JUNE NEWSLETTER

[Benicia Poet Laureate]

Dear Poetry Lovers,

I hope you all had a restful, meaningful Memorial Day!

Our big LOVE POETRY CELEBRATION AND BIG REVEAL is only a few days away.  I hope you can ZOOM into a very special Love-ly time this SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 2-4PM, PDT when we will announce the prize winners and Honorable Mentions, and be graced by those poets reading us their fabulous poems!

And if you entered the contest please do two things:  respond to the separate email I sent you about whether you will be present, and bring your poems so that your chosen one is available for you to read.

The flyer is below as a picture and a link at the bottom of the letter.Just copy the meeting ID onto your Zoom opening page.

NEW EVENT!  SATURDAY, MAY 31, 12-3:30pm: OPENING DAY of The Art of a Community at Arts Benicia, 1 Commandant Lane.  Poets are invited to choose one piece to which to write an ekphrastic poem, one page long in 12 point font, including a title and name of the poet.

Because of the large number of art works, approximately 170 with each artist limited to one piece in the show, each piece in our ekphrastic event can have only one poem written to it.  There will be a signup sheet for each poet to choose an unduplicated art work that they commit to writing about.  The ekphrastic event will be Saturday, July 12, 2-4pm. This is a very popular event, both the art show and the ekphrastic reading. Hosted by yours truly.

 2025 JULY Ekphrastic Reading event FLYER.png

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28 and JUNE 25, 7:30-9:30pm: POETRY BY THE BAY at Mira Theatre, 51 Daniels St., Vallejo, an open mic hosted by Keith Thompson and Seneca.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28:  OPENING DAY for May Flowers exhibit in preparation for Ekphrastic reading on Saturday, June 21.  Sponsored by the Fairfield Suisun City Visual Arts Association at the Solano Town Centre Gallery, 1350 Travis Blvd, D-8, Fairfield. Details on FSVAA website.  Hosted by Suzanne Bruce, Fairfield Poet Laureate Emerita.

Saturday, May 31-Sunday, June 1: BAY AREA BOOK FESTIVAL in Berkeley, for lovers of all types of written works.  Event details and scheduling on their website. Benicia Literary Arts will have a presence there.

TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 6:15-8:30PM:  FIRST TUESDAY POETS at the Benicia Library in the comfy chairs by the main fireplace.  This will be the last open mic evening meeting until September 2;  instead we will have a POETS' PICNIC IN BENICIA CITY PARK on the corner of First St. and Military on July 20, 1-3 pm.

SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2-4PM: TEA HOUSE OPEN MIC POETRY at Integritea Space, 717 Marin St Vallejo, hosted by Vallejo CoPoet Laureates Kathleen Herrmann and Jacalyn Eyvonne.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 6-8PM: MEET YOUR POETIC COUSINS AND ANCESTORS at JFK LIbrary, 505 Santa Clara St, Vallejo, a reading and explanation of the craft of famous poets. Hosted by David Hakim.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 10:30 FOR BRUNCH, 11-12 FOR PROGRAM:  TABLE TALK at the Inn at Benicia Bay, east D St, Benicia.An opportunity for writers of all genres to exchange ideas, resources, and favorite things.  This month's special guest is Nanette Wylde. For more details or to RSVP, email host Beth Grimm, at GRIMM...@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12 TO SUNDAY, JUNE 15:  THE SOLANO COUNTY FAIR IN OPEN and exhibiting several area poets' works.  Come see and cheer them on!  Hours and specific events at scfair.org

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 10:20-11:30AM:  OZCAT POETRY HOUR ON OZCAT RADIO, 89.5fm.  Use the Tune In app to hear this in your local area.

Poets are invited to read 2 rounds of poetry on live radio, hosted by DJ Lala and Tom Stanton.

Enjoy the Love-ly month of June!

Kathy

Katrina Monroe

Benicia Poet Laureate