Vermont Humanities Council Speakers Bureau
June 25, 2015 § 1 Comment
After a somewhat harrowing audition process, I’m pleased to report that I’ve been invited to join the Vermont Humanities Council Speaker’s Bureau! Here’s the title and description of my talk:
A Playground for Empire: Historical Perspectives on Cuba and the U.S.A. Spain lost Cuba in 1898, after nearly 400 years of colonial rule. The Cuban Revolution of 1959 is one of the great underdog stories in modern history, in which a tiny band of young rebels prevailed against all odds and despite the ambivalence of the world superpower only ninety miles to the north. This nationalist Revolution quickly fell under the sway of another world empire, the USSR, and Cuba’s previously close ties with the U.S. were abruptly severed. This visually rich lecture by a long-time observer of the island will highlight recent changes in light of Cuba’s long struggle for sovereignty.
If you belong to any nonprofit organization or municipality in Vermont, you can book this talk through the VHC. Link here for instructions, which should be updated with VHC’s new catalog soon. If you’re interested in booking talks on a different subject, please feel free to contact me directly.
New Cuba travel article out
March 15, 2015 § 3 Comments
A new article about the changes on the ground in Cuba, based on observations made during my recent National Geographic Expeditions trip to the island, is up at TravelPulse. Take a look.
A Return to the New Cuba
February 14, 2015 § Leave a comment
The Capitolio swathed in scaffolding. Interested to see the progress . . .
After an eight month absence, I’m heading back to Havana. Much has happened in the intervening time, and it will be fascinating to see how these events are reflected in the reality on the ground. Whatever the case, Cuba is always an engaging and exciting place to be, so I’m looking forward to the trip.
I’ll be accompanying a National Geographic group, where my duties include, among other things, delivering a three-part lecture series: on Spanish colonial Cuba and the historic roots of the U.S.-Cuba relationship; on 20th century Cuba and the triumph of Fidel Castro’s Revolution; and on Hemingway’s three decades in Cuba. The group will spend time in Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, and various interesting points in between, meeting with scores of wonderful Cubans, including many new friends and some old friends and contacts!
With a friendly and engaging Nat Geo group last year
If you’re reading this and find yourself yearning to travel to Cuba to see what all the fuss is about, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’ve got several affordable private trips in the works for the fall of 2015 and the late winter/spring of 2016, and the chances are there is still an opening!
Short fiction out in three new anthologies
October 1, 2014 § Leave a comment
Excited and honored to be included in all three of these newly released anthologies! If you like to support emerging writers and are interested in new directions in quality short fiction, you can order any of these by clicking on the links. Enjoy!
“The Money Pill.” An American tour guide living in Cuba discovers hidden powers and comes to understand the costs of putting them to use. Everywhere Stories: Short Fiction from a Small Planet. Press 53.
“Six Feet Under the Prairie.” A college kid takes a summer job on an electrical construction crew as Denver’s sprawl encroaches. Manifest West. Western Press Books /University of Colorado Press.
“Tower Eight.” A pair of teenage misfits experiment with LSD and put themselves into dangerous situations in rural New Hampshire, establishing a tight friendship as they hurtle toward a tragic end. Grand Prize Winner, The Mountain. Outrider Press. (Order directly from Outrider Press by emailing outriderpress@sbcglobal.net)
New interview up at The Grub Daily
May 14, 2014 § Leave a comment
This has actually been up for awhile but i just found it (it was done in the lead-up to Grub Street’s exhilarating Muse and the Marketplace conference). Some thoughts on good books, strange places, favorite bookstores, and more. Read the full interview here.
At Muse14 with my wonderful cousin, the author Eleanor Henderson
Back into the time capsule
March 27, 2014 § Leave a comment
Excited to be heading back to Cuba with National Geographic Expeditions from March 30 to April 7! I’ve done this particular itinerary a good number of times now, and there are almost always surprises — most of them pleasant, all of them fascinating.
Then again, it’s impossible to be in Cuba on any given day and NOT have a fascinating experience of one kind or another. This is particularly true because the island is undergoing such a rapid period of change; every time I return there are changes, most of them subtle, some of them not. Don’t worry, I’m taking notes!
If anyone is looking for an opportunity to experience for yourself what I’m talking about, here’s an upcoming program I particularly recommend.
New Cuban Contemporary Art program
November 1, 2013 § Leave a comment
Very excited to be heading back to Havana with a group of artists and art appreciators for a week focusing on Cuban contemporary art. This innovative new program, sponsored by the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, will give us a fascinating glimpse into the current art scene in a country known for an incredible depth of talent in the visual arts. Of course, we’ll also have a chance to experience the other great things about Cuba, including the warmth and dignity of its citizens, its unique time-capsule ambience, and of course the great and ubiquitous Cuban music. We’ll be visiting studios, galleries, museums, schools, and community arts projects, and will have a chance to experience the art and history of Cienfuegos, Trinidad, and Playa Girón as well.
¡Viva Cuba!
Cuba talk at Brattleboro Museum and Art Center
July 18, 2013 § Leave a comment
Very pleased to be giving a talk at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center on contemporary Cuba. I’ll address some of the important historical aspects leading up to the present moment, with a special focus on Cuban art and the fraught Cuba – US relationship. If you’re in the area, it would be great to see you there!
Click here for the details.
Best of Havana piece up at National Geographic’s Intelligent Travel Blog
April 27, 2013 § Leave a comment
Well, it’s a pretty subjective list, and limited by the format. But some of it might be useful if you’re thinking of going to Havana. Read here.
Cuban National Choir comes to New England
October 31, 2012 § Leave a comment
It was a great honor and pleasure to guide and interpret for the National Choir of Cuba (Coro de Entrevoces) on their concert tour of New England, Nov 1- 6, 2012. This is a very special, world-class group of vocal musicians. I got to know them on my most recent trip to Cuba last July. The Coro performed at South Church in Portsmouth., NH, on October 30th at 7:00pm, the Harwich Junior Theatre Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m. (508-432-2002 x4) and at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater Friday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m. (508-349-9428). They performed two shows in Boston, at Gasson Hall, Boston College, and the Berklee College of Music. Here’s a clip from the Gasson Hall show for your enjoyment. Take a moment to watch it – I guarantee you’ll be impressed.
Tim Weed 