow at the University of Utah. Join us for an evening of poetry, listening, and sharing.

Join Citizens & Sovereigns for a discussion of Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum, Antonia Hylton's powerful and deeply researched account of one of the last segregated asylums in the United States. Blending personal narrative with archival research, Hylton shines a light on the experiences of Black patients and families that have long been overlooked. Both illuminating and heartbreaking, Madness examines the intersection of race, mental health and systemic inequality, and asks the enduring question of who is seen, heard and cared for.

[Cancelled] No foxes gathering this June. What the Fox? returns in August.

Join us for an evening with authors Michelle Cullen and Judy L. Murray as they discuss the craft of writing, creativity, and what it takes to build a life as a full-time author. Cullen and Murray bring a wide range of experiences to their storytelling, from global adventures and academic research to life on the Chesapeake Bay. Together, they'll share their creative processes, inspirations, and the realities of the writing life. Whether you're an aspiring writer or an avid reader, we are sure you'll find this a really engaging and insightful conversation.

Join us on Thursday, June 04 from 5-7PM for Art on the Avenue, part of Plein Air Week, as Maryland Avenue transforms into a lively evening of art, music, and celebration. Stroll the avenue, meet local artists, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. More details to come—stay tuned!

Join SHE for a discussion of Women Without Men, Shahrnush Parsipur’s subversive novel that was once banned for its portrayal of female freedom. Blending magic, myth, and modern Iranian history, the novel follows five women whose paths converge in a lush garden outside Tehran. Women Without Men explores themes of autonomy, solidarity, and the possibilities of life beyond societal constraints.

Join Old Fox Bibliophiles for a discussion of The Spoiled Heart, Sunjeev Sahota’s powerful novel of love, loss, and loyalty within a working-class community. As one man’s past and political ambitions collide, long-held beliefs and buried secrets begin to unravel. A timely exploration of identity, community, and the consequences of what we leave unsaid.

Join What the Fox?! for a discussion of If We Were Villains, M. L. Rio’s dark, theatrical novel set in an elite Shakespearean conservatory where ambition blurs into obsession and performance slips into reality.

As rivalries intensify and roles take on a life of their own, nothing is as it seems. It is a haunting, exploration of identity, illusion, and the strange ways we inhabit our roles, both onstage and off.

This May, Versed Fox will explore the poetry of Wallace Stevens. Considered one of the most important 20th-century poets, Stevens is renowned for his vivid imagination and philosophical approach to poetry. He explored how we shape the world through language. Join us for a relaxed, thoughtful discussion of his work and ideas.

Join Citizens & Sovereigns this month as we read When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. In this powerful memoir, Le Ly Hayslip talks about her childhood in Vietnam during the war and how she went from being in conflict and having to leave her home to being able to come back and make peace with the situation. It's a really personal story about war, survival, and searching for peace, showing the human cost of war.

Join SHE for a discussion of Bluets, Maggie Nelson’s lyrical meditation on love, loss, and the color blue. Through the lens of personal experience, Nelson explores desire, suffering, and the limits of vision, offering a powerful reflection on the inner life of a woman navigating the complexities of the world she inhabits. A modern classic of the lyric essay, Bluets invites reflection on the beauty and melancholy of everyday life.

Join Old Fox Books for a special signing with retired Navy Captain and author Dr. John P. Cordle. Drawing on over 30 years of military service and a career shaped by leadership, Cordle brings a thoughtful and candid perspective to personal and professional growth. Dr. Cordle will be signing copies of his book Letters to Myself, a collection of reflections and lessons drawn from a lifetime of experience. Both practical and deeply personal, the book offers insight, encouragement, and guidance for readers navigating their own paths.

Join Old Fox Bibliophiles for a discussion of Reunion, Fred Uhlman’s haunting novella about friendship and its unraveling in pre-war Germany. Set in 1932, it follows the bond between two young men as the rise of Nazism quietly reshapes their world. A powerful reflection on loyalty, identity, and loss.

This month, Citizens & Sovereigns is exploring Language City by Ross Perlin. In his book, Perlin explores New York as the most linguistically diverse place on Earth. He follows speakers of endangered languages who are working to preserve their mother tongues. Join us as we discuss language, identity, and the communities fighting to preserve these voices.

This April, Versed Fox features Grace Cavalieri, an American poet and playwright who is the longtime host of the Library of Congress radio program The Poet and the Poem. She is also the tenth Poet Laureate of Maryland. Grace will read poems from her collection, What I Would Do for Love: Poems in the Voice of Mary Wollstonecraft. She will then present select scenes from the play with readers. Join us for an engaging evening of poetry, performance, and conversation.

Hoppy Easter! Old Fox is burrowing in for the day. See you Monday.

Join What the Fox? for the April reading of Vampires in the Lemon Grove and Other Stories by Karen Russell. This imaginative, haunting collection explores transforming bodies, communities on the brink of revolt, childhood cruelty, and enduring love. It takes readers from a Japanese silk factory to a sunlit lemon grove, where two vampires confront hunger, devotion, and time itself.

Join SHE for a discussion of Claire Keegan’s So Late in the Day, a striking collection of three short stories that quietly reveal the complex relationships between men and women. These stories span Keegan's career and offer a rich opportunity to discuss relationships, power, and the subtle forces that influence how we treat one another.

Join Old Fox Bibliophiles for our March reading of Holy Boy by Lee Heejoo, translated by Joheun Lee. The story follows four women who become consumed by Yosep, a young K-pop idol known as “the boy.” What begins as fandom spirals into obsession, captivity, and a chilling battle for possession in this psychological horror novel that probes desire, power, and the perilous cost of love.

In a plot twist worthy of a good book, this week’s book club has been moved to next Wednesday. Same story, new date—we’ll see you then!

For our March meeting, Versed Fox will be reading Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A key voice of the Romantic Movement, Coleridge is known for his imaginative, dreamlike poems and love of the strange and supernatural. His work invites readers into worlds that are eerie, emotional, and unforgettable. Join us for a thoughtful and cozy discussion.

Citizens & Sovereigns will be reading Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin. In this reimagining of The Aeneid, Le Guin gives voice to Lavinia as she navigates prophecy, war, and the founding myths of Rome. Set in half-wild ancient Italy, the novel explores power, fate, and how stories shape empires. Join us for a thoughtful discussion of myth, history, and which voices are remembered.

Join What the Fox? as we explore Ray Nayler’s near-future thriller, The Mountain in the Sea. Follow marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen as she studies a newly discovered species of octopus that may have its own language and culture. This gripping exploration of consciousness, communication, and humanity’s impact on the natural world collides with corporate intrigue and ethical dilemmas, as well as the world’s first android.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 1. Author Patricia Henley will stop by Old Fox Books to meet readers and sign copies of her new book. Set in Appalachia, Apple & Palm is a collection of interrelated stories that explore memory, desire, and the subtle ways lives change. Join us to chat about books, say hello, and pick up a signed copy. We hope to see you there!

This month SHE will be reading Elita, a literary Nordic noir novel set in the Pacific Northwest in the winter of 1951. The novel follows a scholar who becomes entangled in the mystery of a silent, feral girl found near a secluded prison island. As she uncovers secrets that challenge her notions of freedom, identity, and societal expectations, she is forced to confront her own preconceptions. Join us for a thoughtful discussion of this suspenseful novel.

The Old Fox Bibliophiles will be reading Apple & Palm by Patricia Henley. Set in the Appalachian town of Whistle Pig, this collection of linked stories explores aging, memory, desire, and the subtle ways lives change, even in places that seem frozen in time. Join us for a thoughtful discussion of this richly observed, deeply human book.

Versed Fox meets this February to read the works of Pablo Neruda. Neruda is known for his passionate and vivid poetry. He writes about love, longing, nature, and politics in a way that feels both intimate and expansive. Join us for an engaging conversation about one of the most beloved 20th-century poets.

Citizens & Sovereigns will be reading Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Told through the fierce and unsettling voice of an unnamed narrator who has withdrawn from society, the novel challenges ideas of alienation, social reform, and human freedom. Join us for a thoughtful discussion of this provocative and enduring work.

January came and went. We’ll see you in March instead of February—thanks for rolling with it!