The word for this week’s The Friday List is “papyrocracy,” a word us logomaniacs (word-obsessed) at the newspaper would love to exist in some distant, far-reaching reality. A papyrocracy is a government ruled by newspapers, which, the more that I think about it, sounds like it could be a nightmare if the paper-in-power was a partisan press who governed society based on misinformation.

I imagine a papyrocracy, at its best, would be formed of many small, independent, non-partisan newspapers (like the Wire and our sister paper the Shawangunk Journal). If anything, it’d be a cool experiment to see the power of local news used to an extent it could never achieve in the divisive world we live in today. And, obviously, it would be cool to be called a “papyrocrat.”

Though it seems that a papyrocracy is more of a nonce word than anything, when we really think about it there is a level of inherent power that newspapers, both small and large, possess, especially in influencing the decisions of the people by informing them about what’s going on both politically, socially and culturally in the world around them.

I think of this column (the 20th edition!) as a nano-version of this idea. Through disseminating information about the goings-on of our beloved city, I’m keeping you all aware and, in a way, possibly influencing (governing?) your weekend plans. I don’t see this as having that much influence (yet), but, like the imaginary idea behind a papyrocracy, a girl can dream.

This weekend is another jam-packed assemblage of art openings and other pre-Valentine’s Day celebrations, including a “Cards + Coffee” event hosted by Rondout print-shop The Department of Things and coffee shop maison après.

The idea behind the event is that TDoT made Valentine’s Day-themed cards, available for purchase at their location at 115 Abeel St. Afterwards people are encouraged to pop over to maison après a few doors down at 101 Abeel to embellish their cards over a warm beverage. TDoT also offers to deliver cards to a local nursing home for anyone interested in giving some Valentine’s Day joy to a senior. They also offer purchasers at either location the option to print their own Valentine’s Day card if they wish.

The event starts this Saturday, Feb. 7 during the business’ open hours, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. They will also be continuing next week, from Tuesday-Saturday.

Next up I’m going to (attempt) to speed run through these next five (!) art openings happening around the city this weekend.

In no particular order, we’ll begin this art crawl with “Between Water and Sky,” an exhibit of photography by artist Sikena Khadija opening at The DRAW Gallery on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 5 -7 p.m.

The exhibit, described in the press release as exploring “the Hudson River and Erie Canal as places that hold memory, movement and layered ideas of home,” evokes a misty, almost mystical meditation on these spaces that cut through yet simultaneously connect the places we call home.

The DRAW Gallery is located at 24 Iwo Jima Lane, and the show will be available to view in the space until Feb. 22. More information about the exhibit can be seen here.

Minutes down the road at 68 Prince St Gallery is “SPOT ON: aka, SEE SPOT RUN,” the gallery’s premier exhibit of 2026, featuring speckled art by five artists: Sharon Butler, Jason Travers, Kieran Kinsella, Murray Hockman and Eileen Power.

The exhibit, as you can imagine, focuses on the exploration of mottled art by these crafters, whose distinct styles all provide a different interpretation of what it means to be flecked, dotted, sprinkled, etc.

Located at the eponymously mentioned location, the opening is from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, and will be available to view until March 8.

Head on Uptown to Headstone Gallery to check out their upcoming opening Saturday evening, from 5-8 p.m., for “Company: Contemporary Tableware and Lighting.”

With Headstone’s usual surrealist edge, “Company” takes on the concept of household appliances and turns it on its head. The exhibit features 36 ceramicists from North America and was created in collaboration with Above Board Ceramics, a nationally recognized curatorial team.

The exhibit will be open until March 29 and can be viewed at Headstone Gallery, 28 Hurley Ave. More information can be seen here.

This next opening came directly from the artist, who reached out to Kingston Wire to promote her opening this Saturday at PAST, or Popular American Show Time, located on the second floor above Kingston Social at 239 Fair St.

The concept behind the exhibit is equine art, which artist Jean Haines specializes in. During the exhibit opening there will be vintage equestrian films playing.

The opening reception is from 5-10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, and the exhibit will be open until Feb. 28. PAST is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7-9 p.m.

Finally, an honorary mention of our only Sunday opening of this lineup: “Ashtray,” an exhibit of … ashtrays, courtesy The International Museum of Dinnerware Design. Exploring “the intersection between dining and smoking,” exhibit-goers see the display of vintage and antique ashtrays in the collection all while learning about where they were placed on the dining table during the Mid-Century Mod era, as well as some innovative ashtray designs, including ones placed in doctor’s offices and incised with Braille.

With more than 100 ashtrays available to view, the exhibit is sure to spark anyone’s fancy. The public opening is on Sunday, Feb. 8 from 12-5 p.m., with a $10 admission fee. The IMoDD is located at 524 Broadway. More information can be seen here.