WORKSHOPS
and CLASSES
WORKSHOPS &
CLASSES
LINKS & COMMUNITY
F A Q
Join us February 11-18
for the Bananafish Tropical Retreat
Have you been dreaming of the perfect retreat? Does it involve a private beach, maybe some tropical forest, seclusion from civilization and perhaps some yoga? We have too, but this year it’s a reality; and it can be for you, too.
Haramara is a world-class yoga resort on Mexico’s west coast, near the fishing town of Sayulita. It’s described as "where Robinson Crusoe meets Architectural Digest.” Come here to provide sanctuary for the jungle cat side of your creative spirit.
Bananafish Retreats are designed to provide opportunity and environment, above instruction and critique. There will be some group sessions and coaching available, but this is about making space for your creative spirit and giving it a chance to run free.
What’s there? A private beach, and 12 private acres of jungle hillsides, 15 cabanas connected by a network of private paths, two yoga pavilions, an open air restaurant and a spa. Each cabana has been designed with as little disturbance to the flora and fauna as possible.
What’s not there? Connectivity. This is your chance to REALLY get away. There is internet in town, but these cabanas don’t even have electricity. (And yes, you can charge your laptop on premises.)
The retreat runs Saturday afternoon, February 11, through Friday afternoon, February 18. Longer stays are negotiable.
Included in the price: Lodging for six nights (see options below) and all meals by head chef Hugo Gutierrez, recently awarded the Diplôme de la Académie Culinaire de France (whatever that is, it sounds fancy). Coaching sessions with Kurt, and daily yoga with the inspiring and magical Becky Jeffers.
Pricing
Double occupancy -$ 1375
(If you wish, we can pair you with an appropriate roommate.)
Single occupancy -$ 2175
Special starving writers’ rate:
“dorm” lodging in the 8-bed cabana $ 990.00
[Prices do not include airfare to Puerto Vallarta.]
Think about it. Dream about it. But not for too long.
Only 12 spaces are available.
For more information, and to reserve your spot,
send a quick note to Becky Jeffers:
More info at http://www.haramararetreat.com
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Thanks to the Artists & Writers Who Participated in
Bananafish Autumn Workshop
at Lacawac Sanctuary, PA
Join us in 2012, October 4-7
Hey writers, we’ve done the beach, 
it’s time for some lakeside energy. This autumn’s Bananafish writers’ retreat will be at Lacawac Sanctuary, (www.lacawac.org) in the Poconos mountains of Pennsylvania. This is a special place and my soul has been begging me to do a retreat here ever since I first saw this hundred-year-old lakeside lodge in the depths of these luscious woods.
There are over five hundred acres of forest in which to catch the fall colors and chase that foxy wellspring of inspiration. A dock (with boats). A lodge (with a fireplace itself the size of a studio apartment). Our very own pristine glacial lake (this is a rare thing around here), plus two ponds and one mile of natural shoreline on Lake Wallenpaupak. There are five separate hiking trails, and yes, a northern boreal bog.
This is all about environment and opportunity. We have the lodge all to ourselves. There will be mornings silent and clear for writing, creating, or conjuring. Afternoons for relaxing and recreation, guided discussions and critique sessions early evenings.
Brilliant experts: For your publishing and networking edification, John Oakes, co-founder of OR Books (www.orbooks.com) will join us at the retreat Sunday to give us the low-down on the wild 2011 publishing landscape, and to share war stories from back in the day with Grove Press, publishing R. Crumb, Cory Doctorow, Andrea Dworkin, and Abbie Hoffman. And social media marketing maven, Simone Grant, (www.simonegrant.com) will give us the dope on leveraging your tweets, tumbls, blogs and whatnot. (She handles social media for NY Times bestsellers, so she has the juicy gossip, too.)
Included in the price: Shockingly tasty vegetarian meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks – prepared on site by Om (of the Bahakti Café). One free coaching session with Kurt is included for each participant, and daily yoga with Becky Jeffers.
Thursday afternoon, through Sunday afternoon, October 20-24. All meals and lodging (two to a room) included. Longer stays are negotiable.
Pricing
$365.00/person, double occupancy.
Private rooms: $475.
(A $200 deposit is required upon registration,
refundable until October 10.)
For more information, and to reserve your space,
send a quick note to Becky Jeffers:
There is a total of only 24 overnight spaces available.
Where? Lacawac Preserve is located near Hawley, PA, two hours’ drive from the George Washington Bridge. For those of you without cars, there will be transportation from NYC available both ways (perhaps even free, we’ll see.)
Writers: Critique group size is limited to 12. We’ll break into two groups if necessary.
MORE DETAILS
Also included: Wireless internet. Canoes. That crisp kiss of winter that sneaks in on the late afternoon breeze.
Not included: Television. Linens. (Yes, you’ll need to bring sheets and towels.) Maid service. The constant drone of the machinery of modern industrial culture.
Pets are not allowed, exceptions for familiars and sprit guides.
The preserve is on the National Register of Historic Places, a National Natural Landmark.
Beware of faeries; management is not responsible for changeling behavior or articles apprehended by supernatural beings.