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1 SEPTEMBER 2015 — tuesday
2 SEPTEMBER 2015 — wednesday
3 SEPTEMBER 2015 — thursday
CENTRAL:- Phil Cousineau reads from and signs his new collection of travel stories, The Book of Roads, Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00 (510/525-7777, www.booksinc.net)
- You're Going to Die: Poetry, Prose & Everything Goes, featured performers Brett Hunter and Jason Whitacre, with special guest musician John Michael Mayer aka John Elliott, sign up early for open performance spots, five minutes only, poetry, prose, music, dancing, comedy, with host Ned Buskirk, The Lost Church, 65 Capp Street, San Francisco, $10, doors 7:30, show 8:00-10:30 (information on Facebook/reserve your spot: www.ticketfly.com/event/938153)
4 SEPTEMBER 2015 — friday
CENTRAL:- California College of the Arts presents David Meltzer reading from and discussing Two-Way Mirror, A Poetry Notebook, his writing text just reissued by City Lights, CCA Writers' Studio, 195 De Haro Street, at 15th Street, San Francisco, free, 4:30-6:00 (www.cca.edu/academics/graduate/writing/writerseries)
5 SEPTEMBER 2015 — saturday
6 SEPTEMBER 2015 — sunday
CENTRAL:- SF Zine Fest 2015 presents exhibitors with do-it-yourself ethos, including independent writers, artists, and creators from across the San Francisco Bay Area, Nomadic Press will exhibit, guest of honor: print-comic artist Madeleine Flores, San Francisco County Fair Building, 1199 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way, at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, free admission, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 (sfzinefest.org)
7 SEPTEMBER 2015 — monday
8 SEPTEMBER 2015 — tuesday
CENTRAL:- Poetry at the Albany Library features a featured reading, open mic follows, hosted by Catherine Taylor, Albany Library, Edith Stone Room, 1247 Marin Avenue, Albany, free, 7:00-9:00 (510/526-3720, albanylibrary.wordpress.com)
- Poetry at the Albany Library features a featured poetry reading by Anne Marie Macari, Red Deer, and Jane Mead, Money Money Money Water Water Water, open mic follows, hosted by Catherine Taylor, Albany Library, Edith Stone Room, 1247 Marin Avenue, Albany, free, 7:00-9:00 (510/526-3720, albanylibrary.wordpress.com)
- City Lights presents Stars Seen in Person: A Tribute to John Wieners, "one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century," with Garrett Caples, Michael Seth Stewart, and friends celebrating the release of Stars Seen in Person—Selected Journals of John Wieners, edited by Michael Seth Stewart, and Supplication: Selected Poems of John Wieners, edited by Joshua Beckman, CAConrad, and Robert Dewhurst, City Lights Booksellers, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
9 SEPTEMBER 2015 — wednesday
CENTRAL:- Sasha Abramsky reads from his book, The House of Twenty Thousand Books, a journalist's elegy to the vanished intellectual world of his grandparents, and their vast library of socialist literature and Jewish history, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)
- Writers at Sonoma presents a reading by poets Julie Carr and Claudia Keelan, Evert B. Person Theater, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, 7:00 (707/664-3919, www.sonoma.edu/english/writers)
NORTH:- Writers at Sonoma presents a reading by poets Julie Carr and Claudia Keelan, Evert B. Person Theater, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, 7:00 (707/664-3919, www.sonoma.edu/english/writers)
10 SEPTEMBER 2015 — thursday
CENTRAL:- The Poetry Circle is a participation-based reading, bring original work or poems from any person, period, and place, Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue Avenue, Berkeley, 6:30 (510/981-6820, www. berkeleypubliclibrary.org/events/poetry-circle-claremont)
- American Conservatory Theater Artistic Director Carey Perloff in conversation with Brad Rosenstein on her new book, Beautiful Chaos: A Life in the Theater, Presidio Officers' Club, 50 Moraga Avenue on the Main Post, San Francisco, 7:00 (www.presidioofficersclub.com)
- The Poetry Center presents Robert Dewhurst, co-editor of Supplication: Selected Poems of John Wieners and Michael Seth Stewart, editor of Stars Seen in Person—Selected Journals of John Wieners, on the life and work of John Wieners, The Poetry Center, San Francisco State University, Humanities 412, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, free, 4:30 (415/338-2227, www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
11 SEPTEMBER 2015 — friday
CENTRAL:- Contributing writers Julene Bair and Deborah Koons Garcia read from Dirt: A Love Story, an anthology by writers, scientists, artists and farmers edited by Barbara Richardson, the book includes essays by Vandana Shiva, Peter Heller, Janisse Ray, Bernd Heinrich, Linda Hogan, Wes Jackson, BK Loren, David Montgomery, Laura Pritchett, and Deborah Koons Garcia, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)
- Pelekinesis-published authors, Peter Cherches, Don Skiles, David Scott Ewers, Peter Wortsman, and Marc Zegans, read with Nomadic Press authors and friends poets Cassandra Dallett, Paul Corman-Roberts, Mk Chavez, Freddy Gutierrez, Nick Johnson, and Vernon Keeve, music by T.B.D., Woods Bar & Brewery, 1701 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, donation/no one turned away for lack of funds, 7:00-10:00 (www.nomadicpress.org)
12 SEPTEMBER 2015 — saturday
CENTRAL:- Nomadic Press and Oakland Urban Paths reading with children's book author Melissa Reyes, I Am Sausal Creek, Austin Square Park, 2898 E. 22nd Street, Oakland, donation/no one turned away for lack of funds, 10:00 a.m.-noon (www.nomadicpress.org)
- Writers with Drinks! spoken word "variety show"
13 SEPTEMBER 2015 — sunday
CENTRAL:- Valona Deli presents a poetry reading by Peter Neil Carroll, Fracking Dakota: Poems for a Wounded Land, and John Rowe, Beyond Perspective, open mic follows, hosted by Connie Post, Terry Henry Jazz Trio performs after poetry, Valona Deli, 1323 Pomona Street, Crockett, reading 4:00, open mic 5:00 (510/787-2022)
- "Rumi's Caravan Recitation of World Poetry," a poetic conversation with Doug Von Kloss, Barry Spector and Maya Spector, Larry Robinson, Kay Crista and Maurice Wren, with musicians Christine Tulis and Kem Stone; for fifteen years Rumi's Caravan has woven together inspiring poems by Rumi, Hafez, Machado, Rilke, Yeats, Mary Oliver, Joy Harjo, Naomi Shihab Nye, David Whyte and other poets to create an improvised poetic conversation with musical accompaniment, this performance is a benefit for Youth Speaks, Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland, 3:00-6:00 (tickets: mail check to Barry Spector, 685-1/2 Fairmount Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611, or PayPal: shmoover@comcast.net, 650/327-5493, www.rumiscaravan.com)
14 SEPTEMBER 2015 — monday
CENTRAL:- Poetry Express presents Oakland poet Marissa Rosado, plus open mic, hosted by Jim Barnard, Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00-9:00 (PoetryExpress@gmail.com, poetryexpressberkeley.blogspot.com)
15 SEPTEMBER 2015 — tuesday
CENTRAL:- City Lights' Authors on the Road and San Francisco Art Institute's Visiting Artists and Scholars Lecture Series presents provocative performance artist and writer Karen Finley as she launches the expanded twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Shock Treatment, her 1990s classic, San Francisco Art Institute, 800 Chestnut Street, North Beach, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (Katie Hood Morgan: kmorgan@sfai.edu, www.citylights.com)
- Nomadic Press Get Lit presents twenty writers reading never-before-read material such as rough drafts/debuts within a three-minute time limit, emcee T.B.D., music by Five-Legged Mule and DJ T.B., food truck and craft beer made on site, Ale Industries, 3096 E. 10th Street, Oakland, donation/no one turned away for lack of funds, 7:00-9:00 (www.nomadicpress.org)
- Art opening and release reading for Eclipse Babel, text and drawings by artist, poet, musician Brian Lucas, and poet and essayist Jason Morris reads from his new chapbook, Takes; an exhibit of Brian Lucas's drawings will be on display at Gallery Ex Libris, in the bookshop's back room, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, Glen Park, San Francisco, 7:00-9:00 (415/586-3733, www.birdbeckett.com)
16 SEPTEMBER 2015 — wednesday
17 SEPTEMBER 2015 — thursday
CENTRAL:- Poetry Flash presents a reading by Rose Black and Shelley Savren, request ASL interpreters one week in advance from editor@poetryflash.org, wheelchair accessible, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, www.moesbooks.com)
NORTH:- Marin Poetry Center presents a reading by poets Lisa Gluskin Stonestreet and Robert Thomas, Falkirk Cultural Center, 1408 Mission Street, San Rafael, 7:30 (www.marinpoetrycenter.org)
18 SEPTEMBER 2015 — friday
19 SEPTEMBER 2015 — saturday
CENTRAL:- CANCELED: Alta Solano Lit Out Loud monthly series presents a poetry reading by Janell Moon and Maureen Micus Crisick, an open mic opens the evening, hosted by Jannie Dresser, Folk & Fine Art Gallery, 1861-A Solano Avenue, Berkeley, $5-$10 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds, 7:30-9:00 (janniedres@att.net, www.folkandfineart.com)
- Nomadic Press presents Oakland Creek to Bay Day: Writers for Community, part of the California and International Costal Cleanup Day, volunteer sidewalk and creekside clean up, check-in at Nomadic Press, 2926 Foothill Boulevard, Oakland, 10:00 a.m.-noon (www.nomadicpress.org)
20 SEPTEMBER 2015 — sunday
NORTH:- The 20th Annual Petaluma Poetry Walk presents a full-day of readings, in a walk from venue to venue in downtown Petaluma: 11:00 a.m.: Stella Beratlis, Alkali Sink; Phyllis Meshulam, Doll, Moon; and Lisa Erin Robertson, Lisa Erin Robertson, Seed Bank, 199 Petaluma Blvd. North, at Washington; Noon: Ed Coletti, The Problem with Breathing; writer and musician Ka'Lane Raposa; and Nellie Wong, Breakfast Lunch Dinner, Riverfront Art Gallery, 132 Petaluma Blvd. North; 1:00:Beatriz Lagos; Nancy Keane, Symmetrical Reflections; and Smooth Toad music and poetry featuring Bob Ernst, Hal Hughes, and G.P. Skratz, The Apple Box Café, 6 Petaluma Blvd, North, at B and Second Streets; 2:00: Rob Greene; Sonoma County Poet Laureate Katherine Hastings, Nighthawks; former Sonoma County Poet Laureate Mike Tuggle, The Motioning In: New and Selected, The Apple Box Café, 6 Petaluma Blvd, North, at B and Second Streets; 3:00: Jane Hirshfield, The Beauty, David Meltzer, Two-Way Mirror, and Julie Rogers, House of the Unexpected, Copperfield's Books, 140 Kentucky Street; 4:00: Judy Stedman Tribute reading of her poetry and poetry about her by friends and students, The Phoenix Theater, 201 Washington Street; 5:00: Avotcja, poet and multipercussionist; Kurk Schweigman aka Luke Warmwater; Lucille Lang Day, Petaluma Historical Museum, 20 4th Street; 6:00: Vilma Ginzberg, former Healdsburg Literary Laureate; Elizabeth Carothers Herron; Clara Hsu, The First to Escape; and harp player and singer/songwriter Susan T. Mashiyama, Aqus Café, 189 H Street (this venue is much farther away, prepare for a longer walk or drive to this one); Petaluma, free, 11:00 a.m.-7:00 (petalumapoetrywalk.org)
21 SEPTEMBER 2015 — monday
CENTRAL:- UC Berkeley's Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies Department presents Carey Perloff, Artistic Director of the American Conservatory Theater, to discuss her book, Beautiful Chaos: A Life in the Theater, Durham Studio Theater, University of California, Berkeley, across from Dwinelle Annex,
- Poetry Express presents an open reading of poems written from the prompt, "The last time I cried," open reading hosted by Nance Wogan, Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00-9:00 (PoetryExpress@gmail.com, poetryexpressberkeley.blogspot.com)
22 SEPTEMBER 2015 — tuesday
23 SEPTEMBER 2015 — wednesday
CENTRAL:- Benjamin Hedin presents and reads from In Search of the Movement: The Struggle for Civil Right Then and Now, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, 7:00 (www.citylights.com)
- The Green Arcade presents Michael Helquist reading and discussing his new biography Marie Equi, Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions, the reading will be introduced by Terrance Kissack, author of Free Comrades: Anarchism and Homosexuality in the United States; Dr. Marie Equi (1872-1952) was a physician for working-class women and children, a lesbian, and a political activist, off site at McRoskey Mattress Factory, 1687 Market Street, Third Floor, San Francisco, $3.00/free with the purchase of the book at the door, 7:00, doors open 6:30 (415/338-2227, www.thegreenarcade.com)
- Poetry Express presents Terry McCarthy, plus open mic, hosted by Bruce Bagnell, Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00-9:00 (PoetryExpress@gmail.com, poetryexpressberkeley.blogspot.com)
24 SEPTEMBER 2015 — thursday
CENTRAL:- The Poetry Center presents David Meltzer reading and discussing Two-Way Mirror, A Poetry Notebook, his writing text reissued by City Lights, The Poetry Center, Humanities 512, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, free, 4:30-6:00 (www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
- Dana Velden, Oakland resident and Zen Priest, presents Finding Yourself in the Kitchen: Kitchen Meditations and Inspired Recipes from a Mindful Cook, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)
25 SEPTEMBER 2015 — friday
CENTRAL:- John King, San Francisco Chronicle urban design critic, presents Cityscapes 2: Reading the Architecture of San Francisco, according to Metropolis, "A nifty little hybrid: one part prose poem to the built environment, one part a walking tour of the city," Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)
26 SEPTEMBER 2015 — saturday
CENTRAL:- Backyards 2015: Poets for Local Change, part of 100,000 Poets for Change, presents a reading by Givanna Capone, Nanette Deetz, Sean Labrador y Manzano, Connie Post, GS Scott, Tamila Walker, David Welper, and Arisa White, curated by Sharon Coleman, hosted by Jeanne Lupton and Sharon Coleman, Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru Street, at Lincoln, Alameda, 7:00 (www.frankbettecenter.org)
- 20th Annual Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival features readings by over thirty poets including Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Robert Hass; NCBA and Griffin Poetry Prize-winning poet Brenda Hillman, Seasonal Works with Letters on Fire; legendary Simon J. Ortiz, Acoma Pueblo poet in his first Bay Area reading in ten years; Jane Mead, Money Money Money Water Water Water; C.S. Giscombe Prairie Style; John Shoptaw, Times Beach; Francisco X. Alarcón, Borderless Butterflies: Earth Haikus and Other Poems/Mariposas sin fronteras; Malcolm Margolin, Heyday, and writer Novella Carpenter, Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, California Poets in the Schools students reading led by poet-teachers John Oliver Simon and Maureen Hurley, Creek Poets reading features Nevada City poet/eco-educator Chris Olander, filmmaker Maya Khosla, Keel Bone; Oakland poet Mk Chavez, Virgin Eyes; Seattle poet, writer, climate activist Emily Johnston, Her Animals; poet/physicist J. David Cummings, Tancho; poet, artist, letterpress printer Theresa Whitehill; and much more, with hosts Richard Silberg and Kirk Lumpkin; music by The Barry Finnerty Trio; We are Nature Open Mic, (to read, enter lottery on site at noon); River Village tents, tables, and exhibits by literary organizations, presses, magazines, and environmental organizations; readers books for signing and sale at the Pegasus Downtown tent; bring your lunch or get it at the Farmers’ Market; one block west from Berkeley BART; A 100 Thousand Poets for Change event co-sponsored by Poetry Flash, Ecology Center/Berkeley Farmers' Market, Moe's Books; wheelchair accessible, ASL interpreters; Berkeley Civic Center Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Way at Center Street, Berkeley, noon-4:30 (510/525-5476; to table, e-mail: info@poetryflash.org)
- Strawberry Creek Walk, part of the Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival, a gentle walk led by Nevada City poet/eco-educator Chris Olander, winds along Strawberry Creek through the University of California campus to downtown Berkeley to the Watershed Festival site, readings by poet, naturalist, and filmmaker Maya Khosla, Keel Bone; Oakland poet Mk Chavez, Virgin Eyes; Seattle poet, writer, climate activist Emily Johnston debuts Her Animals, her new poetry collection; poet/physicist J. David Cummings, Tancho; poet, artist, letterpress printer Theresa Whitehill; Chris Olander; with natural history commentary by Tim Pine, Director of the UC Berkeley Environmental Health and Safety Department; A 100 Thousand Poets for Change event presented by Poetry Flash and Ecology Center/Berkeley Farmers' Market, the Strawberry Creek Walk meets in (and leaves from) the Redwood Grove at the southeast corner of Oxford at Center, near the sculpture of the World Globe as you enter the UC campus, Oxford and Center Streets, University of California at Berkeley, free, 10:00 a.m. (510/525-5476, info@poetryflash.org)
EAST:- 100 Thousand Poets for Change: Sacramento Voices presents Stan Zumbiel, with guest readers Allegra Silberstein, JoAnn Anglin, Bethanie Humphreys, Thomas Hedt, Jerry Fishman, Taylor Graham, Mary Zeppa, Jennifer O'Neill Pickering, Philip Larrea, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
- 100 Thousand Poets for Change: Sacramento Voices presents John Bell, with guest readers: Bill Pieper, Lytton Bell, Tom Goff, Katy Brown, Martha Kight, Rhony Bhopla, Crawdad Nelson, Jt Odochartaigh, Phil Ryder and Liz Ryder, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 12:30-2:00 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
- 100 Thousand Poets for Change: Sacramento Voices, presentation on the inaugural 100TPC World Conference, with a slide show, and poetry performances by 100TPC World Conference attendees Graffiti Bleu, David Loret de Mola, Ike Torres, and Penny Kline, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 2:00-2:30 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
- 100 Thousand Poets for Change presents Corinne Litchfield, with guest readers Carol Louise Moon, Zoe Keithley, Hilary Abramson, Jan Haag, Deborah Meltvedt, Wendy Williams, Linda Collins, Nancy Aidé Gonzalez, and Christine Easterly, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 2:30-4:00 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
- In celebration of 100 Thousand Poets for Change, Sacramento Poetry Center presents the "Midnight in Paris" Poetry Salon at the home of Penny Kline, with dramatic recitation of poetry and song by Phil Ryder, Lawrence E. Dinkins Jr, Ross Hammond, Liz Ryder, Graffiti Bleu, Martha Kight, Jt Odochartaigh, David Loret de Mola, Patrick Grizzell, Tim Kahl, and Ike Torres, music by singer/songwriter Liz Ryder with Patrick Grizzell and friends, due to limited space, please RSVP to ovationstage@gmail.com, Penny will then send the location, free, reception 6:30, poetry salon 7:00–9:00, music 9:00 (rsvp: ovationstage@gmail.com)
27 SEPTEMBER 2015 — sunday
CENTRAL:- Translator Jessica Powell, Suzanne Jill Levine, and Enrico Mario Santí celebrate Antonio Benitez-Rojo's Woman in Battle Dress, translated from the Spanish by Jessica Powell, an epic historical novel about Cuba's most sensational legal trial, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 5:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
NORTH:- Benicia Literary Arts presents Peter Bray, Johanna Ely, Joel Fallon, Mary Susan Gast, Kristine Mietzner, Don Peery, Tom Stanton, emcee Carolyn Plath, open mic follows, The Rellik Tavern, 726 First Street, Benicia, 4:30 (www. benicialiteraryarts.org)
28 SEPTEMBER 2015 — monday
EAST:- Sacramento Poetry Center features a reading by Rebecca Woolston and Jordan Okumura, hosted by Tim Kahl, Sacramento Poetry Center, Gallery, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 7:30 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
29 SEPTEMBER 2015 — tuesday
30 SEPTEMBER 2015 — wednesday
CENTRAL:- Amy Stewart, award-winning author of six books, reads from her novel, Girl Waits With Gun, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)
NORTH:- Hand To Mouth/WORDS SPOKEN OUT #75 presents a book launch for
EAST:- Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission presents Public Art Dedication celebrating the new metal work sculpture with text, "Poet's Path, Circle of Laureates," by Troy Corliss, joined by Council Member Jeff Harris, Arts Commission Chair Cheryl Holben, current Sacramento Poet Laureate Jeff Knorr, and past Sacramento Poets Laureate: Bob Stanley, Julia Connor, Viola Weinberg, Dennis Schmitz, and Jose Montoya, music by "Proxy Moon," refreshments, South Natomas Community Park, 2901 Truxel Road, Sacramento, 4:30-6:30 (www.sacmetroarts.org)
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