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1 DECEMBER 2023 — friday

• Blue Light at the Gallery celebrates the publication of Moonlight and Reflections, an anthology of work by the nine poets who make up Poetic License Sonoma, with readings by Jeffrey Bartfeld, Steve Trenam, Susanne Arrhenius, Joe Cutler, Kusum Jain, Judith Vaughn, and Jaime Zukowski, Marin Society of Artists Gallery, 1515 3rd Street, San Rafael, free, doors open 5:45 pm, readings begin 6:00 pm PST
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• Beyond Baroque presents poet Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo, Posada: Offerings of Witness and Refuge, reading from her new collection, Incantation: Love Poems for Battle Sites, joined by poets Josh Evans, féi hernandez, Hood Criatura, Jenise Miller, The Blvd, and Jasmine Williams, Executive Director of Da Poetry Lounge Co., Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, free, 8:00 pm PST (RSVP to attend: www.beyondbaroque.org)
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• Point Reyes Books presents Kerri ní Dochartaigh, Thin Places, shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize, discussing her new book, Cacophony of Bone: The Circle of a Year, a collection of poems and essays documenting a year spent in a remote cottage in Ireland in search of solace and a place to call home, in conversation with Nina MacLaughlin, online via Zoom, free, Noon PST (Register to attend: www.ptreyesbooks.com/cacophony)
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2 DECEMBER 2023 — saturday

• PEN Oakland presents the 34th Annual PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Literary Awards, featuring winners of the Josephine Miles Award, Javier Zamora, Solito: A Memoir; Ada Limón, The Hurting Kind; Perennial Earth: Poetry by Wallace Stevens and Paintings by Alexis Serio, edited by John N. Serio; T.J. English, Dangerous Rhythms: Jazz and the Underworld; Leila Mottley, Nightcrawling: A Novel; Jenny Xie, The Rupture Tense; Kobena Mercer, Alain Locke & The Visual Arts; D.S. Marriott, Before Whiteness; Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, and Mario Hernandez, Love and Rockets: The First Fifty: The Classic 40th Anniversary Collection; the winners of the Reginald Lockett Lifetime Achievement Award, Louise Meriwether and the late Sara Webster Fabio, Boss Soul, Soul Ain't Soul Is, Together to the Tune of Coltrane's Equinox, JuJus Alchemy of the Blues; the winners of the Adelle Foley Award, The Daily KOS and the late Joyce Wong; and the winner of the Reginald Martin Award for Excellence in Criticism, Tressie McMillan Cottom; Rockridge Branch of the Oakland Library, 5366 College Avenue, Oakland, free, 2:00-5:00 pm PST (More information here: oaklandlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6553cf82b6d98938007f62d0)
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3 DECEMBER 2023 — sunday

• House concert reading and performance by acclaimed poet Kim Addonizio, Now We're Getting Somewhere, Tell Me, finalist for the National Book Award, with music by guitarist Danny Caron, private home, Berkeley, $20, 4:00 pm PST (For more information, email: harry@fullplatemedia.com)
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• The Poetry Center, at the Howard Zinn Book Fair, presents poets Anthony Cody, Borderland Apocrypha, winner of the 2018 Omnidawn Open Book Prize, and Chaun Webster, Wail song: wading in the water at the end of the world, in reading and conversation with each other and the audience, Room 214, City College of San Francisco Mission Center, 1125 Valencia Street, San Francisco, free, 10:30 am-Noon PST (More information here: poetry.sfsu.edu/event/anthony-cody-and-chaun-webster-howard-zinn-book-fair-2023-against-amnesia)
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• Poetry Flash presents a reading by poet and translator Cynthia Hogue, instead, it is dark, poet and memoirist Louise Nayer, Narrow Escapes, and Tennison S. Black, Survival Strategies, a National Poetry Series selection, Art House Gallery & Cultural Center, 2905 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, two blocks north of Ashby BART, refreshments, free, 3:00 pm PST (poetryflash.org).
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• Three Rooms Press presents an evening of Dada poetry, performance, and music, in celebration of the launch of Maintenant 17, a contemporary journal of Dada writing and art, with performances by Youssef Alaoui, Mahnaz Badihian, Allison Davis, Carol Dorf, Robert Duncan, James Gleeson, Dale Jensen, Richard Loranger, Anna O'Meara, Eva Maria Stern, Tom Stolmar, Maw Shein Win, Alex Starr, Rich Stone, and Lorene Zarou-Zouzounis, hosted by Peter Carlaftes and Kat Georges, co-directors of Three Rooms Press, costumes are encouraged, Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Café, 12 William Saroyan Place, San Francisco, free, 6:00-8:00 pm PST (More information here: threeroomspress.com)
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• Bazaar Writers Salon presents a reading featuring poet Carolina Hotchandani, The Book Eaters, winner of the 2023 Perugia Press Prize; novelist Joshua Mohr, All This Life, winner of the Northern California Book Award; poet and translator Cintia Santana, The Disordered Alphabet; and poet Sam Sax, PIG, hosted by poet Peter Kline, Mirrorforms, Bazaar Café, 5927 California Street, San Francisco, free, 6:00 pm PST (More information here: www.facebook.com/BazaarWritersSalon)
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• The Howard Zinn Book Fair returns after a three-year hiatus, featuring over sixty small presses and community groups selling books and artwork, as well as close to seventy author panels discussing a variety of social justice issues such as climate change, racism, feminism, LGBTQ+, immigration, housing, and the arts, featuring authors Sonali Kolhatkar, Rebecca Solnit, Kim Stanley Robinson, devorah major, Robin D.G. Kelley, Zein El-Amine, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Peter Linebaugh, Angela Hume, Nina Serrano, Roarshock, Steve Early, and many more, childcare provided, City College, 1125 Valencia Street, San Francisco, free, donations welcome, 10:00 am-6:00 pm PST (More information here: www.zinnbookfair.org)
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4 DECEMBER 2023 — monday

• Rivertown Poets presents a reading featuring Kathe Jordan and Gail Entrekin, Walking Each Other Home, finalist for the Blue Light Prize and the Richard Snyder Prize, followed by an open mic, three minutes per reader, hosted by poet Sande Anfang, Aqus Café, 189 H Street, Petaluma, free, 6:15 pm PST (More information here: www.facebook.com/RivertownPoetsAMuseingMondays)
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5 DECEMBER 2023 — tuesday

• Cobalt Poets presents a reading with featured poet GT Foster, Hip to the Gyve, followed by an open mic, online via Zoom, free, 7:30 pm PST (Register to attend: www.poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt/calendar.html)
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6 DECEMBER 2023 — wednesday

• Bird & Beckett presents a reading featuring poet Sarah Menefee, celebrating her new chapbook, There You Are, joined by poet Patrick James Dunagan, There Are People Who Think That Painters Shouldn't Talk, Bird & Beckett Books and Records, 653 Chenery Street, San Francisco, free, 7:00 pm PST (More information here: birdbeckett.com)
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7 DECEMBER 2023 — thursday

• Beyond Baroque presents Skulls and Stairs, a reading series that showcases poets emphasizing the goth and the illuminating void, featuring Daryl Gussin, managing editor of Razorcake, Nikolai Garcia, Nuclear Shadows of Palm Trees, and Antonieta Villamil, Arcana de los Dominios Imaginantes, with musical performance by DJ Encinoman, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, free, 7:00-10:00 pm PST (Register to attend: www.beyondbaroque.org)
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• Lunch Poems, UC Berkeley's noontime reading series, presents poet Jesse Nathan, Eggtooth, Morrison Library inside Doe Library, 101 Library Ct., University of California campus, Berkeley, free, 12:10-12:50 pm PST (More information here: www.lib.berkeley.edu/visit/lunch-poems)
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8 DECEMBER 2023 — friday

• Beyond Baroque presents a reading with What Books Press and its imprint, Giant Claw, featuring poets Sarah Maclay, Nightfall Marginalia, Lisa Bernstein, God in Her Ruffled Dress, Bryan Price, A Plea for Secular Gods, Celeste Goyer, The Shoes of Our Guests, and Michael Ventura, Edendale, hosted by poet Karen Kevorkian, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, free, 8:00 pm PST (Register to attend: www.beyondbaroque.org)
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9 DECEMBER 2023 — saturday

• The Poetry Center presents the 39th annual George Oppen Memorial Lecture, this year the lecture will be given by poet, scholar, and editor Divya Victor, CURB, winner of the PEN America Open Book Award and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, East Bay Media Center, 1939 Addison Street, Berkeley, free, 6:00-7:30 pm PST (More information here: poetry.sfsu.edu)
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• Sacramento Poetry Alliance presents a poetry reading by Molly Fisk, The More Difficult Beauty, and Tricia Caspers, Some Flawed Magic, Sacramento Poetry Alliance, 1169 Perkins Way, Sacramento, free, 4:00 pm PDT (More information here: www.facebook.com/sacramentopoetryalliance)
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• Beyond Baroque presents the final installment this year of the NEW Series, featuring Lily Hoang, Changing, recipient of the PEN Open Books Award, Douglas Manuel, Trouble Funk, and Elisabeth Houston, Standard American English; these authors will read from original commissioned work, never before published or presented elsewhere, on the theme "metadata," Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, free, 7:00 pm PST (RSVP to attend: www.beyondbaroque.org)
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• The Poetry Center presents poet Divya Victor, CURB, winner of the PEN America Open Book Award and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, reading from her work and joining in conversation with poet Tonya M. Foster, A Swarm of Bees in High Court, part of Undisciplining the Fields, a conversation and reading series that emphasizes artists and writers from a range of fields and cross-disciplinary practices, free, East Bay Media Center, 1939 Addison Street, Berkeley, 2:00-4:00 pm PST (More information here: poetry.sfsu.edu/event/undisciplining-fields-divya-victor-reading-and-conversation-tonya-m-foster)
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10 DECEMBER 2023 — sunday

• Books Inc. presents novelist and dancer Miriam Landis, reading from and discussing her new book, Lauren in the Limelight, in conversation with ballet dancer and teacher Kristine Elliott, Town and Country Village, 855 El Camino Real #74, Palo Alto, free/donations welcome, all proceeds will go to the Gugelethu Ballet Project, 3:00 pm PST (More information here: www.booksinc.net/events)
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11 DECEMBER 2023 — monday

• City Lights Books presents a reading with four Black Lawrence Press authors, poet Lisa Dordal, Writer-in-Residence at Vanderbilt University and author of Mosaic of the Dark, finalist for the 2019 Audre Lorde Award for Lesbian Poetry, short story writers Nancy Welch, The Road from Prosperity, and JoeAnn Hart, Highwire Act & Other Tales of Survival, and novelist Sara Johnson Allen, Down Here We Come Up, winner of the Big Moose Prize from Black Lawrence Press, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 6:00 pm PST (Register to attend: citylights.com/events)
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12 DECEMBER 2023 — tuesday

• Medicine for Nightmares presents novelist Chris Carisson, After the Deluge, reading from his new book, When Shells Crumble, and engaging in audience discussion, Medicine for Nightmares Bookstore, 3036 24th Street, San Francisco, free, 6:30-8:00 pm PST (More information here: medicinefornightmares.com/events)
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• L.A. Times Book Club presents California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, Scar and Flower, finalist for the 2020 Northern California Book Award, in conversation with Steve Padilla, editor of the Los Angeles Times, online, free, 6:00 pm PST (RSVP to attend: www.eventbrite.com/e/la-times-dec-book-club-with-california-poet-laureate-lee-herrick-tickets-746414865957?aff=ebdssbdestsearch)
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• Cobalt Poets presents a reading with featured poet Leslie Sainz, Have You Been Long Enough at Table, followed by an open mic, online via Zoom, free, 7:30 pm PST (Register to attend: www.poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt/calendar.html)
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13 DECEMBER 2023 — wednesday

• City Lights Books celebrates the 90th birthday of the late Jack Hirschman (1933-2021), poet, translator, editor, and activist, former Poet Laureate of San Francisco, and prolific author of poetry and essays including All That's Left and Lyripol, with tributes by Agneta Falk, joined by Scott Bird, Dimitri Charalambou, Neeli Cherkovski, Mauro Ffortissimo, Celia Hirschman, Matt Gonzales, devorah major, Sarah Menefee, Alejandro Murguia, and Byron Spooner, online via Zoom, free, 6:00 pm PST (Register to attend: citylights.com/events)
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14 DECEMBER 2023 — thursday

• San Francisco Public Library presents Kim Shuck, former San Francisco Poet Laureate and author of several collections including What Unseen Things Blow Wishes Across My Surface?, celebrating the publication of her new book, Pick a Garnet to Sleep In, Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room A, Main Library, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, free, 6:00-7:30 pm PST (More information here: sfpl.org/events/2023/12/14/performance-kim-shucks-poem-jam-celebrates-pick-garnet-sleep)
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15 DECEMBER 2023 — friday

• No events listed for this date. Find out how to submit your event listing.

16 DECEMBER 2023 — saturday

• Sacramento Poetry Alliance presents a reading with featured poets Matthew Cooperman, Spool, and Aby Kaupang, & there's you still thrill hour of the world to love, both winners of the New Measure Poetry Prize, followed by an open mic, Sacramento Poetry Alliance, 1169 Perkins Way, Sacramento, free, 4:00 pm PST (More information here: www.sacramentopoetryalliance.com)
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• Medicine for Nightmares celebrates its two-year anniversary, with readings from the new Medicine for Nightmares poetry zine Portales, by featured poets from the publication, and musical performances by Red Fast Luck, with David Boyce on reeds, PC Muñoz on percussion, and ColectivoCalleSon; this event will also include a pop-up art show and silent auction, with local art for purchase for the holidays and a chance to support the bookstore, Medicine for Nightmares Bookstore, 3036 24th Street, San Francisco, free, 7:30-10:00 pm PST (More information here: medicinefornightmares.com/events)
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• Join City of West Hollywood Poet Laureate Jen Cheng, Braided Spaces, for a two-part poetry workshop, attendees will read and write poetry with poems curated for the December 23 Holiday Poetry Hotline, if you are comfortable, you may practice and record your voice reading the curated poems, no experience needed, Meeting Room, West Hollywood Library, 625 North San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, free, 2:00-4:00 pm PST (Register to attend: www.weho.org/community/arts-and-culture/holiday)
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17 DECEMBER 2023 — sunday

• No events listed for this date. Find out how to submit your event listing.

18 DECEMBER 2023 — monday

• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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19 DECEMBER 2023 — tuesday

• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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• Cobalt Poets presents a reading with featured poet Martin Parker, followed by an open mic, online via Zoom, free, 7:30 pm PST (Register to attend: www.poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt/calendar.html)
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20 DECEMBER 2023 — wednesday

• Medicine for Nightmares presents The Last Supper Party, a monthly spoken word and music series, curated by Kimi Sugioka and presented by San Francisco International Arts Festival, this month features Susan Dambroff, A Chair Keeps the Floor Down, Chris Kammler, and Jeff DeMark, Hard as a Diamond, Soft as the Dirt, followed by an open mic, Medicine for Nightmares Bookstore, 3036 24th Street, San Francisco, free, 7:00-9:00 pm PST (More information here: medicinefornightmares.com/events)
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• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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21 DECEMBER 2023 — thursday

• Medicine for Nightmares presents Speaking Axolotl, the monthly Latinx/Chicanx reading series every third Thursday of the month, with featured reader Aziz Córdova, hosted by poet Josiah Luis Alderete, Baby Axolotls & Old Pochos, Medicine for Nightmares Bookstore, 3036 24th Street, San Francisco, free, 7:00-9:00 pm PST (More information here: medicinefornightmares.com/events)
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• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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22 DECEMBER 2023 — friday

• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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23 DECEMBER 2023 — saturday

• The Holiday Poetry Hotline is featuring free, live readings for one day only, call in to (310) 853-3952 between 2:00-5:00 pm PST for poetry from the curated list or request a custom poem, from December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, by phone, free, 2:00-5:00 pm PST
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24 DECEMBER 2023 — sunday

• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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• Medicine for Nightmares presents Odd Verse Reading Series, a collective that aims to amplify voices that deserve more representation, and to create a space for those people to express their art fully and unapologetically, this month featuring KAT, followed by an open mic, Medicine for Nightmares Bookstore, 3036 24th Street, San Francisco, free/donations welcome, 4:30-7:00 pm, sign-ups for the open mic begin at 5:00 pm PST (More information here: medicinefornightmares.com/events)
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25 DECEMBER 2023 — monday

• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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26 DECEMBER 2023 — tuesday

• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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27 DECEMBER 2023 — wednesday

• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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28 DECEMBER 2023 — thursday

• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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29 DECEMBER 2023 — friday

• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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30 DECEMBER 2023 — saturday

• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952Online
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• The West Hollywood Public Library presents a poetry workshop led by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng, Braided Spaces, the workshop will focus on a form of poetry created by Cheng, Feng Shui Poetry, and attendees will learn to write their messages through the lens of the Five Elements, free, Meeting Room, West Hollywood Library, 625 North San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, 10:30 am-12:30 pm PST (Register to attend: www.weho.org/community/arts-and-culture/holiday)
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31 DECEMBER 2023 — sunday

• From December 18 to December 31, call in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline, hosted by Jen Cheng, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, for recordings of poems, including writings from previous West Hollywood City Poets Laureates Steven Reigns, Kim Dowers, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace, as well as other curated poems, recordings are free and available 24/7 during this period, hotline number is (310) 853-3952
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