It's Getting Better in Verse
Poetry Keeps Shining Countywide
Word
You’ve heard about Inter|Act Spoken Word from me in this newsletter and some of you have already been to the lively new open mic at Abbott Square every other Tuesday evening. But this past week was my first time, and I highly encourage you to check it out if you haven’t been yet. Abbott Square Market provides the sound system, cozy heaters, access to food & drink, and a great set-up, then Kimberley Bermender provides the extremely inviting vibe and generous energy to listen to and share spoken word. Last Tuesday, spoken word meant poems, flash fiction, and rap. I loved how experienced performers and newbies (of all ages) shared the evening, and how Kimberley gracefully emceed. We’ve all been to open mics where none of that is true, and I’m here to tell you, this is the real deal. I look forward to more of these as the summer unfolds. Bring your peeps.
Upcoming Inter|Act Spoken Word dates: June 6: Open Mic; June 20: Pride Night. Co-hosted with Diversity Center of Santa Cruz.
More info and full calendar here.
News
Update on Poetry in the Park—In my last missive I announced an event co-sponsored by Santa Cruz County Parks which kicks off with a reading by three poets at 1pm on June 4. I’m back to announce that these readings will continue in 2023 and 2024 as Poetry in the Parks, sponsored by Santa Cruz County Parks. Four more events in 2023 and three in 2024 will take place Sundays from 1-2; lineup to come here, as I firm it up. Huge thanks to County Parks.
Contest
Local poet Alison Woolpert shared this info about a Haiku contest, deadline upcoming, and the organization which sponsors it. The Yuki Teikei Haiku Society (in existence for almost fifty years) sponsors the annual "Kiyoshi and Kiyoko Tokutomi Memorial Haiku Contest." The deadline for this year’s contest is May 31. All contest submission information—and so much more that YTHS offers—can be found at Yuki Teikei’s website.
Current Events
May 27 Community Writers of Santa Cruz County’s monthly Zoom reading takes place today, Saturday, 2:30-4:30. This month’s featured reader is Bob Gomez, Watsonville’s Poet Laureate.
May 28 Mic Drop @ 418 Project features poet-musician Hector the Alchemist. Sign-up list at 5; events at 5:30. Also features local rapper/hip-hop artist Persian Butter.
June 1 Mai Der Vang is the final visiting writer, via Zoom, to this spring’s Living Writers Series at UCSC, 5:20pm.
June 1 Organized and hosted by the tireless Magdalena Montagne, the next Watsonville Poet’s Circle reading takes place at 5pm at the Watsonville Public Library — and virtually; see link for details. I will read along with Andrena Zawinksi; open mic follows.
June 3 The long-running Poetry & Music in the Chadwick Garden at UCSC returns to kick off summer on Saturday, June 3, 12-2pm. The event is free and open to the public (registration required). Aideed Medina, Jennifer Ruby, Michael Hannon, Farnaz Fatemi and Lee Perron. World music by Paul and Emily Rangell.
Thanks, Farnaz.
Will try to make it to Abbott Square soon, but I just saw this as I haven't received updates on your posts, Farnaz. Glitch in the system? A problem for others, perhaps? Or are the alerts being diverted to spam?