—Public Domain Illustration
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
Don't see
your poetry event listed in Medusa? That's probably because you didn't
send it in! It's such a shame to invite poets to read for you, and
then fail to advertise them.
So try to get your message out in a timely
manner—and that includes
sending it to kathykieth@hotmail.com!
Here's what's coming up in our area.
(Click on visuals to enlarge them.)
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•••Wed. (5/1): Deadline for this year's submissions to VOICES. This year is a special MEMORIAL ISSUE for D.R. Wagner, though the theme remains ANOMALIES, PATHOLOGIES, AND PARADISE. Any material directly relating to D.R. outside of the theme will be accepted and is greatly encouraged. Please send in your poems, fiction, artwork, and photography to submissions@coldriverpress.com. Standard submission guidelines apply. Deadline for submissions is May 1st, 2024. For more info: https://www.coldriverpress.com/HTML/VOICES/voices.htm/.
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The March issue of Sacramento Poetry Center's Poet News is now available at https://www.sacpoetrycenter.org/poetnews/. Check it out for area poetry events (including the Bay Area), poetry, submissions, workshops and more!
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UPCOMING POETRY READINGS & WORKSHOPS:
In addition to these posts, scroll down
to the bottom of this column for
on-going weekly readings, open mics,
monthly workshops and read-arounds.
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•••Wed. (3/20): Loud Mouths Spoken Word and Stand-Up Comedy returns, featuring spoken word arts and stand-up comedians. Slab Comedy Theater, 1710 Broadway, Sacramento. Tickets $10. Host: CharRon Resolution.
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•••Thurs. (3/21), 12noon: Third Thursdays at the Library read-around at the Main Branch of the Sacramento Library, 828 I St., Sacramento, CA, devoted to exploring the work of other writers. A theme or prompt is chosen for each month, then sent out about a week before. Info/sign-ups: Amanda Jacobs at amanda.b.jacobs@gmail.com/.
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•••Thurs. (3/21), 5:30pm: Cameron Park Library Poets and Writers Workshop for adults, led by Lara Gularte and Beverly Parayno, Cameron Park Library, 2500 Country Club Dr., Cameron Park, CA on the first Tuesday and third Thursday of each month. Bring copies for 7 of one or two poems, or up to 6 pages of prose, double-spaced. Free. Beginners welcome.
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•••Thurs. (3/21), 7pm: Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis presents Kim Stanley Robinson and Laurie Glover at John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1st St., Davis, CA. Open mic after the readers (two chosen texts or four minutes). Host: Dr. Andy Jones.
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•••Sat. (3/23), 1-4pm: Explore Riparian Landscape Through Art, Poetry and Native Plants workshop with Alicia Funk, Corina del Carmel, and Lara Gularte. Georgetown Library, 6680 Orleans St., Georgetown, CA. Pre-reg. (required) at www.eldoradolibrary.org or call 530-333-4724.
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•••Sat. (3/23), 6-9pm: Book Release Party for Josh Fernandez's new book from PM Press, The Hands That Crafted the Bomb: The Making of a Life-Long Antifascist. Reading, signing, interviews, refreshments. 2126 K St., Sacramento. Free.
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•••Sun. (3/24), 4-6pm: Storytelling Sundays features Beverly Parayno, Zheyla Henriksen, Estela Victoria-Cordero, Jen Vernon, Lara Gularte, and Rina Wakefield, plus open mic, with Live Art by Rebecca Billingsley and music by Ezra DeVore. Hosts: Mae Flores and Rina Wakefield; Guest Host Jenifer Vernon. The Green Room Social Club, 251 Main St., Placerville, CA. Info/tix: clubgreenroom.com/calendar.
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•••Tues. (3/26), 6pm: Twin Lotus Thai Fourth Tuesdays presents Cynthia Linville, Jack Schouten, and Anna Marie plus open mic. Twin Lotus Thai, 8345 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA. Reservations strongly recommended: go to https://www.twinlotusthai.com/. Host: Bob Stanley. Please arrive at 5 or 5:30 if you can!
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•••Thurs. (3/28), 4pm workshop; 7pm reading: Nevada County Library presents Writing As Activism with Molly Fisk. Madelyn Helling Library, 980 Helling Way, Nevada City, CA.
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Peter Coyote
•••Fri. (3/29), 7pm: Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis presents Peter Coyote reading from his new book, Zen in the Vernacular, as well as his recent collection, Tongue of the Crow, at John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1st St., Davis, CA. Host: Dr. Andy Jones.
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April is National Poetry Month! Go to
for ways to celebrate!
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•••Mon. (4/1), 7:30pm: Sac. Poetry Center begins National Poetry Month, featuring its Sacramento Literary Festival celebrating the arts, with events every day at Sac. Poetry Center or at other locations around the city. 25th & R Sts., Sacramento, CA. Info: https://www.sacpoetrycenter.org/poetrymonth/.
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•••Wed. (4/4): Deadline for submissions to Winters Theatre Company's Lit Fest 3: Storytelling and Poetry. Lit Fest 3 will be held at The Winters Opera House on Sunday, 4/21, 4-6pm. Free; donations welcome. Send digital works to janene.whitesell@gmail in plain text file; use formats .5x, docx, or .pdf. More info: www.winterstheatre.org/lit-fest/.
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•••Sun. (4/7), 12pm: Starting April 7, Andru Dufeye’s First Church of Poetry meets in McKinley Park by the Rose Garden on Sundays, 601 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento through the months of April and May.
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•••Sat. (4/13): Nevada County Library and Nevada County Arts Council present Poet Ross Gay at The Center for the Arts immediately after the Sierra Poetry Festival.
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•••Sat. (4/20), 4-6pm: Blue Sky Earth Day Poetry Festival w/poetry, storytelling, cowboy poetry and music. The Stage at Burke Junction, 3300 Coach Lane, Cameron Park, CA. Tix: $15, see www.stageatburke.com/.
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•••Sat. (4/20), 7pm: Sacramento Poetry Center presents Molly Fisk and Francesca Bell. 25th & R Sts., Sacramento.
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•••Sun. (4/21), 4-6pm: Winters Theatre Co. presents Lit Fest 3: Storytelling and Poetry at The Winters Opera House, 201 Railroad Av., Winters, CA. Free; donations welcome. Info: www.winterstheatre.org/lit-fest/. (530-795-4014)
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•••Sun. (4/28), 1-3pm: Sacramento Poetry Center and Royal Chicano Air Force (RCAF) presents former US and CA Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera and writer/UCD Professor Maceo Montoya in conversation. Free. More info to come.
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EVERY WEDNESDAY!
•••Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour airs live on KDVS 90.3 every Wednesday evening from 5-6 p.m. On the air since 2000, DAPATH features interviews with poets, writers, actors, innovative thinkers, and important members of both the national and international artistic community, including professionals of theatre, music, and writing across new media. They are also sharing content via podcast! See also https://www.facebook.com/poetrytechnology AND/OR https://www.poetrytechnology.com/.
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MORE WEEKLY READINGS/OPEN MICS*:
*Events from here down may be cancelled some weeks; who knows? It's best to check before heading off to them.
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•••Third Wednesdays: Loud Mouths Spoken Word and Stand-Up Comedy, Slab Comedy Theater, 1710 Broadway, Sacramento. Tickets $10. Host: CharRon Resolution.
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•••1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 8-10:30pm: The Roux Open Mic & Feature Series, Gumbo King Restaurant, 2201 Southgate Blvd., Sacramento. All poets, comedians, and musicians are invited to come. Admission is $5. Hosts: Russell Cummings and Dyva Cat (Tina Cates).
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•••Thursdays, 7-9pm: Classy Hippie Tea Co. presents Resilience Jam Sessions w/music and poetry featuring Vince Kobelt. Broadway Coffee, 3200 Broadway, Sacramento, CA.
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•••Thursdays, 7-9pm: Lucid Poetry Series, Lucid Winery, 1015 R St., Sacramento.
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•••Thursdays, 7pm: Two Rivers Jam and Poetry Jam. Two Rivers Cider Company, 4311 Attawa Ave, Sacramento, featuring jazz jam and poetry. Host: Kent Lacin. Info: https://www.tworiverscider.com/.
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•••Thursdays, 8-10:30pm: Joe Montoya's Poetry Unplugged returns, now to Silver Lining Cocktail Bar (formerly Luna's Cafe), 1414 16th St., Sacramento. Open mic, no cover.
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WEEKLY WORKSHOPS:
From Sac. Poetry Center:
The above are weekly workshops at Sac. Poetry Center;
for info on these, click poster to enlarge
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Also:
•••Tuesdays, 2-3:30pm: City of Sacramento Hart Center Workshop for adults 50+ years and older at the Ethyl McLeod Hart Senior Center, 915 27th St., Sacramento, CA (916-808-7908). Meetings provide a workshop consisting of sharing of poetry information and discussion, followed by readings, positive commentary, and thoughtful critique on each person's poem. Select work is publish annually in a group anthology. No advance registration is required. Info: chulabrowne@gmail.com/.
•••First Tuesdays and Third Thursdays of each month, 5:30pm: El Dorado County Library Poets and Writers Workshop for adults, led by Lara Gularte and Beverly Parayno,
Cameron Park Library, 2500 Country Club Dr., Cameron Park, CA on the
first Tuesday and third Thursday of each month. Bring copies for 7 of
one or two poems, or up to 6 pages of prose, double-spaced. Free.
Beginners welcome.
•••Tuesdays at Two Poetry Group led by Taylor Graham, El Dorado County Library, 345 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA.
•••Thursdays at Two Poetry Group (1st & 3rd Thursdays) led by Taylor Graham, Georgetown Library, 6680 Orleans St., Georgetown, CA.
•••Write Free Fridays, 6-9pm, Sac. Poetry Center, 25th & R Sts. Come read, write or study; free coffee, snacks, water.
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Check these out for more happenings:
•••Sacramento Poetry Center members receive Poet News online each month, with its calendar of readings and poetry events, local and otherwise. Poet News
is also available online through SPC's website: www.sacpoetrycenter.org/.
•••For info about MoSt events (Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center), go to www.mostpoetry.org/.
•••Another newsletter resource, this one for the East Bay, is Deborah Fruchey’s monthly Strictly East (www.strictly-east.org). Check it out for a calendar, groups on Zoom and in person, special events and submission calls.
•••Jan Haag has generative, creative workshops in person and online using Amherst Writers & Artists method. Groups limited to 10 in person, 12 online. $30/session. In-person meets at Jan’s space in the R25 Theater complex. Info: janishaag@gmail.com/.
—Public Domain Illustration