Calendar Northern California

Updated November 19, 2008

November 1-30, 2008 S M T W Th F S 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23/30 24 25 26 27 28 29

1 NOVEMBER---saturday:
CENTRAL:
• Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival, presented by Poetry Flash in collaboration with the Ecology Center's Berkeley Farmers' Market and EcoCity Builders, features a stellar line-up of poets and environmental writers, including National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Robert Hass, Jane Hirshfield, Brenda Hillman, Joseph Lease, Al Young with musician Dan Robbins on bass, Camille Dungy, Avotcja with musician Eugene Warren on bass, Planet Drum activist Peter Berg, Chris Olander, Sonoma County poet laureate Mike Tuggle, Alaska's Fiddling Poet Ken Waldman, "The Two Graces": Grace Fae and Grace Tea, K-12 student poets from CPITS, River of Words, and Poetry Inside Out, We Are Nature open mic (enter the drawing for open mic slots at noon), literary and environmental exhibits include Heyday Books, Manic D Press, Sixteen Rivers Press, Planet Drum, California Poets in the Schools, River of Words, Tea Party Magazine, Ecology Center Bookstore and more, due to rain, the festival will move indoors to Berkeley City College Auditorium & Atrium, 2050 Center Street, downtown Berkeley, half block from the park, half block from Berkeley BART, noon-4:00--- Pre-festival Strawberry Creek Walk will be held rain or shine, 10:00 a.m. (510/526-9105, www.poetryflash.org)
• Political cartoonist Khalil Bendib, Mission Accomplished: Wicked Cartoons by America's Most Wanted Political Cartoonist, performs an amusing one act monologue, presents a cartoon slideshow, discusses the role of the media in politics, book signing follows, Latino/Hispanic Community Room, San Francisco Main Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, SF, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• Open Mic poetry, Golden Gate Valley Branch Library, 1801 Green Street, at Octavia, SF, sign up 1:30, reading 2:00-3:00 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)

2 NOVEMBER---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• Poetry Flash presents a poetry reading by Jan Beatty, Red Sugar, and Molly Fisk, Listening to Winter, director of the Poetry Boot Camp, an online poetry workshop, Diesel, A Bookstore, 5433 College Avenue, Oakland, near Rockridge BART, 3:00 (510/653-9965, http://diesel.booksense.com)
NORTH:
• River of Words Family Poetry Workshop for kids (nine-years-old and up) with their parents, spark creativity, hone observation skills, tune into nature, led by R.O.W. director and co-founder, environmental writer Pamela Michael, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Boulevard, Corte Madera, $50 per family, 1:00-4:00 (415/927-0960, 800/999-7909, www.bookpassage.com)
EAST:
• The Ravenswood Poetry Series presents a poetry reading by Ellen Bass, The Human Line, and Kevine Hearle, Each Thing We Know Is Changed Because We Know It, and Other Poems, open mic follows for one page, forty lines or less, light refreshments, look for balloons, Ravenswood historic site, 2647 Arroyo Road, Portola Exit off 580, Livermore, $5/free to students with ID, 2:00-4:00 (connie@poetrypost.com)

3 NOVEMBER--monday:
CENTRAL:
• Poetry Express presents featured poet Antoinette Cooper, plus open mic, mention the reading and get ten percent discount on a meal, Priya Indian Cuisine, 2072 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:00 (poetryexpress@gmail.com)
• Bill Kelter and Wayne Shellabarger read from and discuss their new book, Veeps: Profiles in Insignificance, Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, www.moesbooks.com)
SOUTH:
• Pulitzer Prize-winner in fiction Edward P. Jones, The Known World, reads at Kresge Auditorium, Stanford University, Stanford, free and open to the public, 8:00 (650/723-0011, http://creativewriting.stanford.edu)
EAST:
• Sacramento Poetry Center presents a poetry reading by Jan Beatty, Red Sugar, open mic and refreshments, hosted by poet Camille Norton, HQ for the Arts, 1719 25th Street at R Street, Sacramento, 7:30 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org)

4 NOVEMBER--tuesday:
Please vote! If you need help finding your polling place, visit GoVote.org
SOUTH:
• Pulitzer Prize-winner in fiction Edward P. Jones, The Known World, leads a colloquium, Terrace Room, Fourth Floor, Margaret Jacks Hall, Building 460, Stanford University, Stanford, free and open to the public, 11:00 a.m. (650/723-0011, http://creativewriting.stanford.edu)
EAST
• A poetry reading by Jan Beatty, Red Sugar, Jeannette Powell Art Gallery, University of the Pacific, Stockton, free and open to the public, 7:00 (http://web.pacific.edu/x26009.xml)

5 NOVEMBER--wednesday:
CENTRAL:
• Cara Black discusses her Aimee Leduc series of mystery novels and what inspired her to write, Ingleside Branch Library, 1649 Ocean Avenue, at Faxon, SF, 5:30-6:30 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• Radar readings presents the best underground and emerging authors, featuring Stephanie Kuehart, I Want to Be Your Joey Ramone, writer/performer/thinker Pilou Miller, writer Danny El Lute Levesque, and dynamic duo Marriage, hosted with cookies by Michelle Tea, Latino/Hispanic meeting room, San Francisco Main Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, at Grove, free, 6:00- 7:30 (www.sfpl.org)
• Fourth Annual South Asian Reading with San Francisco-based South Asian writers featuring Neelanjana Banerjee and Falu Bakrania, Latino/Hispanic meeting room, (room divides in two), San Francisco Main Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, SF, 6:00-7:00 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• Award-wining Sherlock Holmes scholar Leslie Klinger discusses his The New Annotated Dracula, on the book by Bram Stoker first published in 1897, Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, SF, 6:30-7:30 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• Editor David Calonne and guests read from and celebrate the publication of Portions From a Wine-Stained Notebook: Uncollected Stories and Essays, 1944-1990, by Charles Bukowski, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, SF, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
• Lunch Poems presents “The Berkeley Renaissance,” a conversation with Robert Hass and Robin Blaser, who emerged from the Berkeley Renaissance of the 1940s and 1950s along with Jack Spicer and Robert Duncan, and later became one of Canada’s foremost experimental poets, Maude Fife Room, 315 Wheeler Hall, University of California, Berkeley, free and open to the public, 4:00-5:00 (http://lunchpoems.berkeley.edu)
• “Why I Am Not a Translator,” an event with poet Norma Cole, current Regents’ Lecturer for UC Berkeley’s Comparative Literature Department, Comparative Literature Library, 4337 Dwinelle Hall, University of California, Berkeley campus, 6:00 (510/642-2715)
NORTH:
• Sunset Poetry by the Bay presents a “Koo Koo for Kariboo” reading by Garrett Murphy, Mother Nature Has Become a Terrorist! open mic follows, Northpoint Coffee House, 1250 Bridgeway, Sausalito, no cover, 7:00-9:00 (www.northpointcoffee.com, www.garrettmurphywriter.org)
EAST:
• Poetry Night at Bistro 33 presents a featured poetry reading by Clarence Major, Myself Painting, also singer/songwriter Bella Merlin, open mic follows, co-hosted by UC Davis faculty Brad Henderson and Andy Jones, Bistro 33, 226 F Street, Davis, free, featured reading 9:00, open mic 10:00 (530/756-4556)

6 NOVEMBER---thursday:
CENTRAL:
• Poet, editor, critic, and translator Stephen Kessler launches his new book of essays, Moving Targets: On Poets, Poetry & Translation with a reading and book signing, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, SF, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
• Lunch Poems series presents a poetry reading by Robin Blaser, who emerged from the Berkeley Renaissance of the 1940s and 1950s along with Jack Spicer and Robert Duncan, and later established himself as one of Canada's foremost experimental poets, Morrison Library, 101 Doe Library, University of California, Berkeley, free and open to the public, 12:10-12:50 (http://lunchpoems.berkeley.edu)
• Mari L'Esperance reads from The Darkened Temple, winner of the 2007 Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry, with poets Carlota Caulfield, A Mapmaker's Diary, and Rebecca Foust, Dark Card, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary and Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)
• Poetry at the Albany Library presents a reading by National Book Award-winning poet Robert Hass, hosted by Catherine Taylor, open reading follows, Albany Library, 1247 Marin Avenue, Albany, free, 7:00-9:00 (510/526-3720, www.aclibrary.org)
• Featured and open reading, hosted by Selene Steese and Paula Farkas, Day of the Dead Café, 3208 Grand Avenue, next to the Grand Lake Theater, Oakland, 7:30 (510/868-8705)
NORTH:
• Danse Lumiere presents The Fifth Book of Peace, a fusion of dance, theater, and music adapted from the book by National Book Award-winner Maxine Hong Kingston, conceived and choreographed by Kathryn Roszak, Daniel Ellsberg, political analyst and revealer of the Pentagon Papers, talks and answers audience questions post-show, also sponsored by Poetry Flash, Dominican University, Angelican Hall, 50 Acacia Street, San Rafael, tickets: $15 advance/$20 door, 8:00 (800/838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com/event/44558, www.dlkdance.com)
SOUTH:
• Fresno Poets’ Association presents a poetry reading by Jan Beatty, Red Sugar, and Glover Davis, Separate Lives, Fresno Art Museum, Bonner Auditorium, 2233 North First Street, Fresno, $5/$4, 7:30 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org)

7 NOVEMBER---friday:
CENTRAL:
• Small Press Traffic Reading Series presents a reading by poet and peformance artist Carolyn Bergvall and poet C.S. Giscombe, Into and Out of Dislocation, Timken Lecture Hall, California College of the Arts, 1111 8th Street, SF, $5-$10 sliding scale, free to current SPT members and the CCA community, 7:30 (415/551-9278, www.sptraffic.org)
• Poetry & Pizza presents a poetry reading by May Garsson, The Liberation of Barbie, John Rowe, At My Wit’s Beginning, and Selene Steese, all-you-can-eat free pizza, $5 admission donation benefits the Berkeley Free Clinic, Escape from New York Pizza, 333 Bush, at Montgomery, near Montgomery BART or Sutter/Stockton Parking Garage, SF, 7:30 (http://popizza.white.prohosting.com)
• Poetry reading with John Sakkis, Lorelei Lee, and Graham Foust, Studio One Arts Center, 365 45th Street, at Broadway, Oakland, near MacArthur BART, wine/donation, 7:30
(www.workingforthecity.blogspot.com)
NORTH:
• Four internationally renowned poets discuss Irish, Hebrew, Polish, and international literature, examining how politics, language, and cultural traditions shape the writer's experience in different parts of the globe: Eavan Boland, Peter Cole, Adam Zagajewski, and Edward Hirsch; Irish Writers on Writing, edited by Eavan Boland, Hebrew Writers on Writing, edited by Peter Cole, and Polish Writers on Writing, edited by Adam Zagajewski, bring together essays, letters, diaries, poems, interviews, and other commentaries by the world’s essential writers, the series is edited by Edward Hirsch, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Boulevard, Corte Madera, 7:00 (415/927-0960, www.bookpassage.com)
• WordTemple Poetry Series presents poet and editor Michael Rothenberg reading from and celebrating The Collected Poems of Philip Whalen, with poets Clark Coolidge, David Bromige, Pat Nolan, and others, and opening poet Phyllis Meshulam, Speaking in Fragments, one of the “Four Redheads,” a group of Sonoma County Poets, hosted by Katherine Hastings, Copperfield’s Books, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa, 7:00 (www.wordtemple.com)
• A poetry reading by Point Arena’s Poet Laureate Fionna Perkins, open mic follows, three-minute slots, poets are encouraged to bring a poem celebrating Fionna Perkins and/or the Nothern California community, The Arena Theater, downtown Point Arena, benefit for The Arena Theater “Retire the Mortgage” Fund, $5 with dish/$10 without/$20 for limited cabaret seating, community potluck (finger food, hor d’oeuvre, or dessert) 5:30, reading 7:30 (information or reservations for cocktail seating: 707/884-9189, blake@snakelyone.com)
SOUTH:
• Waverley Writers presents a poetry reading by Maureen Eppstein, Quickening, open reading follows, Friends Meeting House, 957 Colorado, near Greer, Palo Alto, 7:30-10:00

8 NOVEMBER---saturday:
CENTRAL:
• Writers With Drinks hosts Writers in Drag featuring authors reading works they’ve written outside their usual genres, Michelle Tea, Rose Of No Man’s Land, reads cyberpunk; Austin Grossman, Soon I Will Be Invincible, reads fantasy; Stephen Elliott, My Girlfriend Comes Into The City And Beats Me Up; Annalee Newitz, io9.com, Techsploitation reads science fiction; and Jaime Cortez, Sexile, The Make Out Room, 3225 22nd. Street, between Mission and Valencia, SF, $3-$5 sliding scale, all proceeds benefit the Center For Sex and Culture, 7:30 (www.writerswithdrinks.com)
• The Psychotherapy Institute presents Fall Symposium 2008, featuring Dr. Salman Akhtar, renowned psychoanalyst, author, and poet, discussing “Geographical Dislocation, Mourning, and the Healing Impact of Poetry,” on dealing with loss of homeland, culture, and language, lunch, wine and cheese reception included, continuing education units available, Preservation Park, Nile Hall, 668 13th Street, Oakland, $135, $145 members/$145, $155, student discounts, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 (registration: 510-548-2250x107, www.tpi-berkeley.org)
• Second Saturday Poetry and Prose Reading features Wendy Williams' College of Alameda Creative Writing Class, open reading follows, Jeanne Lupton hosts, Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru Street, at Lincoln, Alameda, 7:00 (510/523-6957; to sign up for open: jeany98@aol.com)
EAST:
• Sacramento News & Review open mic reading for contributors to the new anthology La Luna: Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Café, with music from Jackson Griffith, all as part of the Second Saturday Art Walk, plus an art exhibition (on display through November 25, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00) featuring paintings, photography, and illustrations by Art Luna, Barbara Noble, B.L. Kennedy, Alex Escalante, Julie Reyes, francois drouin and Wendy Rivara, poets in the new anthology who have a connection to Luna’s, curated by frank andrick, free refreshments, Sacramento News & Review Building, 1015 20th Street, Sacramento, 6:00-10:00 (fandrickfabpub@hotmail.com)

9 NOVEMBER---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• Lambda Literary Award finalist Sarah Schulman reads from her novel of homophobia and murder, The Child, Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia Street, SF, 3:00 (415/282-9246, moderntimesbookstore.com)
• Second and fourth Sunday series, Music of the Word (La Palabra Musical), features poets Jack and Adelle Foley, MamaCoAtL, La border crossing Diosa, with Topaz and Charles Dubois, plus open reading hosted by Avotcja and Eric Aviles, Rebecca’s Books, 3268 Adeline Street, Berkeley, free, 3:30 (510/852-4768, www.Avotcja.com)
• National Novel Writing Month group meets on Sunday evenings in November for comraderie and coffee, complete a 50,000 word novel in one month!, Peet’s, Nob Hill, Blanding Avenue, Alameda, 7:00 (to participate, sign up at www.nanowrimo.org; for information: xtina@frankbettecenter.org)

10 NOVEMBER---monday:
CENTRAL:
• Word Dancing features poets Mark States and Martin Hickel, open reading follows, hosted by Jeanne Powell, It's A Grind Coffee House, 1800 Polk Street, at Washington, SF, free, 7:00-9:00 (415/441-1272; host: 415/928-8904)
• Sue Doro reads from her poetry of the working class experience, Sugar String, Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia Street, SF, 7:30 (415/282-9246, moderntimesbookstore.com)
• City Arts & Lectures 28th Annual Literary Event series benefits the 826 Valencia College Scholarship Program with a reading by humorist and "The Daily Show" regular John Hodgman from his new book, More Information Than You Require, in conversation with Dave Eggers, Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue at McAllister, SF, individual tickets $20/each, series ticket for all nine events $153, 8:00 (tickets: 415/392-4400, www.cityboxoffice.com, www.cityarts.net)
• Poetry Express presents featured poet/filmmaker Lynn Werner and her poems on South American human rights abuses, plus open mic, mention the reading and get ten percent discount on a meal, Priya Indian Cuisine, 2072 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:00 (poetryexpress@gmail.com)
EAST:
• Sacramento Poetry Center presents a poetry reading by Edward Mycue and Nancy Keane, open mic and refreshments, hosted by Emmanuel Sigauke, HQ for the Arts, 1719 25th Street at R Street, Sacramento, 7:30 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org)

11 NOVEMBER---tuesday:
CENTRAL:
• Best New Poets 2008 anthology reading features Tracey Knapp, Keith Ekiss, Alexandra Teague, and Abraham Burrickson, Books & Bookshelves, 99 Sanchez Street, SF, free, B.Y.O.B., 7:30 (415/621-3761, booksandbookshelves.blogspot.com)
• Reading by Estella Habal, San Francisco’s International Hotel: Mobilizing the Filipino Community in the Anti-Eviction Movement, and poet/novelist Hilton Obenzinger, Busy Dying, an autobiographical novel, Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, www.moesbooks.com)
• Berkeley Arts & Letters presents San Francisco blogger and radio journalist Rose Aguilar reading from and discussing Red Highways: A Liberal’s Journey into the Heartland, First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, at Dana, Berkeley, $10 suggested donation; no one turned away for lack of funds, 7:30 (berkeleyarts.org)
• Anthology launch for Homelands: Women’s Journeys Across Race, Place, and Time, essays, reading features Leila Abu-Saba, Meeta Kaur, and co-editors Patricia Justine Tumang and Jenesha de Rivera, Mills Hall Living Room, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, 5:30-7:00 (510/430-3130, 510/430-2236, www.mills.edu)
EAST:
• California Lectures presents an evening with fiction writer and literary critic John Updike, winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, National Book Critics Circle Award, and National Book Award, in conversation with fiction writer Pam Houston, Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento, $27, 7:30; main event preceded by an optional lecture preview/biographical discussion presented by CSUS professor Jonathan Price, 6:30 (916/737-1300, www.californialectures.org; tickets: 800/225-2277, www.tickets.com)

12 NOVEMBER---wednesday:
CENTRAL:
• Jazz photographer Charles Robinson and poet Al Young celebrate the release of their new book of photographs and poetic riffs, Jazz Idiom: Blueprints, Stills and Frames, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, SF, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
• Champagne and Other Movie Drinks presents a Fourteen Hills Chapbook Release Party celebrating Jenny Pritchett, winner of the 2008 Michael Rubin Chapbook Award, reading from her debut collection of stories, At or Near the Surface, with Toni Mirosevich, Pink Harvest, SFSU professor, poet, and memoirist, Million Fishes Gallery, 2501 Bryant Street, SF, $12 at door includes a copy of the book, 7:30
• Holloway Poetry Readings present Caroline Bergvall with graduate student Nina Pick, Maude Fife Room, Third Floor, Wheeler Hall, Room 315, University of California, Berkeley, 6:30 (http://holloway.english.berkeley.edu)
• Creative Writing Series presents a reading by creative nonfiction writer Brenda Miller, Season of the Body: Essays, Soda Activity Center, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 Saint Mary's Road, Moraga, free, 7:30 (reading will be preceded by an open house for anyone interested in learning more about the MFA Program in Creative Writing at Saint Mary's: 925/631-4457, www.stmarys-ca.edu/mfa)

13 NOVEMBER---thursday:
CENTRAL:
• This Place Called Poetry, WritersCorps’ 15th Anniversary Exhibition opening night features youth poets Jorge Aburto, Robin Black, Antonio Caceres, Dubb, Eric Foster, Shahid Minapara, Antoinette Osborne, Indiana Pehlivanova, Sandra Pulido, Lateefah Simon, and Annie Yu, who developed their poetic voices in the WritersCorps program, with multimedia artist Katharine Gin and sound artist Kjell Nordeson showing short film and audio portraits, San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, 401 Van Ness Avenue, SF, exhibit runs from November 7-January 24, open Wednesday- Saturday, noon- 5:00, tonight’s event 5:30-7:30 (415/252-4655, www.writerscorps.org)
• Open Books presents Anjuelle Floyd reading from Keeper of Secrets: Translations of an Incident, short stories, Latino/Hispanic Community Room, San Francisco Main Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, SF, 6:00-7:30 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• A conversation with New York Times music critic Ben Ratliff, The Jazz Ear and Coltrane: The Story of a Sound, with Bay Area experimental violinist and vocalist Carla Kihlstedt, book signing follows, Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, SF, 6:30-7:30 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• Story Hour in the Library series presents novelist, literary critic and memoirist Cornelia Nixon, Now You See It, hosted by Melanie Abrams and Vikram Chandra, reception and book sale follows, Morrison Library, 101 Doe Library, University of California, Berkeley campus, free, 5:00-6:00 (storyhour.berkeley.edu)
SOUTH:
• Featured poetry, open mic follows, Willow Glen Books, 1330 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, 7:00 (408/298-8141, 408/266-1361)

14 NOVEMBER---friday:
CENTRAL:
• Queer Open Mic for poetry, creative writing, music, and more, Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia Street, SF, 7:00 (415/282-9246, moderntimesbookstore.com)
• Small Press Traffic Reading Series presents a poetry reading by Joan Larkin, My Body: New and Selected Poems, and Donna de la Perriere, True Crime, Timken Lecture Hall, California College of the Arts, 1111 8th Street, SF, $5-$10 sliding scale, free to current SPT members and the CCA community, 7:30 (415/551-9278, www.sptraffic.org)
• Last Word presents a poetry reading by Jeanne Powell and Stephen Koppel, open mic follows, co-hosted by Dale Jensen, Diana Q., good food, Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid Avenue, near Hearst, Berkeley, free, 7:00 (510/841-6374)
• Oakland East Bay Symphony “Opening Night: Cool Jazz, Hot Romance,” Michael Morgan, conductor, presents the World Premiere of ZIPPERZ: a soapopera by Bay Area composer Nathaniel Stookey, with libretto by Bay Area poet Dan Harder, with vocalists Eisa Davis, recently in the Tony Award-winning rock musical Passing Strange, the and Manoel Felciano, Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd, both fresh from starring roles on Broadway, the libretto is inspired by the “zipper” poetry of Dan Harder, suites from Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet and a short, jazz-influenced piece by avant-garde composer and classical music “bad boy” George Antheil will also be performed, Paramount Theatre, 21st Street at Broadway, downtown Oakland, $20 and up/$10 student discount tickets online, 8:00 (tickets: Ticketmaster, 510/625-8497, 415/421-8497, www.oebs.org/page/nov.htm, www.danharder.com)

16 NOVEMBER---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• National Novel Writing Month group meets on Sunday evenings in November for comraderie and coffee, complete a 50,000 word novel in one month!, Peet’s, Nob Hill, Blanding Avenue, Alameda, 7:00 (to participate, sign up at www.nanowrimo.org; for information: xtina@frankbettecenter.org)
NORTH:
• Spoken word performance featuring a poetry reading by Josef Aukee, Town and Country, and vocalists Laurie Amat and Judy B., guitarist John DuPerry and bassist Ian Stoba, twenty-one and over, No Name Bar, 757 Bridgeway, Sausalito, no cover, 7:30 (415/332-1392)
• The Third Sunday Salon, Healdsburg Literary Guild presents Michelle Baynes reading from Homeless in Petaluma, poems, with photographs by Debra Simons, open mic, hosted by David Madgalene, City Hall, North and Vine Streets, Healdsburg, free, 2:00-4:00 (707/836-9586)
EAST:
• Pagan’s Place presents a featured poetry reading by John Pray and Robert Shelby, open mic co-hosted by Debralee Pagan and Mel Thompson, Walnut Creek Coffee Company, 1550 Newell Avenue, Walnut Creek, 2:00-4:00 (925/256-9319, walnutcreekcoffeecompany.net)

17 NOVEMBER---monday:
CENTRAL:
• Youth Speaks annual “Friendraiser” fund raiser, Change Sounds Like This, features poetry and testimonials about the spoken word performance and youth education program, with dinner catered by top local restaurants and a preview screening of a new documentary on Youth Speaks introduced by director Stan Lathan, Regency Grand Ballroom, 1300 Van Ness Avenue, SF, free reservation-only event, donations requested throughout the evening, 6:00 (reservations required: 415/255-9035x24, www.youthspeaks.org)
• Poetry Express presents featured poet Adelle Mendelson, plus open mic, mention the reading and get ten percent discount on a meal, Priya Indian Cuisine, 2072 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:00 (poetryexpress@gmail.com)
NORTH:
• Gail Straub discusses and sign copies of her new book Returning to My Mother's House: Taking Back the Wisdom of the Feminine, Open Secret Bookstore, 923 C Street, San Rafael, 7:00 (415/457-4191, www.opensecretbookstore.com)
EAST:
• Sacramento Poetry Center presents a poetry reading by Ann Privateer, open mic and refreshments, hosted by Rebecca Morrison, HQ for the Arts, 1719 25th Street at R Street, Sacramento, 7:30 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org)

18 NOVEMBER---tuesday:
CENTRAL:
• Workshop with Chinaka Hodge, Youth Speaks poet/mentor, “Two Sides One Picture,” for youth writers aged thirteen to twenty-three, Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia Street, SF, free, 4:00-6:00 (to register, call: 415/626-2787, www.theintersection.org)
• Velvet Revolution open mic reading series features Donna de la Perrière, True Crime, and Lorilei Lee, student, writer, and porn performer, curated by Hollie Hardy, wine and cheese, San Francisco State University, Casablanca Room, Creative Arts Building, Room 158, 1600 Holloway Avenue, SF, free, 5:00-6:30
• Poetry open mic hosted by Diamond Dave Whitaker, Park Branch Library, 1833 Page Street, near Cole, SF, 7:00-9:00 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• Peter N. Carroll and Peter Glazer discuss the new book of never before published Spanish Civil War chronicles, War is Beautiful: An American Ambulance Driver in the Spanish Civil War by James Neugass, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, SF, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
• Jackson Phelan Tanenbaum Literary Awards Reading & Reception presents the 2008 Award Winners, 2003 Phelan winner, poet Tim Z. Hernandez, Skin Tax, also reads, Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia Street, SF, $5-$15, 7:30 (415/626-2787, www.theintersection.org)
• Poetry reading by Joseph Noble and Colleen Lookingbill, Books & Bookshelves, 99 Sanchez Street, SF, free, 7:30 (415/621-3761, booksandbookshelves.blogspot.com)
• Works in Progress, informal reading by MFA students and faculty, Bender Room, Second Floor, Carnegie Hall, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, 5:30 (510/430-3130, 510/430-2236, www.mills.edu)
SOUTH:
• This reading has been canceled due to health reasons, and may be rescheduled in 2009: First Annual Maude Meehan Memorial Reading presents a poetry reading by National Book Award-winner Lucille Clifton, Voices, Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems 1988-2000, University of California, Santa Cruz, Humanities Lecture Hall, Hagar Drive and McLaughlin Drive, Santa Cruz, free, carpooling encouraged, free parking, 7:30 (www.poetrysantacruz.org)
EAST:
• Open Mic for Teens: poet, author, journalist, and educator Tony Rodriguez reads from his poems, with an open mic for all teen poets; the program is led by Newark Memorial High School teacher and poet, Cathlin Goulding; students in her poetry class will also read, all are welcome to listen, Newark Public Library, 6300 Civic Terrace Avenue, Newark, free, 7:00-8:30 (Kathleen Hannon, 510/795-2627x18, KHannon@aclibrary.org)

19 NOVEMBER---wednesday:
CENTRAL:
• Poetry reading by Karen Volkman and Andrew Joron, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, www.moesbooks.com)
• The Graduate Student Reading Series presents SMC MFA graduate students Molly Barrett, Sally Delehant, Lisa Gschwandtner, Ryan Harris, Benjamin Prickett, and Sharon Zetter, Soda Activity Center, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 Saint Mary's Road, Moraga, free, 7:30 (925/631-4457, www.stmarys-ca.edu/mfa)
NORTH:
• Sunset Poetry by the Bay presents a reading by Q.R. Hand, Whose Really Blues, open mic follows, Northpoint Coffee House, 1250 Bridgeway, Sausalito, no cover, 7:00-9:00 (www.northpointcoffee.com, www.garrettmurphywriter.org)
• Salon, West County Style features Jane Stuppin presenting Literature and Nano-fiction; Kathleen Kraft, Baroque flautist; Marylu Downing, “Painting as Mystery,” Union Hotel, 3703 Main Street, Occidental, $10 donation benefits Occidental Center for the Arts, fixed price dinner 5:30-7:00, $15 includes salad, bread, and pizza or pasta, salon 7:00 (reservations: 707/874-9392,www.occidentalcenterforthearts.com)
EAST:
• Poetry Night at Bistro 33 presents A Poetry of Lucid Insanity, a performance piece featuring Arturo Mantecón, Gilberto Rodriguez, with musical accompaniment by Dylan Morgan and Sheri Rodriguez, combining mime, dramatic interpretations and reading in order to personify and present the poetry of Antonin Artaud and Leopoldo Maria Panero, open mic follows, co-hosted by UC Davis faculty Brad Henderson and Andy Jones, Bistro 33, 226 F Street, Davis, free, featured reading 9:00, open mic 10:00 (530/756-4556)

20 NOVEMBER---thursday:
CENTRAL:
• A reading by Paris-based poet Isabelle Garron, Face devant contre, with poet, translator, and visual artist Sarah Riggs, and poet Eleni Sikelianos, Body Clock, Director of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Denver, The Poetry Center, Humanities 512, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, SF, free, 4:30 (www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
• Queer Teachers of Poetry and Prose from San Francisco State University reading features award-winning fiction writer Nona Caspers, Heavier Than Air; Lambda finalist and poet/memoirist Toni Mirosevich, Pink Harvest; poet Truong Tran; novelist Matthew Clark Davidson; and poet Mary DeNardo, recipient of the Frances Jaffer Award in Poetry, Latino/Hispanic Community Room, San Francisco Main Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, SF, 6:00-7:30 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• “Gratitude is in the Air,” a poetry reading featuring Stephen Koppel, Ana Elsner, Jennifer Futernick, Armour Garland, Dan Harder, klipschutz, Gail Mitchell, Jean Powell, and Janine Mogannan, Peace Cafe, 1665 Haight Street, SF, free, 7:00 (415-864-1978)
• Barbara Gates and Wes “Scoop” Nisker read from The Best of Inquiring Mind: 25 Years of Dharma, Drama, and Uncommon Insight, their new collection celebrating writings from Inquiring Mind journal, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, SF, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
• Poetry Flash presents a poetry reading by Michael McGriff, Dismantling the Hills, and Andrew Grace, A Belonging Field, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, www.moesbooks.com)
• The Berkeley Poets Coop Workshop, founded in 1969, has restarted its workshop, meeting on each third Thursday of the month, call for location in Berkeley or Albany, free, drop in okay, 7:30 (Ted Fleischman: 925/254-2527)