Calendar for Southern California

Updated October 29, 2008

October 1-31, 2008 S M T W Th F S 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 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 0

3 OCTOBER---friday:
CENTRAL:
• An evening of poetry, great food, and wine to celebrate the launch of John M. Fitzgerald's Telling Time by the Shadows and Elena Karina Byrne's Masque, Frank Pictures Gallery, Bergamot Station, Gallery A-5, 2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica, 6:30-9:00 (310/828-0211, www.frankpicturesgallery.com)

4 OCTOBER---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 performance poet Mark States, 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)
NORTH:
• Santa Barbara Poetry Series presents a poetry reading by Paul Willis, Visiting Home, and Rebecca Foust, The Contemporary Arts Forum, 653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, 7:00-9:00 (805/966-5373, www.sbcaf.org)

5 OCTOBER---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• Open reading with two-poem limit also features poets Sabrina Edwards, PsychoBabEL, Jerry Garcia, Hitchhiking with the Guilty, and Nelson Gary, Queen Maeves Boneyard Magic, hosted by Marie Lecrivain, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, free, open sign up 4:45, event 5:00 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)

6 OCTOBER---monday:
NORTH:
• Monthly poetry reading series features a poet to be announced, Tree Bernstein hosts, open reading at 8:00, The Village Jester Restaurant & Pub, 139 Ojai Avenue, Ojai, open reading 8:00, featured reading 8:30 (805/640-8001)

7 OCTOBER---tuesday:
CENTRAL:
• Cobalt Poets presents a featured poetry reading, open reading to follow, 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)

10 OCTOBER---friday:
CENTRAL:
• 40th Anniversary Series presents a book signing for international artist, composer, curator, writer and publisher Brandon LaBelle, Radio Memory; he was curator of the Beyond Music Festivals, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, free, 5:00-7:00 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)
• 40th Anniversary Series presents writer Nancy Agabian, Me as her again, a multi-identity family history with Ann Perich of the folk-punk duo Guitar Boy, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/students, seniors $5/members free, 7:30 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)

11 OCTOBER---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 a reading by poet Nancy Shiffrin, 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)
• Poetry reading by Laurel Ann Bogen, Washing a Language, Charles Bivins, Music in Silence, and Hilda Weiss, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/$5 seniors, students/members free, 7:30 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)
• Saturday Evening Poetry Series presents a reading by poets Mark Rhodes and Peter Johnson, The Church in Ocean Park, 235 Hill Street, Santa Monica, $15-$5 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds, Wheelchair accessible, bus accessible by the Big Blue Bus, numbers 1, 2, 8 and MTA 33 7:30 (Fred Whitlock: 310/828-3951)

12 OCTOBER---sunday:
EAST:
• Trapdoor Poetry Reading presents poet Mary Sojourner, 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)

13 OCTOBER---monday:
CENTRAL:
• Moonday, A West Side Reading Series presents a reading by Lois P. Jones and MC Bruce, 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)

14 OCTOBER---tuesday:
CENTRAL:
• Monthly open poetry reading, generous time limits and casual atmosphere, with the annual appearance of the League of Vampiric Bards, with host G. Murray Thomas, Barnes & Noble, Marina Pacifica Mall, 6326 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, 7:00 (562/431-2253, www.myspace.com/gmurraythomas)
• Cobalt Poets presents a poetry reading by featured guest Marc Jampole, with 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)
NORTH:
• The Tuesday Night Poets present a reading by Raindog Armstrong, 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)
SOUTH:
• Living Writers Series presents a reading by the winner of the Associated Writing Programs Best Novel Award, Duff Brenna, The Book of Mamie and Too Cool, and Thomas E. Kennedy, Riding the Dog: A Look Back at America, essays, San Diego State University’s Malcolm A. Love Library, Room 430, free and open to the public, 7:00 (Victoria Featherstone: livingwriters@gmail.com)

17 OCTOBER---friday:
CENTRAL:
• Poetry reading by Bruce Williams, The Mojave Road at Last, John Harris, founder of the Venice Poetry Workshop, and John Brantingham, Putting in a Window, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/students, seniors $5/members free, 7:30 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)

18 OCTOBER---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 UnOccupied, the LA experimental theatrical group with Xochitl Julisa Bermejo, Just Kibbe, Jane Moore, and Chris Wesley, performing a preview of their first body of work, Committed, a no-holds barred look at weddings, marriage, pregnancy, fidelity, and commitment, Santa Catalina Branch, Pasadena Public Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, free, 3:30 (626/744-7272, http://community.livejournal.com/saturday_poetry)
• Poetry reading by Shelley Savren, The Common Fire; Marsha de La O, co-editor of Askew, author of Black Hope, winner of the New Issues Press Poetry Prize; and Mary Kay Rummel, Love in the End, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/students, seniors $5/members free, 7:30 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)

19 OCTOBER---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• dA Center for the Arts presents an Open Mic in the Gallery, dA Center for the Arts, 252-D S. Main Street, Pomona, 2:00 (909/397-9716, www.dacenter.org)
• Farewell to Bush: LA poets say farewell to one of the most ruinous presidents in American history, with readings by John Harris, Frankie Drayus, Carmen Vega, Michael C. Ford, Sherman Pearl, and others, open mic for horrible memories, poetic woes, and heroic soldiering, hosted by Lee Sloca, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/students, seniors $5/members free, 4:00-7:00 (for a secure reading slot, pre-sign up for open at: http://oct-19-beyond-baroque.wetpaint.com; information: 310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)
NORTH:
• Corners of the Mouth presents a poetry reading by Richard Beban, Young Girl Eating a Bird, and James Cushing, open reading limited to five minutes of original work follows, Linnaea's Café, 1110 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo, free, 7:00 (805/547-1318, www.languageofthesoul.org)

21 OCTOBER---tuesday:
CENTRAL:
• The Valley Contemporary Poets presents a reading by featured guest Fernando Castro, open reading to follow, 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)

22 OCTOBER---tuesday:
SOUTH:
• Living Writers Series presents a reading by novelist Matt de la Pena, Ball Don’t Lie and Mexican Whiteboy, San Diego State University, Malcolm A. Love Library, Room 430, free and open to the public, 7:00 (Victoria Featherstone: livingwriters@gmail.com)

23 OCTOBER---thursday:
CENTRAL:
• Bringing The Circle Together: A Native American Film Series presents a screening of Aleut Story, a documentary film on the Aleuts of Alaska, telling the story of their indentured servitude and time in concentration camps during World War II, to Congress and the White House; with special guest author/poet Marie Huskey (Unangan/Aleut), The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 111 North Central Avenue, LA, free, 7:00-9:30 (213/830-5602, nafilmseries@aol.com)
• Beyond Film presents Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis, produced by Kenneth Peralta; Jack Smith was a counter-culture photographer, filmmaker, actor, performance artist; Gerry Fialka interviews the film's director Mary Jordan before the film; screening followed by audience discussion, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/students, seniors $5/members free, director interview 7:00, film screening 8:00 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)

24 OCTOBER---friday:
CENTRAL:
• 40th Anniversary Series presents a poetry reading by Bill Mohr, Hidden Proofs, Ellyn Maybe, The Cowardice of Amnesia, and Mark Salerno, Odalisque, editor of Arshile, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/students, seniors $5/members free, 7:30 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)
SOUTH:
• Poetry reading by Oni Buchanan, Spring, and Matthew Shindell, In Another Castle and Were something to happen it would be both funny and interesting, a chapbook, D.G. Wills Books, 7461 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, 7:00 (858/456-1800, www.dgwillsbooks.com)

25 OCTOBER---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 poet Judy Kronenfeld, 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)
• Project Room Opening presents "Better Angels," a show of paintings by Diana Bonebrake, an LA native and a progenitor of punk, with poetry readings by Craig Danielsen, SA Griffin, Doug Knott, David Smith, and John Dorsey, and music by the D.J. Bonebrake Trio, plus special guests, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, free, 7:00 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)
NORTH:
• Friday's on Saturday presents a poetry reading by John Gentry, plus open mic hosted by Friday, The Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Avenue, Ventura, 7:30 (805/643-1960, www.bellartsfactory.com)
SOUTH:
• Poetry reading by John Brandi, Facing High Water, D.G. Wills Books, 7461 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, 7:00 (858/456-1800, www.dgwillsbooks.com)

26 OCTOBER---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• Red Hen Press 14th Anniversary Champagne Luncheon, the major annual fundraiser for the press and for their Writing in the Schools program, featuring poetry readings by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and The New Yorker poetry editor Paul Muldoon and Molly Peacock, and appearances by poets David St. John and Chris Abani, to present the 2007 Red Hen Press Literary Awards: Benjamin Saltman Award will be presented to Erinn Batykefer for Allegheny, Monongahela; the Ruskin Poetry Award to Janet Norman Knox for Night Art; and the Red Hen Press Short Fiction Award to Sandra Worsham, for Pinnacle, champagne reception followed by lunch and readings, The Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard, 11461 Sunset Blvd., LA, $100, 11:00 a.m. (818/831-0649, redhenpress6@verizon.net)
• "Reconsidering the Revolutionary Jack Smith," a discussion on the seminal filmmaker and artist with Mary Jordan, director of the film Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis; Beyond Baroque Director and writer Fred Dewey, with special guests, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/students, seniors $5/members free, 4:00 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)
• Beyond Music presents "17 Lyrics of Li Po" by Harry Partch, performed by Stephen Kalm, intoned voice, and Theodore Mook, tenor violin, special guest John Schneider performs Partch's By the Rivers of Babylon and the adapted guitar and voice version of Partch's opera Barstow, hosted by Daniel Rothman, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/students, seniors $5/members free, 7:30 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)
• Straight from the Heart Poetry Series presents a reading by John Brandi, Facing High Water, and Sholeh Wolpe, Rooftops of Tehran, a benefit for the Topanga Peace Alliance, hosted by Gio, with special guest Azar Lawrence on saxophone, Yoga Desa in Pine Tree Circle, 120 North Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, $10, hors d'oeuvres 7:45, reading 8:00 (reservations: Gio, 310/795-1373)

28 OCTOBER---tuesday:
CENTRAL:
• Cobalt Poets presents a featured poetry reading, 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 Eric Blundell, 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)

29 OCTOBER---wednesday:
CENTRAL:
• A poetry reading by Molly Peacock, The Second Blush and Cornucopia: New & Selected Poems; she also toured the US and Canada, including an off-Broadway showcase, as the writer/actor of a one-woman show in poems, The Shimmering Verge, Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Boulevard, LA, free but please arrive early, 7:00 (310/443-7000, www.hammer.ucla.edu)
• Casa Romantica Reading Series presents a poetry reading by poet Sandra Alcosser, Except by Nature, and poet/creative nonfiction writer Christopher Buckley, And the Sea, Sleep Walk, Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, free, 7:00 (949/498-2139, www.casaromanticareadingseries.org)
SOUTH:
• Living Writers Series presents The Laurie Okuma Memorial Reading by Assiniboine and Sioux poet M.L. Smoker, Another Attempt at Rescue, San Diego State University, Malcolm A. Love Library, Room 430, free and open to the public, 7:00 (Victoria Featherstone: livingwriters@gmail.com)

30 OCTOBER---thursday:
CENTRAL:
• Pharmaka proudly presents The Third Area: Poetry at Pharmaka, a reading by Cecilia Woloch, Ilya Kaminsky, David Hernandez, Lynne Thompson, Pharmaka, 101 West Fifth Street, at Fifth and Main, LA, $5, doors open at 7:00, reading 8:00 www.pharmaka-art.org)

31 OCTOBER---friday:
CENTRAL:
• Poetry reading by Jessica Goodheart, author of the forthcoming Earthquake Season, and Molly Peacock, The Second Blush and Cornucopia: New & Selected Poems, Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., half-mile west of Lincoln, Venice, $7/students, seniors $5/members free, 7:30 (310/822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org)
• USC Master of Professional Writing Student Reading Series with guest author Chris Meeks, The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea, student readers Autumn Canaday, Ilir Lita, Emily Ogle, and Todd Spence, hosted by Stephen Silke, Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Avenue, LA, 7:30 (323/660-1175, www.skylightbooks.com)