Inclusionist Book & Poetry Project | Dec. 9th

Celtic Women Poets | December 4th

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.

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!

A benefit for poet frank andrick

SPC Fall Benefit | November 30th

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.

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!