FLEISCHMANNS — Tuesday at the Print House bar and restaurant in Fleischmanns is the home of Kathrine Wandersee’s The Frog, an intimate storytelling gathering that continues to build a loyal following in the region. Many people know this format began in New York City and has since spread across the country, offering communities a chance to share personal stories in a supportive setting. What makes The Frog special is not just the humor or drama of the tales, but the sense of connection that grows as neighbors learn more about one another’s lives.
This month’s theme, “Having a Brush with the Law,” produced an evening that balanced laughter, tension, and moments of genuine vulnerability. The audience settled in close together, drinks in hand, ready to listen as ordinary people stepped forward to recount extraordinary encounters with authority, justice, and sometimes their own youthful misjudgment.
One speaker opened the evening with a story about receiving a speeding ticket for allegedly traveling 98 miles per hour. She insisted she had not been driving anywhere near that speed and described the experience as a predatory policing and judicial system scam. Facing mounting legal pressure and the risk of further penalties, she ultimately paid a $5,000 fine and moved on with her life. Her story drew murmurs of recognition from the crowd, a reminder that many people have felt powerless when confronting complex legal systems.
Between several of the featured speakers, Wandersee read anonymous submissions known as “tad poles,” short written accounts of brushes with the law. These interludes provided comic relief and helped maintain the rhythm of the evening. The most memorable of the night was simple and perfectly timed: “I got arrested in college once for stealing a Willie Nelson Christmas CD.” The room erupted in laughter, the humor landing precisely because of its honesty and absurdity.
Another storyteller shared a tale about a youthful escapade with a friend who impulsively stole a Rocky movie poster from a theater wall. The pair fled into the darkness, his friend found himself scrambling into a sheep farmer’s corral while trying to escape. Their misadventure quickly escalated when the farmer stormed outside and fired a shotgun into the air to scare him off. The storyteller recalled how his friend, covered in sheep droppings and thoroughly frightened, soiled his pants during the chaotic retreat. The audience responded with a mix of laughter and sympathy, recognizing the reckless decisions of youth.
One of the more poignant stories came from a transgender woman who described two separate encounters with police. The first occurred in the 1970s and carried the weight of fear and uncertainty that many people in marginalized communities experienced during that era. The second incident took place later in life during a routine traffic stop. She braced herself for confrontation, expecting the worst. Instead, the officer approached calmly and told her, “I don’t care how you dress. I pulled you over for running a stop sign.” The story ended on an unexpectedly hopeful note, suggesting that attitudes can change over time.
The most emotionally powerful moment of the evening came when a speaker shared a deeply personal account of being sexually abused while she was under 18 years old, working as a babysitter for a well known basketball coach in the 1970s. It was the first time she had spoken publicly about the experience. The room grew completely still as she described the long silence she carried and the courage it took to finally tell her story. Her willingness to speak openly was met with quiet respect and visible compassion from the audience. Moments like this demonstrate how storytelling can create space for healing.
Another contribution, known informally as the Biker Boys story, centered on a young man who found himself entangled with the wrong group of friends. They had plotted to steal hubcaps but abandoned the plan when they were chased away before anything could happen. The storyteller reflected on how close he came to making a decision that could have altered the course of his life.
As the evening came to a close, the atmosphere in the room felt noticeably warmer. Strangers who had arrived as individuals lingered to talk, laugh, and in some cases embrace one another. Names were intentionally left out of the stories, preserving a sense of privacy while allowing the shared experiences to resonate more broadly. It was a quiet testament to how people can move on from mistakes and misfortune, growing stronger through honesty and community support.
The next Frog event will be at the Print House on May 5th. For more information see: @catskillsfrog on Instagram.
