CLICK HERE FOR CJ'S REVIEW OF REVOLVING DOOR
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Gertrude Rubin, 1921 - 2010
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Beloved Chicago poet, writer, civil rights activist and author of The Passover Poems, Gertrude Rubin passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2010, at the age of 89. Rubin was one of the first contributors to ChicagoPoetry.com, submitting eleven poems for publication in the year 2000 that are archived here. Rubin was a member of the Poets Club of Chicago and the Poets and Patrons group.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, July 28, at 2 PM, at The Piser Chapel, 9200 N. Skokie Blvd. (at Church St.) in Skokie (847-679-4740) and at Interment Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to Beth Emet Synagogue, 1224 W. Dempster St., Evanston, IL 60202 would be appreciated.
Beloved Chicago poet, writer, civil rights activist and author of The Passover Poems, Gertrude Rubin passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2010, at the age of 89. Rubin was one of the first contributors to ChicagoPoetry.com, submitting eleven poems for publication in the year 2000 that are archived here. Rubin was a member of the Poets Club of Chicago and the Poets and Patrons group. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, July 28, at 2 PM, at The Piser Chapel, 9200 N. Skokie Blvd. (at Church St.) in Skokie (847-679-4740) and at Interment Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to Beth Emet Synagogue, 1224 W. Dempster St., Evanston, IL 60202 would be appreciated.
Poetry News You Can Actually Use
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Hey Poetry Gang, here is some poetry news that you can actually use!
There is lots of poetry news brewing for and about the youngest generation of poets in Chicago and ChicagoPoetry.com is joining in the movement. Cram Volume 9 features work by four students from Joseph E. Gary Elementary School. You can pick up a free copy of Cram 9 at the Printers Ball or at the big release reading at Cafe Ballou, 939 N. Western Ave, on Saturday, August 14, 7 PM. The release is free and all ages.
The new management at the Poetry Center of Chicago is really making some waves. I hear they may start up the free members workshops soon. Also, they now have the complete Hands on Stanzas anthology of young poets published online! Click here to check it out.
Furthermore, there will be a Learn Then Burn Book Release Party on Thursday, July 29, at 7:30 PM, at Hull House Museum, 800 S. Halsted St. Learn Then Burn (Write Bloody Publishing) is an anthology featuring some of the nation's best spoken word poets including National Poetry Slam Champs, World Slam Champs, and Def poets. It is designed for teachers to use in the classroom (no "F" bombs). Performing at the release event will be Kevin Coval, Robbie Q Telfer, Marty McConnell, Dan Sully, Billy Tuggle, Joel Chmara, Sarah Morgan and Tim Stafford. It's free and all ages.
The National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) Excellence in Poetry Committee recently named Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston's anthology, The Tree That Time Built a Celebration of Nature Science and Imagination (Sourcebooks, with audio CD; juvenile poetry), one of the best poetry books published in 2009, and an excellent resource for the classroom. You can order it by clicking here.
And on Thursday, July 29, 8 PM, at Quenchers Saloon, 2401 N. Western Ave, Luis Humberto Valadez will be one of the many guests for Chicago HOPES Presents: Bright Lights for Bright Kids II. Chicago HOPES provides educational support, tutoring, and arts enrichment programs to students (K-12) living in Chicago homeless shelters. Click here to learn more. It's $10 suggested and 21 and over.
In other poetry scene news, the first issue of MUZZLE is now online. MUZZLE publishes poetry, art, comics, interviews, book reviews, and performance reviews, and is particularly interested in collaborative and multi-media pieces for the next issue. Learn about all the fun by clicking here. And in a related story, I've been hearing a lot of good things about the Vox Ferus After Dark Workshops. Click here to learn about them straight from the source.
Learn how to enter the RHINO 2011 Founders Prize by clicking here.
Learn about Tim Hunt's book, Redneck Yoga, by clicking here.
Let's take a look at some of the upcoming events happening around town.
Gregg Shapiro will be reading at The Cafe, 5115 N. Lincoln Ave, on Tuesday, July 27, with open mic, 8:30 PM.
On Wednesday, July 28, 8:30 PM, the Guild Complex will be hosting another BYOP event, this time featuring representatives from two different feminist literary organizations: Proyecto Latina and dancing girl press. It happens at California Clipper, 1002 N. California, and it's free but you have to be at least 21.
Join Kristiana Rae Colón, Natalie Edwards, Rebecca George and many others for the first Saturday Salon on August 7, 8 PM, at Rumble Arts Center, 3413 W. North Ave. The Division Collective hopes to create a space for artists to feel open, safe, and adventurous enough to put themselves out there – to share not only their work, but themselves.
On Friday, July 30, from 7:30 PM until Midnight, if you aren't at the Printers Ball picking up your free copy of Cram 9, you can check out Real Talk Live featuring avery r. young, burlesque dancer Chloe Beaujolais, and a huge cast of performance poets, with an open mic, at somebody's home at 4520 N. Monticello Ave. 18+ please!
On Friday, August 13, from 10 PM until 2 AM, there will be an event at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, called "Chicago Translation: Lit, Music, Dance" sponsored by Requited Journal, Another Chicago Magazine and Artifice Mag. They say: " Join us as artists combine sound, syntax, and image to reinterpret Chicago and create contemporary meaning to familiar city-spaces." It's $10.
On Friday, August 13, from 6:30 to 9:30 PM, a free event called "poetry and memories in honor of Carlos Cortez's 87th birthday" that will take place at Carlos & Dominguez Fine Arts Gallery, 1538 West Cullerton (near Ashland Avenue & St. Pius Church), with poets and speakers Chris Drew, Raul Nino, Len Dominguez, Rito Martinez, and Carlos Cumpian. Sharing of photos will be available on a pushpin corkboard and copies of Cortez's rare art books and poetry will be for sale.
On Saturday, August 21, from 1:30 to 4:30 PM, join the Midwest Region of The Haiku Society of America at the Winnetka Public Library, 768 Oak St, Winnetka. At this informal meeting, the content and style of haiku will be reviewed. Beginning and experienced haikuists may read their poetry and have it critiqued. Participants without haiku to read may attend to listen to readings. The meeting is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Charlotte Digregorio at 847-881-2664.
On Tuesday, August 24, from 5 to 7 PM, there will be "A Celebration with Kent Foreman" at Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct. "The Guild is honored to host a celebration of Kent Foreman, veteran actor, performance poet, lyricist, screenwriter and winner of the Chicago Historical Society's esteemed Carl Sandburg Award. From be-bop to slam, he has performed with noted poets such as Amiri Baraka, Maya Angelou, Allen Ginsberg and Reggie Gibson, and influenced and mentored many more. The program will feature a performance by Kent as well as some of his fans and friends."
The next Poetry and Music will happen on Sunday, August 29, Noon to 2 PM, at 19 W. Quincy St., in Westmont, with poets Earl Valentine Fischer and Nancy Theresa Fischer with an open mic. It's $5.
Finally, I was so busy this summer helping to organize a boycott of the world's biggest polluter that I didn't even notice this year's New City Top 50 list. The performance poetry scene is especially ignored in it this year, but for what it is worth, a list about authors and their books sponsored by a free rag that the lit community is otherwise oblivious to during the other 51 weeks of the year, it is a much better list than we've seen in previous years. I think this might have been the first time a critic, Roger Ebert, received the number one spot. See what you think by clicking here. Perhaps the performance poetry scene ought to start up its own Top 50 list, hmm?
Don't forget. If you want even more Chicago poetry information at your fingertips, you can always use our direct link to the original or should I say "classic" Chicago Poetry Calendar -- ChicagoPoetryCalendar.com -- where you will get poetry news that you can actually use.
Signing out for now, peace and much love,
CJ Laity
Hey Poetry Gang, here is some poetry news that you can actually use!
There is lots of poetry news brewing for and about the youngest generation of poets in Chicago and ChicagoPoetry.com is joining in the movement. Cram Volume 9 features work by four students from Joseph E. Gary Elementary School. You can pick up a free copy of Cram 9 at the Printers Ball or at the big release reading at Cafe Ballou, 939 N. Western Ave, on Saturday, August 14, 7 PM. The release is free and all ages.
The new management at the Poetry Center of Chicago is really making some waves. I hear they may start up the free members workshops soon. Also, they now have the complete Hands on Stanzas anthology of young poets published online! Click here to check it out.
Furthermore, there will be a Learn Then Burn Book Release Party on Thursday, July 29, at 7:30 PM, at Hull House Museum, 800 S. Halsted St. Learn Then Burn (Write Bloody Publishing) is an anthology featuring some of the nation's best spoken word poets including National Poetry Slam Champs, World Slam Champs, and Def poets. It is designed for teachers to use in the classroom (no "F" bombs). Performing at the release event will be Kevin Coval, Robbie Q Telfer, Marty McConnell, Dan Sully, Billy Tuggle, Joel Chmara, Sarah Morgan and Tim Stafford. It's free and all ages.The National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) Excellence in Poetry Committee recently named Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston's anthology, The Tree That Time Built a Celebration of Nature Science and Imagination (Sourcebooks, with audio CD; juvenile poetry), one of the best poetry books published in 2009, and an excellent resource for the classroom. You can order it by clicking here.
And on Thursday, July 29, 8 PM, at Quenchers Saloon, 2401 N. Western Ave, Luis Humberto Valadez will be one of the many guests for Chicago HOPES Presents: Bright Lights for Bright Kids II. Chicago HOPES provides educational support, tutoring, and arts enrichment programs to students (K-12) living in Chicago homeless shelters. Click here to learn more. It's $10 suggested and 21 and over.
In other poetry scene news, the first issue of MUZZLE is now online. MUZZLE publishes poetry, art, comics, interviews, book reviews, and performance reviews, and is particularly interested in collaborative and multi-media pieces for the next issue. Learn about all the fun by clicking here. And in a related story, I've been hearing a lot of good things about the Vox Ferus After Dark Workshops. Click here to learn about them straight from the source.
Learn how to enter the RHINO 2011 Founders Prize by clicking here.
Learn about Tim Hunt's book, Redneck Yoga, by clicking here.
Let's take a look at some of the upcoming events happening around town.
Gregg Shapiro will be reading at The Cafe, 5115 N. Lincoln Ave, on Tuesday, July 27, with open mic, 8:30 PM.On Wednesday, July 28, 8:30 PM, the Guild Complex will be hosting another BYOP event, this time featuring representatives from two different feminist literary organizations: Proyecto Latina and dancing girl press. It happens at California Clipper, 1002 N. California, and it's free but you have to be at least 21.
Join Kristiana Rae Colón, Natalie Edwards, Rebecca George and many others for the first Saturday Salon on August 7, 8 PM, at Rumble Arts Center, 3413 W. North Ave. The Division Collective hopes to create a space for artists to feel open, safe, and adventurous enough to put themselves out there – to share not only their work, but themselves.
On Friday, July 30, from 7:30 PM until Midnight, if you aren't at the Printers Ball picking up your free copy of Cram 9, you can check out Real Talk Live featuring avery r. young, burlesque dancer Chloe Beaujolais, and a huge cast of performance poets, with an open mic, at somebody's home at 4520 N. Monticello Ave. 18+ please!
On Friday, August 13, from 10 PM until 2 AM, there will be an event at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, called "Chicago Translation: Lit, Music, Dance" sponsored by Requited Journal, Another Chicago Magazine and Artifice Mag. They say: " Join us as artists combine sound, syntax, and image to reinterpret Chicago and create contemporary meaning to familiar city-spaces." It's $10.
On Friday, August 13, from 6:30 to 9:30 PM, a free event called "poetry and memories in honor of Carlos Cortez's 87th birthday" that will take place at Carlos & Dominguez Fine Arts Gallery, 1538 West Cullerton (near Ashland Avenue & St. Pius Church), with poets and speakers Chris Drew, Raul Nino, Len Dominguez, Rito Martinez, and Carlos Cumpian. Sharing of photos will be available on a pushpin corkboard and copies of Cortez's rare art books and poetry will be for sale.On Saturday, August 21, from 1:30 to 4:30 PM, join the Midwest Region of The Haiku Society of America at the Winnetka Public Library, 768 Oak St, Winnetka. At this informal meeting, the content and style of haiku will be reviewed. Beginning and experienced haikuists may read their poetry and have it critiqued. Participants without haiku to read may attend to listen to readings. The meeting is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Charlotte Digregorio at 847-881-2664.
On Tuesday, August 24, from 5 to 7 PM, there will be "A Celebration with Kent Foreman" at Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct. "The Guild is honored to host a celebration of Kent Foreman, veteran actor, performance poet, lyricist, screenwriter and winner of the Chicago Historical Society's esteemed Carl Sandburg Award. From be-bop to slam, he has performed with noted poets such as Amiri Baraka, Maya Angelou, Allen Ginsberg and Reggie Gibson, and influenced and mentored many more. The program will feature a performance by Kent as well as some of his fans and friends."
The next Poetry and Music will happen on Sunday, August 29, Noon to 2 PM, at 19 W. Quincy St., in Westmont, with poets Earl Valentine Fischer and Nancy Theresa Fischer with an open mic. It's $5.
Finally, I was so busy this summer helping to organize a boycott of the world's biggest polluter that I didn't even notice this year's New City Top 50 list. The performance poetry scene is especially ignored in it this year, but for what it is worth, a list about authors and their books sponsored by a free rag that the lit community is otherwise oblivious to during the other 51 weeks of the year, it is a much better list than we've seen in previous years. I think this might have been the first time a critic, Roger Ebert, received the number one spot. See what you think by clicking here. Perhaps the performance poetry scene ought to start up its own Top 50 list, hmm?Don't forget. If you want even more Chicago poetry information at your fingertips, you can always use our direct link to the original or should I say "classic" Chicago Poetry Calendar -- ChicagoPoetryCalendar.com -- where you will get poetry news that you can actually use.
Signing out for now, peace and much love,
CJ Laity
Hot Summer Chicago Poetry News
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Hey poets, the good news is Cram Volume 9 will soon be here! There will be a pre-release of over a hundred free copies at that upcoming Printers Ball thingy on July 30, and then the big release reading happens on Saturday, August 14, at Cafe Ballou, 939 N. Western Ave. You can pick up a free copy at either event. The final deadline for submission into Cram 9 is Sunday, July 18 at 11 PM, so don't be left out: click here for more info.
The other big news is that Tara Betts is coming to town. She will feature for Paper Machete, a "live magazine" addressing politics and culture, on Saturday, July 24, from 3 to 5 PM at Ricochets, 4644 N. Lincoln Ave. Then she will be the guest host for the feminist open mic at Music Lounge, 3017 W. Armitage, on Sunday, July 25, from 6 to 10 PM. And finally she will lead a workshop and feature for the POW-WOW series at Jeffrey Pub, 7041 S. Jeffrey Blvd, on Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 to 10 PM. Is the also featuring at the Revolving Door at Red Kiva the next day? That's what I hear.
Guess what? The Beast Women are back, on Saturday nights at 10:30 PM at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. All shows are $15. Click here for the full schedule.
On Saturday, July 17, The Next Objectivists will be "reading poetry, describing their workshop and working with YOU to create poetry" during the Red Rover Series' Experiment #38: Poetics of the Multitude, to take place at 7 PM, featuring Adriene Dodt, Denise Dooley, Elizabeth Marinom Scott McFarland, Matthias Regan, Gene Tanta, Adam Weg and a few surprises. It happens at Outer Space Studio, 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave and there is a suggested donation of $4. They are not wheelchair accessible and there's no air-conditioning.
It's Poetry Slam time! On Monday, July 19, from 7:30 to 10 PM, the Butterfly Social Club at 722 W. Grand will Mental Graffiti (Marty McConnell, Emily Rose, Billy Tuggle, Andi Kauth, John Davis) vs. the Green Mill (Roger Bonair Agard, Robbie Q Telfer, JW Baz, Tristan Silverman, Amy David). This slam of the century will also include an open mic. It starts at 8 PM, there is a $5 cover, and it's 21 and over.
Then on Sunday, July 25, from 7 to 10 PM, at Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway, the Green Mill team will perform before heading off to the National Finals. It's $6 and 21 and over.
On Wednesday, July 21, 8:30 PM, there will be a poetry open mic at Bon Bon Sandwiches, 2333 West North Ave. It's free and open to the public.
On Wednesday, July 28, from 9 PM until 1 AM, The Revolving Door Reading Series at Red Kiva, 1108 W. Randolph, will host a Chicago Magazine Pre-Release Party that will also feature poets Tara Betts, Quaraysh Ali Lansana, Bayo Ojikutu, Timothy Yu & much more! It's free.
On Sunday, July 25, Noon until 2 PM, poets Earl Valentine Fischer and Nancy Theresa Fischer will feature for the Poetry and Music series at The Brewed Awakening Café in Westmont. Contact Craig or Sylvia at (630) 852-2233 for more info.
On Tuesday, July 27, at 7:30 PM, the TallGrass Writers Guild Open Mic will feature Wisconsin's Catherine Fitzpatrick, a retired career newspaper journalist, at the Bourgeois Pig, 738 West Fullerton. It's $6.
Also on Wednesday, July 28 at 7 PM there will be a free Rose Metal Press and Barrelhouse event at Open Books, 213 W. Institute Pl, featuring James Tadd Adcox, Mary Hamilton, Philip Jenks, Simone Muench and Tim Jones-Yelvington.
On Friday, July 30, from 6 to 8 PM, Brother K, 500 Main St., Evanston, will present featured poets Nick Demske and Nina Corwin.
Also on Friday, July 30, from 6 to 10 PM, there will be a fundraiser for Puerto Rican mural artist Gamaliel Ramirez at Institute for Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, 3015 W. Division St. Call 773.782.0454 to purchase tickets for $25.
On Sunday, August 1, from 2 to 4 PM, Woman Made Gallery, 685 N Milwaukee Ave, presents a poetry reading featuring Robin Behn, Lucia Blinn, Kimberly Dixon, Simone Muench, Jennifer K. Sweeney, and Connie Voisine, hosted by Nina Corwin and recorded by Kurt Heintz for WBEZ's Chicago Amplified Series. It's free!
And finally, check this out! The Second Annual Cradle of American Haiku Festival will happen from Friday, September 10 to Sunday, September 12, at Foundry Books, 105 Commerce St., in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. The festival will include several workshops and presentations on the form and art of Japanese poetic forms, readings of haiku, and Japanese art. This year’s theme is “Remembering Robert Spiess—His Life and Work.” Spiess was a longtime haikuist and author, and former editor of “Modern Haiku,” an international journal of haiku and haiku studies. The cost of the festival is $30 which includes workshops, all activities, reception, and picnic. For more information, with a schedule of events and lodging options, contact Charlotte Digregorio, Midwest Regional Coordinator, The Haiku Society of America, at email cvpress@yahoo.com or by phone at 847-881-2664.
Seems like the poetry in Chicago is as hot as the weather! Take care.
--CJ Laity
Hey poets, the good news is Cram Volume 9 will soon be here! There will be a pre-release of over a hundred free copies at that upcoming Printers Ball thingy on July 30, and then the big release reading happens on Saturday, August 14, at Cafe Ballou, 939 N. Western Ave. You can pick up a free copy at either event. The final deadline for submission into Cram 9 is Sunday, July 18 at 11 PM, so don't be left out: click here for more info.
The other big news is that Tara Betts is coming to town. She will feature for Paper Machete, a "live magazine" addressing politics and culture, on Saturday, July 24, from 3 to 5 PM at Ricochets, 4644 N. Lincoln Ave. Then she will be the guest host for the feminist open mic at Music Lounge, 3017 W. Armitage, on Sunday, July 25, from 6 to 10 PM. And finally she will lead a workshop and feature for the POW-WOW series at Jeffrey Pub, 7041 S. Jeffrey Blvd, on Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 to 10 PM. Is the also featuring at the Revolving Door at Red Kiva the next day? That's what I hear.Guess what? The Beast Women are back, on Saturday nights at 10:30 PM at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. All shows are $15. Click here for the full schedule.
On Saturday, July 17, The Next Objectivists will be "reading poetry, describing their workshop and working with YOU to create poetry" during the Red Rover Series' Experiment #38: Poetics of the Multitude, to take place at 7 PM, featuring Adriene Dodt, Denise Dooley, Elizabeth Marinom Scott McFarland, Matthias Regan, Gene Tanta, Adam Weg and a few surprises. It happens at Outer Space Studio, 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave and there is a suggested donation of $4. They are not wheelchair accessible and there's no air-conditioning.
It's Poetry Slam time! On Monday, July 19, from 7:30 to 10 PM, the Butterfly Social Club at 722 W. Grand will Mental Graffiti (Marty McConnell, Emily Rose, Billy Tuggle, Andi Kauth, John Davis) vs. the Green Mill (Roger Bonair Agard, Robbie Q Telfer, JW Baz, Tristan Silverman, Amy David). This slam of the century will also include an open mic. It starts at 8 PM, there is a $5 cover, and it's 21 and over.
Then on Sunday, July 25, from 7 to 10 PM, at Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway, the Green Mill team will perform before heading off to the National Finals. It's $6 and 21 and over.
On Wednesday, July 21, 8:30 PM, there will be a poetry open mic at Bon Bon Sandwiches, 2333 West North Ave. It's free and open to the public.
On Wednesday, July 28, from 9 PM until 1 AM, The Revolving Door Reading Series at Red Kiva, 1108 W. Randolph, will host a Chicago Magazine Pre-Release Party that will also feature poets Tara Betts, Quaraysh Ali Lansana, Bayo Ojikutu, Timothy Yu & much more! It's free.On Sunday, July 25, Noon until 2 PM, poets Earl Valentine Fischer and Nancy Theresa Fischer will feature for the Poetry and Music series at The Brewed Awakening Café in Westmont. Contact Craig or Sylvia at (630) 852-2233 for more info.
On Tuesday, July 27, at 7:30 PM, the TallGrass Writers Guild Open Mic will feature Wisconsin's Catherine Fitzpatrick, a retired career newspaper journalist, at the Bourgeois Pig, 738 West Fullerton. It's $6.
Also on Wednesday, July 28 at 7 PM there will be a free Rose Metal Press and Barrelhouse event at Open Books, 213 W. Institute Pl, featuring James Tadd Adcox, Mary Hamilton, Philip Jenks, Simone Muench and Tim Jones-Yelvington.
On Friday, July 30, from 6 to 8 PM, Brother K, 500 Main St., Evanston, will present featured poets Nick Demske and Nina Corwin.
Also on Friday, July 30, from 6 to 10 PM, there will be a fundraiser for Puerto Rican mural artist Gamaliel Ramirez at Institute for Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, 3015 W. Division St. Call 773.782.0454 to purchase tickets for $25.
On Sunday, August 1, from 2 to 4 PM, Woman Made Gallery, 685 N Milwaukee Ave, presents a poetry reading featuring Robin Behn, Lucia Blinn, Kimberly Dixon, Simone Muench, Jennifer K. Sweeney, and Connie Voisine, hosted by Nina Corwin and recorded by Kurt Heintz for WBEZ's Chicago Amplified Series. It's free!And finally, check this out! The Second Annual Cradle of American Haiku Festival will happen from Friday, September 10 to Sunday, September 12, at Foundry Books, 105 Commerce St., in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. The festival will include several workshops and presentations on the form and art of Japanese poetic forms, readings of haiku, and Japanese art. This year’s theme is “Remembering Robert Spiess—His Life and Work.” Spiess was a longtime haikuist and author, and former editor of “Modern Haiku,” an international journal of haiku and haiku studies. The cost of the festival is $30 which includes workshops, all activities, reception, and picnic. For more information, with a schedule of events and lodging options, contact Charlotte Digregorio, Midwest Regional Coordinator, The Haiku Society of America, at email cvpress@yahoo.com or by phone at 847-881-2664.
Seems like the poetry in Chicago is as hot as the weather! Take care.
--CJ Laity
More July Poetry News
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Hey Chicago poetry fans, here's some more July news for ya.
In celebration of the opening of the new Language of Conservation exhibit at Brookfield Zoo, that displays poetry throughout the zoo's new seven acre Great Bear Wilderness, you are invited to a grand tour, followed by an evening of tapas, wine and a poetry reading in the underwater polar bear viewing room featuring CJ Laity, Bonnie T. Summers, Charlie Rossiter and Marilyn Peretti. This promises to be a once in a lifetime poetry event! It happens on Friday, July 30, from 6:30 to 9 PM. Tickets are on sale now for $80, to benefit the zoo, so click here to register or call (708) 688-8355.
Since July 30 is the same night as The Printers Ball, and since I will be taking care of business at the zoo, ChicagoPoetry.com will have two representatives passing out free copies of Cram 9 at that shindig. Look for Donna Pecore and Donna Kiser at the Ball to get your free copy of Cram. The final deadline for submission into Cram 9 is July 18: click here to learn more.
On Sunday, July 25, from 1:30 to 4:30, Rhino Magazine (now accepting submissions, click here) and the Evanston Public Library at Church & Orrington will present a Chapbook Workshop led by Allison Joseph in Room 108. A $5 to $10 donation is appreciated and no advance registration is required. Bring 15 or more copies (no longer than two pages) of work you want critiqued.
And speaking of workshops! The Next Objectivists is a free, open-to-the-public poetry workshop dedicated to the study & reproduction of the "outsidereal". They take this term from the “Black Mountain” poet Edward Dorn and their name from the second generation modernist poets associated with The Objectivist Press. They seek the poetry of the multitude, the poetry that tears away from the rule of singularity proposed by elites. Participants at the upcoming meetings are asked to bring a poem by someone else about a dream or dreaming and an account, in any genre or medium, of a dream they remember. You will discuss these poems, swamp dreams, and write together. All meetings begin promptly at 7 PM at the Mess Hall, 6932 North Glenwood Avenue, less than a block from the Morse Street Red Line station. Upcoming dates include July 22, August 12 and 26, and September 9 and 23.
On Monday, July 12, the featured poet for the Molly Malone's Open Mic at 7652 Madison Street, Forest Park, IL, will be Donna Vorreyer. It runs from 7 to 9:30 PM and there is a $3 to $5 suggested donation.
On Wednesday, July 21, the Guild Complex will take a step toward enhancing the dialogue and awareness of work coming out of the Latino and African American poetry communities. Palabra Pura, Chicago’s monthly Latino reading series, will initiate Palabra Pura Special Events by occasionally inviting African American poets to share its stage. Palabra Pura Special Events are the brainchild of Francisco Aragón, poet and Director of Letras Latinas at the Institute for Latino Studies at Notre Dame, and Quraysh Ali Lansana, poet and Director of the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature & Creative Writing at Chicago State University. The vision is to have writers from these two communities come together to share their work and respond to each other’s work. The Palabra Pura Special Event series will begin on Wednesday, July 21, with acclaimed Latina poet MarÃa Luisa Arroyo reading alongside noted African American poet Roger Bonair-Agard. This month’s reading will be at Décima Musa, 1901 S. Loomis, Chicago. An open mic starts the evening at 7:30 PM; the reading begins at 8 p.m. Admission is free. All ages are welcome.
Click here to read a review of Simone Muench's new book, Orange Crush.
Highland Park Poetry says be sure to visit the Muses' Gallery by clicking here to see the results of their 2010 Funny Poetry Contest.
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (MAAF) kicks-off July with the opening of the poetry-themed online exhibition On Both Sides of Our Door available on the Mid Atlantic Artist Registry site July 1. The exhibition features works by Linda Blaskey, Emari DiGiogrio, Barbara Goldberg, Kathleen Hellen, Louise Kennelly, Joshua Poteat, and Pat Valdata. Click here to check it out.
And finally, this is a big one! It's a big year at the Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival as they get ready to celebrate their 25th anniversary and the 100th birthday of Tennessee Williams. They are excited to announce their first ever poetry contest, with Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque as judge. The prize is a thousand dollars, a VIP pass worth $500, publication and a featured reading. Click here to learn how to enter.
Until next time, peace and take care,
--CJ Laity
Hey Chicago poetry fans, here's some more July news for ya.
In celebration of the opening of the new Language of Conservation exhibit at Brookfield Zoo, that displays poetry throughout the zoo's new seven acre Great Bear Wilderness, you are invited to a grand tour, followed by an evening of tapas, wine and a poetry reading in the underwater polar bear viewing room featuring CJ Laity, Bonnie T. Summers, Charlie Rossiter and Marilyn Peretti. This promises to be a once in a lifetime poetry event! It happens on Friday, July 30, from 6:30 to 9 PM. Tickets are on sale now for $80, to benefit the zoo, so click here to register or call (708) 688-8355.Since July 30 is the same night as The Printers Ball, and since I will be taking care of business at the zoo, ChicagoPoetry.com will have two representatives passing out free copies of Cram 9 at that shindig. Look for Donna Pecore and Donna Kiser at the Ball to get your free copy of Cram. The final deadline for submission into Cram 9 is July 18: click here to learn more.
On Sunday, July 25, from 1:30 to 4:30, Rhino Magazine (now accepting submissions, click here) and the Evanston Public Library at Church & Orrington will present a Chapbook Workshop led by Allison Joseph in Room 108. A $5 to $10 donation is appreciated and no advance registration is required. Bring 15 or more copies (no longer than two pages) of work you want critiqued.
And speaking of workshops! The Next Objectivists is a free, open-to-the-public poetry workshop dedicated to the study & reproduction of the "outsidereal". They take this term from the “Black Mountain” poet Edward Dorn and their name from the second generation modernist poets associated with The Objectivist Press. They seek the poetry of the multitude, the poetry that tears away from the rule of singularity proposed by elites. Participants at the upcoming meetings are asked to bring a poem by someone else about a dream or dreaming and an account, in any genre or medium, of a dream they remember. You will discuss these poems, swamp dreams, and write together. All meetings begin promptly at 7 PM at the Mess Hall, 6932 North Glenwood Avenue, less than a block from the Morse Street Red Line station. Upcoming dates include July 22, August 12 and 26, and September 9 and 23.
On Monday, July 12, the featured poet for the Molly Malone's Open Mic at 7652 Madison Street, Forest Park, IL, will be Donna Vorreyer. It runs from 7 to 9:30 PM and there is a $3 to $5 suggested donation.
On Wednesday, July 21, the Guild Complex will take a step toward enhancing the dialogue and awareness of work coming out of the Latino and African American poetry communities. Palabra Pura, Chicago’s monthly Latino reading series, will initiate Palabra Pura Special Events by occasionally inviting African American poets to share its stage. Palabra Pura Special Events are the brainchild of Francisco Aragón, poet and Director of Letras Latinas at the Institute for Latino Studies at Notre Dame, and Quraysh Ali Lansana, poet and Director of the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature & Creative Writing at Chicago State University. The vision is to have writers from these two communities come together to share their work and respond to each other’s work. The Palabra Pura Special Event series will begin on Wednesday, July 21, with acclaimed Latina poet MarÃa Luisa Arroyo reading alongside noted African American poet Roger Bonair-Agard. This month’s reading will be at Décima Musa, 1901 S. Loomis, Chicago. An open mic starts the evening at 7:30 PM; the reading begins at 8 p.m. Admission is free. All ages are welcome.Click here to read a review of Simone Muench's new book, Orange Crush.
Highland Park Poetry says be sure to visit the Muses' Gallery by clicking here to see the results of their 2010 Funny Poetry Contest.
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (MAAF) kicks-off July with the opening of the poetry-themed online exhibition On Both Sides of Our Door available on the Mid Atlantic Artist Registry site July 1. The exhibition features works by Linda Blaskey, Emari DiGiogrio, Barbara Goldberg, Kathleen Hellen, Louise Kennelly, Joshua Poteat, and Pat Valdata. Click here to check it out.
And finally, this is a big one! It's a big year at the Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival as they get ready to celebrate their 25th anniversary and the 100th birthday of Tennessee Williams. They are excited to announce their first ever poetry contest, with Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque as judge. The prize is a thousand dollars, a VIP pass worth $500, publication and a featured reading. Click here to learn how to enter.Until next time, peace and take care,
--CJ Laity
July Poetry Events
.
It may be the end of the world as we know it, but the Chicago Poetry Scene is doing fine. Here's some poetry gossip for ya!
There will be a summer poetry reading event showcasing John Murillo, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Toni Asante Lightfoot and Keli Stewart, on Monday, June 28, 7 PM at Chicago State University's Gwendolyn Brooks Center (Douglas Hall, RM 210-A, 95th & King Drive). This event is free and open to the public.
Beach Poets hosted by Cathleen Schandelmeier happens every Sunday through August 15 at Loyola Beach, Greeleaf and the lake, from 4 to 6 PM. This year is their 20 year anniversary. Some recommended dates include July 4 with Dina Stuart, July 18 with Paul Ryan, July 25 with Andrea Change, and a tribute to Effie Mihopolous on August 8.
The first floor of the Chicago Cultural Center has been transformed into the Chicago Publishers Gallery & Café and recently it nearly doubled in size, adding many themed nooks. Twenty-five Chicago publishers were added during the expansion, and the Gallery now features banner art and letterpress designs by Chicago artists. The Publishers Gallery is now accepting proposals for readings and book events. They are looking for events that showcase Chicago’s vibrant publishing and literary world for the Cultural Center’s audience—and that creatively use the Chicago Publishers Gallery & Café as a setting. Please be sure to visit the Gallery before submitting your proposal if you have not already. Events that are chosen will receive free space, marketing, and promotional support. If you would like to be considered for one of four quarterly slots, please send a one-page description of your event to danielle.chapman@cityofchicago.org by August 9, 2010.
Congratulations go out to Tristan Silverman, this year's Guild Complex Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award recipient. The big bout at the Chopin Theatre also featured Lucia Blinn, Billy Tuggle, Sharrieff Muhammad, Robin Fine, Shontay Luna and a bunch of other poets.
Bill Allegrezza is currently reading work for the next issue of Moria, so if you have anything to send, go ahead and send it to wallegrezza@gmail.com. He's interested in poetry, vispo, poetry films, reviews, and essays.
On Tuesday, July 6, from 6 to 8 PM, there will be reading at King Branch Library, 3436 S. King Drive, for the release of "Into The Banks," the Spring 2010 Issue of the Journal of Ordinary Thought featuring writers from Alexandre Dumas Elementary School, Hall and King Branch Libraries, and San Lucas Church. Free and open to the public.
Also on Tuesday, July 6, 7 PM, Quimby's at 1854 W. North Ave will present poetry from Nicole Wilson, Kate Dougherty, and Patrick Culliton.
On Wednesday, July 7, at 8 PM, Black Rock Bar at 3614 N. Damen will present "I Love My Job; I Hate My Job," curated by Elizabeth Harper, with performances by Rich Experience, Faux Paul, Bob M, Kerry Flory, Allison Gruber, Rebecca Kosick, Sunny Byers and Brian Hurst.
Shit has hit the fan, America. We wanted oil and we got it. The AmperLanterProof Last Chance Literary Blast for the Endtimes will take place on Friday, July 9, from 7 to 9 PM at The Green Lantern Gallery, 2542 W Chicago Ave, featuring the Five Horsemen (and women), A. D. Jameson, Tim Jone-Yelvinton, Lindsay Hunter, Benjamin Lowenkron, and Adam Gallari.
On Saturday, July 10, 7 PM, Myopic Books, 1564 N. Milwaukee Ave, 2nd Fl, will present a Lit Bash with Roberto Harrison, Mike Hauser, Brenda Cardenas, Tom Hibbard, Caryl Pagel, Anthony Madrid, Larry Sawyer and more.
Check the Method is a summer spoken word camp led by Kevin Coval that will bring together some of the premier young writers from across Chicago and the Chicago-land area. This year there will be 2 weeks of camp. One week (July12-16) will be downtown in the Art Institute's new Modern Wing and the second week (July 26-30) will be at the historic Southside Community Arts Center. Guest faculty this year includes: Roger Bonair-Agard, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Krista Franklin, and Robbie Q. Telfer. Check the Method is open to writers age 15-21. Writers should have previous experience writing and performing poetry. For more information and to learn how to register click here for a pdf file.
On Tuesday, July 13, from 7:30 to 10 PM, Davis Schneiderman, Alex Bonner, Jason Bredle, Allison Gruber, Chris Bower, James Tadd Adcox, Rebekah Silverman, Jill Summers, Devin King, Barry Graham and Elizabeth Ellen will each give a five minute reading at The Innertown Pub, 1935 W Thomas, during the QUICKIES! Show.
The House on Real Talk Ave, 4520 N. Monticello, presents Derrick C. Brown for one night only on Thursday, July 15, 7:30 PM, with open mic. Derick is known for a moving show that incorporates poetry, minimalist music, and sound fx, Brown is unique for being an outstanding performer but is foremost a page poet. He is the president of Write Bloody Publishing, the first indie press to be reviewed with favor by Forbes magazine. Space is limited to 50 people. Send an email to jwbasilo@gmail.com
The DePaul University Summer Writing Conference happens from July 16 to 18 at DePaul’s Loop Campus and the Chicago Public Library. Writers of all experience levels are welcome. It's $260 or $110 for a single day, with thirty-six professional and award-winning writers, including professors from DePaul, Columbia College, the Art Institute, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago serving as conference faculty. Click here for all the details. For more information, contact Chris Green at CGREEN1@depaul.edu
or (312) 362-8916.
On Monday, July 19th, 6:00 PM, Gallery Café at 1760 W. North Avenue will host Dream Horse Press authors Kyle McCord and Keith Montesano. The event is part of the DHP First Book Tour. It's free.
The next Night of Sight and Sound with Lethal Poetry is Saturday, July 31, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 West Belmont Ave. Get your tickets by clicking here.
On Sunday, July 25, at 6 PM, Music Lounge at 3017 W. Armitage will present a "Feminist Open Mic." hosted by Tara Betts.
And on Wednesday, July 28, The Revolving Door series at Red Kiva, 1108 W. Randolph, will feature Tara Betts, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Toni Asante Lightfoot, Bayi Ogikutu and Timothy Yu. Wow, far out.
On Sunday, August 1, from 2 to 4 PM, Woman Made Gallery will host Women In Print, an event curated by Nina Corwin. It is free and open to the public.
Finally, heads up. Chicago's new poetry and spoken word festival, Outspoken, will take place from noon until 10 PM on September 25 at The Art Institute Auditorium. Want to participate? Please send your inquiries to outspokenfestival@gmail.com
--CJ Laity
It may be the end of the world as we know it, but the Chicago Poetry Scene is doing fine. Here's some poetry gossip for ya!
There will be a summer poetry reading event showcasing John Murillo, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Toni Asante Lightfoot and Keli Stewart, on Monday, June 28, 7 PM at Chicago State University's Gwendolyn Brooks Center (Douglas Hall, RM 210-A, 95th & King Drive). This event is free and open to the public.
Beach Poets hosted by Cathleen Schandelmeier happens every Sunday through August 15 at Loyola Beach, Greeleaf and the lake, from 4 to 6 PM. This year is their 20 year anniversary. Some recommended dates include July 4 with Dina Stuart, July 18 with Paul Ryan, July 25 with Andrea Change, and a tribute to Effie Mihopolous on August 8.The first floor of the Chicago Cultural Center has been transformed into the Chicago Publishers Gallery & Café and recently it nearly doubled in size, adding many themed nooks. Twenty-five Chicago publishers were added during the expansion, and the Gallery now features banner art and letterpress designs by Chicago artists. The Publishers Gallery is now accepting proposals for readings and book events. They are looking for events that showcase Chicago’s vibrant publishing and literary world for the Cultural Center’s audience—and that creatively use the Chicago Publishers Gallery & Café as a setting. Please be sure to visit the Gallery before submitting your proposal if you have not already. Events that are chosen will receive free space, marketing, and promotional support. If you would like to be considered for one of four quarterly slots, please send a one-page description of your event to danielle.chapman@cityofchicago.org by August 9, 2010.
Congratulations go out to Tristan Silverman, this year's Guild Complex Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award recipient. The big bout at the Chopin Theatre also featured Lucia Blinn, Billy Tuggle, Sharrieff Muhammad, Robin Fine, Shontay Luna and a bunch of other poets.Bill Allegrezza is currently reading work for the next issue of Moria, so if you have anything to send, go ahead and send it to wallegrezza@gmail.com. He's interested in poetry, vispo, poetry films, reviews, and essays.
On Tuesday, July 6, from 6 to 8 PM, there will be reading at King Branch Library, 3436 S. King Drive, for the release of "Into The Banks," the Spring 2010 Issue of the Journal of Ordinary Thought featuring writers from Alexandre Dumas Elementary School, Hall and King Branch Libraries, and San Lucas Church. Free and open to the public.
Also on Tuesday, July 6, 7 PM, Quimby's at 1854 W. North Ave will present poetry from Nicole Wilson, Kate Dougherty, and Patrick Culliton.
On Wednesday, July 7, at 8 PM, Black Rock Bar at 3614 N. Damen will present "I Love My Job; I Hate My Job," curated by Elizabeth Harper, with performances by Rich Experience, Faux Paul, Bob M, Kerry Flory, Allison Gruber, Rebecca Kosick, Sunny Byers and Brian Hurst.Shit has hit the fan, America. We wanted oil and we got it. The AmperLanterProof Last Chance Literary Blast for the Endtimes will take place on Friday, July 9, from 7 to 9 PM at The Green Lantern Gallery, 2542 W Chicago Ave, featuring the Five Horsemen (and women), A. D. Jameson, Tim Jone-Yelvinton, Lindsay Hunter, Benjamin Lowenkron, and Adam Gallari.
On Saturday, July 10, 7 PM, Myopic Books, 1564 N. Milwaukee Ave, 2nd Fl, will present a Lit Bash with Roberto Harrison, Mike Hauser, Brenda Cardenas, Tom Hibbard, Caryl Pagel, Anthony Madrid, Larry Sawyer and more.
Check the Method is a summer spoken word camp led by Kevin Coval that will bring together some of the premier young writers from across Chicago and the Chicago-land area. This year there will be 2 weeks of camp. One week (July12-16) will be downtown in the Art Institute's new Modern Wing and the second week (July 26-30) will be at the historic Southside Community Arts Center. Guest faculty this year includes: Roger Bonair-Agard, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Krista Franklin, and Robbie Q. Telfer. Check the Method is open to writers age 15-21. Writers should have previous experience writing and performing poetry. For more information and to learn how to register click here for a pdf file.
On Tuesday, July 13, from 7:30 to 10 PM, Davis Schneiderman, Alex Bonner, Jason Bredle, Allison Gruber, Chris Bower, James Tadd Adcox, Rebekah Silverman, Jill Summers, Devin King, Barry Graham and Elizabeth Ellen will each give a five minute reading at The Innertown Pub, 1935 W Thomas, during the QUICKIES! Show.
The House on Real Talk Ave, 4520 N. Monticello, presents Derrick C. Brown for one night only on Thursday, July 15, 7:30 PM, with open mic. Derick is known for a moving show that incorporates poetry, minimalist music, and sound fx, Brown is unique for being an outstanding performer but is foremost a page poet. He is the president of Write Bloody Publishing, the first indie press to be reviewed with favor by Forbes magazine. Space is limited to 50 people. Send an email to jwbasilo@gmail.comThe DePaul University Summer Writing Conference happens from July 16 to 18 at DePaul’s Loop Campus and the Chicago Public Library. Writers of all experience levels are welcome. It's $260 or $110 for a single day, with thirty-six professional and award-winning writers, including professors from DePaul, Columbia College, the Art Institute, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago serving as conference faculty. Click here for all the details. For more information, contact Chris Green at CGREEN1@depaul.edu
or (312) 362-8916.
On Monday, July 19th, 6:00 PM, Gallery Café at 1760 W. North Avenue will host Dream Horse Press authors Kyle McCord and Keith Montesano. The event is part of the DHP First Book Tour. It's free.
The next Night of Sight and Sound with Lethal Poetry is Saturday, July 31, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 West Belmont Ave. Get your tickets by clicking here.
On Sunday, July 25, at 6 PM, Music Lounge at 3017 W. Armitage will present a "Feminist Open Mic." hosted by Tara Betts.
And on Wednesday, July 28, The Revolving Door series at Red Kiva, 1108 W. Randolph, will feature Tara Betts, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Toni Asante Lightfoot, Bayi Ogikutu and Timothy Yu. Wow, far out.
On Sunday, August 1, from 2 to 4 PM, Woman Made Gallery will host Women In Print, an event curated by Nina Corwin. It is free and open to the public.
Finally, heads up. Chicago's new poetry and spoken word festival, Outspoken, will take place from noon until 10 PM on September 25 at The Art Institute Auditorium. Want to participate? Please send your inquiries to outspokenfestival@gmail.com
--CJ Laity
June Poetry Events
.
Hey Chicago Poetry fans,
I've been in the trenches lately helping to wage a national boycott of the world's worst polluter, an oil company called BP that has devastated our Gulf Coast. If you see a pretty green sign that says bp don't give them a single penny. But in the midst of it all, poetry goes on. So here's my picks for upcoming local poetry events in June.
On Wednesday, June 9, at 7:30 PM, Danny's Tavern at 1951 West Dickens St, will feature John Beer and Suzanne Buffam. It's free but you have to be at least 21.
And also on Wednesday, June 9th, 6:30 PM, the new management of the Poetry Center of Chicago continues is momentum with a reading by 2009 Tor House Poetry Prize Winner Sharon Fain, at SAIC Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Avenue. It's free.
And it's Pride Month, so it's a big month for the poetry POW-WOW every Tuesday at Jeffrey Pub every Tuesday, 7041 S Jeffrey. For a $5 donation you get food from 7 to 8 PM and then the big show from 8 to 10 PM, including women of Dyke March on June 8; Haki Madhubuti and Raymond Berry on June 15; Lucy Smith and a pride celebration on June 22; and Achy Obejas on June 29.
And also on Wednesday, June 9, 7:30 PM, The Vittum Theater, 1012 North Noble St, will present the final Encyclopedia Show for the season. This time the topic is The Circus. It's $6.
On Thursday, June 10, 7 PM, Quimby's, 1854 West North Ave, will host a free reading featuring Sonja Ahlers and Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Of course, Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13, is the Printers Row Lit Fest (formerly known as the book fair), with so many things going on that I'd have to take up half of this page to list them all, so why don't you just click here to view the schedule at Chicago Tribune.
After the big lit fest, on Saturday, June 12, at 7 PM, the first installment of the Chicago Poetry Showcase reading series will launch at Cafe Ballou, 939 N. Western Ave. The Chicago Poetry Showcase will take the place of the second Saturday Poetry Cram open mic occasionally, in order to give poets a venue in which they can share more than a few minutes of their work. The June 12 Showcase will feature six poets, reading fifteen minutes each, with no open mic. The featured artists will be: Donna Pecore, Paul Martinez Pompa, GPA from LOEP, Pete Dederick, Udayan Das and Beatriz Badikian-Gartler. The event is free and open to the public.
And on Sunday, June 13, 7 PM, Myopic Books, 1564 North Milwaukee Ave, presents a free reading with Debrah Morkun and Kim Gek Lin Short.
On Tuesday, June 15, from 7:30 to 9:30 PM, Adam Hart will be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the online journal Apparatus, with a free event at Winston's Internet Cafe, 5001 N. Clark, featuring readings by Amy David, Cynthia Gallaher, Daniel Godston, Divya Rajan, Donna Vorreyer, Ellen Placey Wadey, Gregg Shapiro, Jacob Saenz, John Paul Davis, Richard Fox, Robert McDonald and more.
The next big Palabra Pura event features Luis Alberto Ambroggio an Frank Varela on Wednesday, June 16, 7:30 PM, at Decima Musa, 1901 S. Loomis Ave. It's free and open to all ages.
Thursday, June 17, 7 to 9 PM, is the Words That Kill Slam Finals, Lilly's Bar, 2513 N. Lincoln Ave, with Tristan Silverman, Vincent Paschke, Morris Ink, Billy Tuggle, Andi Strickland and Gregory Pickett. It's $5 or canned goods donation.
The 17th annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Poetry Award will happen on Wednesday, June 23, at 7 PM, at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. Twenty poets will read to compete for a $500 prize. It's $7, $5 for students.
On Sunday, June 27, the Rhino Poetry Workshop returns to the Evanston Public Library, located at Church and Orrington. This time the workshop leader is Anne Becker, whose topic will be "a Bodily Function: How to make Poem that moves." It goes down from 1:30 to 4:30 PM in Room 108. Bring 15 or more copies (no longer than two pages) of work you want critiqued and a $5 to $10 donation is appreciated.
Now, let me get back to fighting the good fight so that I can kick some corporate butt,
CJ Laity
Hey Chicago Poetry fans,
I've been in the trenches lately helping to wage a national boycott of the world's worst polluter, an oil company called BP that has devastated our Gulf Coast. If you see a pretty green sign that says bp don't give them a single penny. But in the midst of it all, poetry goes on. So here's my picks for upcoming local poetry events in June.
On Wednesday, June 9, at 7:30 PM, Danny's Tavern at 1951 West Dickens St, will feature John Beer and Suzanne Buffam. It's free but you have to be at least 21.And also on Wednesday, June 9th, 6:30 PM, the new management of the Poetry Center of Chicago continues is momentum with a reading by 2009 Tor House Poetry Prize Winner Sharon Fain, at SAIC Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Avenue. It's free.
And it's Pride Month, so it's a big month for the poetry POW-WOW every Tuesday at Jeffrey Pub every Tuesday, 7041 S Jeffrey. For a $5 donation you get food from 7 to 8 PM and then the big show from 8 to 10 PM, including women of Dyke March on June 8; Haki Madhubuti and Raymond Berry on June 15; Lucy Smith and a pride celebration on June 22; and Achy Obejas on June 29.
And also on Wednesday, June 9, 7:30 PM, The Vittum Theater, 1012 North Noble St, will present the final Encyclopedia Show for the season. This time the topic is The Circus. It's $6.
On Thursday, June 10, 7 PM, Quimby's, 1854 West North Ave, will host a free reading featuring Sonja Ahlers and Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Of course, Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13, is the Printers Row Lit Fest (formerly known as the book fair), with so many things going on that I'd have to take up half of this page to list them all, so why don't you just click here to view the schedule at Chicago Tribune.
After the big lit fest, on Saturday, June 12, at 7 PM, the first installment of the Chicago Poetry Showcase reading series will launch at Cafe Ballou, 939 N. Western Ave. The Chicago Poetry Showcase will take the place of the second Saturday Poetry Cram open mic occasionally, in order to give poets a venue in which they can share more than a few minutes of their work. The June 12 Showcase will feature six poets, reading fifteen minutes each, with no open mic. The featured artists will be: Donna Pecore, Paul Martinez Pompa, GPA from LOEP, Pete Dederick, Udayan Das and Beatriz Badikian-Gartler. The event is free and open to the public.And on Sunday, June 13, 7 PM, Myopic Books, 1564 North Milwaukee Ave, presents a free reading with Debrah Morkun and Kim Gek Lin Short.
On Tuesday, June 15, from 7:30 to 9:30 PM, Adam Hart will be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the online journal Apparatus, with a free event at Winston's Internet Cafe, 5001 N. Clark, featuring readings by Amy David, Cynthia Gallaher, Daniel Godston, Divya Rajan, Donna Vorreyer, Ellen Placey Wadey, Gregg Shapiro, Jacob Saenz, John Paul Davis, Richard Fox, Robert McDonald and more.
The next big Palabra Pura event features Luis Alberto Ambroggio an Frank Varela on Wednesday, June 16, 7:30 PM, at Decima Musa, 1901 S. Loomis Ave. It's free and open to all ages.
Thursday, June 17, 7 to 9 PM, is the Words That Kill Slam Finals, Lilly's Bar, 2513 N. Lincoln Ave, with Tristan Silverman, Vincent Paschke, Morris Ink, Billy Tuggle, Andi Strickland and Gregory Pickett. It's $5 or canned goods donation.
The 17th annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Poetry Award will happen on Wednesday, June 23, at 7 PM, at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. Twenty poets will read to compete for a $500 prize. It's $7, $5 for students.
On Sunday, June 27, the Rhino Poetry Workshop returns to the Evanston Public Library, located at Church and Orrington. This time the workshop leader is Anne Becker, whose topic will be "a Bodily Function: How to make Poem that moves." It goes down from 1:30 to 4:30 PM in Room 108. Bring 15 or more copies (no longer than two pages) of work you want critiqued and a $5 to $10 donation is appreciated.Now, let me get back to fighting the good fight so that I can kick some corporate butt,
CJ Laity
Sergio Mayora "Moves On"
.
It has been confirmed. The unimaginable has happened. After 23 years of co-hosting and bartending the Monday night poetry open mic, Sergio Mayora is no longer at Weeds.
Cabini Green may be getting razed and the nightclubs may be moving in, but for the last two decades the inside of Weeds Tavern at 1555 N. Dayton, near North and Halsted, has remained like a time capsule. My first experience at Weeds was when I stumbled into the dive, perhaps in 1989, to use the bathroom. I was freaked out by Gregorio Gomez, dressed up like the Pope, performing his poem "The City" on stage, so I stuck around for a few beers to hear Sergio Mayora, the bartender, recite the two poems he wrote in his life: "My People" and "Shivering Through". Some twenty years later, I walked into the bar again for the hundredth time, and Gregorio was still there reciting his parody of The Lord's Prayer, amongst the bras hanging from the ceiling and the tequila being poured into shot glasses; by then, everyone knew Sergio's two poems by heart. But over the last few years the seedy decor began to vanish and it seemed the "yuppie beer garden" was no longer a joke.
Now I've learned that Sergio Mayora, who once ran for Mayor of Chicago, has had some type of falling out with his relative who owns the bar and that he has "moved on." Sergio "moving on" from Weeds is like Marc Smith moving on from the Slam. It's unthinkable. The question now stands, is Weeds still Weeds without Sergio Mayora? You can find out on Monday, May 31, when Gregorio will host the 11th Off The Wall Poetry Contest, or any Monday night for that matter, as the open mic continues--without Sergio Mayora.
It has been confirmed. The unimaginable has happened. After 23 years of co-hosting and bartending the Monday night poetry open mic, Sergio Mayora is no longer at Weeds. Cabini Green may be getting razed and the nightclubs may be moving in, but for the last two decades the inside of Weeds Tavern at 1555 N. Dayton, near North and Halsted, has remained like a time capsule. My first experience at Weeds was when I stumbled into the dive, perhaps in 1989, to use the bathroom. I was freaked out by Gregorio Gomez, dressed up like the Pope, performing his poem "The City" on stage, so I stuck around for a few beers to hear Sergio Mayora, the bartender, recite the two poems he wrote in his life: "My People" and "Shivering Through". Some twenty years later, I walked into the bar again for the hundredth time, and Gregorio was still there reciting his parody of The Lord's Prayer, amongst the bras hanging from the ceiling and the tequila being poured into shot glasses; by then, everyone knew Sergio's two poems by heart. But over the last few years the seedy decor began to vanish and it seemed the "yuppie beer garden" was no longer a joke.
Now I've learned that Sergio Mayora, who once ran for Mayor of Chicago, has had some type of falling out with his relative who owns the bar and that he has "moved on." Sergio "moving on" from Weeds is like Marc Smith moving on from the Slam. It's unthinkable. The question now stands, is Weeds still Weeds without Sergio Mayora? You can find out on Monday, May 31, when Gregorio will host the 11th Off The Wall Poetry Contest, or any Monday night for that matter, as the open mic continues--without Sergio Mayora.
Levato Leaves Poetry Center
.
It seems The Poetry Center of Chicago has very quietly parted ways with their Executive Director Francesco Levato, and Levato is shrouding himself in just as much mystery over what's going on as he did when he held his job. Today I noticed that on the Poetry Center Staff & Board" page on their website, Johnpaul Higgins is listed as Managing Director. There is no mention of Mr. Levato, not even a mention of the position of "Executive Director" for that matter. I did a Google "cache search" and found that identical page existed as far back as May 10.
What? When did this major change so silently happen? I have my ear practically glued to the poetry scene's train track yet this comes as a surprise to me. Admittedly, I'm a bit baffled, but no more baffled than I've been by anything else related to Levato that has happened in the last two and a half years. I did quite a bit of searching around, trying to discover if any official announcement regarding this change in leadership was ever made, but I came up empty handed. I am on the Poetry Center's email list, but saw nothing there either. I then took a look at Francesco Levato's personal website, hoping to find a clue, and I noticed that all mention of his position as Executive Director of The Poetry Center of Chicago has vanished. He doesn't even mention in his biography that he is the "former" Executive Director. It's as if his time at the Poetry Center didn't even exist.
"Formerly the Program Facilitator and Development Director for the Poetry Center, [Johnpaul Higgins] has a thorough, working knowledge of the organization and a firm grounding in non-profit fundraising and management," the Poetry Center says of their new Managing Director. Despite this Twilight Zone-ish start, I am going to be optimistic about this apparent news. If this is all true, I view this as a positive move on the Poetry Center's part. Quite frankly, Mr. Levato had a rare opportunity and he blew it. He was in the position to do some great things with his leadership role, but instead he made it all about himself. I have been very outspoken regarding my views about what Levato was up to, and if my frankness helped this changing of the guards to come to be, then I am relieved to have helped. However, the time for criticism seems to be coming to an end. Perhaps now is a good time to show the Poetry Center's new leadership some support. Perhaps it is not too late to fix the Poetry Center of Chicago and bring it back to its former self.
It seems The Poetry Center of Chicago has very quietly parted ways with their Executive Director Francesco Levato, and Levato is shrouding himself in just as much mystery over what's going on as he did when he held his job. Today I noticed that on the Poetry Center Staff & Board" page on their website, Johnpaul Higgins is listed as Managing Director. There is no mention of Mr. Levato, not even a mention of the position of "Executive Director" for that matter. I did a Google "cache search" and found that identical page existed as far back as May 10. What? When did this major change so silently happen? I have my ear practically glued to the poetry scene's train track yet this comes as a surprise to me. Admittedly, I'm a bit baffled, but no more baffled than I've been by anything else related to Levato that has happened in the last two and a half years. I did quite a bit of searching around, trying to discover if any official announcement regarding this change in leadership was ever made, but I came up empty handed. I am on the Poetry Center's email list, but saw nothing there either. I then took a look at Francesco Levato's personal website, hoping to find a clue, and I noticed that all mention of his position as Executive Director of The Poetry Center of Chicago has vanished. He doesn't even mention in his biography that he is the "former" Executive Director. It's as if his time at the Poetry Center didn't even exist.
"Formerly the Program Facilitator and Development Director for the Poetry Center, [Johnpaul Higgins] has a thorough, working knowledge of the organization and a firm grounding in non-profit fundraising and management," the Poetry Center says of their new Managing Director. Despite this Twilight Zone-ish start, I am going to be optimistic about this apparent news. If this is all true, I view this as a positive move on the Poetry Center's part. Quite frankly, Mr. Levato had a rare opportunity and he blew it. He was in the position to do some great things with his leadership role, but instead he made it all about himself. I have been very outspoken regarding my views about what Levato was up to, and if my frankness helped this changing of the guards to come to be, then I am relieved to have helped. However, the time for criticism seems to be coming to an end. Perhaps now is a good time to show the Poetry Center's new leadership some support. Perhaps it is not too late to fix the Poetry Center of Chicago and bring it back to its former self.
chicago poetry calendar
.
In Poetry Slam news, the Mental Graffiti Slam Finals will take place on Monday, May 17, from 7:30 to 10 PM, at Butterfly Social Club, 722 W. Grand, during which "8 of the year's top slammers are going to duke it out to see who is the Chicago Grand Slam Champion," including Marty McConnell, Rik Vasquez, Sharieff Muhammed, Mojdeh, Andi Kauth, Emily Rose, John Davis and Billy Tuggle. The top 4 will represent Chicago at the National Poetry Slam this year in St. Paul, MN. This event also includes performance by Roger Bonair Agard, Robbie Q, JW Baz and 2010 LTAB College Champ Susie Swanton, with DJ Itchie Fingers. No open mic, $5, 21 and up.
Tuesday, May 18: Jenny Boully will be giving a talk for The Chicago Poetry Project at Green Lantern Gallery, 1511 N. Milwaukee Ave, on Tuesday, May 18, at 7:30pm.
Wednesday, May 19: Poetry Center of Chicago Juried Reading
The next Palabra Pura event will be on Wednesday, May 19, 7:30 PM, at Decima Musa, 1901 S. Loomis Ave. There will be a short open mic and then readings by Javier Villasenor Alonso and Levi Romero.
The next Revolving Door Reading will be on Wednesday, May 19, 7:30 to 10:30 PM, at Red Kiva, 1108 W. Randolph St, featuring Larry O. Dean and Lauren Pretner, who was a finalist in the 2007 Sundance Theater Lab for Chicago.
On Wednesday, May 19, 7 PM, Gerber Hart Library, 1127 West Granville Ave, will present an event honoring the late Lorraine Hansberry. Local writers will read from her work and discuss Hansberry's influence on their own literary development. Writers scheduled to participate include Carmen Abrego, C.C. Carter, Nikki Pattin, and Avery R. Young.
On Thursday, May 20, 7 PM, the Words That Kill poetry / comedy series will present a "Geek" Show with an open mic at Lilly's Bar, 2513 N. Lincoln Ave. Admission is $5 or free with canned goods donation for this 21 and over event featuring Tim F'n Stafford, Awesomemonster, Billy Tuggle and hosts Mojdeh Stoakley and John Paul Davis.
If you are on the Northside on Friday, May 21, from 7 to 9 PM, Cafe Ballou, 939 North Western Ave, will present Cafe Cabaret, a night of Poetry, Spoken Word, Performance Art, Comedy and Music hosted by Janet Kane and Roberta Miles and featuring Jill Erickson, Robin Fine, Kelly Anchors, Angela Oliver, Scott Sones, and Cecelia Ras and company. There is a suggested donation of $10.
If you are on the Southside on Friday, May 21, from 8 to 10 PM, The League of Extraordinary Poets will present an open mic event called "The Takeover of The Quaker House" at 5616 South Woodlawn. Donation is $3 to $5. You may recall GPA from the League reading his prison poem at the big Harold Washington Cram.
On Friday, May 21, at 8 PM, the 123 Collective will present a poetry reading and open mic called "Goodevening" with Zach Kolodjeski, Kat Sanchez and John Franklin Dandridge, to be held at a place called Post (look for "Post" on a mailbox), at 1816 S Racine, in the Pilsen neighborhood. It's a bring your own beer type of affair.
Sandra Alcosser, who is the former Poet Laureate of the State of Montana, will discuss her role in choosing the poems in the Brookfield Zoo's new Language of Conservation exhibit and she will read some of her own poetry on Friday, May 21 at 6 PM at the Brookfield Public Library, 3609 Grand Boulevard. To register to attend this free event, please call the library at 708-485-6917 or click here then click on the May 21 event to sign up online.
The Brookfield Zoo's new Language of Conservation Exhibit, that will permanently display poetry throughout their new 7 acre Great Bear Wilderness, will officially open at 10 AM on Saturday, May 22. If you were thinking of visiting the zoo this year, that would be a good day to do it. There will be poetry activities with the Hamill Family Play Zoo staff from 11 to 1, a poetry reading and discussion by Chicago Zoological Society poet-in-residence Sandra Alcosser and visiting poet Joseph Bruchac at Riverside Library, 1 Burling Road, at 1 PM, and another reading in Great Bear Wilderness at 3 PM. You can pay for admission to the zoo online by clicking here or pay at the gate.
On Saturday, May 22, or Sunday, May 23 (it's still not very clear yet), at 4 PM, The Parlor's 2nd Annual Emerging Writer's Festival at The Green Lantern, 1511 N. Milwaukee, will take place: 4 PM, Sarah Terez Rosenblum (Where She Is); 4:30, Jeanie Chung (Cuts and Folds); 5, Peter Anderson (One Son Resists); 5:45, J.D.K. Goodman (Another Places Another Time); 6:15, Jessie Morrison (The Queens of the Northwest Side). Hopefully they will correct the error in the date at this link some time soon.
On Sunday, May 23, at 2 PM, Fine Arts Building, 410 South Michigan Ave, will host an "art song" event by Singers On New Ground, a Chicago organization that is dedicated to the performance of American Contemporary Art Song. According to the press release "an 'art song' is poetry that is set to music . . .a beautiful collaboration between the poet, composer, singer, and instrumentalist. This concert is especially unique because it features a set of works by poet Jill McDonough that was entered into a contest held by Memorious.org online literary journal. The winner of the contest had poems set by composer Randall West and performed by Chicago musicians. The editor and founder R. Morgan Frank will give a pre-concert lecture at 1:15. The concert will also feature art songs set on poems by Carl Sandburg and Billy Collins."
Myopic Books, 1564 N. Milwaukee Ave, has been hosting a lot of readings in their 2nd floor space thanks to Larry Sawyer's skill at finding great authors to feature. Sunday, May 23, Andy Fitch, Jon Cotner, and David Trinidad The readings always take place at 7 PM.
On Sunday, May 23, 1:30 to 4:30 PM, The Rhino Workshop returns to Evanston Public Library (at Church & Orrington, room 108), with this month's workshop leader, Katia Mitova who will be discussing "Funny Poems that Are Not Funny". Bring 15 or more copies (no longer than two pages) of work you want critiqued. It's only a $5 to $10 donation.
On Monday, May 24, from 7 to 10 PM, there will be a Packingtown Review Release Party and Fundraiser at Jak's Tap, 901 W. Jackson St. The event will include readings by Joshua Marie Wilkinson, Matt McBride, Tasha Marren, Andrew Farkas, Roxanne Pilat, Chad Heltzel and others, along with music, silent auction and book fair. There is a $10 suggested donation.
On Tuesday, May 25, at 7:30 PM, TallGrass Writers Guild welcomes Dan Godston as the feature for their open mic at The Bourgeois Pig, 738 W. Fullerton. Cover charge for the evening is $6, $5 for students, and everyone is welcome to perform up to 10 minutes.
And then on Wednesday, May 26, from 8 to 11 PM, The Poetry Bomb comes to Chicago (they are actually putting poems into the shell of a bomb), during the Chicago Slam Works Launch Party and benefit for the Outspoken Performance Poetry Festival. It's at Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division, and is $10 at the door.
On Wednesday, May 26, starting at 5:30 PM, the Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall, 78 E. Washington St, will host a benefit for the Journal of Ordinary Thought with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and a dialogue between critically-acclaimed novelist and poet Achy Obejas and Tony Sarabia. Tickets can be obtained by making a donation here.
On Wednesday, May 26, at 8:30 PM, The Guild Complex will host a "literary mash-up" at California Clipper, 1002 N. California. BYOP: Bring Your Own People (or Poetry, if you prefer), will host a convergence of three popular but very different reading series. It's a 90-minute “literary cocktail party” to be held three or four times a year, in which literary work will be sampled. The May features include The Encyclopedia Show with Shanny Magnuson and Patrick Carberry, Reconstruction Room with Erin Teegarden and Allison Gruber and Rhino Reads! with Ralph Hamilton. This totally awesome way of bringing the poetry scene closer is free but it's 21 and over since it's being held in a bar.
Thursday, May 27: Deadline for entry into Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards. The Guild Complex is now accepting entries for the annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards with a $500 cash prize. Entries need to be postmarked by May 27 and you must be available to read at the Chopin Theatre, 1534 W. Division, in late June.
Thursday, May 27: Jenny Boully and Simone Muench at Poetry Center
And then on Thursday, May 27, 7 PM, Rose Metal Press will present Joe Bonomo, John Bradley, Maurice Kilwein Guevara, David Lazar, Gary McDowell, Amy Newman, F. Daniel Rzicznek, and Michael Robins at Book Cellar, 4736 North Lincoln Ave.
On Thursday, May 27, at 7 PM, Women & Children First, 5233 North Clark St, will present "Help for Haiti: A Reading by 7th Graders from Helen C. Peirce Elementary School." When the tragic January 2010 earthquake struck Haiti, the images of the disaster profoundly affected the 7th grade students of Helen C. Peirce Elementary School's Room 301. While working in collaboration with Free Street Theater and its Act/Write residency program, the students were asked to choose a topic they wanted to explore through writing. The students chose to write about the Haitian crisis and asked if they could do a fundraiser to help. On May 27 the bookstore will present the creative visions and voices of Room 301 for a special reading and fundraiser, benefiting continued recovery efforts in Haiti. Now that's cool.
Do you want to attend a workshop at Ragdale House for a measly fifteen bucks? On Thursday, May 27, from 9:30 AM until Noon (I hear you can actually stay until 1:30 if you want to stroll around), Ragdale House, 1260 North Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, will present a workshop facilitated by Sue Roupp. Enrollment is limited. You may want to contact one of these email addresses— sroupp@gmail.com or astudillogilles@yahoo.com — to make sure it's not filled up, and then send a check for $15 payable to Ragdale Foundation along with a piece of paper that includes your name, contact info (e-mail or phone), your choice of what to do with your check if not enrolled (donate to Ragdale or return check) and indicate if you’re staying until 12 or 1:30 PM, and send it all to Almira Gilles at 3479 Regent Drive, Palatine, IL 60067-4744. Please bring a clipboard or something, as there will be no tables, and feel free to bring lunch.
This month's Rhino Reads Series has a really cool double feature in store for us. On Friday, May 28, from 6 to 8 PM, Brother K at 500 Main Street in Evanston will present and open mic and readings by Kimberly Dixon (Managing Director of The Guild Complex) and Jacob Saenz (of Columbia College Poetry Review)..
On Sunday, May 30, at 7 PM, Brenda Cardenas will be reading from Boomerang, her first full collection of poetry, published by Bilingual Review Press. The poetry party, organized by March / Abrazo Press, that will also feature a reading by Roberto Harrison, goes down at a new venue called Dragonlady Lounge, 3188 N. Elston (at Belmont and California). It's free, there will be an open mic, and there will be a cash bar. Brenda Cardenas is also the author of a poetry chapbook, Tongues of Brick and Stones, and she is the co-editor of the women’s anthology Between the Heart and the Land. She is an assistant professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The Guild Complex will also be holding a free Palabra Pura writing workshop on Saturday, June 5, 11 AM to 2 PM at Pros Arts, 1119 W. Cullerton. Contact the Guild at 877-394-5061 or ppworkshop@guildcomplex.org to sign up or get more information. Please provide your full name, contact phone, email, and specify if you are a beginning or experienced poet and whether you prefer to work/write in English, Spanish or both. All are welcome.
On Saturday, June 12, at 7 PM, the first installment of the Chicago Poetry Showcase reading series will launch at Cafe Ballou, 939 N. Western Ave. The Chicago Poetry Showcase will take the place of the second Saturday Poetry Cram open mic occasionally, in order to give poets a venue in which they can share more than a few minutes of their work. The June 12 Showcase will feature six poets, reading fifteen minutes each, with no open mic. The featured artists will be: Donna Pecore, Paul Martinez Pompa, GPA from LOEP, Pete Dederick, Udayan Das and Beatriz Badikian-Gartler. The event is free and open to the public.
Luis Alberto Ambroggio will be reading for the Guild Complex's Palabra Pura event on Wednesday, June 16 at 7:30 PM at Decima Musa. He will be reading from his recently published bilingual anthology Difficult Beauty. Selected Poems (1987-2006). And if that ain't cool enough, Frank Varela will be joining him. Wow.
“Ekphrastic Nexus: Visual Art and Creative Writing” will take place at Chicago Urban Art Society, 2229 South Halsted, on Friday, June 25, 6 PM. Part of the “Studio Chicago” calendar of events and curated by Dan Godston, Ekphrastic Nexus will include a text image / visual art panel discussion, followed by performances. Participants include Annie Heckman (StepSister Press), Krista Franklin, Kathryn Born (Chicago Art Magazine), Valerie Wallace and Gene Tanta. For more, click here.
In Poetry Slam news, the Mental Graffiti Slam Finals will take place on Monday, May 17, from 7:30 to 10 PM, at Butterfly Social Club, 722 W. Grand, during which "8 of the year's top slammers are going to duke it out to see who is the Chicago Grand Slam Champion," including Marty McConnell, Rik Vasquez, Sharieff Muhammed, Mojdeh, Andi Kauth, Emily Rose, John Davis and Billy Tuggle. The top 4 will represent Chicago at the National Poetry Slam this year in St. Paul, MN. This event also includes performance by Roger Bonair Agard, Robbie Q, JW Baz and 2010 LTAB College Champ Susie Swanton, with DJ Itchie Fingers. No open mic, $5, 21 and up.
Tuesday, May 18: Jenny Boully will be giving a talk for The Chicago Poetry Project at Green Lantern Gallery, 1511 N. Milwaukee Ave, on Tuesday, May 18, at 7:30pm.
Wednesday, May 19: Poetry Center of Chicago Juried Reading
The next Palabra Pura event will be on Wednesday, May 19, 7:30 PM, at Decima Musa, 1901 S. Loomis Ave. There will be a short open mic and then readings by Javier Villasenor Alonso and Levi Romero.
The next Revolving Door Reading will be on Wednesday, May 19, 7:30 to 10:30 PM, at Red Kiva, 1108 W. Randolph St, featuring Larry O. Dean and Lauren Pretner, who was a finalist in the 2007 Sundance Theater Lab for Chicago.
On Wednesday, May 19, 7 PM, Gerber Hart Library, 1127 West Granville Ave, will present an event honoring the late Lorraine Hansberry. Local writers will read from her work and discuss Hansberry's influence on their own literary development. Writers scheduled to participate include Carmen Abrego, C.C. Carter, Nikki Pattin, and Avery R. Young.
On Thursday, May 20, 7 PM, the Words That Kill poetry / comedy series will present a "Geek" Show with an open mic at Lilly's Bar, 2513 N. Lincoln Ave. Admission is $5 or free with canned goods donation for this 21 and over event featuring Tim F'n Stafford, Awesomemonster, Billy Tuggle and hosts Mojdeh Stoakley and John Paul Davis.
If you are on the Northside on Friday, May 21, from 7 to 9 PM, Cafe Ballou, 939 North Western Ave, will present Cafe Cabaret, a night of Poetry, Spoken Word, Performance Art, Comedy and Music hosted by Janet Kane and Roberta Miles and featuring Jill Erickson, Robin Fine, Kelly Anchors, Angela Oliver, Scott Sones, and Cecelia Ras and company. There is a suggested donation of $10.
If you are on the Southside on Friday, May 21, from 8 to 10 PM, The League of Extraordinary Poets will present an open mic event called "The Takeover of The Quaker House" at 5616 South Woodlawn. Donation is $3 to $5. You may recall GPA from the League reading his prison poem at the big Harold Washington Cram.
On Friday, May 21, at 8 PM, the 123 Collective will present a poetry reading and open mic called "Goodevening" with Zach Kolodjeski, Kat Sanchez and John Franklin Dandridge, to be held at a place called Post (look for "Post" on a mailbox), at 1816 S Racine, in the Pilsen neighborhood. It's a bring your own beer type of affair.
Sandra Alcosser, who is the former Poet Laureate of the State of Montana, will discuss her role in choosing the poems in the Brookfield Zoo's new Language of Conservation exhibit and she will read some of her own poetry on Friday, May 21 at 6 PM at the Brookfield Public Library, 3609 Grand Boulevard. To register to attend this free event, please call the library at 708-485-6917 or click here then click on the May 21 event to sign up online.
The Brookfield Zoo's new Language of Conservation Exhibit, that will permanently display poetry throughout their new 7 acre Great Bear Wilderness, will officially open at 10 AM on Saturday, May 22. If you were thinking of visiting the zoo this year, that would be a good day to do it. There will be poetry activities with the Hamill Family Play Zoo staff from 11 to 1, a poetry reading and discussion by Chicago Zoological Society poet-in-residence Sandra Alcosser and visiting poet Joseph Bruchac at Riverside Library, 1 Burling Road, at 1 PM, and another reading in Great Bear Wilderness at 3 PM. You can pay for admission to the zoo online by clicking here or pay at the gate.
On Saturday, May 22, or Sunday, May 23 (it's still not very clear yet), at 4 PM, The Parlor's 2nd Annual Emerging Writer's Festival at The Green Lantern, 1511 N. Milwaukee, will take place: 4 PM, Sarah Terez Rosenblum (Where She Is); 4:30, Jeanie Chung (Cuts and Folds); 5, Peter Anderson (One Son Resists); 5:45, J.D.K. Goodman (Another Places Another Time); 6:15, Jessie Morrison (The Queens of the Northwest Side). Hopefully they will correct the error in the date at this link some time soon.
On Sunday, May 23, at 2 PM, Fine Arts Building, 410 South Michigan Ave, will host an "art song" event by Singers On New Ground, a Chicago organization that is dedicated to the performance of American Contemporary Art Song. According to the press release "an 'art song' is poetry that is set to music . . .a beautiful collaboration between the poet, composer, singer, and instrumentalist. This concert is especially unique because it features a set of works by poet Jill McDonough that was entered into a contest held by Memorious.org online literary journal. The winner of the contest had poems set by composer Randall West and performed by Chicago musicians. The editor and founder R. Morgan Frank will give a pre-concert lecture at 1:15. The concert will also feature art songs set on poems by Carl Sandburg and Billy Collins."
Myopic Books, 1564 N. Milwaukee Ave, has been hosting a lot of readings in their 2nd floor space thanks to Larry Sawyer's skill at finding great authors to feature. Sunday, May 23, Andy Fitch, Jon Cotner, and David Trinidad The readings always take place at 7 PM.
On Sunday, May 23, 1:30 to 4:30 PM, The Rhino Workshop returns to Evanston Public Library (at Church & Orrington, room 108), with this month's workshop leader, Katia Mitova who will be discussing "Funny Poems that Are Not Funny". Bring 15 or more copies (no longer than two pages) of work you want critiqued. It's only a $5 to $10 donation.
On Monday, May 24, from 7 to 10 PM, there will be a Packingtown Review Release Party and Fundraiser at Jak's Tap, 901 W. Jackson St. The event will include readings by Joshua Marie Wilkinson, Matt McBride, Tasha Marren, Andrew Farkas, Roxanne Pilat, Chad Heltzel and others, along with music, silent auction and book fair. There is a $10 suggested donation.
On Tuesday, May 25, at 7:30 PM, TallGrass Writers Guild welcomes Dan Godston as the feature for their open mic at The Bourgeois Pig, 738 W. Fullerton. Cover charge for the evening is $6, $5 for students, and everyone is welcome to perform up to 10 minutes.
And then on Wednesday, May 26, from 8 to 11 PM, The Poetry Bomb comes to Chicago (they are actually putting poems into the shell of a bomb), during the Chicago Slam Works Launch Party and benefit for the Outspoken Performance Poetry Festival. It's at Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division, and is $10 at the door.
On Wednesday, May 26, starting at 5:30 PM, the Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall, 78 E. Washington St, will host a benefit for the Journal of Ordinary Thought with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and a dialogue between critically-acclaimed novelist and poet Achy Obejas and Tony Sarabia. Tickets can be obtained by making a donation here.
On Wednesday, May 26, at 8:30 PM, The Guild Complex will host a "literary mash-up" at California Clipper, 1002 N. California. BYOP: Bring Your Own People (or Poetry, if you prefer), will host a convergence of three popular but very different reading series. It's a 90-minute “literary cocktail party” to be held three or four times a year, in which literary work will be sampled. The May features include The Encyclopedia Show with Shanny Magnuson and Patrick Carberry, Reconstruction Room with Erin Teegarden and Allison Gruber and Rhino Reads! with Ralph Hamilton. This totally awesome way of bringing the poetry scene closer is free but it's 21 and over since it's being held in a bar.
Thursday, May 27: Deadline for entry into Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards. The Guild Complex is now accepting entries for the annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards with a $500 cash prize. Entries need to be postmarked by May 27 and you must be available to read at the Chopin Theatre, 1534 W. Division, in late June.
Thursday, May 27: Jenny Boully and Simone Muench at Poetry Center
And then on Thursday, May 27, 7 PM, Rose Metal Press will present Joe Bonomo, John Bradley, Maurice Kilwein Guevara, David Lazar, Gary McDowell, Amy Newman, F. Daniel Rzicznek, and Michael Robins at Book Cellar, 4736 North Lincoln Ave.
On Thursday, May 27, at 7 PM, Women & Children First, 5233 North Clark St, will present "Help for Haiti: A Reading by 7th Graders from Helen C. Peirce Elementary School." When the tragic January 2010 earthquake struck Haiti, the images of the disaster profoundly affected the 7th grade students of Helen C. Peirce Elementary School's Room 301. While working in collaboration with Free Street Theater and its Act/Write residency program, the students were asked to choose a topic they wanted to explore through writing. The students chose to write about the Haitian crisis and asked if they could do a fundraiser to help. On May 27 the bookstore will present the creative visions and voices of Room 301 for a special reading and fundraiser, benefiting continued recovery efforts in Haiti. Now that's cool.
Do you want to attend a workshop at Ragdale House for a measly fifteen bucks? On Thursday, May 27, from 9:30 AM until Noon (I hear you can actually stay until 1:30 if you want to stroll around), Ragdale House, 1260 North Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, will present a workshop facilitated by Sue Roupp. Enrollment is limited. You may want to contact one of these email addresses— sroupp@gmail.com or astudillogilles@yahoo.com — to make sure it's not filled up, and then send a check for $15 payable to Ragdale Foundation along with a piece of paper that includes your name, contact info (e-mail or phone), your choice of what to do with your check if not enrolled (donate to Ragdale or return check) and indicate if you’re staying until 12 or 1:30 PM, and send it all to Almira Gilles at 3479 Regent Drive, Palatine, IL 60067-4744. Please bring a clipboard or something, as there will be no tables, and feel free to bring lunch.
This month's Rhino Reads Series has a really cool double feature in store for us. On Friday, May 28, from 6 to 8 PM, Brother K at 500 Main Street in Evanston will present and open mic and readings by Kimberly Dixon (Managing Director of The Guild Complex) and Jacob Saenz (of Columbia College Poetry Review)..
On Sunday, May 30, at 7 PM, Brenda Cardenas will be reading from Boomerang, her first full collection of poetry, published by Bilingual Review Press. The poetry party, organized by March / Abrazo Press, that will also feature a reading by Roberto Harrison, goes down at a new venue called Dragonlady Lounge, 3188 N. Elston (at Belmont and California). It's free, there will be an open mic, and there will be a cash bar. Brenda Cardenas is also the author of a poetry chapbook, Tongues of Brick and Stones, and she is the co-editor of the women’s anthology Between the Heart and the Land. She is an assistant professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The Guild Complex will also be holding a free Palabra Pura writing workshop on Saturday, June 5, 11 AM to 2 PM at Pros Arts, 1119 W. Cullerton. Contact the Guild at 877-394-5061 or ppworkshop@guildcomplex.org to sign up or get more information. Please provide your full name, contact phone, email, and specify if you are a beginning or experienced poet and whether you prefer to work/write in English, Spanish or both. All are welcome.
On Saturday, June 12, at 7 PM, the first installment of the Chicago Poetry Showcase reading series will launch at Cafe Ballou, 939 N. Western Ave. The Chicago Poetry Showcase will take the place of the second Saturday Poetry Cram open mic occasionally, in order to give poets a venue in which they can share more than a few minutes of their work. The June 12 Showcase will feature six poets, reading fifteen minutes each, with no open mic. The featured artists will be: Donna Pecore, Paul Martinez Pompa, GPA from LOEP, Pete Dederick, Udayan Das and Beatriz Badikian-Gartler. The event is free and open to the public.
Luis Alberto Ambroggio will be reading for the Guild Complex's Palabra Pura event on Wednesday, June 16 at 7:30 PM at Decima Musa. He will be reading from his recently published bilingual anthology Difficult Beauty. Selected Poems (1987-2006). And if that ain't cool enough, Frank Varela will be joining him. Wow.
“Ekphrastic Nexus: Visual Art and Creative Writing” will take place at Chicago Urban Art Society, 2229 South Halsted, on Friday, June 25, 6 PM. Part of the “Studio Chicago” calendar of events and curated by Dan Godston, Ekphrastic Nexus will include a text image / visual art panel discussion, followed by performances. Participants include Annie Heckman (StepSister Press), Krista Franklin, Kathryn Born (Chicago Art Magazine), Valerie Wallace and Gene Tanta. For more, click here.
Jenny Boully and Simone Muench at Poetry Center
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The Poetry Center of Chicago is FINALLY hosting a poetry reading. I hope this is a sign that some improvements will be taking place. The Poetry Center started out 37 years ago, as a reading series and poetry their readings ought to be their first priority. On Thursday, May 27, at 7:30 PM, they will present readings by Simone Muench and Jenny Boully, at the School of the Art Institute Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Ave.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE
.
The Poetry Center of Chicago is FINALLY hosting a poetry reading. I hope this is a sign that some improvements will be taking place. The Poetry Center started out 37 years ago, as a reading series and poetry their readings ought to be their first priority. On Thursday, May 27, at 7:30 PM, they will present readings by Simone Muench and Jenny Boully, at the School of the Art Institute Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Ave. CLICK HERE FOR MORE
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Even More May Poetry News
Hi poetry fans. I've been a bit busy and haven't had the chance to organize the actual "calendar" portion of this, the real, eleven year old Chicago Poetry Calendar, but all the information can be found on our homepage, even if it is not exactly in chronological order. Thanks for your patience. Here's some more poetry updates for the month of May.
On Sunday, May 30, at 7 PM, Brenda Cardenas will be reading from Boomerang, her first full collection of poetry, published by Bilingual Review Press. The poetry party, organized by March / Abrazo Press, that will also feature a reading by Roberto Harrison, goes down at a new venue called Dragonlady Lounge, 3188 N. Elston (at Belmont and California). It's free, there will be an open mic, and there will be a cash bar. Brenda Cardenas is also the author of a poetry chapbook, Tongues of Brick and Stones, and she is the co-editor of the women’s anthology Between the Heart and the Land. She is an assistant professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The next Revolving Door Reading will be on Wednesday, May 19, 7:30 to 10:30 PM, at Red Kiva, 1108 W. Randolph St, featuring Larry O. Dean and Lauren Pretner, who was a finalist in the 2007 Sundance Theater Lab for Chicago.
On Friday, May 21, at 8 PM, the 123 Collective will present a poetry reading and open mic called "Goodevening" with Zach Kolodjeski, Kat Sanchez and John Franklin Dandridge, to be held at a place called Post (look for "Post" on a mailbox), at 1816 S Racine, in the Pilsen neighborhood. It's a bring your own beer type of affair.
Myopic Books, 1564 N. Milwaukee Ave, has been hosting a lot of readings in their 2nd floor space thanks to Larry Sawyer's skill at finding great authors to feature. On Saturday, May 15, the features will be – Brandon Downing and MacGregor Card; on Sunday, May 16, Daniela Olszewska and Aaron Fagan and on Sunday, May 23, Andy Fitch, Jon Cotner, and David Trinidad. See what I'm talking about. The readings always take place at 7 PM>
On Monday, May 24, from 7 to 10 PM, there will be a Packingtown Review Release Party and Fundraiser at Jak's Tap, 901 W. Jackson St. The event will include readings by Joshua Marie Wilkinson, Matt McBride, Tasha Marren, Andrew Farkas, Roxanne Pilat, Chad Heltzel and others, along with music, silent auction and book fair. There is a $10 suggested donation.
See you out and about!
On Sunday, May 30, at 7 PM, Brenda Cardenas will be reading from Boomerang, her first full collection of poetry, published by Bilingual Review Press. The poetry party, organized by March / Abrazo Press, that will also feature a reading by Roberto Harrison, goes down at a new venue called Dragonlady Lounge, 3188 N. Elston (at Belmont and California). It's free, there will be an open mic, and there will be a cash bar. Brenda Cardenas is also the author of a poetry chapbook, Tongues of Brick and Stones, and she is the co-editor of the women’s anthology Between the Heart and the Land. She is an assistant professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.The next Revolving Door Reading will be on Wednesday, May 19, 7:30 to 10:30 PM, at Red Kiva, 1108 W. Randolph St, featuring Larry O. Dean and Lauren Pretner, who was a finalist in the 2007 Sundance Theater Lab for Chicago.
On Friday, May 21, at 8 PM, the 123 Collective will present a poetry reading and open mic called "Goodevening" with Zach Kolodjeski, Kat Sanchez and John Franklin Dandridge, to be held at a place called Post (look for "Post" on a mailbox), at 1816 S Racine, in the Pilsen neighborhood. It's a bring your own beer type of affair.
Myopic Books, 1564 N. Milwaukee Ave, has been hosting a lot of readings in their 2nd floor space thanks to Larry Sawyer's skill at finding great authors to feature. On Saturday, May 15, the features will be – Brandon Downing and MacGregor Card; on Sunday, May 16, Daniela Olszewska and Aaron Fagan and on Sunday, May 23, Andy Fitch, Jon Cotner, and David Trinidad. See what I'm talking about. The readings always take place at 7 PM>On Monday, May 24, from 7 to 10 PM, there will be a Packingtown Review Release Party and Fundraiser at Jak's Tap, 901 W. Jackson St. The event will include readings by Joshua Marie Wilkinson, Matt McBride, Tasha Marren, Andrew Farkas, Roxanne Pilat, Chad Heltzel and others, along with music, silent auction and book fair. There is a $10 suggested donation.
See you out and about!
Chicago Poetry News For May 2010
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Hey Chicago,
Spring is finally here (well it's been here for over a month already but you wouldn't know that by the weather) and the Chicago Poetry Scene is coming alive! A few weeks ago we broke the all-time cram record by featuring 57 poets in a two hour show at Harold Washington Library. If you missed it, you can listen to the entire thing by clicking here. What an amazing way to kick off this new season of poetry.
SO CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE POETRY NEWS YOU CAN USE
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Hey Chicago,
Spring is finally here (well it's been here for over a month already but you wouldn't know that by the weather) and the Chicago Poetry Scene is coming alive! A few weeks ago we broke the all-time cram record by featuring 57 poets in a two hour show at Harold Washington Library. If you missed it, you can listen to the entire thing by clicking here. What an amazing way to kick off this new season of poetry.
SO CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE POETRY NEWS YOU CAN USE
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Jennifer Karmin's aaaaaaaaaaalice: a review
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aaaaaaaaaaalice
by Jennifer Karmin
flim forum press
Reviewed by CJ Laity
At the end of aaaaaaaaaaalice (that's eleven letter "a"s, the same number of poetic chapters in this manuscript), Jennifer Karmin explains that the poems in her book (many of which are collages derived from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and a book called Beginning Japanese Part 2), described as a "travelogue in 11 cantos," are "word scores for polyvocal improvisation" that are "intended for reading, sound, and performance experiments." The author suggests, "every reading of this text-sound epic should produce new results."
Well, that may be the intention, but the bottom line is this is a book of poetry. Since it has two covers and is made out of paper, I am going to look at Karmin's book as a book, a book that will be read by its audience silently like any other book.
What we have here is something extremely experimental and completely anti-narrative. But just as it is within the chaos of subatomic particles that everything physical is formed, even within the randomness of these words a story develops. This story may be different for each reader, as the author seems to be suggesting, so I can only share with you the story that I get out of it.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REVIEW
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.
aaaaaaaaaaalice
by Jennifer Karmin
flim forum press
Reviewed by CJ Laity
At the end of aaaaaaaaaaalice (that's eleven letter "a"s, the same number of poetic chapters in this manuscript), Jennifer Karmin explains that the poems in her book (many of which are collages derived from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and a book called Beginning Japanese Part 2), described as a "travelogue in 11 cantos," are "word scores for polyvocal improvisation" that are "intended for reading, sound, and performance experiments." The author suggests, "every reading of this text-sound epic should produce new results."Well, that may be the intention, but the bottom line is this is a book of poetry. Since it has two covers and is made out of paper, I am going to look at Karmin's book as a book, a book that will be read by its audience silently like any other book.
What we have here is something extremely experimental and completely anti-narrative. But just as it is within the chaos of subatomic particles that everything physical is formed, even within the randomness of these words a story develops. This story may be different for each reader, as the author seems to be suggesting, so I can only share with you the story that I get out of it.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REVIEW
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Poetry Center's 16th Annual Juried Reading & Award Ceremony
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Last year, the Poetry Center took forever to come up with a Juried Reading event, but this year the contest was rushed through like crazy. They only accepted submissions for about two months. To our surprise, they claim to have received nearly 300 submissions in that time, which, if true, means they made a sweet $2000 profit. But for a long time I've felt like the Poetry Center hasn't exactly been honest about their state of affairs, shrouding themselves in secrecy and isolating themselves from the greater poetry scene, so who really knows what is the truth?
From what I understand about the process of a "Juried Reading" contest, sub-judges reject nearly all submissions while only seven submissions are actually forwarded to the judge, which in this case is a guy from New York named Mark Nowak. I don't know what it is about Nowak's photo, but seeing him peering down through his glasses like that scares the hell out of me. Maybe it's that judgmental expression on his face that doesn't seem very inviting to me.
On Wednesday, May 19, at 7:30 PM, the struggling Poetry Center will take a breather from all the "let's declare Natalie Merchant a poet" hype to hold their award ceremony at SAIC Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Avenue. At least The Poetry Center has accomplished something interesting this time. Even though four white guys and three white gals will represent their "300 submissions", at least we are being introduced to some new and interesting voices this time. It took me quite a while trying to figure out how to navigate their website, but I finally found information about each finalist at poetrycenter.org, so if you click on the name of each finalist, you will get a bio. and sample poem. The finalists are: E.G. Cunningham, Steve Davenport, Adam Day, Julius Kalamarz, Stephen Pettinga, Ruth Williams and Susan Yount.
--CJ Laity, telling it how it actually is.
Last year, the Poetry Center took forever to come up with a Juried Reading event, but this year the contest was rushed through like crazy. They only accepted submissions for about two months. To our surprise, they claim to have received nearly 300 submissions in that time, which, if true, means they made a sweet $2000 profit. But for a long time I've felt like the Poetry Center hasn't exactly been honest about their state of affairs, shrouding themselves in secrecy and isolating themselves from the greater poetry scene, so who really knows what is the truth?From what I understand about the process of a "Juried Reading" contest, sub-judges reject nearly all submissions while only seven submissions are actually forwarded to the judge, which in this case is a guy from New York named Mark Nowak. I don't know what it is about Nowak's photo, but seeing him peering down through his glasses like that scares the hell out of me. Maybe it's that judgmental expression on his face that doesn't seem very inviting to me.
On Wednesday, May 19, at 7:30 PM, the struggling Poetry Center will take a breather from all the "let's declare Natalie Merchant a poet" hype to hold their award ceremony at SAIC Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Avenue. At least The Poetry Center has accomplished something interesting this time. Even though four white guys and three white gals will represent their "300 submissions", at least we are being introduced to some new and interesting voices this time. It took me quite a while trying to figure out how to navigate their website, but I finally found information about each finalist at poetrycenter.org, so if you click on the name of each finalist, you will get a bio. and sample poem. The finalists are: E.G. Cunningham, Steve Davenport, Adam Day, Julius Kalamarz, Stephen Pettinga, Ruth Williams and Susan Yount.
--CJ Laity, telling it how it actually is.
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