| Your Event Here! |
—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.)
* * * * * * * * * *
•••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/.
* * *
The April 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—including info about National Poetry Month!
* * *
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.
* * *
April is National Poetry Month! Go to
for ways to celebrate!
* * *
•••Month of April: Bethanie Humphreys presents NaPoWriMo 2024: Where Arts Collide, an all-month, online generative writing workshop. No prior art or writing experience required. Four options to participate; see https://www.facebook.com/bethanie.humphreys.9/.
* * *
•••Every Sunday in April, 8-11pm: LabRats Sunday Sessions Music and Poetry Jam
at The Torch Club, 904 15th St., Sacramento, CA. Bring your axes and
words and join in on this open space for musical and poetic creativity.
•••Every Sunday in April and May, 12pm: 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. Hosts: Andru Dufeye and Diamond Key.
* * *
Visit https://www.sacpoetrycenter.org/poetrymonth
for the full schedule!
* * *
•••Fri. (4/26), 6pm: Sac. Poetry Center presents A Reading Featuring California’s Poet Laureate Lee Herrick plus Nyeree Boyadjian. Info for this and for SPC weekly workshops at https://www.facebook.com/sacpoetrycenter or www.sacpoetrycenter.org/.
* * *
•••Sat. (4/27), 6pm: Escritores Del Nuevo Sol presents Contra Banned, a reading protesting the banning of books. SPC, 25th & R Sts., Sacramento, CA. $5 donation requested, benefiting Friends of the Library and SPC. Info for this and for SPC weekly workshops at https://www.facebook.com/sacpoetrycenter or www.sacpoetrycenter.org/.
* * *
•••Sun. (4/28), 10am-2pm: Arts & Culture El Dorado presents ForestSong at the Arts in Nature Festival in Georgetown, featuring collaborative art, poetry readings and writing, forest science information sharing, music, children's activities. Free. Georgetown Nature Area, 6540 Wentworth Springs Rd., Georgetown, CA. The Poets Squad (members of Tues. & Two from Placerville and Thursday & Two from Georgetown) will be reading poems onstage at 12:30pm; before that, come to Poets Gathering (informal poem-sharing) down by the Nature Area by the upper ponds and Nisenan Village. Everyone welcome!
* * *
•••Sun. (4/28), 1-3pm: The Power of the Word: An Intergenerational Conversation between former US and CA Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, and Maceo Montoya and Terezita Romo. Free. Co-sponsored by City College, the RCAF, Los Escritores del Nuevo Sol, and the Puente and Raza student associations on campus. Sacramento City College Performing Arts Auditorium, 3835 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA. Moderated by Terezita Romo.
* * *
•••Sun. (4/28), 2pm: Poets and Writers of the Sierra Foothills features Riparian Landscape poets of the Ripe Area Project (bit.ly/RIPEAREA) plus open mic. Chateau Davell, 3020 Vista Tierra Dr, Camino, CA (right off Hwy 50, 4 mi. from Placerville), 530-644-2016. $10 purchase or donation is requested. Host: Lara Gularte.
* * *
•••Sun. (4/28), 4pm: Sound Off for Social Justice presents the premiere production of Voice of Just-Is!, a theatrical poetic production created by Coon the Poet. Cal Stage/Wilkerson Theater, 2509 R St., Sacramento, CA.
* * *
•••Sun. (4/28), 4pm: Thompson Peak Writers' Workshop presents its National Poetry Month Celebration, featuring Poets Lara Gularte, Dianna Henning, and June Sanders and musicians Stone & Straw, plus refreshments. Artisan's Coffee Shop, 464-440 Church St., Janesville, CA.
* * *
•••Mon. (4/29), 7:30pm: Sac. Poetry Center presents a reading featuring Left Activist Poets Sarah Menegee and Jim Normington, plus open mic. 25th & R Sts., Sacramento, CA. Info for this and for SPC weekly workshops at https://www.facebook.com/sacpoetrycenter or www.sacpoetrycenter.org/.
* * *
•••Wed. (5/1): Deadline for submissions to Voices 2024. See the top of this column for more info, or go to https://www.coldriverpress.com/HTML/VOICES/voices.htm/.
* * *
•••Sat. (5/4), 2pm: Avid Reader presents Josh Fernandez reading from his memoir, The Making of an Anti-Fascist. 1945 Broadway, Sacramento, CA. Info: https://www.avidreaderbroadway.com/events/.
* * *
•••Sat. (5/10), 1-4pm: D.R. Wagner Celebration of Life: poetry, music, BBQ, potluck & remembrances, Locke Community Gardens, Locke, CA.
* * *
•••Sun. (5/11), 11:30am-3:30pm: Open House: Manzanita Writers Press is reopening its bookstore, this time inside Raven's Basket, 1195 St. Main St., Angels Camp, CA. Froggy puppet show for the kids at 11.30am and 3pm, plus author signings, refreshments, wine, a gift raffle, guitar music, and book sale.
* * *
•••Thurs. (7/18): Deadline for the 20th Annual Voices of Lincoln Poetry Contest for adults and young poets. No entry fee. Download entry forms/rules at
* * *
•••Sat. (7/27), 3:30pm: Annual Beast Crawl Lit Fest in Oakland, CA. Oakland's Premier Festival for Literary Arts & Performance, Beast Crawl is a gathering of writers, performing artists, musicians, and community members bringing poetry, music, and the arts to the streets, sidewalks, and community spaces of our beloved Oakland. Begin your journey at Latham Square, starting at 3:30pm. We will have free paper and digital maps to guide you. Info: https://www.beastcrawl.org/festival-info1.html/.
* * * * * * * * * *
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/.
* * * * * * * * * *
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.
* * *
•••Third Wednesdays: Loud Mouths Spoken Word and Stand-Up Comedy, Slab Comedy Theater, 1710 Broadway, Sacramento. Tickets $10. Host: CharRon Resolution.
* * *
•••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).
* * *
•••Thursdays, 7-9pm: Classy Hippie Tea Co. presents Resilience Jam Sessions w/music and poetry featuring Vince Kobelt. Broadway Coffee, 3200 Broadway, Sacramento, CA.
* * *
•••Thursdays, 7-9pm: Lucid Poetry Series, Lucid Winery, 1015 R St., Sacramento.
* * *
•••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/.
* * *
•••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.
* * *
•••1st and 3rd Saturdays, 12-6pm: Poetry at the African Market Place, 2251 Florin Rd., Sacramento. Free. Info: https://www.florinsquare.com/african-market-place.html/.
* * * * * * * * * *
WEEKLY WORKSHOPS:
From Sac. Poetry Center:
The above are weekly workshops at Sac. Poetry Center;
for info on these, click poster to enlarge
or go to www.facebook.com/sacpoetrycenter/.
* * *
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/.
•••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, is no longer meeting.
•••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/.
•••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/. 
* * * * * * * * * *
Check these out for more happenings:
•••For more info about El Dorado County poetry events, go to Taylor Graham's Western Slope El Dorado poetry on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyPoetry/.
•••El Dorado County's Lara Gularte also has a Facebook page to announce poetry events and all things poetic in the county. See www.facebook.com/groups/382234029968077/.
•••Find out more about the Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting http://www.poetryindavis.com.
Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more
about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, check out his weekly podcast at https://poetrytechnology.buzzsprout.com/. Find his other musings at https://andyjones.substack.com/.
•••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.
•••Bethanie Humphreys holds online workshops: see https://bethaniehumphreys.com/upcoming-workshops/.
—Public Domain Illustration
