< previous month  |  next month >

1 OCTOBER 2015 — thursday

CENTRAL:
• First Saturday Open Reading, Bay Area Poets Coalition (BAPC), three to five minutes, park on the street, not in the SCL parking lot, check front desk for meeting location, usually 4th Floor Movie Room, Strawberry Creek Lodge, 1320 Addison Street, Berkeley, 3:00-5:00 (510/527-9905, www.bayareapoetscoalition.org)
  event page
• The Poetry Center presents Katy Bohinc, Dear Alain, her critique of Western philosophy mostly addressed to Alain Badiou, and Paul Ebenkamp, The Louder the Room the Darker the Screen and Four Colors for the Based God, The Poetry Center, San Francisco State University, Humanities 412, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, free, 4:30-6:00 (415/338-2227, www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
  event page
• The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco presents U.S. Poet Laureate and former California Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, the first Mexican American to hold the national position, opening poem by Oakland’s Youth Poet Laureate Tova Ricardo, a junior at Bentley High School; community partners: Litquake, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, and Youth Speaks, Jewish Community Center of San Franciso, 3200 California Street, San Francisco, tickets $27 standard, $37 premium, ten percent off for members, 7:00 (415/292-1200, www.jccsf.org)
  event page

2 OCTOBER 2015 — friday

CENTRAL:
• "Shades of Infinite Song: Photography by Naomi Onaga and Poetry from FBCA/Alameda Island Poets," an Art and Poetry Happening with an exhibition of ekphrastic art, with poetry and music featuring Jack Chang, Sharon Coleman, Cathy Dana, Masami Fukuzumi, Rafael Jesús González, Persephone Hintlian, Kit Kennedy, Julia Park Tracey, Bernadette Perez, Vince Storti, Emmanuel Williams and Robert Williams, live music and jam with Heather Kipnis, Jennifer Moore, and Carina Louise Rose Renner; bring your instruments, Frank Bette Center for the Arts, Signature Gallery, 1601 Paru Street, Alameda, reception 7:00, artist talk followed by reading/performances 8:00 (www.frankbettecenter.org)
  event page
• The Poetry Center and The Green Arcade present a reading from and celebration of the late poet Michael Gizzi's Collected Poems, edited by Clark Coolidge and Craig Watson, with an introduction by William Corbett, including all of the poets books plus more than 100 pages of unpublished poetry covering the years 1975-2010, with Micah Ballard, Dodie Bellamy, Alan Bernheimer, Katy Bohinc, Brandon Brown, Norma Cole, Clark Coolidge, Brent Cunningham, Jean Day, Steve Dickison, Patrick Dunagan, Derek Fenner, Tonya M. Foster, Gloria Frym, Susan Gevirtz, Andrew Joron, Kevin Killian, David Meltzer, Laura Moriarty, Jason Morris, Julian Poirier, Ahni Robinson, Kit Robinson, Kit Schluter, Cedar Sigo, Aaron Simon, Alli Warren, Stephanie Young; Michael Gizzi was born in 1949 and died in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2010, this reading curated by Alan Bernheimer and Kit Robinson, The Green Arcade, 1680 Market Street, at Gough, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (415/338-2227, www.sfsu.edu/~poetry, see Facebook for more information)
  event page

3 OCTOBER 2015 — saturday

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

4 OCTOBER 2015 — sunday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry Flash presents tribute reading from the work of the late poet Steve Kowit by Jack Marshall, Alan Williamson, Richard Silberg, Joyce Jenkins, Dennis Schmitz, David Shaddock, and artist Lenny Silverberg, celebrating the posthumous publication of two new books on and by Steve Kowit, request ASL interpreters one week in advance from editor@poetryflash.org, wheelchair accessible, Diesel, A Bookstore, 5433 College Avenue, Oakland, 3:00 (510/653-9965, dieselbookstore.com)
  event page
• The Music of the Word/La Palabra Musical Open Mic in English, Spanish, Spanglish y Lo Que Sea, plus a reading by featured poet Kirk Lumpkin and poet/musician Noris Binet, hosted by Avotcja, bring congas, guiros, maracas, panderetas, wheelchair accessible, Café Leila, 1724 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, donation, 5:00-7:00 (510/525-7544, www.avotcja.org or www.cafeleila.com)
  event page

5 OCTOBER 2015 — monday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry Express presents Katy Brown, plus open mic, hosted by Jan Dedrick, Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00-9:00 (PoetryExpress@gmail.com, poetryexpressberkeley.blogspot.com)
  event page
• Poetry reading by Dan Richman plus open mic, hosted by Jerry Ferraz, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, San Francisco, 7:00-9:00 (415/586-3733, www.birdbeckett.com)
  event page

EAST:
• Patricia Caspers reads with representatives from West Trestle Review, hosted by Wendy Williams, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 7:30 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
  event page

6 OCTOBER 2015 — tuesday

CENTRAL:
• KPFA Radio 94.1 FM and Pegasus Books present Richard Dawkins, Brief Candle in the Dark, My Life in Science, which explores the halls of intellectual inquiry and stardom encountered after his publication of The Selfish Gene, hosted by Brian Edwards-Tiekert, King Middle School, 1781 Rose Street, Berkeley, purchase online at Brown Paper Tickets, $20 admission/$40 admission/book, $50 two admissions/one book, 7:30 (www.pegasusbookstore.com)
  event page

7 OCTOBER 2015 — wednesday

CENTRAL:
• Book launch for Paulette Boudreaux's novel, Mulberry, winner of the inaugural Lee Smith Novel Prize from Carolina Wren Press, refreshments, wheelchair accessible, Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Avenue,
  event page
• North Berkeley Senior Center Elder Voices features Joan Gatten, founder of the Elder Voices Performance and Open Mic Series and Oral History Project at the North Berkeley Senior Center, reading from the Migration Stories series, plus Open Mic for stories, music, poetry, humor, ten -minute limit, North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Avenue, Multi-Purpose Room, Berkeley, free, 1:00-4:00 (510-234-0727)
  event page
• Building the Golden Gate Bridge: A Workers' Oral History, by labor historian Harvey Schwartz, compiles oral histories of nine workers whose recollections chronicle the details of construction, physical conditions, small pleasures, and gruesome accidents of building the iconic bridge, The Green Arcade, 1680 Market Street, at Gough, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/338-2227, www.thegreenarcade.com)
  event page

8 OCTOBER 2015 — thursday

CENTRAL:
• The Poetry Circle is a participation-based reading, bring original work or poems from any person, period, and place, Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue Avenue, Berkeley, 6:30 (510/981-6820, www. berkeleypubliclibrary.org/events/poetry-circle-claremont)
  event page
• Poetry Flash presents a book launch for Christina Hutchins's Tender the Maker, with a reading by Stella Beratlis, request ASL interpreters one week in advance from editor@poetryflash.org, wheelchair accessible, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, www.moesbooks.com)
  event page
• Bird & Beckett Book Club, all welcome to discuss Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror, and Deliverance in the City of Love, by David Talbot, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, San Francisco, 7:00-9:00 (415/586-3733, www.birdbeckett.com)
  event page
• The Oral History Working Group collects migration stories and stories of Bay Area natives, practice interviews on video, North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Avenue, Health Room, Berkeley, 3:00-4:45 (510-234-0727)
  event page
• Poets Aaron Simon and Kit Robinson read from their new books, the evening is introduced by Alan Bernheimer, The Green Arcade, 1680 Market Street, at Gough, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/338-2227, www.thegreenarcade.com)
  event page

NORTH:
• Why There Are Words, an award-winning literary reading series, presents an evening of readings on the theme "Untoward" featuring poets and prose writers Jane Ciabattari, Daphne Gottlieb, Elizabeth Rosner, Jordan Rosenfeld, Alia Volz, Siamak Vossoughi, Naomi J. Williams, curated by founder Peg Alford Pursell, Studio 333, 333 Caledonia Street, Sausalito, $10, doors open 7:00, reading 7:15 (415/331-8272, www.whytherearewords.com)
  event page

9 OCTOBER 2015 — friday

CENTRAL:
• Last Word Reading Series presents a poetry reading by Larry Chrispyn and Ron Weisberg, plus open reading, co-hosts are Dale Jensen, Ralph Dranow, John Rowe, and Grace Grafton, Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid Avenue, north of Hearst, Berkeley, free but a one-drink or one-plate minimum is requested, 7:00-9:00 (Caffe: 510/841-6374)
  event page
• A celebration of the life of Richard O. Moore (1920-2015), a central figure in the "San Francisco Renaissance" of poetry and art in the 1950s and beyond, one of the founders of KPFA radio in Berkeley in 1949, the first public radio station in America; includes a screening of short classic segments of his film series, USA: Poetry, Brenda Hillman, Garrett Caples, and Paul Ebencamp read from his last collections of poetry, Writing the Silences and Particulars of Place, Richard's daughter Flinn Moore Rauck, will read, hosted by David Reid, refreshments, Mythos Fine Art & Artifacts at Firehouse North, 1790 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, donations, 6:30 (www.mythosfirehouse.com)
  event page

10 OCTOBER 2015 — saturday

CENTRAL:
• The 8th Annual Beat Poetry Festival presents poets, one to two generations younger than the original "Beats," who invoke the Muse of the Beat heritage, hosted by Terry Adams and Fred Dodsworth, two-day event featuring Avotcja, Bette O'Callaghan, Bill Vartnaw, Blake More, Bob Dickerson, Carl Macki, Caroline Goodwin, Cassandra Dallett, Chris Olander, Clive Matson, Daniel McKenzie, Daphne Gottlieb, Donna Nito, Fred Dodsworth, Gaetana Caldwell-Smith, Garrett Murphy, Gary Horsman, Gwynn O'Gara, Jack and Adelle Foley, Jannie Dresser, Jeanne Powell, Jennifer Swanton Brown, Jezebel Delilah, Joe Cottonwood, John Oliver Simon, Juanita J. Martin, Jym Marks, Katie Tomzynski, Kim Shuck, Kirk Lumpkin, Leah Lubin, Mary Marcia Casoly, Mary D. Winegarden, Maurine Killough, Mk Chavez, Paul Corman-Roberts, Peter Sherburn-Zimmer, Philip Hackett, Riki Chin, Sarah Kobrinsky, Steve Arntson, Terry Adams, Tracey Knapp, William Taylor Jr., and Word Music Continuum, San Francisco Beat Museum, 540 Broadway, San Francisco, 1:00-6:00 (www.kerouac.com)
  event page
• Poetry and Prose, features followed by open mic, hosted by Jeanne Lupton, Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru Street at Lincoln, Alameda, 7:00-9:00, (510/523-6957, www.frankbettecenter.org)
  event page
• Maw Shein Win reads from her poetry, followed by an interview and discussion; she is an editor for Rivet, former Artist-in-Residence at the Headlands Center for the Arts, and her chapbook, Ruins of a Glittering Palace, may be borrowed from Berkeley Public Library branches, Berkeley Public Library, Claremont Branch, 2940 Benvenue at Ashby, wheelchair accessible, free, 2:00-3:00 (www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org)
  event page

SOUTH:
• Monterey Public Library presents a Poetry Writing Workshop with Patrice Vecchione, a poet, playwright, and teacher with over twenty years experience, the workshop features exercises and feedback, open to both adults and mature teens, Monterey Public Library, Library Community Room, 625 Pacific Street, Monterey, free/pre-registration is required, contact Jeanne McCombs to sign up, 2:00-3:30 (to register: 831/646-3949, mccombs@monterey.org)
  event page

11 OCTOBER 2015 — sunday

CENTRAL:
• Valona Deli presents a poetry reading by Kathryn Ridall and Susan Wilson, open mic follows, hosted by Connie Post, Terry Henry Jazz Trio performs after poetry, Valona Deli, 1323 Pomona Street, Crockett, reading 4:00, open mic 5:00 (510/787-2022)
  event page
• The 8th Annual Beat Poetry Festival presents poets, one to two generations younger than the original "Beats," who invoke the Muse of the Beat heritage, hosted by Terry Adams and Fred Dodsworth, two-day event featuring Avotcja, Bette O'Callaghan, Bill Vartnaw, Blake More, Bob Dickerson, Carl Macki, Caroline Goodwin, Cassandra Dallett, Chris Olander, Clive Matson, Daniel McKenzie, Daphne Gottlieb, Donna Nito, Fred Dodsworth, Gaetana Caldwell-Smith, Garrett Murphy, Gary Horsman, Gwynn O'Gara, Jack and Adelle Foley, Jannie Dresser, Jeanne Powell, Jennifer Swanton Brown, Jezebel Delilah, Joe Cottonwood, John Oliver Simon, Juanita J. Martin, Jym Marks, Katie Tomzynski, Kim Shuck, Kirk Lumpkin, Leah Lubin, Mary Marcia Casoly, Mary D. Winegarden, Maurine Killough, Mk Chavez, Paul Corman-Roberts, Peter Sherburn-Zimmer, Philip Hackett, Riki Chin, Sarah Kobrinsky, Steve Arntson, Terry Adams, Tracey Knapp, William Taylor Jr., and Word Music Continuum, San Francisco Beat Museum, 540 Broadway, San Francisco, 1:00-6:00 (www.kerouac.com)
  event page

NORTH:
• Litquake presents an all-day "LitCrawl" as part of its annual literary festival, strollers can hear work in many genres including readings featuring the four past and current Marin Poet Laureates and Sixteen Rivers Press authors, fifteen to eighteen different venues within walking distance, San Rafael (Litquake San Rafael)
  event page

12 OCTOBER 2015 — monday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry Express presents their weekly open mic, hosted by Jim Barnard, Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00-9:00 (PoetryExpress@gmail.com, poetryexpressberkeley.blogspot.com)
  event page

EAST:
• Sacramento Poetry Center reading with featured poets, hosted by Emmanuel Sigauke, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 7:30 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
  event page

13 OCTOBER 2015 — tuesday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry at the Albany Library featured poetry reading, open mic follows, hosted by Catherine Taylor, Albany Library, Edith Stone Room, 1247 Marin Avenue, Albany, free, 7:00-9:00 (510/526-3720, www.aclibrary.org)
  event page

14 OCTOBER 2015 — wednesday

CENTRAL:
• Litquake: Radar Productions presents the #QueerLit, Radar Reading Series, LitQuake Edition, featuring Sara Jaffe, Elizabth Beier, Robin Coste Lewis, Allison Moon, hosted by Radar's new Executive Director Juliana Delgado Lopera, there will be cookies, San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch, 100 Larkin Street, Latino/Hispanic Community Room (basement level), free, 6:00 (www.radarproductions.org)
  event page
• Litquake: Tribute to Squaw Valley Community of Writers, "Go Tell it On the Mountain," SVCW will be recognized by Litquake with the annual Barbary Coast Award, presented to "a dynamic Bay Area author or literary organization for a lifetime of literary achievement," featuring SVCW alums, faculty, including Heather Altfeld, Anita Amirrezvani, Ramona Ausubel, Sands Hall, Robert Hass, Brenda Hillman, Troy Jollimore, Nayomi Munaweera, David Perlman, Elizabeth Rosner, Amy Tan, Christopher Upham, Al Young, Matthew Zapruder, live music by Los Train Wreck, Z Space, 450 Florida Street, San Francisco, tickets $15 in advance/at door, 8:00 (www.litquake.org)
  event page
• Journalist and adventurer Jason Mark presents Satellites in the High Country: Searching for the Wild in the Age of Man, The Green Arcade, 1680 Market Street, at Gough, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/338-2227, www.thegreenarcade.com)
  event page
• Joseph Matthews reads from Everyone Has Their Reasons, a World War II novel based on a true story, introduction by Sasha Lilley, refreshments, wheelchair accessible, Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck, Berkeley, free, 7:30 (www.pegasusbookstore.com)
  event page

EAST:
• Open Mic Night hosted by Sandra Dolores, voted "Best 2015 Open-Mic Nite" (top three) by Sacramento News & Review, at Sacramento's oldest bar, Old Ironsides, 1901 10th Street, Sacramento, free, sign up 8:30, show 9:00, (916/443-9751, www.theoldironsides.com)
  event page

15 OCTOBER 2015 — thursday

CENTRAL:
• Litquake: The Gamut event features award-winning writers and artists Elizabeth Block, Katia Noyes, Liz Harvey, and Alison Owings, a reading and performance of "unimaginable spaces, far off places, and audience participation iterations," Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, Glen Park, San Francisco, 7:00-9:00 (415/586-3733, www.birdbeckett.com)
  event page

NORTH:
• Marin Poetry Center presents a book launch for the new Marin Poetry Center Anthology 2015, with readings by contributing poets Falkirk Cultural Center, 1408 Mission Street, San Rafael, 7:30 (www.marinpoetrycenter.org)
  event page

EAST:
• Literary Lecture: Celtic Poetry Series, with Tony Kendrew speaking on "Three Welsh Thomases," Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, free, 7:00-8:00 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
  event page
• Joe Montoya's Poetry Unplugged, open mic every Thursday, with guest hosts in rotation: Frank Andrick, Geoffrey Neill, Lawrence E. Dinkins, Jr., Sho'Nuff, and Jennilyn; since 1995 the longest running open mic poetry reading in northern California, featuring spoken word, poetry, and music, chosen "Best Place To Hear Poetry" by Sacramento News & Review, Luna's Cafe & Juice Bar, 1414 16th Street, Sacramento, $2 cover or one drink minimum, 8:00 (916/441-3931, www.lunascafe.com)
  event page
• Poetry Reading hosted Mary Zeppa and Lawrence Dinkins, Poetry at the Central Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento, Noon,
  event page

16 OCTOBER 2015 — friday

CENTRAL:
• Expressions Art Gallery Reading, featured reading plus open mic, refreshments, Expressions Art Gallery, 2035 Ashby Avenue, near the Ashby BART station, Berkeley, 7:00-9:00 (510/644-4930, www.expressionsgallery.org)
  event page

EAST:
• Sit N' Spin Poetry Slam, ten poets, three rounds, three minutes each, Luna's Cafe & Juice Bar, 1414 16th Street, Sacramento, free, 8:00 (916/441-3931, www.lunascafe.com)
  event page

17 OCTOBER 2015 — saturday

CENTRAL:
• Litquake Lit Crawl: PAWA Presents: In the Ring, LitCrawl-Phase 1 event presents James C. Bautista, Veronica Montes, Barbara Jane Reyes, Janice Sapigao, Elsa Valmidiano, Elixer, 3200 16th Street, San Francisco, free, 6:00-7:00 (www.litquake.org)
  event page
• Litquake Lit Crawl: Excitable Tulips & Wooly Roses, LitCrawl-Phase 1 event presents Rebecca Black, Dana Kletter, Katie Peterson, Rachel Richardson, Alexandra Teague, Ampersand Floristry, 80 Albion Street, San Francisco, free, 6:00-7:00 (www.litquake.org)
  event page
• Litquake Lit Crawl: Omnibucket: Action Fiction!, LitCrawl-Phase 1 event presents Ben Black, Eric Myers, Benjamin Wachs, James Warner, Olga Zilberbourg, Mission Police Station, 630 Valencia Street, San Francisco, free, 6:00-7:00 (www.litquake.org)
  event page
• Litquake Lit Crawl: SFPL Bookmobile, LitCrawl-Phase 1 event presents SFPL Bookmobile outside Elbo Room, 647 Valencia Street, San Francisco, free, 6:00-7:00 (www.litquake.org)
  event page
• Litquake Lit Crawl: Sex, Drugs, and Mammary Glands, LitCrawl-Phase 1 event presents Robin Bruns Worona, Meaghan Calcari Campbell, Andrea Ghoorah-Sieminski, Lochlann Jain, Emily Kaplan, Jenni Mork, Lori Wallace, Public Works (Loft), 161 Erie Street, San Francisco, free, 6:00-7:00 (www.litquake.org)
  event page
• Litquake Lit Crawl: Saint Mary's MFA Program in Creative Writing 20th Anniversary Reading, LitCrawl-Phase 1 event presents Paul EbenKamp, Kelly Gemmil, Yuska Lufti, Erin Lindsay McCabe, The Armory Club, 1799 Mission Street, San Francisco, free, 6:00-7:00 (www.litquake.org)
  event page
• Litquake Lit Crawl: Stanford Continuing Studies: Writers Without Borders, LitCrawl-Phase 1 event presents Maria Geronimo, Joan Gibson, Marie Iding, Linda Lombroso, Divya Raman, Elaine Ray, Marilyn Spener, Stanza Coffee 3126 16th Street, San Francisco, free, 6:00-7:00 (www.litquake.org)
  event page
• Litquake Lit Crawl: KQED Presents: Warrior Women, LitCrawl-Phase 1 event presents Denise Jolly, Ben McCoy, Natasha Muse, Kamala Puligandla, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Elbo Room (Upstairs), 647 Valencia Street, San Francisco, free, 6:00-7:00 (www.litquake.org)
  event page
• The sixteenth annual Litquake, San Francisco’s Literary Festival, presents its eleventh annual Lit Crawl in the Mission District’s Valencia Street corridor, an extravaganza featuring over one hundred literary readings and events, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, comedy, and more, in bookstores, bars, galleries, restaurants, stores, cafes, community spaces, a bookmobile, a vibrator store, and a police station, in three phases: 6:00-7:00, 7:15-8:15, 8:30-9:30 (see website for schedule: www.litquake.org)
  event page
• Litquake Lit Crawl: Radar Productions #QueerLit, LitCrawl-Phase 1 event presents Michelle Tea, Maya Chinchilla, Baruch Porras-Hernandez, Kat Marie Yoas, Elbo Room, 647 Valencia Street, San Francisco, free, 6:00-7:00 (www.litquake.org)
  event page
• CANCELED: Alta Solano Lit Out Loud monthly series presents a poetry reading by Annie Stenzel, Chana Bloch, and Carol Dorf, an open mic opens the evening, hosted by Jannie Dresser, Folk & Fine Art Gallery, 1861-A Solano Avenue, Berkeley, $5-$10 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds, 7:30-9:00 (janniedres@att.net, www.folkandfineart.com)
  event page
• Sixteen Rivers at Sixteen: Anniversary Party and Reading for Sixteen Rivers Press, nonprofit poetry collective, featuring acclaimed poets Dean Young and Matthew Zapruder, silent auction and light refreshments, private home, 2801 Claremont Blvd., Berkeley, sliding scale begins at $25, a limited number of tickets may be available at the door, 3:00-6:00 ( http://sixteenriversfundraiser2015.brownpapertickets.com, www.sixteenrivers.org/donate)
  event page

EAST:
• Sacramento Voices features Karen Terrey and LaVerne Frith, hosted by Phillip Larrea, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, free, 4:00-6:00 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
  event page

18 OCTOBER 2015 — sunday

CENTRAL:
• The Music of the Word/La Palabra Musical Open Mic in English, Spanish, Spanglish y Lo Que Sea, plus a reading by featured poet Katherine Hastings and poet/journalist Miguel Gavilan Molina, hosted by Avotcja, bring congas, guiros, maracas, panderetas, wheelchair accessible, Café Leila, 1724 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, donation, 5:00-7:00 (510/525-7544, www.avotcja.org or www.cafeleila.com)
  event page

NORTH:
• Healdsburg Literary Guild Third Sunday Salon presents a featured reading and open mic, wheelchair accessible, Bean Affair Coffee Shop, 1270 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, free, 1:30-3:30 (707/395-0177, www.facebook.com/HealdsburgLiteraryGuild)
  event page

EAST:
• Mosaic of Voices presents Emmanuel Sigauke, hosted by Nancy Aidé Gonzalez,
  event page
• Manzanita Writers Press presents Glenn Wasson with stories about the Mother Lode from his book, Too Much to Swallow, Jim Fletcher will sign his new book, Mark Twain's 88 Days in the Mother Lode & Stories of the Gold Rush, plus open mic for tales, poetry, or stand-up humor, a specialty beer tasting, raffle, and no-host dinner with writers afterwards, Murphys Historic Hotel, 457 Main Street, Murphys, 3:00 (call Monika: 209/768-9021, www.manzapress.com)
  event page

19 OCTOBER 2015 — monday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry Express presents Barbara Atkinson, open mic follows, hosted by Bruce Bagnell, Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00-9:00 (PoetryExpress@gmail.com, poetryexpressberkeley.blogspot.com)
  event page
• Poetry reading by Alexis Spencer-Byers, Another's Treasure, plus open mic, hosted by Jerry Ferraz, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, Glen Park, San Francisco, 7:00-9:00 (415/586-3733, www.birdbeckett.com)
  event page

EAST:
• Book launch: Irv Rothstein reads from his new collection, It Couldn't Have Been the Money, hosted by Bob Stanley, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 7:30 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
  event page

20 OCTOBER 2015 — tuesday

CENTRAL:
• Cassandra Dallett reads from her chapbook, The Water Wars, with guest readers Tongo Eisen-Martin, Jezebel Delilah X, James Cagney, and Joel Landmine!; The Water Wars is the first in a series of chapbook releases by The Pedestrian Press, featuring Bay Area poets of note, refreshments, wheelchair accessible, Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:30 (510/649-1320, www.pegasusbookstore.com)
  event page
• City Lights Books presents their legendary founder, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, celebrating the release of his long-awaited new book, Writing Across the Landscape 1960-2013, a panoramic portrait of art and life across the twentieth century, edited by Giada Diano and Matt Gleeson appearing in person with the author, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
  event page

SOUTH:
• Santa Clara Review's Writing Forward Reading Series presents a poetry reading by California Book Award-winning poet, Alexandra Teague, author of Mortal Geography and The Wise and Foolish Builders, her work has been featured in the Best American Poetry anthology, Saint Clare Room, Orradre Library, Third Floor, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, free, 5:00-6:00 (www.santaclarareview.com)
  event page

21 OCTOBER 2015 — wednesday

CENTRAL:
• CD release party for My Black Angel with a reading and performance by poet and fiction writer Kim Addonizio, poet Peter Kline, and others; a word/music set will be followed by a blues band featuring Tarik Fawal's searing guitar, cash bar, books and CDs for sale, Madrone Art Bar, 500 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, 9:00 (415/241-0202, www.madroneartbar.com)
  event page
• Lyrics & Dirges series features poets Missy Church and Denise Benavides, also featured readers chosen by submission: Paul Corman-Roberts, Youssef Alaoui, Stephanie Sherman, Javier O. Huerta, SB Stokes, Maw Shein Win, Riss Rosado, Scott Duncan, Emily Kiernan, Rei Jackler, Andrew J. Thomas, wheelchair accessible, Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (www.pegasusbookstore.com)
  event page
• New York poet and prose writer Eileen Myles reads to celebrate the release of her new collection,I Must Be Living Twice: New and Selected Poems, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
  event page
• Iconic Berkeley Poetry Slam, rotating hosts include Jaz Sufi, Sam Sax, Tim "Toaster" Henderson, Sevan, and Dre, with music from either Three Blind Mice Improv Jazz Band or DJ Freeze, special guest poet featured weekly, The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Avenue, at Prince, Berkeley, cover $7, cash prizes, sign up 8:00 (www.thestarryplough.com)
  event page
• Reading and book signing with Elijah Wald, author of Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties, ten percent discount for advance book purchase, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, Glen Park, San Francisco, 7:00-8:30 (415/586-3733, www.birdbeckett.com)
  event page

EAST:
• Open Mic Night hosted by Sandra Dolores, voted "Best Open-Mic Nite" (top three) by Sacramento News & Review from Best of Sacramento 2015: Arts & Entertainment readers' picks, at Sacramento's oldest bar, Old Ironsides, 1901 10th Street, Sacramento, free, sign up 8:30, show 9:00, (916/443-9751, www.theoldironsides.com)
  event page

22 OCTOBER 2015 — thursday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry Flash presents a reading by Marsha de la O and Lisa Erin Robertson, request ASL interpreters one week in advance from editor@poetryflash.org, wheelchair accessible, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, www.moesbooks.com)
  event page
• The Poetry Center presents Tonya M. Foster, A Swarm of Bees in High Court, co-editor of Third Mind: Creative Writing through Visual Art, and David Buuck, Site Cite City, An Army of Lovers, editor of Tripwire, a journal of poetics, The Poetry Center, San Francisco State University, Humanities 412, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, free, 4:30-6:00 (415/338-2227, www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
  event page
• Great Weather for Media presents their new anthology Before Passing, reading and release party featuring contributing poets and writers Deborah Steinberg, Will Gibson, Kit Kennedy, Richard Loranger, Sara Mithra, Elizabeth Rosner, Ken Saffran, and Joan Gelfand, hosted by Great Weather for Media editor Jane Ormerod; the anthology itself features an interview with the legendary Anne Waldman, a brief open mic starts the evening, The Beat Museum, 540 Broadway, just east of Columbus Street, San Francisco, free, 7:00,
  event page
• Dual author event features a reading and book signing with John King, author of Cityscapes 2: Reading the Architecture of San Francisco, and J. K. Dineen, High Spirits: The Legacy Bars of San Francisco, ten percent discount for advance book purchase, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, Glen Park, San Francisco, 7:00-8:30 (415/586-3733, www.birdbeckett.com)
  event page
• The Holloway Poetry Series presents a reading by poet and scholar Srikanth Reddy, Voyager, and Readings in World Literature, joined by live music from The Larry Ochs - Don Robinson Duo, also reading is graduate student Ismail Muhammad, Maude Fife Room, Third Floor, Wheeler Hall 315, University of California campus, Berkeley, music 6:00, reading 6:30 (hollowayreadingseries.wordpress.com)
  event page
• Kay Ryan reads from her new collection of poetry, Erratic Facts, she was U.S. Poet Laureate 2008-2010, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)
  event page

EAST:
• Literary Lecture: Celtic Poetry Series, with Michael Gorman speaking on "Poetry, Druids, and the Celtic Bardic Tradition," Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, free, 7:00-8:00 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
  event page
• The Quinton Duval Poetry Series presents a reading by Sixteen Rivers Press poet and translator Lynne Knight, Again, with poet, medievalist, and translator Dorothy Gilbert reading from her brand new translation Marie de France: Poetry, refreshments, Logos Books, 513 Second Street, Davis, 7:30 (530/400-1083, logosbooks.wordpress.com)
  event page
• Joe Montoya's Poetry Unplugged, open mic with guest hosts, every Thursday, with guest hosts in rotation: Frank Andrick, Geoffrey Neill, Lawrence E. Dinkins, Jr., Sho'Nuff, and Jennilyn; since 1995 the longest running open mic poetry reading in northern California, spoken word, poetry, and music, chosen "Best Place To Hear Poetry" by Sacramento News & Review, Best of Sacramento 2015: Arts & Entertainment readers' picks, Luna's Cafe & Juice Bar, 1414 16th Street, Sacramento, $2 cover or one drink minimum, 8:00 (916/441-3931, www.lunascafe.com)
  event page

23 OCTOBER 2015 — friday

CENTRAL:
• Madison Young is a radical feminist, artist, and filmmaker dedicated to creating a space for love, facilitating safe spaces to dialogue on fringe identities and culture, and documenting healthy expression of sexuality, her writings have appeared in Best Sex Writing of 2013, her forthcoming book is the DIY Porn Manual: Documenting On Our Own Sexual Revolution, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, www.moesbooks.com)
  event page

24 OCTOBER 2015 — saturday

CENTRAL:
• Great Weather for Media presents their new anthology Before Passing with a reading and release party featuring contributing poets and prose writers Paul Corman-Roberts, Lauren Marie Cappello, Cassandra Dallett, Will Gibson, Mary Mackey, Jane Ormerod, and Floyd Salas, hosted by Richard Loranger; the anthology itself also features an interview with the legendary Anne Waldman, a brief open mic starts the evening, The Octopus Literary Salon, 2101 Webster Street, Oakland, free, 5:00 (510/388-1043, www.oaklandoctopus.org)
  event page
• Marcia Falk’s The Days Between: Blessings, Poems, and Directions of the Heart for the Jewish High Holiday Season, includes new Hebrew and English blessings and prayers with poems, and meditations for quiet reflection, many of her blessings are contained in the Kehilla machzor; Melissa Stein’s poetry collection Rough Honey won the 2010 APR/Honickman First Book Prize, selected by Mark Doty; this is the first in a series of literary readings by Jewish writers in the Bay Area and beyond, the reading will be followed by discussion, music and refreshments, Kehilla Community Synagogue, Fireside Room, 1300 Grand Avenue, Piedmont, suggested donation $10, no one turned away for lack of funds, 7:00 (510/547-2424)
  event page
• Poetry and Prose, features followed by open mic, hosted by Jeanne Lupton, Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru Street at Lincoln, Alameda, 7:00-9:00, (510/523-6957, www.frankbettecenter.org)
  event page
• Project Censored Book Release with Mickey Huff, Andy Lee Roth, and others, the annual anthology features the top twenty-five underreported news stories as voted by scholars, journalists, and activists across the country and around the world, striving to unmask censorship, self-censorship, and propaganda in corporate-controlled media outlets, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00 (510/849-2087, www.moesbooks.com)
  event page
• Writers with Drinks! spoken word "variety show" mixes poetry, stand-up comedy, science fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, literary fiction, erotica, memoir, zines and blogs in a freewheeling format, tonight featuring fiction writer Adam Johnson, The Orphan Master's Son; Faith Adiele, Meeting Faith: The Forest Journals of a Black Buddhist Nun, a personal narrative; Charlie Jane Anders emcees and vamps, proceeds benefit the Center for Sex and Culture, The Make Out Room, 3223 22nd Street, San Francisco, $5-$20, doors open 6:30, show 7:30-9:30 (www.writerswithdrinks.com)
  event page

25 OCTOBER 2015 — sunday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry Flash presents a reading by Peter Neil Carroll and Lucille Lang Day, request ASL interpreters one week in advance from editor@poetryflash.org, wheelchair accessible, Diesel, A Bookstore, 5433 College Avenue, Oakland, 3:00 (510/653-9965, dieselbookstore.com)
  event page
• Misisipi Mike presents "October in the Railroad Earth," a folksy tribute to Woody Guthrie and to Jack Kerouac's "October in the Railroad Earth," Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, Glen Park, San Francisco, 7:30-10:00 (415/586-3733, www.birdbeckett.com)
  event page
• A monthly literary talk, last Sunday monthly (except July, August, and December), Walker Brents III holds a wide-ranging investigation into topics literary, mythological and otherwise, from William Blake to Bob Dylan, Shakespeare to the Kalevala, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, Glen Park, San Francisco, 2:30-4:00 (415/586-3733, www.birdbeckett.com)
  event page

26 OCTOBER 2015 — monday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry Express presents an open reading of poems prompted by the phrase "Bringing in the sheaves," hosted by Nance Wogan, Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00-9:00 (PoetryExpress@gmail.com, poetryexpressberkeley.blogspot.com)
  event page

EAST:
• Poetry reading by Rebecca Foust, Paradise Drive, and John Oliver Simon, Grandpa's Syllables, hosted by Tim Kahl, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 7:30 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
  event page

27 OCTOBER 2015 — tuesday

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

28 OCTOBER 2015 — wednesday

CENTRAL:
• Iconic Berkeley Poetry Slam, rotating hosts include Jaz Sufi, Sam Sax, Tim "Toaster" Henderson, Sevan, and Dre, with music from either Three Blind Mice Improv Jazz Band or DJ Freeze, special guest poet featured weekly, The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Avenue, at Prince, Berkeley, cover $7, cash prizes, sign up 8:00 (www.thestarryplough.com)
  event page
• Saint Mary's College Creative Writing Reading Series presents a reading by fiction writer Cristina Garcia, King of Cuba, author of six novels and several for young readers; she has been nominated for a National Book Award and is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Whiting Writers' Award, and an NEA grant; the reading is co-presented by Lafayette Library and Learning Center's Disinguished Speaker Series, Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Suite 214, Lafayette, 7:30 www.lllc.org)
  event page
• Reading and book signing with Harvey Schwartz, Building the Golden Gate Bridge: A Workers' Oral History, ten percent discount on advance book purchase, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, Glen Park, San Francisco, 7:00-8:30 (415/586-3733, www.birdbeckett.com)
  event page

EAST:
• Open Mic Night hosted by Sandra Dolores, voted "Best 2015 Open-Mic Nite" (top three) by Sacramento News & Review, at Sacramento's oldest bar, Old Ironsides, 1901 10th Street, Sacramento, free, sign up 8:30, show 9:00, (916/443-9751, www.theoldironsides.com)
  event page

29 OCTOBER 2015 — thursday

CENTRAL:
• David Stephen Calonne discusses the late great twentieth century poet and fiction writer Charles Bukowski to celebrate the release of The Bell Tolls for No One by Charles Bukowski, his previously uncollected pulp fiction edited by David Stephen Calonne, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
  event page
• The Poetry Center presents a prose reading by John Keene, Counternarratives, The Poetry Center, San Francisco State University, Humanities 412, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, free, 4:30 (415/338-2227, www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
  event page
• Reception and booksigning with David Talbot, author of the new best-seller The Devil's Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government, and Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror, and Deliverance in the City of Love, The Green Arcade, 1680 Market Street, at Gough, San Francisco, 6:30 (415/338-2227, www.thegreenarcade.com)
  event page

EAST:
• Literary Lecture: Celtic Poetry Series, with Maureen Hurley speaking on "Axe-Heads and Blind Poets: Anthony Rafery, The End of a Bardic Literary Tradition," Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, free, 7:00-8:00 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
  event page
• Joe Montoya's Poetry Unplugged, open mic every Thursday with guest hosts in rotation: Frank Andrick, Geoffrey Neill, Lawrence E. Dinkins, Jr., Sho'Nuff, and Jennilyn; since 1995 the longest running open mic poetry reading in northern California, featuring spoken word, poetry, and music, chosen "Best Place To Hear Poetry" by Sacramento News & Review, Luna's Cafe & Juice Bar, 1414 16th Street, Sacramento, $2 cover or one drink minimum, 8:00 (916/441-3931, www.lunascafe.com)
  event page

30 OCTOBER 2015 — friday

CENTRAL:
• The Poetry Center at SFSU presents a reading by John Keene, Counternarratives, and his onstage conversation with Tan Khanh Cao, artist and bookseller, Green Apple Books on the Park, 1231 9th Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:30 (415/338-2227, www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
  event page

31 OCTOBER 2015 — saturday

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

< previous month  |  next month >