NYC Readings Roundup :: May 13-19
Editor’s note: welcome to the 11th iteration of our new weekly series, the Readings Roundup…which you might notice is growing steadily! Sorry if I’m repeating myself to some of you but if this is your first time here it bears noting that it’s long been a pipedream of ours to revive the NYC Poetry Calendar (started in 1977 by Bob Holman), to provide for the community here a true and cohesive overview of the vibrant scene that seems to birth a new event every day.
How does a poet new to New York or just new to the readings landscape figure out where to go, what these different events and organizations represent and offer?
We have a habit of biting off more than we can chew, so even though we have an overwhelmingly robust spreadsheet we’re working on making into an interactive page on the site, in future, we decided not to wait. In the meanwhile, we’ll start small — featuring in particular long running events and venues, making sure always to keep a healthy balance between styles and associations. We are judgement free and love filled, we’re just excited people are writing, reading, and sharing this important form. Come out!
– Lynne DeSilva-Johnson, Poetry/Managing Editor
FEATURED EVENTS:
Tuesday, May 14, 7-9pm | free admission
Literary Salon: Genuine Storytelling @ KGB Bar
Genuine Storytelling asks, “How do we stay true to authentic, in-depth and original storytelling in a 140 character world?”
To answer this question, they’ve formed a salon in order to exchange ideas with “niche-fillers” across the publishing spectrum who have carved out a new media approach to storytelling and sharing. These “niche-fillers” will talk about how they’ve created space for stories that matter, and then, in the literary salon tradition, engage in conversation about how you – writers, journalists, authors, and poets – can find your niche too.
Wednesday, May 15, 4pm | free admission
Goldwater Hospital Workshop Reading @ Jurow Lecture Hall (NYU Silver Center)
The annual showcase of a creative writing workshop led by NYU graduate student fellows for residents of Goldwater Hospital, a public facility for the severely physically challenged.
MONDAY 5/13
starts 6:30pm | free admission
John Yau & Arlo Quint @ Dia Art Foundation
The featured poets will read from their most recent collections.
7-9pm | free admission
Monday Night Poetry @ KGB Bar
Poets will read from their most recent collections. Featuring Louis Jenkins and Glyn Maxwell.
7:30-10pm | free admission
louderARTS Poetry Open Mic @ Bar 13
Sign ups start at 7pm. Arrive early for pre-show workshop [6-7pm], an informal drop in workshop series.
starts 8pm | $8, $7 students and seniors, $5 members
Cyrus Console & William Minor @ The Poetry Project at Saint Mark’s Church
The featured poets will read from their most recent collections.
8-10pm | free admission
Saturn Series Poetry @ Revival Bar
Saturn Series Poetry is a writers’ open mic every Monday night. This is not a slam. Poets, playwrights, screenwriters and novelists perform prose, poetry and sometimes a song or two.
TUESDAY 5/14
6:30pm | free admission
Jayne Cortez & Sekou Sundiata: The Legacy Conversation Revisited @ Cave Canem
In 2002, Jayne Cortez and Sekou Sundiata participated in Cave Canem’s Legacy Conversation, discussing historical, aesthetic, political and personal influences on the craft and thought. This presentation will include selections from their recorded conversation, not heard publicly since 2002. A panel comprised of the Conversation’s original moderator Tracie Morris, along with LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs and Cave Canem co-founder Cornelius Eady, will respond to the poets’ exchange and discuss the impact of their legacy on today’s poetics
WEDNESDAY 5/15
7-9pm | free admission
Fantastic Fiction @ KGB Bar
Fiction authors Kit Reed and Daniel A Rabuzzi will read from their most recent work. Hosted by Ellen Datlow and Matthew Kressel
starts 8pm | $8, $7 students and seniors, $5 members
Dawn Lundy Martin & Chris Tysh @ The Poetry Project at Saint Mark’s Church
The featured poets will read from their recent work.
THURSDAY 5/16
7-9pm | free admission
Drunken! Careening! Writers! @ KGB Bar
A reading series that believes “readings should be 1) by good writers; 2) who read their work well; and 3) something in it makes people laugh (nervous laughter counts). And 15 minutes tops.” Featuring Karen E. Bender, Kelli Dunham and Janice Erlbaum.
FRIDAY 5/17
starts 8pm | $8, $7 students and seniors, $5 members
Sam Truitt & Catherine Taylor @ The Poetry Project at Saint Mark’s Church
The featured poets will read from their recent work.
begins 10pm | $10
Friday Night Slam @ The Nuyorican Poets Cafe
NYC’s first poetry slam was held at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in 1989 and 20 years later it is still going strong. Watch poets perform and compete. Judges are 5 randomly chosen audience members.
SATURDAY 5/18
4:30-6:30pm | $5
The Segue Reading Series @ Zinc Bar
Segue hosts this experimental reading series that has run continuously for 25 years. Featuring readings by Kim Rosenfield and Kate Berlant.
7-9pm | free admission
Kick Assonance @ KGB Bar
Storyteller and blogger Leslie Goshko hosts a curated evening of original poetic works with co-creators Kyle Erickson and Steven Leyva. Featuring poet Valzhyna Mort and author Tyler Sage.
starts 8pm | free admission
BLT Salon Series @ Contact for location.
R Erica Doyle reads for the BLT Salon Series with Bliss Broyard, Aisha Cousins, Cynthia Cruz, Natalia Gianella, Julie Kantor, Emily Raboteau, Eugenia Semjonova, and Lauren Whitehead.
SUNDAY 5/19
4-6pm | $5 suggested donation
Kundiman & Verlaine Reading Series @ Verlaine
For Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a beautiful evening of poetry & libation. Come early for open bar and open mic before the featuring readings at 5pm with poets Jennifer Hayashida, Youna Kwak and Arhm Choi
5:30pm | $5 admission goes to the readers
Zinc Bar Reading Series: Curated by Lungfull!@ Zinc Bar
“Gala Release Part Reading and Rauckus Auction”
7-9pm | free admission
Sunday Night Fiction @ KGB Bar
The KGB Bar Sunday Night Fiction showcases contemporary fiction from new and emerging writers. Featuring Owen Egerton, Dennis Mahoney and Susan Daitch.
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Resources:
Poets.org Events Calendar
Poets and Writers (P&W) Literary Events Calendar (Filter by City, State)
Poetry Project Calendar
Belladonna* Reading Series
KGB Bar Calendar
Nuyorican Poets Cafe Calendar
Poets House Calendar
Time Out New York | Book Events
The series is overseen by Managing/Poetry Editor Lynne DeSilva-Johnson and maintained by Taylor Quilty, Exit Strata Program Assistant. Please email editors@exitstrata.com to submit your event/organization with READINGS ROUNDUP in the subject line for inclusion in future listi