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17 FEBRUARY 2024 — saturday
- Beyond Baroque presents "Writing the Surreal and the Strange," a generative poetry workshop led by Jose Hernandez Diaz, 2017 NEA Poetry Fellow and author of Bad Mexican, Bad American, this workshop will focus on close readings of surrealist poets such as James Tate, Shivani Mehta, and Will Alexander, and provide attendees with prompts to create their own strange and surreal poems, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, $80 for members, $90 general admission, 11:00 am-2:00 pm PST (Purchase tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-the-surreal-and-the-strange-tickets-800075285717)
- Beyond Baroque presents a dual book launch and reading, featuring 2023 Texas State Poet Laureate ire'ne lara silva and poet Angelina Sáenz, reading from their new books, the eaters of flowers and Maestra, respectively, joined by poets Jen Yáñez-Alaniz, Surrogate Eater, and féi hernandez, Hood Criatura, book signings follow the readings, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, free, 7:00 pm PST (RSVP to attend: www.beyondbaroque.org)
- Clearly Meant presents poet and visual artist Maureen Hurley, whose work has appeared in anthologies such as Atomic Ghost and the forthcoming Catching the Last Light, Hurley will read her poetry, followed by an interview and discussion, a free chapbook of her poems is available at all Berkeley Public Library branches during the month before the event, copies also available at the reading, Berkeley Public Library, Claremont Branch, 2940 Benvenue Avenue, Berkeley, free, 2:00-3:00 pm PST (More information here: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/locations/claremont-branch)
- The Arts Research Center of UC Berkeley presents the Reclamation Poetry Gathering, a weekend-long event of readings, conversations, and workshops, featuring 2023 Poetry Fellows Cody Achin, Julian Ankney, Carol Ann Carl, Phillip Cash Cash, Al-An deSouza, Ayling Z. Dominguez, Amanda Galvan Huynh, Ines Hernandez-Avila, Chris Hoshnic, Fede Kong-Gonzalez, Marisa Lin, Cristina S. Mendez, No'u Revilla, Angel Sobotta, Aimee Suzara, Tierra Sydnor, Kellen Trenal, Taté Walker, and Sa Whitley, facilitated by Natalie Diaz, Beth Piatote, and Craig Santos Perez, book signings will be available at the readings, BAMPFA, 2155 Center Street, Berkeley, free, 10:00 am-6:00 pm PST (More information here: arts.berkeley.edu/feb-2024-reclamation-poetry-gathering)
18 FEBRUARY 2024 — sunday
- Benicia Literary Arts presents local author Marty Malin, reading and discussing his debut novel, Transit: A Journey of Transfiguration, Bookshop Benicia, 636 First Street, Benicia, free, 5:30 pm PST (More information here: www.benicialiteraryarts.org)
- Poetry Flash presents a reading by poet and flash fiction writer Andrena Zawinski, Born Under the Influence, and novelist and poet Jerry Ratch, A Body Divided, memoir, who will read some of his poems accompanied by live music, Art House Gallery & Cultural Center, 2905 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, two blocks north of Ashby BART, refreshments, free, 3:00 pm PST (poetryflash.org).
19 FEBRUARY 2024 — monday
- City Lights and Tender Buttons Press celebrate Dodie Bellamy and the publication of new editions of her books Cunt Norton and The Cunt-Ups. She will be joined by Lee Ann Brown, Maxe Crandall, Marcella Faustini, Jason Morris, and London Pinkney, City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 pm PST citylights.com/events/dodie-bellamy-and-friends)
20 FEBRUARY 2024 — tuesday
- Cobalt Poets presents a reading with featured reader TBA, followed by an open mic, online via Zoom, free, 7:30 pm PST (Register to attend: www.poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt/calendar.html)
- Green Apple Books presents award-winning author Lauren Markham, The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life, celebrating the release of her latest book, A Map of Future Ruins: On Borders and Belonging, in conversation with Oscar Villalon, managing editor of ZYZZYVA, Green Apple Books on the Park, 1231 9th Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 pm PST (More information here: www.greenapplebooks.com/event/9th-ave-lauren-markham-oscar-villalon)
- Poetry Express returns to Berkeley with an open mic reading, sponsored by the California Writers Club, Berkeley Branch, the reading is held in a cooperative art gallery and multi-use space, 2727 California Street, Berkeley, free, 7:00-9:00 pm PST (More information here: www.2727.today/calendar/poetry-express-open-mic)
- Books Inc. presents former reporter and novelist Sarah Ruiz-Grossman, celebrating her debut novel, A Fire So Wild, in conversation with novelist Daniel Gumbiner, The Boatbuilder, finalist for the California Book Awards, Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:00 pm PST (More information here: www.booksinc.net/event/sarah-ruiz-grossman-books-inc-berkeley)
- Skylight Books presents poet and novelist Joseph Earl Thomas, celebrating his new memoir, Sink, in conversation with Traci Thomas, creator and host of the podcast The Stacks, 1818 N Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, free, 7:00 pm PST (More information here: www.skylightbooks.com)
21 FEBRUARY 2024 — wednesday
- Medicine for Nightmares presents The Last Supper Party, a spoken word and performance series curated by Kimi Sugioka, Poet Laureate of the City of Alameda, featuring performances by poets Ayo Khensu-Ra, Kevin Dublin, Eulogy, and multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Cadence Myles, Medicine for Nightmares Bookstore, 3036 24th Street, San Francisco, free, 7:00-9:00 pm PST (More information here: medicinefornightmares.com/events)
22 FEBRUARY 2024 — thursday
- Poetry Flash presents a poetry reading by Andrea Cohen, The Sorrow Apartments, and Katie Peterson, Fog and Smoke: Poems, Art House Gallery & Cultural Center, 2905 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, two blocks north of Ashby BART, refreshments, free, 7:00 pm PST (poetryflash.org).
- Marin Poetry Center's Poetry Reading Series presents a reading featuring Catharine Clark-Sayles, The Telling, One Breath, and Lifeboat, Gerald Fleming, whose most recent book is prose poetry, The Bastard and the Bishop, and David Watts, Katy Bridge, poems, Seed Kites, haiku, and Daily Bouquet, aphorisms, Mill Valley Public Library, 375 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, free, 6:30 to 8:00pm PST (To register, visit: www.millvalleylibrary.org; 415/389-4292)
- Holloway Poetry Series presents a poetry reading by Roger Reeves, Best Barbarian, finalist for the 2022 National Book Award for Poetry and the PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry, books will be available for purchase and for signing, 315 Wheeler Hall, University of California at Berkeley campus, Berkeley, free, reception at 5:45 pm, reading at 6:30 pm PST (More information here: www.pegasusbookstore.com/reeves)
- The Arts Research Center of UC Berkeley presents The Loft Hour, a new reading series that showcases the work of new arts faculty in informal conversation, this month features poet Solmaz Sharif, Look, winner of the Northern California Book Award and finalist for the National Book Award, with multimedia artist Darian Longmire, in conversation with educator and author Anneka Lenssen, Beautiful Agitation: Modern Painting and Politics in Syria, winner of the 2021 Syrian Studies Association Best Book Prize, Arts Research Center, Hearst Field Annex, D23, Berkeley, free, Noon-1:00 pm PST (More information here: arts.berkeley.edu/2-22-24-the-loft-hour-solmaz-sharif-darian-longmire)
- Sami Hermez, anthropologist, reads from his memoir and oral history, My Brother, My Land: A Story From Palestine, an exploration of the Israeli military occupation of Palestine through the experience of a single West Bank family, the story offers a perspective about the politics of occupation that challenges the victimization of Palestinians and reinforces their determination to persevere, City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 to 9:00 pm PST citylights.com/events/sami-hermez)
- The Poetry Center presents a poetry reading and conversation by Kim Shuck, Poet Laureate Emerita of San Francisco, reading from her recent work, and young Diné poet, Hataałiinez Wheeler, The Poetry Center, Humanities Building 512, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, free, 1:00 to 2:30 pm PST poetry.sfsu.edu/event/kim-shuck-and-hataaliinez-wheeler-reading-and-conversation)
23 FEBRUARY 2024 — friday
- Small Press Traffic presents "A tribute to kari edwards," a reading and conversation in honor of kari edwards (1954-2006), trans poet, artist, and activist, featuring poets Julian Talamantez Brolaski, Of Mongrelitude, Noa Fields, E, Rob Halpern, Hieroglyphs of the Inverted World, and Bianca Messinger, parallel bars, The Lab, 2948 16th Street, San Francisco, free, 7:00 pm PST (Register to attend: www.smallpresstraffic.org)
- Beyond Baroque presents "Black Radiance," a poetry reading and mini arts festival in collaboration with SKEW Magazine, featuring readings by Bri Stokes, managing editor for the magazine and author of the chapbook A Throat Full of Forest-Dirt, and poets Jaden Fields, Intentional Musings on Staying Alive When I Want to Die, Rhys Langston, Grapefruit Radio, Aiyana Sha'niel, Little Black Poetry Book, and Liliana Jeanine Epps; the reading will showcase work from SKEW's fourth issue on the theme "Black Embodiment," full vendor lineup TBA, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, free, 7:00-10:00 pm PST (RSVP to attend: www.beyondbaroque.org)
- Youth Speaks presents the Teen Poetry Slam, a performance showcasing youth spoken word in an Olympic-style competition, three-minutes per poet, open to anyone age thirteen to nineteen, bring your best poem and compete for a $50 prize and a chance to perform at the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival, free, Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, 6:00-8:00 pm PST (RSVP to attend: www.eventbrite.com/e/youth-speaks-teen-poetry-slam-prelims-in-oakland-tickets-778638728397?aff=oddtdtcreator&mc_cid=81ef2ae096)
24 FEBRUARY 2024 — saturday
- Paradiso presents a reading featuring poet Julian Talamantez Brolaski, Of Mongrelitude, feminist author and essayist Diana Cage, Lesbian Sex Bible, winner of the 2015 Lambda Literary Award, and poet Violet Spurlock, Alloyed Bliss, Finnish Hall Auditorium, 1970 Chestnut Street, Berkeley, free, doors open 5:30 pm, reading begins 6:00 pm PST
- City Lights Books presents author and educator Sharad Chari, Fraternal Capital, discussing his new book, Gramsci at Sea, an exploration of Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci's writings on the sea, online via Zoom, free, 11:00 am PST (Register to attend: citylights.com/events)
- Come see the Flypoet Classic Slam, an all-out spoken word performance featuring six incredible slam poets competing in a multi-round battle for the top, with DJ sets, beatboxing, and dance battles between rounds, $5,000 in prizes for the performers, Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach, tickets range $40-$120, (Purchase tickets here: flypoet.com/slam)
- Sacramento Poetry Alliance presents a reading featuring short story writers Frank Gioia, The Mercury Man: Remembering Brooklyn, and Beverly Parayno, Wildflowers, followed by an open mic, Sacramento Poetry Alliance, 1169 Perkins Way, Sacramento, free, 4:00 pm PST (More information here: www.facebook.com/sacramentopoetryalliance)
- Fourth Saturdays presents a reading with featured poets Gustavo Hernandez, Flower Grand First, and James Coats, winner of the 2021 San Gabriel Poetry Slam and author of Midnight & Mad Dreams, Claremont Helen Renwick Library, 208 N. Harvard Avenue, Claremont, free, 2:00 pm PST (More information here: www.facebook.com/fourthsaturdayspoetry)
- Beyond Baroque presents poet Jose Hernandez Diaz, 2017 NEA Poetry Fellow, celebrating the launch of his new book, Bad Mexican, Bad American, joined in a reading by poets Rooja Mohassessy, When Your Sky Runs Into Mine, winner of the 22nd Annual Elixir Poetry Award, Jose Oseguera, The Milk of Your Blood, L.A. Johnson, Little Climates, and jimmy vega, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, free, 7:00 pm PST (RSVP to attend: www.beyondbaroque.org)
- Medicine for Nightmares presents poet and comedian Bucky Sinister, Black Hole, celebrating the release of his new book, To Fear and Love Bambi Lake, joined in reading and conversation by musician and novelist Alvin Orloff, Vulgarian Rhapsody, Medicine for Nightmares Bookstore, 3036 24th Street, San Francisco, free, 7:00-8:30 pm PST (More information here: medicinefornightmares.com/events)
25 FEBRUARY 2024 — sunday
- Vroman's Bookstore presents Local Author Day, featuring Andrea L. Ambler, Stoking the Poetry Flame: A Teaching Resource, a practical, easy-to-follow guide to encouraging a love of poetry in students, and fiction writer Steven Meloan, St. James Infirmary, a collection of short stories, Vroman's Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, free, 4:00 pm PST (More information here: www.vromansbookstore.com/Vromans-Local-Author-Day-January-2024)
- Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga presents a reading with award-winning poets James Ragan, The Hunger Wall, and Amy Gerstler, Index of Women, with two open mic segments, refreshments will be served, Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Avenue, Tujunga, Los Angeles, suggested donation $5 per person, 4:30 pm PST (More information here: villagepoets.blogspot.com)
- Medicine for Nightmares presents the Odd Verse Reading Series, a poetry reading and open mic that amplifies underrepresented voices, in a safe space for discourse, community solidarity, and collective action for social justice, Medicine for Nightmares Bookstore, 3036 24th Street, San Francisco, free, donations welcome, 4:30-7:00 pm PST (More information here: medicinefornightmares.com/events)
26 FEBRUARY 2024 — monday
- Fiction writer and former reporter Sarah Ruiz-Grossman discusses her debut novel, A Fire So Wild, in conversation with Traci Thomas, creator and host of the podcast The Stacks, Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, free, 7:00 pm PST (More information here: www.skylightbooks.com)
27 FEBRUARY 2024 — tuesday
- Ashleigh Greene Wade celebrates her new book, Black Girl Autopoetics, in conversation with scholar-activist and author Dr. Janice Johnson Dias; the new book explores Black girl content creators and how their online personas render them both vulnerable to harassment and online violence, and invisible as they are discredited for their creative work, online via Zoom, free, 6:00 pm to 8:00pm PST (To register, visit Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/black-girl-autopoetics-ashleigh-greene-wade-tickets-775341054967?aff=oddtdtcreator)
- Cobalt Poets presents a reading with featured poet Scott Ferry, Midnight Glossolalia, followed by an open mic, online via Zoom, free, 7:30 pm PST (Register to attend: www.poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt/calendar.html)
28 FEBRUARY 2024 — wednesday
- The Museum of African Diaspora celebrates the release of Adraint Bereal's The Black Yearbook, with a conversation by San Francisco-based artist and graphic designer George McCalman, and photographer Adraint Bereal, whose new book features one-hundred interviews and photographs of Black students at American colleges,
- UC Berkeley and the Diasporic Vietnamese Artist Network (DVAN) presents a reading and Q&A with French-Vietnamese author Line Papin on The Girl Before Her, her debut novel in English translation; the event will be moderated by writer and journalist Mel Kritikopoulos, Maude Fife Room, Wheeler Hall 315, University of California Berkeley campus, Berkeley, free to the public, 5:00 to 6:30pm PST
29 FEBRUARY 2024 — thursday
- City Lights Books and The Poetry Center at San Francisco State University present a reading and conversation with poets Major Jackson, Razzle Dazzle: New and Selected Poems 2002-2022, and Kalamu ya Salaam, Be About Beauty, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 pm PST (More information here: citylights.com/events)
- Museum of African Diaspora in collaboration with KALW and Noise Pop presents a live performance with aja monet, supported by poets Tongo Eisen-Martin, Christell Victoria Roach, and Nia McAllister; aja's new album, when the poems do what they do, combines jazz and spoken word to explore Black resistance, love and the inexhaustible quest for joy; in this performance, aja will be joined by poets Tongo Eisen-Martin,Christell Victoria Roach, and Nia McAllister, and musicians Christian Scott, Samora Pinderhughes, Elena Pinderhughes, Luques Curtis, Weedie Braimah and Marcus Gilmore, Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street, San Francisco, $30, 8:00 pm (To purchase tickets: cafedunord.com/tm-event/aja-monet)
- Women's National Book Association presents a share and tell mixer, writer's advice edition, come share what you do and ask writing, marketing, and publishing questions, and make some new connections in a community of writers coming together to pool resources and wisdom, online via Zoom, free, Noon pm PST (Register to attend: wnba-sfchapter.org/february-29th-share-tell-mixer-writers-advice-edition)
- Writers Read Ukiah presents featured poets Brenda Yeager, Torch Song // Transcendental, forthcoming, and Jessyca Lytle, followed by an open mic, six-minutes per reader, Grace Hudson Museum, 431 South Main Street, Ukiah, free, suggested donation $5, 7:00 pm PST (For more information, contact Michael Riedell: innisfreeriedell@gmail.com)
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