September 2024 Newsletter

[Benicia Poet Laureate]





Greetings Poetry Lovers!

I hope you are still finding summer stuff to savor in these daylight dwindling days as we slowly move back into our regular year activities!

This newsletter will start with a list of in person area events, followed by a sampling of Bay Area open mic events on Zoom that anyone across the country can access.

I apologize in advance for anything I might have missed that you feel should be listed here.  I’m trying to keep my ear to the ground and make a note when I hear about certain events, but this is far from a comprehensive clearing house.  That said, if you have any of the following coming up, please let me know:

A FREE ZOOM workshop anywhere in North America that is open to anyone.

A regularly occurring online poetry event in the Bay area.

A contest with a national outreach.

An in person event within commuting distance of Benicia.

SEMI-ANNUAL LISTING OF REGULARLY OCCURRING ONLINE EVENTS IN BAY AREA ****(PLEASE mark or print out because this is not a repeating announcement. There are hundreds of online open mic events across the country that we all can access via Zoom, but I am listing here only ones in the Bay area.)

8/26 TONIGHT:  SACRED GROUNDS OPEN MIC, 7-8:15, longest running open mic in Bay area. Regularly occurring- for more info and access go ton Facebook page.

9/2 RIVERTOWN POETS, regularly occurring first Monday at 6:15. Usually has a feature followed by open mic. On 9/2, it will be Joel Katz and Brennan DeFriseo.(Rivert...@gmail.com)

9/4 ALAMEDA ISLAND POETS, 6-8 PM. First Wednesday is a feature plus open mic, and generally second Thursday is a free workshop. Special guest is LEE HERRICK, CALIFORNIA POET LAUREATE! (For info and access cathy...@wordpress.com)

9/10 COASTSIDE POETRY, 7-9 pm. Every second Tuesday is a feature and open mic.

ON 9/10 it will be East Coast poet David J. Rothman.  (For info and access dianele...@coastsidepoetry.org)

9/26 OZCAT POETRY HOUR, 10:30 or so for an hour.  Open Mic with a variety of area poets on the radio can be accessed at KZCT 89.5 FM or streaming on radio apps.  Generally the 4th Thursday.

THROUGHOUT THE MONTH a variety of online events.  Check them out at “Phynnecabulary Presents.” 

ANYTIME.  THE DANCING POETRY FESTIVAL. Check out the marriage of poetry and dance via clips on the YouTube channel of contest winners over the last few years.

ANYTIME.  Deborah Fruchey curates a website calendar with events focused on the East Bay and near surrounds. Check it out at www.strictly-east.org.

IN PERSON EVENTS

9/3 FIRST TUESDAY POETS ARE BACK AFTER SUMMER HIATUS AND POETS PICNIC!

6:15 Cookies and conversation, 6:30-8:30 Open Mic program.  Benicia Public Library on L St, Benicia.  Come enjoy an evening read around of 2-3 poems each from our diverse and supportive group of poets, or just come to listen! Questions? -contact me at PoetLaure...@gmail.com.

8/28  TEAHOUSE POETRY, 2-4PM, Open Mic every second Sunday at 717 Marin, Vallejo.  Hosted by PLs Jacalyn Eyvonne and Kathleen Herrman.

9/9 and 9/23  POETRY SPEAKEASY, 7 pm.  Chris Club, 656 Benicia Rd., Vallejo. Every other Monday, for updated schedule, access Chris Club on Facebook.

9/15. RUMI’S CARAVAN, 7:30 PM.  Fundraiser at $25 ticket at Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley.  Spoken world poetry with musical accompaniment.  For more info, go to www.rumiscaravan.com. 

9/21 FAIRFIELD-SUISUN VISUAL ARTS ASSOCIATION EKPHRASTIC, 4-6 pm. Solano Town Center Gallery, 1350 Travis Blvd, Fairfield, suite D-8.  Hosted by Fairfield PL Suzanne Bruce.  For gallery opening times and other info, go to fairfield.ca.gov, then PoetLaureateSuzanneBruce.

9/25 POETRY BY THE BAY.  OPEN MIC regularly occurring 4th Wednesday evening of each month, but verify at the Mira Theater Guild website.

9/28 BOOK LAUNCH OF “UNSETTLED”, 2-4 pm, celebration of  an anthology of area poets’ works.  At Benicia Library, sponsored by Benicia Literary Arts, hosted by Mary Susan Gast, poet laureate emerita. 

***SPECIAL NOTICES***

10/1. DEADLINE for submitting poetry to INA COOLBRITH CIRCLE ANNUAL POETRY CONTEST!  The celebration is scheduled for 12/7/24, 1-3 pm.  This is the oldest poetry organization in CA named after the first state Poet Laureate. (For details go to www.coolpoetry.org or Ina Coolbrith Circle on Facebook.)

UPCOMING WORKSHOP Advance Notice.  Audrey Williams will be conducting a special workshop for Benicia First Tuesday Poets entitled, “Poetry as a Tool for Wellness: Self Care to Soothe Our Souls.” It will be Tuesday, October 15, at 6:30 on Zoom.  Since the attendance will be limited, we ask for people to preregister for this workshop by responding to poetlaure...@gmail.com.

11/3. ADVANCE NOTICE of this ticketed event, 14th ANNUAL AUTHORS’ LUNCHEON, fundraiser for Solano Library Foundation, mc’d by Suzanne Bruce.  For details/tickets, go to Foundation website.

CONTINUING.  POET LAUREATE EMERITA MARY SUSAN GAST curates a long standing column in the Benicia Herald called “Going the Distance -Not There Yet: Still We Rise.”  You may read these poems in the newspaper archives and send her yours that fit the themes.

Wishing you poetic peace in the upcoming month,

Kathy

Katrina Monroe

Benicia Poet Laureate

[Benicia Poet Laureate]

Greetings Friends,

Here is your October Poetry Newsletter!  I have also attached the September Newsletter because it lists the regularly occurring local ONLINE poetry events, so that you may print it out for future reference.  If I have missed an event which is either an online open mic or a free Zoom poetry workshop (which is not a critiquing group), please let me know if you want it listed. Apologies in advance for any mistakes!

Special attention is given to IN PERSON events in the Bay Area.  Please let me know if you would like your event listed here.

TUES, OCTOBER 1. First Tuesday Poets meet for an Open Mic at the Benicia Library, 6:15 for cookies and conversation, 6:30 program start.  This month we will be meeting at the FIREPLACE at the far end from the entrance!  Friendly, supportive and diverse group. Come to read 2-3 poems or come to listen!

WED, SEPTEMBER 25. Poetry by the Bay, an Open Mic occurring every 4th Wednesday evening of each month.  Check the Mira Theater Guild website.  (Reoccurring event)

THURS, SEPTEMBER 26.  OZCAT Radio Poetry Hour is an Open Mic with a variety of local poets reading their works at 10:30 am or so for about an hour, hosted by DJ Lala and Tom Stanton.  The show can be accessed at KZCT 89.5 FM or streaming on radio apps.  (Reoccurring event the 4th Thursdays generally)

SAT, SEPTEMBER 28.  Book Launch of “Unsettled” 2-4 pm at the Benicia Library, a celebration of an anthology of area Poets’ works. Sponsored by Benicia Literary Arts, hosted by Mary Susan Gast, Poet Laureate Emerita.

SUN, SEPTEMBER 29.  Verse on the Vine features Vallejo poets Nina Serrano and Tony Aldarondo at the Civic Center Library, 1188S. Livermore Ave, Livermore at 3 pm followed by an Open Mic.

TUES, OCTOBER 1.  Deadline for submitting poetry to Ina Coolbrith Circle Annual Poetry Contest!  The celebration is scheduled for 12/7/24, 1-3 pm.  For details go to www.coolpoetry.org or Ina Coolbrith Circle on Facebook.

SAT, OCTOBER 5. Apogee Press 25th Anniversary Celebration with Poetry Readings at 2 pm and 4 pm at Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, 1-5 pm.  Free with snacks, drinks, and  books for sale.  Info on Eventbrite.

SUN, OCTOBER 6.  Verses for Voters, A Poetic Pulse for Democracy, features an Open Mic, a film screening, and NAACP Vallejo President Patricia Hunter.  Presented by Vallejo Center for the Arts and Vallejo Poets Laureate J. Eyvonne and K. Herrmann.  At 

Empress Theater Lounge, 324 Virginia St., from 2-4 pm.  Screening 4:30 pm.

SAT, OCTOBER 12.  Featured Poet Event with David Alpaugh, followed by Open Mic, at the Fairfield Civic Center Library, 4-6 pm.  Hosted by Suzanne Bruce, Fairfield Poet Laureate.

SUN, OCTOBER 13.  Tea House Poetry Open Mic Program at the Integrity Space, 717 Marin St. Vallejo 2-4 pm.  Sponsored by the 717 Integrity Project with Solano Coounty Arts Council, and hosted by Vallejo Poets Laureate J. Eyvonne and K. Herrmann.

TUES, OCTOBER 15.  SPECIAL FREE ZOOM WORKSHOP with Audrey Williams, “Poetry as a Tool for Wellness: Self Care to Soothe Our Souls.” at 6:30 pm.  Since the attendance will be limited, we ask poets to PREREGISTER for this workshop by RSVPing to poetlaure...@gmail.com.  Hosted by yours truly.

SUN, OCTOBER 20.  Sixteen Rivers Press Fall Benefit and 25th Anniversary will be held at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley, from 2-5 pm. 

This free event (donations accepted) will feature poetry readings by Dorianne Laux and Jue Millar.  Wine, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction.

WED, OCTOBER 23.  Poetry by the Bay (see above listing)

THURS, OCTOBER 24. OZCAT radio (see above listing)

FRI, OCTOBER 25.  ARTumn event sponsored by Fairfield Arts at 710 Jackson St, Fairfield, 4-7 pm.  Art, poetry, food, music and more.  Hosted by Suzanne Bruce, Fairfield Poet Laureate.  See website for more details.

Hope to see you at one or more of these events!  Have a happy and safe Halloween!

In Poetic Peace,

Kathy

Katrina Monroe

Benicia Poet Laureate

Begin forwarded message:

From: Benicia Poet Laureate <poetlaure...@gmail.com>
Date: August 26, 2024 at 5:14:31 PM PDT
To: poetlaure...@gmail.com
Subject: September 2024 Newsletter