Calendar for Southern California

Updated November 18, 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:
• Emerging Urban Poets writing workshop, 1:30-2:30; Pure Poetry critique workshop, 2:45-3:45; backroom, Santa Catalina Branch, Pasadena Public Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, free, drop-in, attend one or both (http://community.livejournal.com/saturday_poetry)
• Saturday Afternoon Poetry presents Helene Cardona and John Fitzgerald, open reading, backroom, Santa Catalina Branch, Pasadena Public Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, free, 4:00-5:00 (http://community.livejournal.com/saturday_poetry)
SOUTH:
• Publication celebration for the release of Poetry International 12, a literary journal, poets from San Diego State University’s MFA program and members of the Poetry International editorial staff read from new poems by Li-Young Lee, contemporary poems by African women, and exceptional new work by contemporary American poets, D.G.Wills Books, 7461 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, 7:00 (858/456-1800; www.dgwillsbooks.com)

2 NOVEMBER---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• Poetry reading by S.A. Griffin, Dennis Cruz, Rafael F.J. Alvarado, Tarzana Community and Cultural Center, 19130 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, $7, 3:00 (vcpoets@pacbell.net)
• Les Klinger presents and signs The New Annotated Dracula, Diesel, A Bookstore, 3890 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, free, 3:00 (310/456-9961, www.dieselbookstore.com)

3 NOVEMBER---monday:
CENTRAL:
• Red Hen Press presents poet/rapstar/actor Saul Williams, star of the 1998 movie Slam, and poet/performer Douglas Kearney, Fear, some, moderated by writer Michael Datcher, Raising Fences, The Geffen Playhouse, Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, 10886 Le Conte Avenue, LA, $20/$15 students, seniors, seating is limited and on a first come basis, 7:30 (tickets: 310/208-5454)

4 NOVEMBER---tuesday:
Please vote! If you need help finding your polling place, visit GoVote.org
CENTRAL:
• Cobalt Poets presents Erin Elizabeth (Baird) reading from her poetry, open reading follows, seven minute limit, The Cobalt Café, 22047 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, sign up 8:30, reading 9:00 (818/348-3789, poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt)
• Da' Poetry Lounge cutting-edge poetry and spoken word open mic, Greenway Court Theater, 544 N. Fairfax Blvd., LA, free, early arrival a must, 9:00-midnight (www.dapoetrylounge.com)
NORTH:
• The Tuesday Night Poets present a reading by Don Kingfisher Campbell and the Emerging Urban Poets, open mic follows, host Roe Estep, The Artists' Union Gallery, 330 California Street, across from Crown Plaza, Ventura, 7:30 (805/320-3524, www.thetuesdaynightpoets.com)

5 NOVEMBER---wednesday:
CENTRAL:
• Flypoet Entertainment presents Post-Election Party, Flypoet Freedom of Speech Jam, world class spoken word poets and live music features Terry Dexter, Bridget Gray, Paul Mabon, George McDonald, with performance painter Norton Wisdom, Valencia Robinson, $15 cover, twenty-one and up, $5 martinis before 8:00, The Savoy, 214 S. La Brea, at Manchester, Inglewood, LA, doors open 7:00, show three minutes after 8:00 (310/559-1670, flypoet.com)

7 NOVEMBER---friday:
NORTH:
• Language of the Soul, 25th Annual San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival presents a reading by past poet laureate Dian Sousa, and new poet laureate James Cushing, with poet Lani Steele, San Luis Obispo Art Center, 1010 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo, $5/$3 students, seniors, 7:00 (805/547-1318, www.languageofthesoul.org)

8 NOVEMBER---saturday:
CENTRAL:
• Saturday Afternoon Poetry presents a field trip to the Encino-Tarzana Public Library, meet at the Santa Catalina Branch, Pasadena Public Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, departure at 1:00 (http://community.livejournal.com/saturday_poetry)
• NEW VOICES reading features poet Beth Cheng, plus open reading, Encino-Tarzana Branch Library, 18231 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, 2:00 (RONDVORKIN@aol.com)
• The Church in Ocean Park’s Saturday Evening Poetry Series presents Penelope Barnes Thompson, Deconstructing The Nest and Other Poems, and Nan Hunt, The Wrong Bride, Church in Ocean Park, 235 Hill Street, Santa Monica, $15-$5 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds, 7:30 (Fred Whitlock: 310/828-3951)
NORTH:
• Poetry reading by Adrianne Marcus and Jackson, with host Marsha de la O, The Artists’ Union Gallery, 330 California Street, Ventura, $5, 7:00
• Language of the Soul, 25th Annual San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival presents a reading by Kate Gale, past poet laureate Ray Clark Dickson, and poet Roslyn Strohl, San Luis Obispo Art Center, 1010 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo, $5/$3 students, seniors, 7:00 (805/547-1318, www.languageofthesoul.org)

9 NOVEMBER---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• Poetry at the Ruskin, with Red Hen Press, presents a poetry reading by Tony Barnstone, The Golem of Los Angeles, and Gaylord Brewer, The Martini Diet, The Ruskin Art Club, 800 S. Plymouth Blvd., LA, $10/$5 students, seniors, 2:00 (310/669-2369, or 818/831-0649)
• Valley Contemporary Poets presents a poetry reading by Dennis Cruz and SA Griffin, open mic follows, Tarzana Community and Cultural Center, 19130 Ventura Boulevard, Tarzana, $5 suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds, 3:00 (818/705-1286, www.mytarzana.org)
• Legendary surfer Laird Hamilton presents and signs Force of Nature: Mind, Body, Soul (And, of Course, Surfing), Diesel, A Bookstore, 3890 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, free, 3:00 (310/456-9961, www.dieselbookstore.com)
• Los Angeles poet Milo Martin, Poems for the Utopian Nihilist, and performance poet Kennon B. Raines host a poetic revival of the legendary Onyx Café; poets expected to participate include Audrey Allen, Steve Abee, Mary Cahill, Dennis Cruz, Yvonne De La Vega, Rich Ferguson, Nathan Green, Hassan Jamaal, Jerry the Priest, Josh Millican, Kennon Raines, Blakeslee Stevens, Julia Stein, Chris Tannahill, G. Murray Thomas and Carmen Vega, music acts include The Charmkin Rebellion and The Band W, plus video/photographic presentations, all ages, full bar, The Echoplex, 1822 Sunset Blvd., enter from the alley at 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park, LA, free, 6:00-9:00 (213/413-8200)
NORTH:
• Language of the Soul, 25th Annual San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival presents a reading by Plein Air Poets of San Luis Obispo County with music by Terry Sanville, San Luis Obispo Art Center, 1010 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo, $5/$3 students, seniors, 7:00 (805/547-1318, www.languageofthesoul.org)

10 NOVEMBER---monday:
CENTRAL:
• Moonday, A West Side Reading Series presents a reading by Tony Barnstone and Judith Pacht, open mic follows, Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore Avenue, just north of Sunset, Pacific Palisades, 7:30 (310/454-4063, www.home.earthlink.net/~pero/moonday.html)

11 NOVEMBER---tuesday:
CENTRAL:
• Some Favorite Writers presents a reading by novelist T.C. Boyle, The Women, followed by a discussion with writer Mona Simpson, Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., LA, free, but tickets are required, available at the Billy Wilder Theater Box Office one hour prior to start time, limit one ticket per person, first come, first served, 7:00 (310/443-7000, www.hammer.ucla.edu)
• Adult film director Carlos Batts and adult film star April Flores present and sign their book, Voluptuous Biker Babes, Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 7:00 (310/659-3110, www.booksoup.com)
• Poetry reading by Cecilia Woloch with pianist Ann Patrick Green, plus open mic, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Avenue, Fullerton, free, 8:00 (hello@moontidepress.com, www.ceciliawoloch.com)
• Cobalt Poets presents a featured poetry reading by Don Kingfisher Campbell, open reading follows, seven minute limit, The Cobalt Café, 22047 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, sign up 8:30, reading 9:00 (818/348-3789, poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt)
• Da' Poetry Lounge cutting-edge poetry and spoken word open mic, Greenway Court Theater, 544 N. Fairfax Blvd., LA, free, early arrival a must, 9:00-midnight (www.dapoetrylounge.com)
NORTH:
• The Tuesday Night Poets present a reading by T.L. Cabrera, open mic follows, host Roe Estep, The Artists' Union Gallery, 330 California Street, across from Crown Plaza, Ventura, 7:30 (805/320-3524, www.thetuesdaynightpoets.com)

12 NOVEMBER---wednesday:
CENTRAL:
• Malibu Book Group meets to discuss Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood, Diesel, A Bookstore, 3890 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, all welcome, 7:00 (310/456-9961, www.dieselbookstore.com)
• Comic artist Alison Bechdel presents and signs The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For, Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 7:00 (310/659-3110, www.booksoup.com) ?
• Writers Bloc presents Jeffrey Toobin, The Nine: Inside The Secret World Of The Supreme Court, regular contributor to The New Yorker and a legal commentator on CNN, in conversation with writer Barry Siegel, Temple Emanuel, 300 North Clark Drive, Beverly Hills, $20 cash or personal checks only, 7:30 (reservations: www.writersblocpresents.com)

13 NOVEMBER---thursday:
CENTRAL:
• Diana Spechler reads from and signs her debut novel, Who By Fire, Diesel, A Bookstore, 225 26th Street, Suite 33, Brentwood, Santa Monica, free, 7:00 (www.dieselbookstore.com)
• Booksoup presents best-selling author and The Daily Show comedian John Hodgman, More Information Than You Require, with musician and Internet superstar Jonathan Coulton, The Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park, LA, 7:00 (310/659-3110, www.booksoup.com)
• Writer and editor Mac Montandon presents and signs Jetpack Dreams: One Man’s Up and Down (But Mostly Down) Search for the Greatest Invention That Never Was, Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 7:00 (310/659-3110, www.booksoup.com)

14 NOVEMBER---friday:
CENTRAL:
• A reading by award-winning fiction writer Andrew Porter, The Theory of Light and Matter: Short Stories, Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 7:00 (310/659-3110, www.booksoup.com)
• Poetry reading by Joseph Safdie and Rae Armantrout, Next Life, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/$5 students, seniors, 7:30 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)
• A late evening with Howard Stern’s sidekick Artie Lange, Too Fat to Fish, Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 10:00 (310/659-3110, www.booksoup.com)
NORTH:
• Language of the Soul, 25th Annual San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival presents WriterSpeak Night with a reading by poet Denise Duhamel, Cal Poly Performing Art Center, Phillips Recital Hall, San Luis Obispo, $5/$3 students, seniors, 7:00 (805/547-1318, www.languageofthesoul.org)
SOUTH:
• Cropper Writer Series presents Jericho Brown, USD Creative Writing professor, reading from his new book of poetry, Please, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice Theatre, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, free and open to the public, 7:00 (619/260-4600, www.croppercenter.com)

15 NOVEMBER---saturday:
CENTRAL:
• Emerging Urban Poets writing workshop, 1:30-2:30; Pure Poetry critique workshop, 2:45-3:45; backroom, Santa Catalina Branch, Pasadena Public Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, free, drop-in, attend one or both (http://community.livejournal.com/saturday_poetry)
• Poetry reading by Donna Hilbert, The Green Season, Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 2:00 (310/659-3110, www.booksoup.com)
• Saturday Afternoon Poetry presents Ruth Nolan and the Phantom Seed poets, open reading, backroom, Santa Catalina Branch, Pasadena Public Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, free, 4:00-5:00 (http://community.livejournal.com/saturday_poetry)
• Novelist Francesca Lia Block reads from and signs How to (Un)Cage a Girl, a poetry collection that celebrates girls and women, Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 5:00 (310/659-3110, www.booksoup.com)
• Nuclear Winter Poetry: An Evening of Small Presses with Kill Poet Press, d/e/a/d/b/e/a/t press and Guerrilla Lit, all dedicated to emerging and underground poets, with S.A. Griffin, David Smith, Jason Neese, Jack Henry, Billy Burgos, Cat Benitez, Amelie Florence, Dylan Mcturk, Angel Pereles, Bryan Townsley, Tobias Deehan, and Melissa Hansen, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/$5 students, seniors, 7:30 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)
NORTH:
• Language of the Soul, 25th Annual San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival presents a reading by past poet laureate Glenna Luschei and Viola Weinberg, with poet Michaelann Dimitrijevich, Glenna Luschei will present the first Glenna Luschei Distinguished Poet Award to Viola Weinberg, Steynberg Gallery, 1531 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, $5/$3 students, seniors, 7:00 (805/547-1318, www.languageofthesoul.org)
SOUTH:
• Jeff Kaliss reads from and discusses his new biography, I Want To Take You Higher: The Life and Times of Sly and the Family Stone, D. G. Wills Books, 7461 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, 7:00 (858/456-1800, www.dgwillsbooks.com)

16 NOVEMBER---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• A Marathon Harvest Moon Bash with some of LA’s finest artists, poets, musicians and other-worldly talents in a community potluck, song and moondance, experience the creative spirit and a high-Venice variety show with Suzy Williams, Kathy Leonardo, Zebra Party, Wailiens, Rex Butters, Ordell Cordova, and DJ Noj, sponsored by Theresa Hulme, Ava Bird, and The Mozaic Family, bring something to share, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/$5 students, seniors, 3:00 until late (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)
• Jeff Kaliss reads from and signs I Want to Take You Higher: The Life and Times of Sly and the Family Stone, Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 5:00 (310/659-3110, www.booksoup.com)
NORTH:
• Language of the Soul, 25th Annual San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival presents a reading by past poet laureates Kevin Patrick Sullivan and Anne Candelaria, with poet Ivan Brown Otter, plus open reading and closure party, also a photo exhibit by Ronna Leon, the California Poet Laureate Project, will hang in the Café during the month of November, Linnaea’s Café, 1110 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo, $5/$3 students, seniors, 7:00 (805/547-1318, www.languageofthesoul.org)
EAST:
• Trapdoor Poetry Reading presents Exact Opposites + Undiscovered Poets, plus open mic, you must be twenty-one or up, Palm Springs Wine & Art, 242 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, free, 6:00 (760/325-9991, www.palmspringswineandart.com, www.trapdoorpoetry.com)

17 NOVEMBER---monday:
SOUTH:
• Sticking With It: One Novel’s 30-Year Journey to Success, A Workshop with novelist Selden Edwards, The Ink Spot, Art Center Lofts, 710 13th Street, Studio 210, San Diego, $35, includes a copy of The Little Book, a novel, 7:00-9:00 (register in advance: sandiegowriters.org)

18 NOVEMBER---tuesday:
CENTRAL:
• Jodi Wing reads from her new novel The Art of Social War, Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 7:00 (310/659-3110, www.booksoup.com)
• The Valley Contemporary Poets presents a poetry reading by Jawanza Dumisani, open reading follows, seven minute limit, The Cobalt Café, 22047 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, sign up 8:30, reading 9:00 (818/348-3789, poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt)
• Da' Poetry Lounge cutting-edge poetry and spoken word open mic, Greenway Court Theater, 544 N. Fairfax Blvd., LA, free, early arrival a must, 9:00-midnight (www.dapoetrylounge.com)
SOUTH:
• Living Writers Series presents a reading by award-winning poet Jane Hirshfield, After, San Diego State University, Malcolm A. Love Library, Room LL-108, free and open to the public, 7:00 (Victoria Featherstone: livingwriters@gmail.com)
• Poetic Brew Open Mic Poetry Reading, hosted by Eber Lambert, with featured poet Matt Diaz, read three poems or for three minutes and thirty-three seconds, Rebecca’s Coffeehouse, 30th and Juniper, South Park, San Diego, sign up 6:30, reading 7:00 (sandiegowriters.org)

19 NOVEMBER---wednesday:
CENTRAL:
• Casa Romantica Reading Series presents a poetry reading by Jane Hirshfield, After, Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, free, 7:00 (949/498-2139, www.casaromanticareadingseries.org)
• Rolling Stone magazine’s David Wild presents and signs He Is&I Say: How I Learned to Stop Worrying And Love Neil Diamond, Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 7:00 (310/659-3110, www.booksoup.com)

20 NOVEMBER---thursday:
CENTRAL:
• Pharmaka presents The Third Area: Poetry at Pharmaka, a reading by Marjorie Becker, Martha Serpas, Sandra Alcosser, Jane Hirshfield, Pharmaka, 101 West Fifth Street, at Fifth and Main, LA, $5, doors open at 7:00, reading 8:00 www.pharmaka-art.org)

21 NOVEMBER---friday:
CENTRAL:
• LA-Lit: Clouds :: a two-day conference connecting the decentered literary culture of LA in an effort to investigate it’s current manifestations and to develop a sense of LA’s inherent literary spontaneity, features Stan Apps, Teresa Carmody, Amarnath Ravva, Lisa Samuels, and Christine Wertheim perform and celebrate, Betalevel, in the alley behind 963 N. Hill Street, LA, 8:00-11:00 (http://betalevel.com)
SOUTH:
• San Diego Writers, Ink presents a poetry reading by Zack Rogow, The Number Before Infinity, and Elizabeth Schultz, Her Verse, The Ink Spot, Art Center Lofts, 710 13th Street, Studio 210, San Diego, 7:00 (sandiegowriters.org)

22 NOVEMBER---saturday:
CENTRAL:
• LA-Lit: Clouds :: a two-day conference connecting the decentered literary culture of LA in an effort to investigate it’s current manifestations and to develop a sense of LA’s inherent literary spontaneity; noon-1:30: panel on “form-body-surface-material-method-growth-sound-mass/ condensation-structure-elements-foreground-background,” with panelists Stan Apps, Guy Bennett, Christine Wertheim, Ara Shirinyan; 2:00-3:30: panel on “atmospheric-nebulae-clarity-reveals-recreation-currents/ groundless-textured-visible-droplets-interstellar-crystalline,” with panelists Will Alexander, Teresa Carmody, Amarnath Ravva, Mark Wallace; 4:30-6:00: reading and performance by Demosthenes Agrafiotis, Will Alexander, Guy Bennett, K. Lorraine Graham, Sawako Nakayasu, Ara Shirinyan, and Mark Wallace, Center for the Arts Eagle Rock, 2225 Colorado Blvd., LA (www.centerartseaglerock.org)
• Emerging Urban Poets writing workshop, 1:30-2:30; Pure Poetry critique workshop, 2:45-3:45; backroom, Santa Catalina Branch, Pasadena Public Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, free, drop-in, attend one or both (http://community.livejournal.com/saturday_poetry)
• Saturday Afternoon Poetry presents Jeffry Jensen and Cati Porter, open reading, backroom, Santa Catalina Branch, Pasadena Public Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, free, 4:00-5:00 (http://community.livejournal.com/saturday_poetry)
SOUTH:
• Listening to the Duende, A Writing Workshop with Zack Rogow, based on what the poet Federico Garcia Lorca called the “duende,” deep song or soul, The Ink Spot, Art Center Lofts, 710 13th Street, Studio 210, San Diego, $45/$36 members, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 (register in advance: sandiegowriters.org)

23 NOVEMBER---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• La Palabra Poetry features Eddy Bello-Sandoval and Don Newton reading on “REMINESCING,” Avenue 50 Studio, 131 N. Avenue 50, Highland Park, 2:00-4:00
• Poetry reading by Mark Irwin, Tall If, and Cecilia Woloch, Narcissus, food and wine reception, The Ruskin Art Club, 800 S. Plymouth Blvd., at Plymouth and 8th, LA, come early to park on the street, 2:00 (Elena Karina Byrne, Literary Programs Director: 310/936-7484, www.ceciliawoloch.com)
SOUTH:
• San Diego Writers, Ink/Barnes & Noble Book Fair, book sales benefit San Diego Writers, Ink, readings, author signings, free writing workshops, five-minute limit poetry and prose Open Mic, BookStar, Costa Verde Center, 8650 Genessee Avenue, across from UTC, Costa Verde, 11:00 a.m.-8:00 (http://sandiegowriters.org)

25 NOVEMBER---tuesday:
CENTRAL:
• Cobalt Poets presents a ‘classic’ open reading, seven minute limit, The Cobalt Café, 22047 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, sign up 8:30, reading 9:00 (818/348-3789, poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt)
• Da' Poetry Lounge cutting-edge poetry and spoken word open mic, Greenway Court Theater, 544 N. Fairfax Blvd., LA, free, early arrival a must, 9:00-midnight (www.dapoetrylounge.com)
SOUTH:
• Brown Bag Writing Group 15th Anniversary Party, join Judy Reeves and all the Brown Baggers, including some of the original members of the writing group, for a writing session followed by celebration, with refreshments, drawings for free gifts, surprises, The Ink Spot, Art Center Lofts, 710 13th Street, Studio 210, San Diego, $5, noon-2:00 (sandiegowriters.org)

29 NOVEMBER---saturday:
CENTRAL:
• Emerging Urban Poets writing workshop, 1:30-2:30; Pure Poetry critique workshop, 2:45-3:45; backroom, Santa Catalina Branch, Pasadena Public Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, free, drop-in, attend one or both (http://community.livejournal.com/saturday_poetry)
• Saturday Afternoon Poetry presents the Award Ceremony for the First Annual Pure Poetry Chapbook Contest winner, free to enter, send ten poems of no more than forty lines each, including stanza breaks, in the body of an e-mail message by November 15 to kingfisher1031@charter.net, winner receives twenty copies of their chapbook, plus open reading, backroom, Santa Catalina Branch, Pasadena Public Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, free, 4:00-5:00 (http://community.livejournal.com/saturday_poetry)