----- Forwarded Message ----
From: ChicagoPoetry.com <chicagopoetry@...>
To: suzianne411@...
Sent: Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:38:17 AM
Subject: National Poetry Month Kicks Off

.
THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR

On Saturday, April 26, first see the Poets Club of
Chicago Poetry Wheel

http://www.chipublib.org/events/details/id/4617/

then see Charles Simic

http://www.chipublib.org/events/details/id/5281/

then YOU are the feature in the Poetry Cram

http://www.chipublib.org/events/details/id/5274/

======================

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH EVENTS

**Thur April 3: The Ninth Annual Citywide
Undergraduate Poetry Festival, 5:30 PM at Columbia
College Chicago Music Center Concert Hall, 1014
South Michigan Ave, brings together 12 poets from
Chicago-area colleges and universities to read
their work. A reception follows the reading. The
2008 readers are: Columbia College Chicago, Jess
Rose; Chicago State University, Iman Byfield;
DePaul University, Joe Collins; Loyola University,
Chelsea Eckel; National-Louis University, Terra
Cooks; Northeastern Illinois University, Eugene
Wagendorf; Northwestern University, Amanda
DeMarco; North Central College, Kevin Michael
Christy; Roosevelt University, LeeAnn Whittemore;
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Jennifer
Swann; University of Chicago, Kevin Busch;
University of Illinois-Chicago, Beatriz Ruiz.

**Thu April 3: Berwyn Cultural Center, 6420 16th
Street, Berwyn, presents a 16th Street Theater
presentation of Kevin Stein and Susan Hahn, with
performances by Amy Dunlap, Greg Hardigan, and
Kathleen Powers, 7 PM, free but seating is
limited, reserve tickets by calling at (708)
795-6704 ext 500 or emailing
info@...,

**Fri April 4: Flat File Galleries, 217 North
Carpenter St, will host a great big poetry event
called The Marriage of Poetry that will feature
Emily Calvo, Stella Radulescu, Emily Rose, Judith
Valente, Charles Reynard, Tristan Silverman, Mike
Puican, Dina Elenbogen, Chris Green, Elise
Paschen, Lauren Levato, Sarah Gardner, Susan
Aurinko, Michael Splendoria, Anastasia Royal,
Rachel Webster and many others, including film,
dance, art and food. The party starts at 5:30 PM
and goes to 10 PM or beyond and get this, it's
FREE.

**Sat April 5: Cynthia Gallaher will be leading
"Meeting the Muse: Poetry Writing Workshop" on
Saturday, April 5 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at
the Chicago Public Library, Albany Park Branch,
5150 N. Kimball Ave. Open to the public. Register
by calling 312-744-1933. The workshop is part of
the Chicago Public Library's CityVerse series of
poetry events.

**Mon April 7: Jak's Tap, 901 W. Jackson in
Chicago, presents Waiting 4 The Bus hosted by
Buddha309, with open mic and tonight's feature CJ
Laity, 7:30 to 10 PM, free.

**Tue April 8: Cliff Dwellers Club, 200 S.
Michigan, 22nd fl, presents Simone Muench and
Billy Lombardo for the Society of Midland Authors,
$5.

**Wed April 9: Columbia College Chicago Music
Center Concert Hall, 1014 South Michigan Ave,
presents "Elma Stuckey Memorial Reading" with
Alice Notley and Rachel Zucker, 5:30 PM.

**Wed April 9: Columbia College Film Row Cinema,
1104 S. Wabash, 8th fl, presents Nikki Giovanni
from 7 to 8:30 PM.

**Wed April 9: Roosevelt University Gage Gallery,
18 S. Michigan, presents Jonathan Messinger at 5
PM.

**Tue April 15: The Museum of Contemporary Art,
Puck's Restaurant, 220 E. Chicago Ave, presents
The Literary Gangs of Chicago, this month
featuring Mental Graffiti Slam Poetry, 6:30 to 8
PM, free.

**Wed April 16: Palabra Pura, Chicago ’s
longest-running bilingual literary series presents
its biggest show of the year featuring two
internationally known Latino writers, Lorna Dee
Cervantes and Rigoberto Gonzále, at The Center On
Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, Chicago, doors open at
8:00 PM, reading at 8:30, free.

**Thur April 17: Highland Park Poetry presents
Illinois Poet Laureate Kevin Stein for a reading
and book signing, at the Highland Park Public
Library, 494 Laurel, Highland Park, 7 PM, free.

**Thu April 17: Jesse Oaks Bar and Grills, 18149 W
Old Gages Lake Rd, Gages Lake, IL, presents open
mic with featured poet Capital K, 7 to 10 PM

**Fri April 18: Mercury Cafe, 1555 W. Chicago Ave,
presents open mic hosted by Vito Carli with
featured guests Balthazar Castillo, Joe Roarty,
and Hugh Schwartzberg, 7 to 9 PM sharp, free.

**Fri April 18: Heartland Cafe, 7000 N. Greenwood,
presents Art Against The War, a new series
happening on the third Friday of every month,
featuring the Guild Complex with Erika Mikkalo,
C.J. Laity, and Sage Xaxua Morgan-Hubbard, Ellen
Wadey and more, 9 PM to Midnight, $5 helps
anti-war efforts.

**Sat April 19: 3rd Saturday Coffeehouse Open Mic
features poet Charlie Trumbull reading haiku, at
Unity Temple, 875 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301,
(708) 848-6225, 7:30 sign up, 8 pm Open Mic, 9 pm
featured performer, wheelchair accessible, $3-$5
donation.

**Sat April 19: A symposium on the subject of
Chicago poetry will be held in the University of
Chicago Library 's Special Collections Research
Center, Regenstein Library, 1100 East 57th Street,
from 1 to 5 PM, with speakers Michael Anania,
Devnin Johnston and Michael O'Leary. The symposium
hopes that this event will serve as a beginning
for a dialogue about the history and current state
of Chicago poetry.

**Sun April 20: The Poetry Bomb will happen at
3:30 PM throughout the city, including spontaneous
poetry sets on the city streets and in public
places; if you are interested in participating,
contact Esteban Colon.

**Sun April 20: Myopic books, 1564 N. Milwaukee
Ave, 2nd Fl, presents a very special poetry
reading featuring Kathleen Rooney, Elisa Gabbert,
& Simone Muench, hosted by Larry Sawyer, 7 PM,
free and open to the public.

**Mon April 21: Jak's Tap, 901 W. Jackson in
Chicago, presents Waiting 4 The Bus hosted by
Buddha309, with open mic and tonight's feature
Steven Hammond, 7:30 to 10 PM, free.

**Fri April 25: Mercury Cafe, 1555 W. Chicago Ave,
presents open mic hosted by Vito Carli with
featured guest Jesus Sains, 7 to 9 PM sharp, free.

**Sat April 26: The Chicago Public Library Poetry
Fest at Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State
St. (main lobby and lower level), will feature
readings and workshops from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM,
including keynote speaker Charles Simic, as well
as performances by The Poets Club of Chicago and
ChicagoPoetry.com's Annual National Poetry Month
Celebration CRAM hosted by CJ Laity and featuring
Pamela Miller, Larry O. Dean, Donna Pecore, Pam
Osbey, Jason Sturner, Vito Carli, Maureen
Flannery, Paul Freidinger and others, with
featured small presses in the lobby and book
giveaways, free and open to the public.

**Sun April 27: Myopic Books, 1564 N. Milwaukee
Ave, 2nd Fl, presents Nikki Wallschlaeger & Kelly
Lydick, 7 PM, free.