4 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s
Julia Connor, Sacramento Poet
Laureate. 8pm. Luna’s Café. 1414 16th
Street. Hosted by Mario Ellis Hill. Open
mic before/after. Free. Info: 441-3931 or
www.lunascafe.com.
6 Saturday
First Saturday Poetry Series
7pm. Sojourner Truth Art.Center. 2251
Florin Rd. Hosted by Noah Hayes
and Felicia McGee. All ages. $5.00.
Come early for workshop. Info:
www.malikspeaks.com
Escritores del Nuevo Sol
Writing workshop and potluck.
11am. La Raza Galeria Posada,
1024 22nd St. Info: Graciela Ramirez,
456-5323 or joannpen@comcast.net.
7 Sunday
PoemSpirits
Geoffrey Stockdale. 6pm. Uni-
tarian Universalist Society of
Sacramento. 2425 Sierra Blvd. 2
blocks north of Fair Oaks Blvd,
between Howe and Fulton. Co-Host
JoAnn Anglin will offer a brief
presentation on the work of poet-
activist Denise Levertov. Info: Tom
Goff, (916) 481-3312. www.uuss.org.
Free. Open mic follows.
8 Monday
Sacramento Poetry Center
Board of Directors meeting.
5:45pm. HQ. 1719 25th St. All are
welcome to attend.
Sacramento Poetry Center
Best of 2006: an Open Mic
opportunity – 7pm. HQ. 1719 25th
St. Hosted by Indigo Moor. Bring your
best two pieces from last year and
read them out loud! Note the special
start time.
The Moody Blues Poetry Series
8pm. “A Taste of Laguna” Southern
Cuisine. 9080 Laguna Main, Laguna.
Hosted by Ms. LaRue; Music by DJ
Barney B. Open Mic. $5 cover.
9 Tuesday
Sacramento Poetry Center
Poetry Workshop. 7:30pm. Hart
Senior Center, 27th & J. Facilitated by
Danyen Powell. Bring 15 - 20 copies of
your one-page poem. Info: Danyen,
(530) 756-6228
10 Wednesday
Rattlesnake Press Reading
Pearl Stein Selinsky. . . . . 7:30pm.
The Book Collector. 1008 24th Street.
Hosted by Kathy Kieth. Celebrating
the release of her new chapbook,
Vic & Me. Read-around follows; bring
your own poems or somebody else’s.
Info: kathykieth@hotmail.com
Mics and Moods
10pm-midnight. Capitol Garage. 1500
K Street. Hosted by Khiry Malik.
Features and Open Mic. 21+. $5. Info:
492-9336 or www.malikspeaks.com
Radio show
Dr. Andy’s Poetry &Technology
Hour. 5pm. Host: Andy Jones. KDVS—
90.3 FM or subscribe to podcast at
www.kdvs.org.
11 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s
TBA. 8pm. Luna’s Café. 1414 16th
Street. Hosted by Geoffrey Neill. Open
mic before/after. Free. Info: 441-3931 or
www.lunascafe.com.
Vibe Sessions
8-11pm. Cobbler Inn. 3520 Stockton
Blvd (next to Colonial Theater.)
Hosted by Flo Real. All ages. $5.
Open Mic.
13 Saturday
Patricity’s “In Spirit & Truth Series.”
3 to 5pm. 61 Yuence Smoked BBQ &
Grill. 9657 Folsom Blvd (off Bradshaw.)
Features plus Open Mic. Free. Info:
361-2014
The Moody Blues Poetry Series
8pm. “A Taste of Laguna” Southern
Cuisine. 9080 Laguna Main, Laguna.
Hosted by Ms. LaRue; Music by DJ
Barney B. Open Mic. $5 cover.
14 Sunday
The Poet is a Thief of Fire
Frank Andrick, Becca Costello.
With special guests. 6pm. The Book
Collector. 1008 24th St. (between J &
K Sts.) A benefit reading to help Frank
with his medical costs. $10. Info: 442-
9295; richard@poems-for-all.com;
www.poems-for-all.com
16 Tuesday
Sacramento Poetry Center
Poetry Workshop. 7:30pm. Hart
Senior Center, 27th & J. Facilitated by
Danyen Powell. Bring 15 - 20 copies of
your one-page poem. Info: Danyen,
(530) 756-6228
Bistro 33 Poetry Series
8:30 pm. Bistro 33 in Historic Davis
City Hall. 226 F Street (3rd & F),
Davis. Open Mic after.
17 Wednesday
Mics and Moods features at Capitol
Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to
midnight. Features and Open Mic
hosted by Khiry Malik.
Moore time for Poetry
Terry Moore. Access Television
Show. 9pm. Co-host Tyra Moore.
Access Sacramento, Channel 17.
18 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s
TBA. 8pm. Luna’s Café. 1414 16th
Street. Hosted by Frank Andrick. Open
mic before/after. Free. Info: 441-3931 or
www.lunascafe.com.
Vibe Sessions
8-11pm. Cobbler Inn. 3520 Stockton
Blvd (next to Colonial Theater.)
Hosted by Flo Real. All ages. $5.
Open Mic.
20 Saturday
Raíces Latinas (Latin Roots)
Adrián Arias. 7:30pm. La Raza
Galeria Posada. 1024 22nd St. MC
and co-reader:.Jim Michael.
Adrián is a Spanish-language
poet and graphic designer from
San Francisco’s Mission Cultural
Center, who is also a graphic artist.
(http://adrian-arias.blogspot.com/ )
$5, but no one turned away for lack
of $. For info, call Graciela at 916-
456-5323; more info at website:
www.escritoresdelnuevosol.com
Underground Poetry Series
7-9pm. Underground Books. 2814
35th St. (35th and Broadway.) Hosted
by La-Rue. $3. Open mic.
22 Monday
Sacramento Poetry Center
Meg Withers and Truong Tran.
7:30pm. HQ. 1719
25th St. Hosted by Tim Kahl.
The Moody Blues Poetry Series
8pm. “A Taste of Laguna” Southern
Cuisine. 9080 Laguna Main, Laguna.
Hosted by Ms. LaRue; Music by DJ
Barney B. Open Mic. $5 cover.
23 Tuesday
Sacramento Poetry Center
Poetry Workshop. 7:30pm. Hart
Senior Center, 27th & J. Facilitated by
Danyen Powell. Bring 15 - 20 copies of
your one-page poem. Info: Danyen,
(530) 756-6228
24 Wednesday
Radio show
Dr. Andy’s Poetry &Technology
Hour. 5pm. Host: Andy Jones. KDVS—
90.3 FM or subscribe to podcast at
www.kdvs.org.
Mics and Moods
10pm-midnight. Capitol Garage. 1500
K Street. Hosted by Khiry Malik.
Features and Open Mic. 21+. $5. Info:
492-9336 or www.malikspeaks.com
25 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s
TBA. 8pm. Luna’s Café. 1414 16th
Street. Open mic before/after. Free.
Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com.
Mics and Moods
10pm-midnight. Capitol Garage. 1500
K Street. Hosted by Khiry Malik.
Features and Open Mic. 21+. $5. Info:
492-9336 or www.malikspeaks.com
26 Saturday
“The Show” Poetry Series
Ike Torres (Sacramento slam team),
Izreal, Damnyo Lee (L.A. slam)
team. 9 pm. Wo’se Community Center
(Off 35th and Broadway.) 2863 35th
Street. $5. Info: T.Mo at 455-POET.
29 Monday
Sacramento Poetry Center
Kimberly White, Michael Pulley.
7:30pm. HQ. 1719 25th St. Hosted
by Bob Stanley.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
Frank Andrick Benefit | Jan. 14th, 2007
Frank Andrick has devoted his life to helping other people, from teaching poetry to troubled teenagers to promoting the arts across our community. Now, Frank needs our help. He was diagnosed with a range of serious health conditions in August, and at the same time learned that a paperwork error had wiped out his Medi-Cal benefits. A group of us is working to restore his health care coverage, but in the meantime we urgently need to form a safety net for Frank. Please join this community of Frank's friends, and friends of those friends, and anyone who believes in supporting a man who has always been a voice for the arts.
There are two things you can do.
Your support and presence at a poetry reading on January 14th would be greatly appreciated. Tickets are $10, and sold at the door or online at www.poems-for-all.com (click on the "frank andrick" button.) If you can't make it, donations are gratefully accepted at the same website or at The Book Collector. Donations can be sent or dropped off to the bookstore (checks made payable to Frank Andrick): 1008 24th St., Sacramento,CA, 95816.
On behalf of Frank, we thank you.
Edie Lambert,
Gene Bloom,
Richard Hansen
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
MENDOCINO POETS Dec. 11, 2006
Theresa Whitehill
Midway through Theresa Whitehill’s reading, the first set of the group of 3 Mendocino poets, the rain began to applaud. The three Mendocino poets brought the rain with them, but nobody was admitting to this.
Still many gathered around the table set up by Rebecca Morrison offering hot cider, coffee and tea. For the hard core, they could take their sugar straight from the packet.
Whitehill read a number of poems that reflected her life and the sense of place she has developed in Mendocino.
One group of poems was created in collaboration with a chef in Petaluma. the poem was to be read between courses of food prepared by this chef, an interesting intersection of the literary and culinary arts.
One of these pieces, Estranha Forma de Vida featured a dedication to Amália Rodrigues, the great Portuguese fado singer.
Her final piece was “Eating you” At first she invoked bread . It became toast—a little dab on your lips.Then she says I have to figure out what I will do with your ears , if I will hang around in your brain. “Your eyes are photos of an African childhood.” The speaker then was to make a meal of the organ that loves me. Going the speaker says, “I leisurely eat a Spanish tomato left in your breast pocket . . . Marry me. I’m sorry. I want to eat you.”
Devreaux Baker read “Bloodlines” from California Sutras. She also read some poems about her relatives from Mexico, how in Oaxaca right now there are hard times. She told a story of her daughter, coming back from a visit had brought with her a little bag of red seeds as a talisman. This little bag of red seeds was the germ for the poem “Red Seeds”
Devreaux also told a story of how she wrote a poem for friend who was a painter and upon receiving the poem, the friend made a painting that corresponded to the poem called “Dogs of Mexico.” Broadsides were made of the collaboration.
What was it about the dust that carved its way into my heart . . . The dogs of Mexico, this endless roaming pack that stampedes my heart.
Linda Noel. [ pronounced like Knoll] is the former poet laureate of the city of Ukiah. She is a Maidu poet from the band of Kiyungkowi [KonKow] Maidu. Kiyungkowi means “people from the meadow,” she pointed out. She read “Potter Valley Poem.”
“What kind of War” posited a litany of actors and agents in war, pitted against each other, with the last line establishing “boy against boy.”
Then she read “Moon Worshipper”
Thank you for always being there . . . Cleanse me in the pond of your bloated self . . . Moon could never be my lover . . . Such intimacy would undress marrow skin and bone . . . Pocked granite.
In “Red Lace” Noel stated, “Redwood is a heart soaking up heavy rain.” Later she read,”Unlace the red blood of my heart to let you in.”
In “Anniversary,” Noel talks about the day that Elvis died. She got the news on the way to getting wisdom teeth removed, but the extraction was difficult. The dentist only got half the job done in the allotted two hours. But she got a bottle of percodan . . . which was not enough for Elvis.
Midway through Theresa Whitehill’s reading, the first set of the group of 3 Mendocino poets, the rain began to applaud. The three Mendocino poets brought the rain with them, but nobody was admitting to this.
Still many gathered around the table set up by Rebecca Morrison offering hot cider, coffee and tea. For the hard core, they could take their sugar straight from the packet.
Whitehill read a number of poems that reflected her life and the sense of place she has developed in Mendocino.
One group of poems was created in collaboration with a chef in Petaluma. the poem was to be read between courses of food prepared by this chef, an interesting intersection of the literary and culinary arts.
One of these pieces, Estranha Forma de Vida featured a dedication to Amália Rodrigues, the great Portuguese fado singer.
Her final piece was “Eating you” At first she invoked bread . It became toast—a little dab on your lips.Then she says I have to figure out what I will do with your ears , if I will hang around in your brain. “Your eyes are photos of an African childhood.” The speaker then was to make a meal of the organ that loves me. Going the speaker says, “I leisurely eat a Spanish tomato left in your breast pocket . . . Marry me. I’m sorry. I want to eat you.”
Devreaux Baker read “Bloodlines” from California Sutras. She also read some poems about her relatives from Mexico, how in Oaxaca right now there are hard times. She told a story of her daughter, coming back from a visit had brought with her a little bag of red seeds as a talisman. This little bag of red seeds was the germ for the poem “Red Seeds”
Devreaux also told a story of how she wrote a poem for friend who was a painter and upon receiving the poem, the friend made a painting that corresponded to the poem called “Dogs of Mexico.” Broadsides were made of the collaboration.
What was it about the dust that carved its way into my heart . . . The dogs of Mexico, this endless roaming pack that stampedes my heart.
Linda Noel. [ pronounced like Knoll] is the former poet laureate of the city of Ukiah. She is a Maidu poet from the band of Kiyungkowi [KonKow] Maidu. Kiyungkowi means “people from the meadow,” she pointed out. She read “Potter Valley Poem.”
“What kind of War” posited a litany of actors and agents in war, pitted against each other, with the last line establishing “boy against boy.”
Then she read “Moon Worshipper”
Thank you for always being there . . . Cleanse me in the pond of your bloated self . . . Moon could never be my lover . . . Such intimacy would undress marrow skin and bone . . . Pocked granite.
In “Red Lace” Noel stated, “Redwood is a heart soaking up heavy rain.” Later she read,”Unlace the red blood of my heart to let you in.”
In “Anniversary,” Noel talks about the day that Elvis died. She got the news on the way to getting wisdom teeth removed, but the extraction was difficult. The dentist only got half the job done in the allotted two hours. But she got a bottle of percodan . . . which was not enough for Elvis.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
CELTIC WOMEN—DEC. 3
With the images from her trip to Ireland projected behind her, Rebecca Morrison read a long poem that covered many of the points political and historical on her trip. These ranged from a family that was historically the mediator between the early clashes of Protestants and Catholics in Belfast to a meditation on the mummified peat bog man.
Brigit Truex [seen with the mummified peat bog man in the background] read a number of small lyrics that were inspired by late fall and winter as well as a number of pieces (some that can be read in the December issue of POETRY NOW that made direct reference to Ireland, including her finalé that made use of the Irish myth of the selkie — a half-seal, half-woman entity found in the Orkneys and featured in the film The Secret of Roan Inish
Jeanine Stevens read a number of pieces that spoke of archaeological Ireland, including some ancient Druidic poems. She also read one piece that referred to Woodhenge, the precursor to Stonehenge. She recalled her trip to study in the British Isles in the 1980’s.
Then it was time for a changing of the guard. Charlene Ungstad read several of her own pieces, some that related to the Irish side of her family and some that referred to other sides of the family. One of these pieces meditated on whther it was one of her kinfolk near Oroville who might have been responsible for stealing the the last artifacts of the Yahi, Ishi’s tribe, which resulted in their untimely deaths over a harsh winter.
Two of the highlights during the open mic were:
Ms Wali picked up her bodhran and played a while to prove that she was authentic black Irish. Then she told a story of her uncle Seamus, the itinerant farmhand who serendipitously came upon a wild adventure within a well at a remote country home in the Irish countryside.
Theresa McCourt read one of her own poems and the title poem by the Irish poet Bernard O Donoghue from his book calledHere Nor There entitled “Westering Home.”
At the end of the night, Jeanine, Malgwyn Ungstad, Charlene, and Rebecca search for pennies at the bottom of the crock pot, thrown there by the despondent in order to improve their luck
CALENDAR OF LITERARY EVENTS—DECEMBER
Friday, December 1
Terry Moore opens for Brian McKnight at Memorial Auditorium. Also featured is LaToya London. 7 p.m. For ticket information: www.isoundtracks.net
Saturday, December 2
First Saturday Poetry Series, 7pm.
Sojourner Truth Art Center, 2251 Florin Rd.
Hosted by Noah Hayes and Felicia McGee. All ages / $5.00. Come early for workshop.
Info: www.malikspeaks.com
Escritores del Nuevo Sol’s writing workshop and potluck. 11am. at La Raza Galeria Posada,
1024 22nd Street, Sacramento. For info call Graciela Ramirez, 456-5323 or joannpen@comcast.net.
Sunday, December 3
PoemSpirits presents Albert Garcia at the
Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Blvd. (2 blocks north of Fair Oaks Blvd, between Howe and Fulton), 6 PM.
Monday, December 4
Sacramento Poetry Center presents
Celtic Women: Brigit Truex, Jeanine Stevens, Charlene Ungstad and Rebecca Morrison. Serving up “some Celtic chic, dishes, libations, music, poetry, broadsides, and photos.” Bring
Celtic poetry-stories-goodies to share (anything from Northern Europe qualifies).
Hosted by Bob Stanley. SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Special time 7:00 p.m
The Moody Blues Poetry Series
at “A Taste of Laguna” Southern Cuisine
9080 Laguna Main, Laguna
8:00PM OPEN MIC $5 cover
Hosted by Ms. LaRue, Music by DJ Barney B
Hannah Stein and Susan Kelly-DeWitt
read at The Other Voice (Unitarian Universalist Church, Patwin Road, Davis). 7:30 PM.
Tuesday, December 5
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, Hart Senior Center, 27th & J. Bring 15 - 20 copies of your one-page poem. Info: Danyen, (530) 756-6228
Wednesday, December 6
*** Film event – 7pm at the Crest Theater –
Premiere Screening of “I Began to Speak”
The History of Poetry in Sacramento
by BL Kennedy and Linda Thorell.
Advance tickets available from the Crest!
Mics and Moods presents at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm-midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: 492-9336 or www.malikspeaks.com 21 and over/$5cover.
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, host Andy Jones, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or subscribe to podcast at www.kdvs.org.
Thursday, December 7
!X – The Ethnic Theater Ensemble at Luna’s Poetry Unplugged. Open mic before/after.
Hosted by Mario Ellis Hill.
8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street.
Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open Mic.
Saturday, December 9
Patricity's Poetry "In Spirit & Truth Series"
features plus Open Mic. 3 to 5 p.m.
61 Yuence Smoked BBQ & Grill, 9657 Folsom Bl. Sacramento (0ff Bradshaw) 361-2014 Free.
Sunday, December 10
Poets from Manzanita, Vol. 5 will be reading at Barnes & Noble in Stockton 6pm. Pacific Avenue, across from Delta College.
Information: mrosemanza@jps.net
Monday, December 11
SPC Board of Directors meets at HQ for the Arts - 1719 25th Street – 5:45pm.
Sacramento Poetry Center presents a reading by Mendocino County poets Teresa Whitehall, Linda Noel and Devreaux Baker. Hosted by Bob Stanley. HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th Street (25th and R) 7:30pm 979-9706.
The Moody Blues Poetry Series presents
Hosted by Ms. LaRue. see Dec 4 for details
Tuesday, December 12
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, See Dec 5.
Bistro 33 Poetry Series
8:30 pm Open Mic after.
Bistro 33 in Historic Davis City Hall, 226 “F” Street, 3rd and “F” Streets in Davis.
Wednesday, December 13
Mics and Moods features Jamie Kilstein at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik.
Joseph and Susan Finkleman read at The Book Collector, presented by Rattlesnake Press
1008 24th St., Sacramento. 7:30-9 PM
Celebrate the release of their new spiralchap, Poems in Two Voices. Refreshments and a read-around will follow; bring your own poems or somebody else's. Info: kathykieth@hotmail.com
Moore time for Poetry: Terry Moore’s Access Television Show, 9pm, co-host Tyra Moore. Access Sacramento, Channel 17
Thursday, December 14
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open MIc.
Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Café. 8pm
hosted by Geoffrey Neil. Free. See Dec 7.
Friday, December 15
Native American writer, Luke Warmwater, shares his poetry and perceptions at LA GALERÍA POSADA/LA RAZA BOOKSTORE 1024 -22nd Street (between K and J) Sacramento. Open Mic to follow. 7:30 pm Info contact: Graciela Ramirez, 916-456-5323. website: www.escritoresdelnuevosol.com
Saturday, December 16
Mario Ellis Hill, Jamie Kilstein (One of New York City's top slam poets) Born 2B Poets, and Bloom Beloved are featured at the
Underground Poetry Series plus open mic.
7-9pm, $3.00. Underground Books, 2814 35th Street (35th and Broadway).Hosted by La-Rue’
Monday, December 18
Sacramento Poetry Center: no reading
The Moody Blues Poetry Series in Laguna presents. Hosted by Ms. LaRue.
see Dec 4 for details
Tuesday, December 19
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, (see November 7 for details)
Wednesday, December 20
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or www.kdvs.org.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Details: See Nov 1.
Thursday, December 21
Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s. See Dec. 7.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage
1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight.
Saturday. December 30
“The Show” Poetry Series features Rodzilla, Brigit Truex, Brittney Robinson and
Luke Breit. 7-9 pm at Wo'se Community Center (Off 35th and Broadway), 2863 35th Street, Sac; $5.00. Info: T.Mo at (916) 455-POET.
Terry Moore opens for Brian McKnight at Memorial Auditorium. Also featured is LaToya London. 7 p.m. For ticket information: www.isoundtracks.net
Saturday, December 2
First Saturday Poetry Series, 7pm.
Sojourner Truth Art Center, 2251 Florin Rd.
Hosted by Noah Hayes and Felicia McGee. All ages / $5.00. Come early for workshop.
Info: www.malikspeaks.com
Escritores del Nuevo Sol’s writing workshop and potluck. 11am. at La Raza Galeria Posada,
1024 22nd Street, Sacramento. For info call Graciela Ramirez, 456-5323 or joannpen@comcast.net.
Sunday, December 3
PoemSpirits presents Albert Garcia at the
Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Blvd. (2 blocks north of Fair Oaks Blvd, between Howe and Fulton), 6 PM.
Monday, December 4
Sacramento Poetry Center presents
Celtic Women: Brigit Truex, Jeanine Stevens, Charlene Ungstad and Rebecca Morrison. Serving up “some Celtic chic, dishes, libations, music, poetry, broadsides, and photos.” Bring
Celtic poetry-stories-goodies to share (anything from Northern Europe qualifies).
Hosted by Bob Stanley. SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Special time 7:00 p.m
The Moody Blues Poetry Series
at “A Taste of Laguna” Southern Cuisine
9080 Laguna Main, Laguna
8:00PM OPEN MIC $5 cover
Hosted by Ms. LaRue, Music by DJ Barney B
Hannah Stein and Susan Kelly-DeWitt
read at The Other Voice (Unitarian Universalist Church, Patwin Road, Davis). 7:30 PM.
Tuesday, December 5
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, Hart Senior Center, 27th & J. Bring 15 - 20 copies of your one-page poem. Info: Danyen, (530) 756-6228
Wednesday, December 6
*** Film event – 7pm at the Crest Theater –
Premiere Screening of “I Began to Speak”
The History of Poetry in Sacramento
by BL Kennedy and Linda Thorell.
Advance tickets available from the Crest!
Mics and Moods presents at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm-midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: 492-9336 or www.malikspeaks.com 21 and over/$5cover.
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, host Andy Jones, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or subscribe to podcast at www.kdvs.org.
Thursday, December 7
!X – The Ethnic Theater Ensemble at Luna’s Poetry Unplugged. Open mic before/after.
Hosted by Mario Ellis Hill.
8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street.
Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open Mic.
Saturday, December 9
Patricity's Poetry "In Spirit & Truth Series"
features plus Open Mic. 3 to 5 p.m.
61 Yuence Smoked BBQ & Grill, 9657 Folsom Bl. Sacramento (0ff Bradshaw) 361-2014 Free.
Sunday, December 10
Poets from Manzanita, Vol. 5 will be reading at Barnes & Noble in Stockton 6pm. Pacific Avenue, across from Delta College.
Information: mrosemanza@jps.net
Monday, December 11
SPC Board of Directors meets at HQ for the Arts - 1719 25th Street – 5:45pm.
Sacramento Poetry Center presents a reading by Mendocino County poets Teresa Whitehall, Linda Noel and Devreaux Baker. Hosted by Bob Stanley. HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th Street (25th and R) 7:30pm 979-9706.
The Moody Blues Poetry Series presents
Hosted by Ms. LaRue. see Dec 4 for details
Tuesday, December 12
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, See Dec 5.
Bistro 33 Poetry Series
8:30 pm Open Mic after.
Bistro 33 in Historic Davis City Hall, 226 “F” Street, 3rd and “F” Streets in Davis.
Wednesday, December 13
Mics and Moods features Jamie Kilstein at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik.
Joseph and Susan Finkleman read at The Book Collector, presented by Rattlesnake Press
1008 24th St., Sacramento. 7:30-9 PM
Celebrate the release of their new spiralchap, Poems in Two Voices. Refreshments and a read-around will follow; bring your own poems or somebody else's. Info: kathykieth@hotmail.com
Moore time for Poetry: Terry Moore’s Access Television Show, 9pm, co-host Tyra Moore. Access Sacramento, Channel 17
Thursday, December 14
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open MIc.
Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Café. 8pm
hosted by Geoffrey Neil. Free. See Dec 7.
Friday, December 15
Native American writer, Luke Warmwater, shares his poetry and perceptions at LA GALERÍA POSADA/LA RAZA BOOKSTORE 1024 -22nd Street (between K and J) Sacramento. Open Mic to follow. 7:30 pm Info contact: Graciela Ramirez, 916-456-5323. website: www.escritoresdelnuevosol.com
Saturday, December 16
Mario Ellis Hill, Jamie Kilstein (One of New York City's top slam poets) Born 2B Poets, and Bloom Beloved are featured at the
Underground Poetry Series plus open mic.
7-9pm, $3.00. Underground Books, 2814 35th Street (35th and Broadway).Hosted by La-Rue’
Monday, December 18
Sacramento Poetry Center: no reading
The Moody Blues Poetry Series in Laguna presents. Hosted by Ms. LaRue.
see Dec 4 for details
Tuesday, December 19
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, (see November 7 for details)
Wednesday, December 20
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or www.kdvs.org.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Details: See Nov 1.
Thursday, December 21
Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s. See Dec. 7.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage
1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight.
Saturday. December 30
“The Show” Poetry Series features Rodzilla, Brigit Truex, Brittney Robinson and
Luke Breit. 7-9 pm at Wo'se Community Center (Off 35th and Broadway), 2863 35th Street, Sac; $5.00. Info: T.Mo at (916) 455-POET.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Kaifi aur Main
Shabana Azmi was the amazing story teller in the theatrical and musical performance, Kaifi aur Main (Kaifi and Me.) The enchanting night began and concluded, but the soulful and well-executed performance by Azmi and Javed Akhtar along with vocalist, Jaswinder Singh lingered like the faint smell of lemon sitting cool on a soul’s tuft. The work was a snapshot of a time and place in Indian history, when two lovers courted, and a poet emerged through blood-written letters and betrothel. Shabana Azmi read the letters of her mother, voicing the enduring romance between her mother and father, Kaifi Azmi. Javed Akhtar acted as Kaifi and delivered the poet's written word succinctly and with reverence.
Born Akhtar Hussein Rizvi, Kaifi Azmi chose his nom de plume based on his place of birth Azamgarh, Utter Pradesh. The performance was complimented by instrumentals, and vocals by Jaswinder Singh, who won the hearts of the audience by his amazing range. It was a night filled with music, poetry and most of all, the union of poetry lovers.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
SAMINA ALI at Sacramento City College
Samina Ali, pictured here with mesmerized host Jeff Knorr (or is he fighting off the effects of his medication?), appeared in Sacramento City College's auditorium for a reading and discussion of her book Madras on Rainy Days.
Samina Ali read an excerpt from her novel before a packed and attentive crowd.
She proceeded to field a number of questions from the assembled crowd. She talked about the reasons for Islam's divergence from its stated rules regarding women's choices and opportunites and the effect that the overlay of cultural practices in states that have adopted Islam has had on Muslim women's choices. She also touched on the nature of the novel with respect to her experience, emphasizing that there was a good deal of difference between her experience and the experience of her characters, particularly regarding Sameer (the husband of the female protagonist Layla) and her real husband. However, she did let on that much of the book was based on her experience.
Everyone left the auditorium a little more informed and enlightened except for your humble reporter whose offer to have Ali appear as "Ms. January" for an upcoming pin-up calendar of Muslim women of California was rebuked. Alas, if only my shame were a perishable fruit!
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Doug Rice at SPC Mon. Nov. 6
Doug Rice appeared at SPC for an evening full of tales of lost genitalia. Fueled by a personal paranoia of having the family jewels swiped while asleep, Doug read from a rough piece of his upcoming memoir. The piece, though untitled, vaguely had as its subject The Perils of Metaphor in Pittsburgh.
Rice read other pieces from his upcoming memoir, including a how-to piece on bending magnetic fields so that TV rabbit ears would be able to pick up transmission signals during a Monday Night Football game that Terry Bradshaw's Steelers were playing in.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Sacramento Area Poetry Events [November]
Wednesday, November 1
Mics and Moods presents Miss Ashleigh (Happy 23rd birthday) at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm-midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: 492-9336 or www.malikspeaks.com 21 and over/$5cover.
Pat Schneider, creator of the Amherst Writers’ Method, speaks at Sutter Cancer Center, 2800 L Street, 1st floor. This event also features the art of Marlene Kidd. 6:30pm Art Walk and Reception,
7:30 Presentation, 8:30 Book Signing. Wine and refreshments. It should be a great evening. Free!
Thursday, November 2
Poetry Unplugged presents Kintessa Quintanar. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Mario Ellis Hill.
8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street.
Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open Mic.
Saturday, November 4
First Saturday Poetry Series, 7pm.
Sojourner Truth Art Center, 2251 Florin Rd.
Hosted by Noah Hayes and Felicia McGee. All ages / $5.00. Come early for workshop.
Info: www.malikspeaks.com
Escritores del Nuevo Sol’s writing workshop and potluck. 11am. at La Raza Galeria Posada, 1024 - 22nd Street, Sacramento. For info call Graciela Ramirez, 456-5323 or joannpen@comcast.net.
Sunday, November 5
PoemSpirits presents Joshua McKinney. Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Blvd. (2 blocks north of Fair Oaks Blvd, between Howe and Fulton), 6 PM.
Monday, November 6
Doug Rice reads at the Sacramento Poetry Center. Hosted by Bob Stanley. 7:30 p.m. SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
The Moody Blues Poetry Series presents Crystal Mitchell and Jim Lanier
At “A Taste of Laguna” Southern Cuisine
9080 Laguna Main, Laguna
8:00PM OPEN MIC $5 cover
Hosted by Ms. LaRue
Music provided by DJ Barney B
Tuesday, November 7
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, Hart Senior Center, 27th & J. Bring 15 - 20 copies of your one-page poem. Info: Danyen, (530) 756-6228
Wednesday, November 8
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. See Nov 1 for details
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, host Andy Jones, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or subscribe to podcast at www.kdvs.org.
Thursday, November 9
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. See Nov 2 for details
Poetry Unplugged presents Andy Jones and special guests. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Geoffrey Neil. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street. Info: 441-3931. Free.
Saturday, November 11
Patricity's Poetry "In Spirit & Truth Series"
features “Big Eazi E” (Born to be Poet), and poetess-singer, “Mouthpiece” plus Open Mic.
3 to 5 p.m. at new location - 61 Yuence Smoked BBQ & Grill, 9657 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento (0ff Bradshaw) 361-2014 Free.
Poems-For-All Second Saturday Series presents Stephen Kessler. 8pm.
The Book Collector. 1008 24th Street. Free. 916.442.9295
Monday, November 13
SPC Board of Directors meets at HQ for the Arts - 1719 25th Street – 5:45pm.
Sacramento Poetry Center presents a reading by “The Board of Directors” hosted by Bob Stanley. Special time 7:00 p.m. HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569.
The Moody Blues Poetry Series presents
One Tough Poet. Hosted by Ms. LaRue.
see Nov 6 for details
Tuesday, November 14
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, See October 3 for details
New DateNew series – at Bistro 33 in DavisNew Date
Joe Wenderoth reads from Letters to Wendy’s. Readings begin at 8:30, feature reader at 8:50, Open Mic after.
Bistro 33 in the Historic City Hall, 226 “F” Street, at 3rd and “F” Streets in Davis.
Wednesday, November 15
Urban Voices presents Kathryn Hohlwein and Pat Grizzell. Hosted by B.L. Kennedy, 6:30 – 8 p.m. South Natomas Library, 2901Truxel Rd.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Details: see Nov 1.
Moore time for Poetry: Terry Moore’s Access Television Show, 9pm, co-host Tyra Moore. Access Sacramento, Channel 17. updates: tvguide.com. (916) 208-7638.
Thursday, November 16
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open MIc.
Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Café. 8pm
Poems-For-All free for all. An evening celebrating Richard Hansen, publisher of the Poems-For-All mini-chap series. Selected poets will read from their works published via the series. hosted by frank andrick. Free.
Saturday, November 18
Underground Poetry Series features Crawdad Nelson, Brett Freeman, Laura Cook, and Juanita "Yoke Breaker" Mason plus open mic. 7-9pm, $3.00. Underground Books, 2814 35th Street (35th and Broadway). La-Rue’ is the series host.
Monday, November 20
Sacramento Poetry Center: no reading
The Moody Blues Poetry Series in Laguna presents Royal. Hosted by Ms. LaRue.
see Nov 6 for details
Tuesday, November 21
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, (see November 7 for details)
Wednesday, November 22
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or www.kdvs.org.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Details: See Nov 1.
Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving)
Poetry Unplugged no reading
Saturday. November 25
“The Show” Poetry Series features Divine (from Phoenix, Arizona), Talaam Acey from Baltimore, and LSB (Live Band Jam Session) -
The Show is from 7-9 pm Wo'se Community Center (Off 35th and Broadway), 2863 35th Street, Sac; $5.00. Info: T.Mo at (916) 455-POET.
Monday, November 27
Sacramento Poetry Center presents members of The Great American Pinup blog. Reading in person: Shawn Pittard, David Koehn, Geraldine Kim, and Victor Schnickelfritz. There will also be recorded readings by Matthew Schmeer and Richard Jeffrey Newman Tim Kahl hosts – 7:30pm. SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th Street.
The Moody Blues Poetry Series in Laguna presents Alta Raye. Hosted by Ms. LaRue.
See Nov 6 for details.
Wednesday, November 29
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, presents Chas (from LA Slam). 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Details: See Nov 1.
Thursday, November 30
SPC Annual fundraising party at the home of
Mimi and Burnett Miller. $25 for SPC Members. rsvp: poetrynow@sacramentopoetrycenter.org
Poetry Unplugged 8pm at Luna’s Café. Hosted by frank andrick. Neeli Cherkovski, Anne Menebroker, and William S. Gainer.
Chas from LA Slam at Vibe Sessions Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 Open MIc.
and mark your calendars for these early December events
Friday, December 1
Sacramento’s own Terry Moore opens for Brian McKnight at Memorial Auditorium. Also featured is LaToya London. 1401 J St, Sacramento, 7 p.m. For ticket information: www.isoundtracks.net
Monday, December 4
Sacramento Poetry Center presents "Celtic Women: Brigit Truex, Jeanine Stevens, Charlene Ungstad and Rebecca Morrison. Serving up “some Celtic chic, dishes, libations, music, poetry, broadsides, and photos.” Bring Celtic poetry-stories-goodies to share (anything from Northern Europe qualifies).
Wednesday, December 6
Film event – 7pm at the Crest Theater –
Premiere Screening of “I Began to Speak”
The History of Poetry in Sacramento
by BL Kennedy and Linda Thorell.
Advance tickets available from the Crest!
Mics and Moods presents Miss Ashleigh (Happy 23rd birthday) at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm-midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: 492-9336 or www.malikspeaks.com 21 and over/$5cover.
Pat Schneider, creator of the Amherst Writers’ Method, speaks at Sutter Cancer Center, 2800 L Street, 1st floor. This event also features the art of Marlene Kidd. 6:30pm Art Walk and Reception,
7:30 Presentation, 8:30 Book Signing. Wine and refreshments. It should be a great evening. Free!
Thursday, November 2
Poetry Unplugged presents Kintessa Quintanar. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Mario Ellis Hill.
8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street.
Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open Mic.
Saturday, November 4
First Saturday Poetry Series, 7pm.
Sojourner Truth Art Center, 2251 Florin Rd.
Hosted by Noah Hayes and Felicia McGee. All ages / $5.00. Come early for workshop.
Info: www.malikspeaks.com
Escritores del Nuevo Sol’s writing workshop and potluck. 11am. at La Raza Galeria Posada, 1024 - 22nd Street, Sacramento. For info call Graciela Ramirez, 456-5323 or joannpen@comcast.net.
Sunday, November 5
PoemSpirits presents Joshua McKinney. Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Blvd. (2 blocks north of Fair Oaks Blvd, between Howe and Fulton), 6 PM.
Monday, November 6
Doug Rice reads at the Sacramento Poetry Center. Hosted by Bob Stanley. 7:30 p.m. SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
The Moody Blues Poetry Series presents Crystal Mitchell and Jim Lanier
At “A Taste of Laguna” Southern Cuisine
9080 Laguna Main, Laguna
8:00PM OPEN MIC $5 cover
Hosted by Ms. LaRue
Music provided by DJ Barney B
Tuesday, November 7
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, Hart Senior Center, 27th & J. Bring 15 - 20 copies of your one-page poem. Info: Danyen, (530) 756-6228
Wednesday, November 8
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. See Nov 1 for details
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, host Andy Jones, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or subscribe to podcast at www.kdvs.org.
Thursday, November 9
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. See Nov 2 for details
Poetry Unplugged presents Andy Jones and special guests. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Geoffrey Neil. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street. Info: 441-3931. Free.
Saturday, November 11
Patricity's Poetry "In Spirit & Truth Series"
features “Big Eazi E” (Born to be Poet), and poetess-singer, “Mouthpiece” plus Open Mic.
3 to 5 p.m. at new location - 61 Yuence Smoked BBQ & Grill, 9657 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento (0ff Bradshaw) 361-2014 Free.
Poems-For-All Second Saturday Series presents Stephen Kessler. 8pm.
The Book Collector. 1008 24th Street. Free. 916.442.9295
Monday, November 13
SPC Board of Directors meets at HQ for the Arts - 1719 25th Street – 5:45pm.
Sacramento Poetry Center presents a reading by “The Board of Directors” hosted by Bob Stanley. Special time 7:00 p.m. HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569.
The Moody Blues Poetry Series presents
One Tough Poet. Hosted by Ms. LaRue.
see Nov 6 for details
Tuesday, November 14
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, See October 3 for details
New DateNew series – at Bistro 33 in DavisNew Date
Joe Wenderoth reads from Letters to Wendy’s. Readings begin at 8:30, feature reader at 8:50, Open Mic after.
Bistro 33 in the Historic City Hall, 226 “F” Street, at 3rd and “F” Streets in Davis.
Wednesday, November 15
Urban Voices presents Kathryn Hohlwein and Pat Grizzell. Hosted by B.L. Kennedy, 6:30 – 8 p.m. South Natomas Library, 2901Truxel Rd.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Details: see Nov 1.
Moore time for Poetry: Terry Moore’s Access Television Show, 9pm, co-host Tyra Moore. Access Sacramento, Channel 17. updates: tvguide.com. (916) 208-7638.
Thursday, November 16
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open MIc.
Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Café. 8pm
Poems-For-All free for all. An evening celebrating Richard Hansen, publisher of the Poems-For-All mini-chap series. Selected poets will read from their works published via the series. hosted by frank andrick. Free.
Saturday, November 18
Underground Poetry Series features Crawdad Nelson, Brett Freeman, Laura Cook, and Juanita "Yoke Breaker" Mason plus open mic. 7-9pm, $3.00. Underground Books, 2814 35th Street (35th and Broadway). La-Rue’ is the series host.
Monday, November 20
Sacramento Poetry Center: no reading
The Moody Blues Poetry Series in Laguna presents Royal. Hosted by Ms. LaRue.
see Nov 6 for details
Tuesday, November 21
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, (see November 7 for details)
Wednesday, November 22
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or www.kdvs.org.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Details: See Nov 1.
Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving)
Poetry Unplugged no reading
Saturday. November 25
“The Show” Poetry Series features Divine (from Phoenix, Arizona), Talaam Acey from Baltimore, and LSB (Live Band Jam Session) -
The Show is from 7-9 pm Wo'se Community Center (Off 35th and Broadway), 2863 35th Street, Sac; $5.00. Info: T.Mo at (916) 455-POET.
Monday, November 27
Sacramento Poetry Center presents members of The Great American Pinup blog. Reading in person: Shawn Pittard, David Koehn, Geraldine Kim, and Victor Schnickelfritz. There will also be recorded readings by Matthew Schmeer and Richard Jeffrey Newman Tim Kahl hosts – 7:30pm. SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th Street.
The Moody Blues Poetry Series in Laguna presents Alta Raye. Hosted by Ms. LaRue.
See Nov 6 for details.
Wednesday, November 29
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, presents Chas (from LA Slam). 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Details: See Nov 1.
Thursday, November 30
SPC Annual fundraising party at the home of
Mimi and Burnett Miller. $25 for SPC Members. rsvp: poetrynow@sacramentopoetrycenter.org
Poetry Unplugged 8pm at Luna’s Café. Hosted by frank andrick. Neeli Cherkovski, Anne Menebroker, and William S. Gainer.
Chas from LA Slam at Vibe Sessions Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 Open MIc.
and mark your calendars for these early December events
Friday, December 1
Sacramento’s own Terry Moore opens for Brian McKnight at Memorial Auditorium. Also featured is LaToya London. 1401 J St, Sacramento, 7 p.m. For ticket information: www.isoundtracks.net
Monday, December 4
Sacramento Poetry Center presents "Celtic Women: Brigit Truex, Jeanine Stevens, Charlene Ungstad and Rebecca Morrison. Serving up “some Celtic chic, dishes, libations, music, poetry, broadsides, and photos.” Bring Celtic poetry-stories-goodies to share (anything from Northern Europe qualifies).
Wednesday, December 6
Film event – 7pm at the Crest Theater –
Premiere Screening of “I Began to Speak”
The History of Poetry in Sacramento
by BL Kennedy and Linda Thorell.
Advance tickets available from the Crest!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Luna's Cafe - Another Night of Competitive Poetry
I noticed in the blog calendar for October that Art Beck was in town again, and was going to be featured with former Tule Review editor, Jane Blue. Art Beck recently known for his publication, "Summer With All It's Clothes Off" was joined by CSUS professor Mary Mackey instead, who read from "Breaking the Fever." Nostalgic for a familiar place on this Thursday night, I slipped into the cafe just before it began brimming. I noticed someone in the corner, scribbling on a napkin, another had one sheet of paper covered with discriminating characters, lined out, some boxed in pen. B.L. Kennedy, the host, definitely had control of the mic. Central and galant in his introductions, he produced an evening that slowly unravelled into a successful symphony of poetry lovers.
What was shared tonight, was an inaudible tension. One that perhaps exists outside of the cafe and into the lives of these individuals as they carry on with what they do in the real world. I have heard some claim that they live and breath poetry, but tonight, we were all breathing it live and uncut. Poems on death, seduction and discontent drew darkness over the day just passed. After the final reader, I happily escaped leaving another piece of emotion on that stage; another poem was created, ready to be dissected.
What was shared tonight, was an inaudible tension. One that perhaps exists outside of the cafe and into the lives of these individuals as they carry on with what they do in the real world. I have heard some claim that they live and breath poetry, but tonight, we were all breathing it live and uncut. Poems on death, seduction and discontent drew darkness over the day just passed. After the final reader, I happily escaped leaving another piece of emotion on that stage; another poem was created, ready to be dissected.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
JOSHUA CLOVER at Sacramento Poetry Center on Oct. 23, 2006
A Perfectly Affectless Enthusiasm displayed by Joshua Clover
Joshua Clover read many of the pieces from The Totality For Kids as well as "Zone," the epic poem by Apollinaire as translated by Samuel Beckett. "Das Kissenbuch" and "The Other Atelier" were among those that were featured.
At the end of the evening he ventured into some new work. One of these was a poem entitled, simply Poem. In it Clover displayed his typical biting wit and critique of "capital" which he addresses as an old friend. In "Poem" he also makes apologies for the poets who don't understand the vagaries of the beast of capital.
Monday, October 09, 2006
RICHARD BEBAN Oct. 9 2006
Richard Beban headed out on the road from LA and arrived at HQ on Monday evening. Voyaging was still on his mind. The first poem he read was called “The Voyage” and it was dedicated to Li Po in which Li Po, “He knew the river merged with something grander.”
The second poem picked up the voyages theme also. It referred to the homonym via the word tao (the way) and dhow (a boat in southeast Asia). In the poem Beban confessed,
All problems occur in boats and I am not a swimmer.
Beban then related that he had spent a night or two in a Super 8 Motel and lamented the fact that in the drawer where there should have been a condom somebody stashed a Bible.
Beban read a poem about Noah and a poem where Noah had trouble naming the things that departed from the ark. Beban mused that perhaps if there had been more women in on the naming, then we would have had more interesting names for animals.
He read "Mental Block" from Young Girl Eating a Bird
Then he dedicated a poem to the parents of a young child named Isabella who was punctuating the reading with shrieks of delight every time Beban said the word “joy” The poem/song was deidicated to children who don’t have parents who look out for them. It was entitled “Canaries.”
He read “Fooling a Living” about his father in which Beban offered that his father was “changing into a stranger. . . something he perfected when I was a kid.”
He read another poem about boyhood and his father entitled “The Impressionable Boy on the Bridge;” then he read a poem for his mother entitled “For My Mother the Movie Lover in Intensive Care” where he wished his “magical childhood myths godspeed.”
Beban then waxed nostalgic about how all the old Lucky’s had been replaced by Albertson’s (a very unpoetic name to be sure). The poem about the old Lucky’s was called “Customer Satisfaction.” In it he stalked about the smoothest riding grocery carts, how carts were like small cages, how he danced with one like it was a partner he had long desired. The cart contained morning oatmeal, fat free turkey, and when it was time for him to part, he wondered if that was all there was between them. The speaker noted that the place where he once was lucky, and he set it free.
Beban read a series of love poems. One was a triolet, a mash note to Medusa. Another one was “Dinner and Conversation, Athens” where the speaker tells of the spilled guts of fish. The fish cleaners are talking of ex-lovers. At the end the speaker notes that the old lovers are picked clean as the fine bones
A love poem was dedicated to his wife, Kaaren Kitchell. Beban held an image of her (waving goodbye as he left on his tour). The poem was called “Aubade,” and in it Beban recalled the sight of her “in her leopard skin silk pajamas.”
the last poem of the evening was a delightful little exercise given to Beban by Richard Garcia at Antioch College in LA. Garcia had given his students a series of 1000-year-old Old English words, but he had not given them the meanings. They were then supposed to create a poem using those words (though their usage of the words was based mainly on sound). So he wrote the poem he read in a sort of Jabberwocky style. The poem was entitled “Wifthing” (after one of the words from Garcia). Beban was sure that this would have some relevance to wife. The subject matter was a rather spicy love poem. Only after he had finished the poem did Garcia reveal that “wifthing” really meant something like “side woman.”
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
ANDY JONES and BRAD HENDERSON Oct. 2 2006
Andy Jones and Brad Henderson arrived at the Sacramento Poetry Center ready to go in matching shirts, a bit sadder that they had not forced all those who had attended an earlier reading at the Natsoulas Gallery in Davis to sign a contract to be in Sacramento.
Brad and Andy collaborated on a book put out by Natsoulas Press entitled Split Stock earlier this year, and they read several pieces from that book as well as a number of newer pieces, some from their self-imposed mission set upon each other to write a poem a day for 40 days (a la David Lehman).
One poem in which Brad bemoaned his fate of being a Midwesterner was Uncle Larry, a rather droll look at the world according to a man from Indiana.
Andy read a piece that was dedicated to his family, his three children: Geneva, Jackson and Truman. It was written and read primarily for those people whom he had expected to make the trip over the causeway to hear his reading, and it was partially inspired by Brad who had kidded Andy about his coming from a dysfunctional family. So, Andy mused about what it might be like to write a poem about his young family. the resulting piece was Functional Family.
Andy also read a piece about a particularly well-placed poet, but . . . well, er, more about that later.
The two of them also read pieces from Split Stock. Brad read Mr. Yippy-I. O, starting out the first line in a drawl, then thinking better of it.
Andy closed the evening with a poem about a sinister bathtime predicament [Rubber Duck]. You may never want to take a bath alone again!
During the open mic, two of the locals read pieces. Tim Kahl read Ohrwurm whose title is derived from a word that literally means "ear worm" but refers to any song that sticks in someone's head and the listener can't get it out.
Finally, Indigo Moor read two poems of his "Tinder" and "Ethos" about two paintings of Jacob Lawrence.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Sacramento Literary Calendar for October 2006
Monday, October 2
Sacramento Poetry Center presents
Andy Jones and Brad Henderson.
7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts,
1719-25th (25th and R) Tim Kahl hosts.
451-5569. Free.
Taylor Graham reads at The Other Voice in Davis 7:30pm at Davis Unitarian Church
Tuesday, October 3
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, Hart Senior Center, 27th & J. Bring 15 - 20 copies of your one-page poem. Info: Danyen, (530) 756-6228. Free. www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org/SPC Workshop News.
Wednesday, October 4
Mics and Moods features Heather Christian at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm-midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Thursday, October 5
Poetry Unplugged presents TBA. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Mario Ellis Hill.
8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street.
Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open Mic for comedians, singers, poets.
Saturday, October 7
First Saturday Poetry Series
Sojourner Truth Art Center, 2251 Florin Rd. (Corner of Tamoshanter and Florin). 7pm.
Hosted by Noah Hayes and Felicia McGee. All ages / $5.00. Come early for workshop.
Info: www.malikspeaks.com
Escritores del Nuevo Sol’s writing workshop and potluck on 1st Saturdays. 11am.
La Raza Galeria Posada, 1024 - 22nd Street (NEW LOCATION) Sacramento. For info call Graciela Ramirez, 456-5323 or joannpen@comcast.net.
Monday, October 9
Richard Beban reads at the Sacramento Poetry Center. Hosted by Indigo Moor. 7:30 p.m. SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Tuesday, October 10
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, Hart Senior Center, 27th & J. See Oct 3 for details
Rae Gouirand
Bistro 33 in the Historic City Hall,
226 “F” Street, at 3rd and “F” Streets in Davis.
Bistro 33 Series
Phone (530) 756-4556
Wednesday, October 11
Sharyn Stever reads at the Book Collector. Come celebrate the release of Heron’s Run, Sharyn’s new chapbook from Rattlesnake Press. The Book Collector, 1008 24th Street, Sacramento. Rattlesnake will also release Tim Kahl’s new littlesnake broadside: Mysterious Rebus.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, host Andy Jones, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or subscribe to podcast at www.kdvs.org. www.culturelover.com.
Thursday, October 12
Vibe Sessions features Random Abiladeze – up and coming local spoken word and hip-hop artist at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open Mic for comedians, singers, poets.
Poetry Unplugged presents TBA. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Geoffrey Neil. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Monday, October 16
Sacramento Poetry Center presents
Poets of Luther Burbank High School.
hosted by Bob Stanley. 7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th
(25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Tuesday, October 17
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, See October 3 for details
Wednesday, October 18
Urban Voices presents Mary Mackey. The renowned novelist, poet, filmmaker and publisher is also a dynamic reader. Don’t miss this! Hosted by B.L. Kennedy, 6:30 – 8 p.m. South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd. Free.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Moore time for Poetry: Terry Moore’s Access Television Show, 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 9pm, co-host Tyra Moore. Access Sacramento, Channel 17. updates: tvguide.com. (916) 208-7638.
Thursday, October 19
Poetry Unplugged presents Bob Stanley. Open mic before/after. Hosted by frank andrick. 8pm at Luna’s Café. See October 5 for details.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages.
Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Saturday, October 21
Underground Poetry Series features Red Fox poets Wendy Williams & Brigit Truex
plus Lori Jean Robinson and Random Abiladeze. plus open mic. 7-9pm, $3.00. Underground Books, 2814 35th Street (35th and Broadway). La-Rue’ is the series host. If you would like to be a featured poet contact Terry Moore at 455-POET.
Sunday, October 22
Taylor Graham will be reading from her new book, The Downstairs Dance Floor, winner of the Robert Phillips Poetry Chapbook Prize. The Book Collector
(1008 24th St., Sacramento) at 4 pm.
Monday, October 23
Sacramento Poetry Center presents Joshua Clover, author of The Totality For Kids (2006) and Madonna anno domini (1997) winner of the Walt Whitman Award from The Academy of American Poets. Clover teaches at UC, Davis, and contributes to Village Voice and the New York Times. Host Tim Kahl. 7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Tuesday, October 24
SPC Poetry Workshop, (See October 3 for details)
Terry Moore
Bistro 33 in the Historic City Hall,
226 “F” Street, at 3rd and “F” Streets in Davis.
Bistro 33 Series
Phone (530) 756-4556
Wednesday, October 25
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or www.kdvs.org.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Thursday, October 26
Poetry Unplugged features Art Beck and Jane Blue plus open mic before/after.
Hosted by B.L. Kennedy. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions presents Kevin Sandbloom at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Saturday. October 28
“The Show” Poetry Series features
Neo-Soul vocalist Kevin Sandbloom from Los Angeles, plus extended open mic time Born 2B Poets with special guest
Bloom Beloved. 7-9 pm Wo'se Community Center (Off 35th and Broadway), 2863 35th Street, Sac; $5.00. Info: T.Mo at (916) 455-POET.
30 Monday, October 30
Sacramento Poetry Center
no reading tonight
Wednesday, November 1
Pat Schneider—a public talk at the Sutter Cancer Center. Wine and refreshments. Free! Pat created the writing method used at Sutter. Pat has pioneered a way to engage in Whitman's dream: poetry en masse. Poetry no longer just confined to books or a select few but poetry that breathes the sweat on the street and is spoken by the ignorant as well as the intellectual.
Sacramento Poetry Center presents
Andy Jones and Brad Henderson.
7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts,
1719-25th (25th and R) Tim Kahl hosts.
451-5569. Free.
Taylor Graham reads at The Other Voice in Davis 7:30pm at Davis Unitarian Church
Tuesday, October 3
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, Hart Senior Center, 27th & J. Bring 15 - 20 copies of your one-page poem. Info: Danyen, (530) 756-6228. Free. www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org/SPC Workshop News.
Wednesday, October 4
Mics and Moods features Heather Christian at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm-midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Thursday, October 5
Poetry Unplugged presents TBA. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Mario Ellis Hill.
8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street.
Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open Mic for comedians, singers, poets.
Saturday, October 7
First Saturday Poetry Series
Sojourner Truth Art Center, 2251 Florin Rd. (Corner of Tamoshanter and Florin). 7pm.
Hosted by Noah Hayes and Felicia McGee. All ages / $5.00. Come early for workshop.
Info: www.malikspeaks.com
Escritores del Nuevo Sol’s writing workshop and potluck on 1st Saturdays. 11am.
La Raza Galeria Posada, 1024 - 22nd Street (NEW LOCATION) Sacramento. For info call Graciela Ramirez, 456-5323 or joannpen@comcast.net.
Monday, October 9
Richard Beban reads at the Sacramento Poetry Center. Hosted by Indigo Moor. 7:30 p.m. SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Tuesday, October 10
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, Hart Senior Center, 27th & J. See Oct 3 for details
Rae Gouirand
Bistro 33 in the Historic City Hall,
226 “F” Street, at 3rd and “F” Streets in Davis.
Bistro 33 Series
Phone (530) 756-4556
Wednesday, October 11
Sharyn Stever reads at the Book Collector. Come celebrate the release of Heron’s Run, Sharyn’s new chapbook from Rattlesnake Press. The Book Collector, 1008 24th Street, Sacramento. Rattlesnake will also release Tim Kahl’s new littlesnake broadside: Mysterious Rebus.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, host Andy Jones, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or subscribe to podcast at www.kdvs.org. www.culturelover.com.
Thursday, October 12
Vibe Sessions features Random Abiladeze – up and coming local spoken word and hip-hop artist at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open Mic for comedians, singers, poets.
Poetry Unplugged presents TBA. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Geoffrey Neil. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Monday, October 16
Sacramento Poetry Center presents
Poets of Luther Burbank High School.
hosted by Bob Stanley. 7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th
(25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Tuesday, October 17
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm, See October 3 for details
Wednesday, October 18
Urban Voices presents Mary Mackey. The renowned novelist, poet, filmmaker and publisher is also a dynamic reader. Don’t miss this! Hosted by B.L. Kennedy, 6:30 – 8 p.m. South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd. Free.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Moore time for Poetry: Terry Moore’s Access Television Show, 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 9pm, co-host Tyra Moore. Access Sacramento, Channel 17. updates: tvguide.com. (916) 208-7638.
Thursday, October 19
Poetry Unplugged presents Bob Stanley. Open mic before/after. Hosted by frank andrick. 8pm at Luna’s Café. See October 5 for details.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages.
Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Saturday, October 21
Underground Poetry Series features Red Fox poets Wendy Williams & Brigit Truex
plus Lori Jean Robinson and Random Abiladeze. plus open mic. 7-9pm, $3.00. Underground Books, 2814 35th Street (35th and Broadway). La-Rue’ is the series host. If you would like to be a featured poet contact Terry Moore at 455-POET.
Sunday, October 22
Taylor Graham will be reading from her new book, The Downstairs Dance Floor, winner of the Robert Phillips Poetry Chapbook Prize. The Book Collector
(1008 24th St., Sacramento) at 4 pm.
Monday, October 23
Sacramento Poetry Center presents Joshua Clover, author of The Totality For Kids (2006) and Madonna anno domini (1997) winner of the Walt Whitman Award from The Academy of American Poets. Clover teaches at UC, Davis, and contributes to Village Voice and the New York Times. Host Tim Kahl. 7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Tuesday, October 24
SPC Poetry Workshop, (See October 3 for details)
Terry Moore
Bistro 33 in the Historic City Hall,
226 “F” Street, at 3rd and “F” Streets in Davis.
Bistro 33 Series
Phone (530) 756-4556
Wednesday, October 25
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or www.kdvs.org.
Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Thursday, October 26
Poetry Unplugged features Art Beck and Jane Blue plus open mic before/after.
Hosted by B.L. Kennedy. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions presents Kevin Sandbloom at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Saturday. October 28
“The Show” Poetry Series features
Neo-Soul vocalist Kevin Sandbloom from Los Angeles, plus extended open mic time Born 2B Poets with special guest
Bloom Beloved. 7-9 pm Wo'se Community Center (Off 35th and Broadway), 2863 35th Street, Sac; $5.00. Info: T.Mo at (916) 455-POET.
30 Monday, October 30
Sacramento Poetry Center
no reading tonight
Wednesday, November 1
Pat Schneider—a public talk at the Sutter Cancer Center. Wine and refreshments. Free! Pat created the writing method used at Sutter. Pat has pioneered a way to engage in Whitman's dream: poetry en masse. Poetry no longer just confined to books or a select few but poetry that breathes the sweat on the street and is spoken by the ignorant as well as the intellectual.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Fictional Character: The Ernie Poems
"Fictional Character: The Ernie Poems" is a trajectory of convulsions gifted to one human being. Phil Weidman's chapbook (Rattesnake Press; Rattlechaps Chapbook Series #27) places all of his burdens onto one character, Ernie, and revels in the freedom of release. While the author submits to the speculation that this collection of work is a projection of his own psyche, he also exalts poetry as a "bridge to a fresh perspective" and striving for "that."I picked three poems, "They Don't Go There", "A Matter of Scale", and "A Frequent Answer", as they pain the questions of rejection, sexuality, microscopic analyses, and ambivolence. Seduced by Ernie in "They Don't Go There" I revisited this quest for understanding the nature of love, and the simple but unacknowledged causes that lead a man to undisclosure. Are men only to express words of love towards beings that are unconditional towards them? The ability to voice love for a weapon, a pet, things that Ernie probably are attached to, and only perform at his presence and instruction is compared to rewarding a woman with the declaration. I don't want to sound like a male-basher... women "don't go there" either.
The title, "A Matter of Scale" immediately evoked images of Kafka, and a big talking insect. However, Ernie doesn't wake up and discover his nose gone (Gogol), or that he is a gigantic bug. Still on the intuitive perception of what we don't see daily, he brings to clear vision those mites, bugs, or anything else that may be hidden to the naked eye. Begin the poem, and you see, yes, ants, who have better designs of capitalism. Something extraordinary happens, he is able to bring in technology without evoking tiring images of the golden arches, and other excuses to ponder what needs to be fixed. Yes, we are wireless, and so are ants; there is something in the air, and he is the unwilling accomplice.
"A Frequent Answer", emerges as a very open, contemplative piece. In the context of politics, war, and the battle between the classes, Ernie becomes the iconic non-participator. The hero, of course, is the imagination; Ernie is rethinking throughout the poem, speculating that his stiff tongue is one short rope away from martyrdom.
Ernie is complex, and likable.
CAMILLE NORTON—Sept. 25
All links below are to .MP3 recordings of Camille Norton’s reading at SPC on Sept. 25. 2006
Camille Norton graced the interior space of the Sacramento Poetry Center and filled it with some interior spaces of her own. The poems she read were all from her book Corruption which ranged from meditations on her time spent in Florence to more personal pieces about her relationship with her father.
She started out reading from Corruption. She read the first two sections of this poem “The Medicis” and “The Monsters.”
Then she read three sections from “Index of Prohibited Images” I. John in the Wild IV, Caravaggio, 1604 II. Judith and Holofernes, Caravaggio 1599 and III. Medusa, Caravaggio, 1597.
The next piece was a sprawling history of Dante’s many burials entitled Napoleon’s Boots and Dante’s Body.
She read “Incomprehensible Triangles” with its epigraph from the great Brazilian novelist Clarice Lispector:
Will I stay lost among the silence of the signals?
I will for I know what I’m like: I never learned to look
without needing more than just to see.
Then she read Aperture, a wonderful piece about passing through the spirit gates to have a gruff encounter with her father the day that he died.
Norton read “In The Bardo,” mentioning that it was written for a friend who had had some difficult encounters in her life.
“Monday Music” was next, and Norton told how the voice in the piece was derived from some nervous energy she had during her visit to the MacDowell Colony for the Arts.
She read “Eight Pieces for Gertrude Stein,” all of them haikus.
Finally, she ended the evening on a light note with Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox, Babe from the series “Wild Animals I have Known”
For a complete audio log of the entire evening, please e-mail me at tnklbnny@mongryl.com
Monday, September 18, 2006
Frank Andrick and Friends—Sept. 18
Frank Andrick, miraculous survivor of a thousand maladies and recent returnee from the Lodi hospital tour, took the stage at SPC for a very spirited performance. He brought his buddies Eric and Terryll, who started off the evening . . . some might say as warm-up poets. But this is not show business. This is poetry. On, then, with the high seriousness.
Eric read several poems solo about his recent conversion to poetry. The poems employed mostly very conversational diction that owed their rhythms to surrealist stream-of-consciousness and hip-hop's gigabytes o' internal rhyme. Then he played didgeridoo, snorting and huffing at it like he was invoking the Dreamtime gods via a massive Rasta spliff.
Then his partner Terryll took her spot in front of the podium and asked the audience to call out a number. A number was called out, and she proceeded to do that number on her playlist, with didgeridoo accompaniment (mostly of the low-slow variety . . . as those of us in the front row could hear their mumbled instructions to each other). The first one was dedicated to apathy. She read with a kind of half-song, half-speech lilt in her voice that occasionally slurred words for musical effect the way Rickie Lee Jones might. There were love poems, poems to friends that might seem like love songs but weren't.
Frank Andrick then joined Eric and Terryll for a group reading of a piece that had been performed at the Poetry Marathon, "Frank Andrick is a Name-Dropping Whore." In characteristic style Andrick made fun of himself for this. If I had a nickel for every poet that made fun of himself, well . . . I'd still be poor. Andrick can efface himself in public, and get everyone to watch. How does he do that?
Andrick read a piece that had been translated from the Sumerian, a 4000-year-old text that Frank claimed to be the oldest known poem. Frank, as experimental mythologist, read this piece, editing it from its source so that the stream of imagery read like a very contemporary piece full of jump-cuts and abrupt changes of tone and register. but Frank assured that he did not adulterate the content, what was actually said, in any way from its original form.
Andrick then read some of his pensées, short little "deep thoughts" that were designed to grab the listener and let him/her think about the gravity of what had been said. It was wisdom for those who are in a hurry.
After his recent battle with the medical unknown, Andrick read two poems that were "inspired(?)"/"thrust upon him" as a result of that experience. These poems were a combination of phrases gleaned from his nurses and other medical attendants as well as loose thoughts aimed at oblivion and fueled by the anxiety of his experience. They were phantasmagorical episodes of a descent into medical hell where a syringe is not just a syringe but a surrogate for the great-deflating-pin aimed at the soul's balloon.
The highlight of the evening, though, was Andrick's reading of a piece he had written upon the passing of the great surrealist Philip Lamantia. Lamantia, long known among surrealists as the one anointed by Andre Breton to carry the surrealist torch across America, was a force in the poem that Andrick read. Philip Lamantia's former wife, Nancy Peters, had gotten a hold of it, and proclaimed it to be written in the spirit of her late husband. Andrick captured the essence of Lamantia in the piece complete with its multisyllabic incantations and invocation of the ancient mythic underworld. If Lamantia was the torch-bearer for Breton, could it be that in our humble midst here in the Sacramento region, another torch has been passed to uphold the tradition of American surrealism? Frank Andrick, may you long be counted among the living heirs of Lamantia rather than among the sick and wasted in hospital beds!
Like one of the great mystics, Frank Andrick plays peek-a-boo with the gods
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Sunday, September 10, 2006
TUPELOETICS at SPC on August 28
Bob Stanley
Tupeoloetics was the point of focus for a beautiful August evening of poetry at the Sacramento Poetry Center. Contrary to the widely held belief that poetry readings and August do not mix at SPC’s cauldron of well-forged words, the slight breeze and good will made for a lovely evening. Even with the fans turned to their lowest setting the atmosphere was very comfortable. Or maybe it was the newly painted floors done by members of the Asylum Gallery.
Tupeloetics is a group of writers [Bill Moose, Connie Gutowsky, Bill Ludington, Edythe Haendel Schwartz, Bob Stanley] who meet at The Tupelo Cafe every month to discuss their poems and hopefully make them better by sharing. After searching for a name to call their collective, the meeting place, Tupelo Cafe was the most logical choice.
Jim Moose was the first to take his place in front of the mic. He is a retired civil servant - He was a lawyer and administrative law judge in California state service for 37 years. He is the resident historian of the group, and he did not disappoint with this first poem entitled “Oh, the Joy” which was about the Lewis and Clark expedition across The Louisiana Territory, an undertaking that took many years, an undertaking so strenuous that some say it took a toll on Lewis’s sanity. His death in Tennessee in 1809 was thought by many to be a suicide. The title of the piece comes from the moment the two of them gazed upon the Pacific.
Moose’s next poem was entitled “Red Memory.” The opening premise is that a red shard becomes ensconced in the brain of the speaker. The memory is persistent and the speaker regards it as a feminine shape and the mysterious force it possesses. Then the speaker reveals that he did not such a force had been transferred to me.
“Moonlight and Roses” was set in 1945 Yokohama and told of a scene where a tenor held sway in front of packed house of GIs. The tenor sang “Moonlight and Roses” and not a dry eye was left in the house.
In “Lament” Moose spoke of a Sierra trip he’d taken which was too short for him to keep a record of it, so he wrote the poem instead.
“French Major” was a poem dedicated to a man who secretly kept his past as a leader in naval combat even though he had won the Navy Cross in WW II. The speaker of the poem learns from his obituary that he was a Harvard man, that he switched from being a French major to going into law.
Moose also read “Inheritess” which besides the coinage of a new term offered the observation that one is “not less because we can not trace our ancestors, not less for it.” This is so because the speaker states that “your ancestor is mine.”
“America the Beautiful” employed a speaker who is narrating the musical attributes to the song as it is being sung. The chords weigh in to emphasize the lines. Finally, the speaker finds his pride turns to salty tears.
Connie Gutowsky then stepped in front of the mic and declared that her poetic project is the Homemade Bread of Poetry, that is, she employs poems to find the beauty in the quotidian.
The fist poem she read was a sestina inspired by an owl entitled “What is Left?” Tears fall on a desk from the sky. A list of items appear in a liquidambar tree. Dead sculptures form a smorgasbord on the lawn. The owl lets its pellets fall from the tree in rhythm.
Gutowsky introduced the next poem as being one that was inspired by a photo taken after a picnic. In “Where from Here?” the speaker is a girl in a mirror who grows older.
“We’re Talking About” was a poem that used pieces of extraneous conversational phrases (in fact, probably, in particular, largely, potentially) and strung them together into a sound collage
“Smile and Nod” takes place on a cross-Atlantic flight where the speaker encounters the man on the left who coughs. His passport is from Iran, but then he shows the speaker pictures of his daughter, a pharmacist, in Tucson,
“Bouquet” was a triolet in honor of Al that began with opening image of applesauce on a book.
Gutowsky ended with a sonnet entitled “Shredders” that was attack on the bulk mail industry and its invasive means of entering a home.
Edythe Haendel Schwartz
Edythe Haendel Schwartz then took her place before the crowd and read
”Lacunae”, a poem she had recently published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). She informed the crowd that it is a villanelle written in terza rima.
“Habanera” was a tribute to the Carmen aria and Schwartz’s grandmother whose collection of librettos is discovered, the one of Caruso at the Met in 1936 in particular. The speaker ranges over a number of meditations on the woman’s presence and now absence, finally acknowledging the woman’s love for Carmen.
In ”The Conchologist and the Shoemaker” Schwartz offered that she heard this conversation between a blind UC Davis conchologist and the man at the shoe repair shop. It was a piece that arrived to her out of this moment.
The next piece that she read was a tribute to the Port Orchard Snapping Turtle whose shotgun approach to birthing the next generation left the ping pong-like ball eggs with “odds no better than ours.”
In “Chromatic,” a sonnet in tribute to an interracial couple, the speaker notes that it is impossible to live without skin.
“Reprieve” features a bird that has struck its head on a window and an opportunistic cat waits for its reward as the bird’s heart flutters grace notes and then its wings extend.
In “Swimmer at Master’s Club” Lucille Barry (1910-2005) is the voice in the poem. Her feet are ticking in a 4/4 beat. She flips for a final turn, her pelvis fit with pins. The swim is a metaphor for the life struggled through with prize going to the one who remains alive.
Bob Stanley was the last reader for the evening. He started off with an unnamed poem that implored the listener to “choose who you are” and ended with notion that “everyone should know who they are.”
In “At the Center” Stanley used a number of short phrases and images to produce a collage effect that invited the reader to “spin downward with me.”
In “Trip” Stanley looks at his father, to a time when his father had lost his job, to a time before he could understand.
The nest poem Stanley read was a tribute to the vagaries of the syllabus. It borrowed key words and phrases that were recognizable as syllabus verbiage. The speaker comes to the realization at the end that he must get off the syllabus, the prescribed road map that is never very good at dealing with specific individual concerns in the class.
“In Transit” was arranged around a speaker who was traveling and missed the turn off, only to realize that in trying to regain his position, he was traveling once again.
“What It’s About?” was about the speaker’s senior tripand featured reflections on a friend’s dad who died of leukenia.
In “Morsel” Stanley’s speaker advises, “write about love but not about walnuts.”
Finally, in “Sweet Fire” a poem that Stanley wrote after his recent trip to China, the speaker merges great figures in Chinese history, such as the First Emperor of Chin with jazz legends like Charlie Parker until there is a very mixed ensemble of cats putting it out there for everyone to hear.
Yikes! Wrong Date Listed!
I know how easy it is for these things to happen, but the new issue of PN lists our 9/15 (Escritores' Annual All-Spanish at CSUS) reading for 9/16. The write-up is great, just the wrong day listed. Any way this can be corrected on the online SPC calendar and blog?
Thanks so much,
JoAnn Anglin
Thanks so much,
JoAnn Anglin
Sunday, August 27, 2006
SPC's September Poetry Events
Saturday, September 2
First Saturday Poetry Series
Sojourner Truth Art Center, 2251 Florin Rd.
(Corner of Tamoshanter and Florin). 7pm.
Hosted by Noah Hayes and Felicia McGee.
All ages / $5.00. Come early for workshop.
Info: www.malikspeaks.com
Tuesday, September 5, 12, 19, 26
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm,
Hart Senior Center, 27th & J.
Info: Danyen, (530) 756-6228. Free. www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org/SPC Workshop News.
Wednesday, September 6
Mics and Moods presents Taalam Acey at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Thursday, September 7
Vibe Sessions features Taalam Acey at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open Mic for comedians, singers, poets.
Poetry Unplugged presents Vincent Kobelt. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Mario Ellis Hill. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street.
Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Monday, September 11
Sacramento Poetry Center presents TBA
hosted by Indigo Moor. 7:30 p.m.,
SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th
(25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Wednesday, September 13
Mics and Moods presents Ranonsense at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Wednesday, September 13
Rattlesnake Press presents Phil Weidman at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento, from 7:30-9 PM to celebrate his new poetry rattle-chapbook, Fictional Character: The Ernie Poems. info: kathykieth@hotmail.com
Thursday, September 14
Poetry Unplugged presents: Marian Jones. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Geoffrey Neil. 8pm at Luna’s Café. See September 7 for details.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages.
Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Friday, September 15
David Humphreys and Paula Sheil are featured readers at Our House Defines Art. (El Dorado Hills Town Center, just south of Hwy 50 in El Dorado Hills) at 7 pm. An open mic follows.
correction Escritores del Nuevo Sol presents the poets of the Generation of 27, Rafael Alberti and Federico García Lorca, as well as poems from Dr. Fausto Avendaño and Mariela Santana. You are invited to read your favorite poem in Spanish during the “open mic” period. 7:30 - 9:30 pm. Mariposa Hall, Rm. 1000, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J St.* Donation: $5.00 ($3.00 students and members; no one turned away for lack of money.)
Saturday, September 16
Celebrate the publication of Volume 5 of Manzanita: Poetry and Prose of the Mother Lode and Sierra 2 - 6 P.M. Kautz Ironstone Winery in Murphys
Underground Poetry Series presents
Felecia McGee and Black Men Expressing Tour plus open mic. 7-9pm, $3.00. Underground Books, 2814 35th Street (35th and Broadway).
Sunday, September 17
Poet's Corner Presents Open Mic.
Barnes & Noble, Stockton’s Weberstown Mall. 7:00 pm www.poetscornerpress.com.
Monday, September 18
Sacramento Poetry Center presents
frank andrick and friends. Host Bob Stanley. 7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Wednesday, September 20
Mics and Moods presents the live music of Sparlha Swa (who has been featured on BET J) at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Urban Voices presents Bill Carr and
Terry Moore. Hosted by B.L. Kennedy, 6:30 – 8 p.m. South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd. Free.
Thursday, September 21
River City Writers Series presents Chris Ransick reading at 12 noon at the Little Theater (Room A6) at Sacramento City College.
Poetry Unplugged features Todd Mann, Leslie Kramer, and Rachel Gregg plus open mic before/after. Hosted by frank andrick. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages.
Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Sunday, September 24
Poems-for-All presents Bill Pieper.
A Book Release Party for his latest novel, "Belonging," a tale of Downieville and California's Modern Gold Country. 4 to 6 pm. The Book Collector, 1008 24th Street, Sacramento. Free. Info: (919)442-9295.
Monday, September 25
Sacramento Poetry Center features
Camille Norton - National Poetry Series Award Winner for her book, Corruption.
host: Tim Kahl. 7:30 p.m. Info: 451-5569. Free.
SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th Street
Tuesday, September 26
Craig Paulenich reads at 7 pm in the library gallery at CSUS. His new book of poetry, Drift of the Hunt, is the first offering from nobodaddies press.
Wednesday, September 27
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Poetry reading at Hidden Passage Books (352 Main St., Placerville), 6-7 pm, features an open mic read-around.
Thursday, September 28
Poetry Unplugged features Matt Amatt and Jennifer Jeanne O’Neil-Pickering. Open mic before/after. Hosted by B.L. Kennedy.
8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater). Hosted by Flo Real. 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages.
Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Saturday, September 30
“The Show” Poetry Series features
Prentice "2006 OAKLAND/SAN FRANCISCO GRAND SLAM CHAMPION"
Noah "SupaNova" Hayes (Birthday)
Lawrence Brooks, Jason Banks,
Miss Ashleigh, Love Jones Poetry Night
7-9 pm Wo'se Community Center (Off 35th and Broadway), 2863 35th Street, Sac; $5.00. Info: T.Mo at (916) 455-POET.
First Saturday Poetry Series
Sojourner Truth Art Center, 2251 Florin Rd.
(Corner of Tamoshanter and Florin). 7pm.
Hosted by Noah Hayes and Felicia McGee.
All ages / $5.00. Come early for workshop.
Info: www.malikspeaks.com
Tuesday, September 5, 12, 19, 26
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm,
Hart Senior Center, 27th & J.
Info: Danyen, (530) 756-6228. Free. www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org/SPC Workshop News.
Wednesday, September 6
Mics and Moods presents Taalam Acey at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Thursday, September 7
Vibe Sessions features Taalam Acey at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages. Open Mic for comedians, singers, poets.
Poetry Unplugged presents Vincent Kobelt. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Mario Ellis Hill. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street.
Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Monday, September 11
Sacramento Poetry Center presents TBA
hosted by Indigo Moor. 7:30 p.m.,
SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th
(25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Wednesday, September 13
Mics and Moods presents Ranonsense at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Wednesday, September 13
Rattlesnake Press presents Phil Weidman at The Book Collector, 1008 24th St., Sacramento, from 7:30-9 PM to celebrate his new poetry rattle-chapbook, Fictional Character: The Ernie Poems. info: kathykieth@hotmail.com
Thursday, September 14
Poetry Unplugged presents: Marian Jones. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Geoffrey Neil. 8pm at Luna’s Café. See September 7 for details.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages.
Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Friday, September 15
David Humphreys and Paula Sheil are featured readers at Our House Defines Art. (El Dorado Hills Town Center, just south of Hwy 50 in El Dorado Hills) at 7 pm. An open mic follows.
correction Escritores del Nuevo Sol presents the poets of the Generation of 27, Rafael Alberti and Federico García Lorca, as well as poems from Dr. Fausto Avendaño and Mariela Santana. You are invited to read your favorite poem in Spanish during the “open mic” period. 7:30 - 9:30 pm. Mariposa Hall, Rm. 1000, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J St.* Donation: $5.00 ($3.00 students and members; no one turned away for lack of money.)
Saturday, September 16
Celebrate the publication of Volume 5 of Manzanita: Poetry and Prose of the Mother Lode and Sierra 2 - 6 P.M. Kautz Ironstone Winery in Murphys
Underground Poetry Series presents
Felecia McGee and Black Men Expressing Tour plus open mic. 7-9pm, $3.00. Underground Books, 2814 35th Street (35th and Broadway).
Sunday, September 17
Poet's Corner Presents Open Mic.
Barnes & Noble, Stockton’s Weberstown Mall. 7:00 pm www.poetscornerpress.com.
Monday, September 18
Sacramento Poetry Center presents
frank andrick and friends. Host Bob Stanley. 7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
Wednesday, September 20
Mics and Moods presents the live music of Sparlha Swa (who has been featured on BET J) at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Urban Voices presents Bill Carr and
Terry Moore. Hosted by B.L. Kennedy, 6:30 – 8 p.m. South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd. Free.
Thursday, September 21
River City Writers Series presents Chris Ransick reading at 12 noon at the Little Theater (Room A6) at Sacramento City College.
Poetry Unplugged features Todd Mann, Leslie Kramer, and Rachel Gregg plus open mic before/after. Hosted by frank andrick. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages.
Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Sunday, September 24
Poems-for-All presents Bill Pieper.
A Book Release Party for his latest novel, "Belonging," a tale of Downieville and California's Modern Gold Country. 4 to 6 pm. The Book Collector, 1008 24th Street, Sacramento. Free. Info: (919)442-9295.
Monday, September 25
Sacramento Poetry Center features
Camille Norton - National Poetry Series Award Winner for her book, Corruption.
host: Tim Kahl. 7:30 p.m. Info: 451-5569. Free.
SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th Street
Tuesday, September 26
Craig Paulenich reads at 7 pm in the library gallery at CSUS. His new book of poetry, Drift of the Hunt, is the first offering from nobodaddies press.
Wednesday, September 27
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Poetry reading at Hidden Passage Books (352 Main St., Placerville), 6-7 pm, features an open mic read-around.
Thursday, September 28
Poetry Unplugged features Matt Amatt and Jennifer Jeanne O’Neil-Pickering. Open mic before/after. Hosted by B.L. Kennedy.
8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
Vibe Sessions at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd. (next to Colonial Theater). Hosted by Flo Real. 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages.
Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Saturday, September 30
“The Show” Poetry Series features
Prentice "2006 OAKLAND/SAN FRANCISCO GRAND SLAM CHAMPION"
Noah "SupaNova" Hayes (Birthday)
Lawrence Brooks, Jason Banks,
Miss Ashleigh, Love Jones Poetry Night
7-9 pm Wo'se Community Center (Off 35th and Broadway), 2863 35th Street, Sac; $5.00. Info: T.Mo at (916) 455-POET.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
He's Too Fast For Me
Here's what Medusa had to say about the Marathon this morning:
Well, no, I couldn't [pat Crawdad on the rump]—as usual, he was too fast for me... I attended the last four hours of the Marathon; the most interesting part to me was how many of our different poetry communities in this area were represented over the 73 hours, communities that normally would not appear together on the same bill. Here's hoping this isn't the last such event, whether it be a marathon or some other occasion. Thanks to BL Kennedy, frank andrick, Java City, and all the other tireless (sleepy) people who made this event possible!
And thanks, Tim, for the pictures and the narrative. It's great to have somebody chronicling all these events for SPC!
Well, no, I couldn't [pat Crawdad on the rump]—as usual, he was too fast for me... I attended the last four hours of the Marathon; the most interesting part to me was how many of our different poetry communities in this area were represented over the 73 hours, communities that normally would not appear together on the same bill. Here's hoping this isn't the last such event, whether it be a marathon or some other occasion. Thanks to BL Kennedy, frank andrick, Java City, and all the other tireless (sleepy) people who made this event possible!
And thanks, Tim, for the pictures and the narrative. It's great to have somebody chronicling all these events for SPC!
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
SPC's SACRAMENTO POETRY EVENTS [AUGUST]
1 Tuesday
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm,
Hart Senior Center, 27th & J.
Bring 15 - 20 copies of your one-page poem. Info: Danyen, (530) 756-6228. Free. www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org/SPC Workshop News.
2 Wednesday
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
3 Thursday
Open Mic at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd.
(next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real and Malikspeaks. 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages.
Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Poetry Unplugged presents: TBA. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Mario Ellis Hill. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
5 Saturday
Escritores del Nuevo Sol’s writing workshop and potluck on 1st Saturdays. 11am.
Location not decided at press time.
For info call Graciela Ramirez, 456-5323 or joannpen@comcast.net.
First Saturday Poetry Series returns today!
Sojourner Truth Art Center, 2251 Florin Rd.
(Corner of Tamoshanter and Florin). 7pm.
Hosted by Noah Hayes and Felicia McGee.
All ages / $5.00. Come early for workshop.
Info: www.malikspeaks.com
7 Monday
Sacramento Poetry Center No reading
8 Tuesday
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm,
See August 1 for details
9 Wednesday
Irene Lipshin will be reading at The Book Collector at 7:30 pm. to celebrate the release of her new chapbook, Shadowlines, from Rattlesnake Press. Also premiering that night will be littlesnake broadside #26, Out the Window, by Norma Kohout. Refreshments and a read-around will follow; bring your own poems or somebody else's.
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, host Andy Jones, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or subscribe to podcast at www.kdvs.org. www.culturelover.com.
9 Wednesday
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Moore time for Poetry: Terry Moore’s Access Television Show, 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 9pm, co-host Tyra Moore. Access Sacramento, Channel 17. updates: tvguide.com. (916) 208-7638.
10 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged presents: TBA. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Geoffrey Neil. 8pm at Luna’s Café. See Aug 3 for details
12 Saturday
POEMS-FOR-ALL Second Saturday Series
presents frank andrick, Becca Costello, Rachel Liebrock “plus wacky guests galore” 8pm
The Book Collector, 1008 24th Street, Sacramento, between J and K Streets
916.442.9295
13 Sunday
Jim Nolt reads at McBean Perk (a coffee place) 3:00pm to 5:00pm
427 A St., Suite 400 Lincoln, CA
Poet's Corner Presents Open Mic. Barnes & Noble, Stockton’s Weberstown Mall. 7:00 pm www.poetscornerpress.com.
The Pomo Literati Radio Program –
2 hours of spoken word hosted by frank andrick.
KUSF 90.3 fm. San Francisco - www.kusf.edu for global streaming broadcast - 2pm tp 4pm
14 Monday
Sacramento Poetry Center presents TBA. Host Indigo Moor. 7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
15 Tuesday
SPC Poetry Workshop, (See Aug 1 for details)
16 Wednesday
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or www.kdvs.org.
16 Wednesday
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
17 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged features Francisco Alarcon. Open mic before/after. Hosted by frank andrick. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
18 - 20 Friday – Sunday
Sacramento State Writers Conference featuring Gail Tsukiyama, John Lescroart, Jim Dodge, Dan Melzer, Jeff Vasseur, Sands Hall, Robin Burcell, David Bianculli, Marcos Breton, Lynn Ferrin, Albert Garcia, Josh McKinney, more. www.cce.csus.edu/cts06/WritersConference
19 Saturday
Underground Poetry Series presents Taylor Williams and Black Men Expressing Tour plus open mic. 7-9pm, $3.00. Underground Books, 2814 35th Street (35th and Broadway). Mother Rose is the bookstore manager and La-Rue’ is the series host. If you would like to be a featured poet please contact Terry Moore at 455-POET.
Nevada County Poetry Series presents Cowboy Poets: Daryl Knight, Dave Fisher, and Tony Argento. $5 general, $1 for under 18. Refreshments and open-mic included. www.thecenterforthearts.org
21 Monday
Sacramento Poetry Center features
Rob Anthony and Josh Fernandez;
host: Bob Stanley. 7:30 p.m.
SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th Street
(25th & R). Info: 451-5569. Free.
22 Tuesday
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm,
see Aug 1 for details
23 Wednesday
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, host Andy Jones, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM
Urban Voices presents TBA
Hosted by B.L. Kennedy, 6:30 – 8 p.m. South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd. Free.
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight.
Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Moore time for Poetry: Terry Moore’s Access Television Show, 9pm, co-host Tyra Moore.
See July 5 for details
24 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged presents Brad Buchanan and Robbie Grossklaus. Open mic before/after. Hosted by B.L. Kennedy.
8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
26 Saturday
“The Show” Poetry Series features
Isaac Griffin, Larry Ukali Johnson-Redd,
He Spit Fire, Juanita Mason AKA: Yoke Breaker, and "UNTITLED" dance group
7-9 pm Wo'se Community Center (Off 35th and Broadway), 2863 35th Street, Sac; $5.00. Info: T.Mo at (916) 455-POET.
27 Sunday
A Cinematic and Poetic Betty Page fest – erotic prose and poetry and film. HQ for the Arts (25th and R). Hosts: Jay Greenberg and frank andrick.
28 Monday
Sacramento Poetry Center presents Tupeloetics – Connie Gutowsky, Bill Ludington, Jim Moose, Edythe Haendel Schwartz and Bob Stanley.
Host: Tim Kahl. 7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R Sts.) Info: 451-5569.
29 Tuesday
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm
See August 1 for details
30 Wednesday
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or www.kdvs.org.
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods, 9pm at Capitol Garage. See Aug 9 for details
31 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged: Head Druid poet Michael R. Gorman, Magickal word worker poet Merlen Tofer, and medieval music by Kira. plus open mic. Hosted by frank andrick. 8:00 pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Free.
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm,
Hart Senior Center, 27th & J.
Bring 15 - 20 copies of your one-page poem. Info: Danyen, (530) 756-6228. Free. www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org/SPC Workshop News.
2 Wednesday
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
3 Thursday
Open Mic at Cobbler Inn, 3520 Stockton Blvd.
(next to Colonial Theater) Hosted by Flo Real and Malikspeaks. 8-11pm. $5.00 All ages.
Open MIc for comedians, singers, poets.
Poetry Unplugged presents: TBA. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Mario Ellis Hill. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
5 Saturday
Escritores del Nuevo Sol’s writing workshop and potluck on 1st Saturdays. 11am.
Location not decided at press time.
For info call Graciela Ramirez, 456-5323 or joannpen@comcast.net.
First Saturday Poetry Series returns today!
Sojourner Truth Art Center, 2251 Florin Rd.
(Corner of Tamoshanter and Florin). 7pm.
Hosted by Noah Hayes and Felicia McGee.
All ages / $5.00. Come early for workshop.
Info: www.malikspeaks.com
7 Monday
Sacramento Poetry Center No reading
8 Tuesday
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm,
See August 1 for details
9 Wednesday
Irene Lipshin will be reading at The Book Collector at 7:30 pm. to celebrate the release of her new chapbook, Shadowlines, from Rattlesnake Press. Also premiering that night will be littlesnake broadside #26, Out the Window, by Norma Kohout. Refreshments and a read-around will follow; bring your own poems or somebody else's.
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, host Andy Jones, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or subscribe to podcast at www.kdvs.org. www.culturelover.com.
9 Wednesday
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Moore time for Poetry: Terry Moore’s Access Television Show, 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 9pm, co-host Tyra Moore. Access Sacramento, Channel 17. updates: tvguide.com. (916) 208-7638.
10 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged presents: TBA. Open mic before/after. Hosted by Geoffrey Neil. 8pm at Luna’s Café. See Aug 3 for details
12 Saturday
POEMS-FOR-ALL Second Saturday Series
presents frank andrick, Becca Costello, Rachel Liebrock “plus wacky guests galore” 8pm
The Book Collector, 1008 24th Street, Sacramento, between J and K Streets
916.442.9295
13 Sunday
Jim Nolt reads at McBean Perk (a coffee place) 3:00pm to 5:00pm
427 A St., Suite 400 Lincoln, CA
Poet's Corner Presents Open Mic. Barnes & Noble, Stockton’s Weberstown Mall. 7:00 pm www.poetscornerpress.com.
The Pomo Literati Radio Program –
2 hours of spoken word hosted by frank andrick.
KUSF 90.3 fm. San Francisco - www.kusf.edu for global streaming broadcast - 2pm tp 4pm
14 Monday
Sacramento Poetry Center presents TBA. Host Indigo Moor. 7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R) 451-5569. Free.
15 Tuesday
SPC Poetry Workshop, (See Aug 1 for details)
16 Wednesday
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or www.kdvs.org.
16 Wednesday
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight. Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
17 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged features Francisco Alarcon. Open mic before/after. Hosted by frank andrick. 8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
18 - 20 Friday – Sunday
Sacramento State Writers Conference featuring Gail Tsukiyama, John Lescroart, Jim Dodge, Dan Melzer, Jeff Vasseur, Sands Hall, Robin Burcell, David Bianculli, Marcos Breton, Lynn Ferrin, Albert Garcia, Josh McKinney, more. www.cce.csus.edu/cts06/WritersConference
19 Saturday
Underground Poetry Series presents Taylor Williams and Black Men Expressing Tour plus open mic. 7-9pm, $3.00. Underground Books, 2814 35th Street (35th and Broadway). Mother Rose is the bookstore manager and La-Rue’ is the series host. If you would like to be a featured poet please contact Terry Moore at 455-POET.
Nevada County Poetry Series presents Cowboy Poets: Daryl Knight, Dave Fisher, and Tony Argento. $5 general, $1 for under 18. Refreshments and open-mic included. www.thecenterforthearts.org
21 Monday
Sacramento Poetry Center features
Rob Anthony and Josh Fernandez;
host: Bob Stanley. 7:30 p.m.
SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th Street
(25th & R). Info: 451-5569. Free.
22 Tuesday
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm,
see Aug 1 for details
23 Wednesday
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, host Andy Jones, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM
Urban Voices presents TBA
Hosted by B.L. Kennedy, 6:30 – 8 p.m. South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd. Free.
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods at Capitol Garage, 1500 K Street. 10pm to midnight.
Features and Open Mic hosted by Khiry Malik. Info: www.malikspeaks.com or 492-9336. 21 and over / $5 cover.
Moore time for Poetry: Terry Moore’s Access Television Show, 9pm, co-host Tyra Moore.
See July 5 for details
24 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged presents Brad Buchanan and Robbie Grossklaus. Open mic before/after. Hosted by B.L. Kennedy.
8pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Info: 441-3931 or www.lunascafe.com. Free.
26 Saturday
“The Show” Poetry Series features
Isaac Griffin, Larry Ukali Johnson-Redd,
He Spit Fire, Juanita Mason AKA: Yoke Breaker, and "UNTITLED" dance group
7-9 pm Wo'se Community Center (Off 35th and Broadway), 2863 35th Street, Sac; $5.00. Info: T.Mo at (916) 455-POET.
27 Sunday
A Cinematic and Poetic Betty Page fest – erotic prose and poetry and film. HQ for the Arts (25th and R). Hosts: Jay Greenberg and frank andrick.
28 Monday
Sacramento Poetry Center presents Tupeloetics – Connie Gutowsky, Bill Ludington, Jim Moose, Edythe Haendel Schwartz and Bob Stanley.
Host: Tim Kahl. 7:30 p.m., SPC/HQ for the Arts, 1719-25th (25th and R Sts.) Info: 451-5569.
29 Tuesday
SPC Poetry Workshop, 7:30pm
See August 1 for details
30 Wednesday
Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour, 5pm, KDVS-90.3 FM or www.kdvs.org.
Mahogany Poets presents Mics and Moods, 9pm at Capitol Garage. See Aug 9 for details
31 Thursday
Poetry Unplugged: Head Druid poet Michael R. Gorman, Magickal word worker poet Merlen Tofer, and medieval music by Kira. plus open mic. Hosted by frank andrick. 8:00 pm at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th St. Free.
THE 73rd HOUR
The last hour of the Java City Poetry Marathon produced a string of readers who celebrated a notion that one media observer in Manhattan who read about the marathon and e-mailed the organizers exclaimed with incredulity:
THEY"RE BLOCKING OFF THE STREETS FOR POETRY!
Yes, they're blocking off the streets in Sacramento for poetry.
Following is an attempt to pictorially capture the succession of poets (as host Frank Andrick called them out to the stage).
Rachel Leibrock read a short piece of prose.
Emerson
John Noon
John Bell
Then, Eric, the sound man, delivered several two-liners.
Here Kathy Kieth gives Crawdad Nelson a pat on the rump as he leaves the stage
D.R. Wagner
Jane Blue
Gene Avery (who jumped up to read and headed out the side door, then shunned the stage and wandered freely in front of it).
Mike from Texas (who, indeed, did travel all the way from Texas to be a part of the scene . . . and even served as host in the wee hours).
Michael R. Norman (who took great pains to emphasize his middle initial in order to differntiate himself from the other Michael Normans in Sacramento).
Ann Menebroker who read a piece, upon the urging of B. L. Kennedy, about recently deceased poet Jack Michelin.
Stan Zumbiel continued with the theme of the elegy and read a poem about Irwin Gardner (spelling?).
A woman by the name of Terrell(?) apologized for dressing up the way she did in high school and then recited Edgar Allan Poe's "A Dream Within a Dream."
Charlene Ungstad recited one of her old poems from memory.
Host Frank Andrick read a poem that local news anchor Edie Lambert wrote for her grandmother.
Gene Bloom, whom Crawdad Nelson has described as the "New York sex poet."
Videographer Linda Thorell got into the mix.
Frank Andrick left the crowd with this quote taken from Oscar Wilde:
"In an age where the dull are treated seriously, I live in terror of being understood"
Then, B.L. Kennedy took the stage to give the assembled his farewell address, and the energy that was in the room overcame my camera, so I wasn't able to document B.L. dancing around the room like a dervish on one bad leg and with one bad heart, urging the people in the room to chant POETRY NOW, POETRY NOW. It was the liturgy in the church of poetry, the sacrament of Sacramento.
THEY"RE BLOCKING OFF THE STREETS FOR POETRY!
Yes, they're blocking off the streets in Sacramento for poetry.
Following is an attempt to pictorially capture the succession of poets (as host Frank Andrick called them out to the stage).
Rachel Leibrock read a short piece of prose.
Emerson
John Noon
John Bell
Then, Eric, the sound man, delivered several two-liners.
Here Kathy Kieth gives Crawdad Nelson a pat on the rump as he leaves the stage
D.R. Wagner
Jane Blue
Gene Avery (who jumped up to read and headed out the side door, then shunned the stage and wandered freely in front of it).
Mike from Texas (who, indeed, did travel all the way from Texas to be a part of the scene . . . and even served as host in the wee hours).
Michael R. Norman (who took great pains to emphasize his middle initial in order to differntiate himself from the other Michael Normans in Sacramento).
Ann Menebroker who read a piece, upon the urging of B. L. Kennedy, about recently deceased poet Jack Michelin.
Stan Zumbiel continued with the theme of the elegy and read a poem about Irwin Gardner (spelling?).
A woman by the name of Terrell(?) apologized for dressing up the way she did in high school and then recited Edgar Allan Poe's "A Dream Within a Dream."
Charlene Ungstad recited one of her old poems from memory.
Host Frank Andrick read a poem that local news anchor Edie Lambert wrote for her grandmother.
Gene Bloom, whom Crawdad Nelson has described as the "New York sex poet."
Videographer Linda Thorell got into the mix.
Frank Andrick left the crowd with this quote taken from Oscar Wilde:
"In an age where the dull are treated seriously, I live in terror of being understood"
Then, B.L. Kennedy took the stage to give the assembled his farewell address, and the energy that was in the room overcame my camera, so I wasn't able to document B.L. dancing around the room like a dervish on one bad leg and with one bad heart, urging the people in the room to chant POETRY NOW, POETRY NOW. It was the liturgy in the church of poetry, the sacrament of Sacramento.
Monday, July 31, 2006
JAVA CITY POETRY MARATHON [THANKS, BARI]
The brain trust of the three day Java City Poetry Marathon. Bari Kennedy (with back turned, scribbling sketches and poems in his notebook) and Frank Andrick (black shirt). Also at the table, Bob Stanley and Robbie Grossklaus (leaning) look on.
One of Sunday afternoon's readers [Bill Carr] reading "the train poem"
Another Sunday reader [yours truly, courtesy of my 8-year-old son, Soren] delivers to the faithful
Bari Kennedy and company were able to pull it off once more. Amid the towering oaks and sycamores at Capitol and 18th, Sacramento's poets came forth, one by one, to entertain and enchant the listeners in downtown Sacramento. The weather cooperated to provide a beautiful day. And the oaks and sycamores gently swayed to the rhythms of poems that were read.
While I was there, Bill Carr read his famed train poem, complete with sound effects, and Becca Costello read a piece about truffle pigs. But this was only a short period within the 72 hour time frame.
Feel free to send what you saw (including pics) during your visit at the poetry marathon to SacramentoPoetryCenter@yahoo.com, and I'll be glad to post it here.
There are rumors that this is going to be the last marathon. Let's hope that it can continue into the future. Can anyone say 25th anniversary?
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