Poetry Santa Cruz

Below is our comprehensive list of poetry events in and around Santa Cruz. Note that we have reorganized this list as follows: The Monthly list has been integrated into the Other list, while the Workshops are now in a separate list. The Weekly list is unchanged.

Readers in our Tuesday series are often interviewed and read more of their poetry on The Poetry Show on KUSP 88.9 FM, Sundays 8:00-9:00pm. (Webcast available.)

And then there is always Poetry Flash.

CURRENT POETRY SANTA CRUZ EVENTS

Tuesday, November 18
7:30 PM Lucille Clifton Reading Cancelled. Lucille Clifton is ill and unable to travel to read in the First Annual Maude Meehan Memorial Poetry Reading. Sadly we must cancel this reading. We will try to bring her some time in 2009.

First Friday
Friday, December 5
8:00 PM Favorite Poem Project Reading featuring visual artists reading favorite poems. Mill Gallery, 131 Front Street, Santa Cruz. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz in coordination with the Santa Cruz Institute for Contemporary Art and the Santa Cruz First Friday Art Tour.

Tuesday, December 9
7:30 PM Joseph Stroud and Susan Freeman. Capitola Book Café, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola. $3 suggested donation.
[ Read more about this event. ]

Sunday, December 14
2:00 PM Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader Mary A. Carr. Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.

For future events see the Looking Ahead listing.
The reading by Lucille Clifton on November 18 is supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant it has received from the James Irvine Foundation. This event is co-sponsored by the UCSC Division of Humanities and the UCSC Creative Writing Program. Free parking for this event is funded by the Porter College George Hitchcock Poetry Fund.
These events are supported, in part, by a grant from the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County. Poetry Santa Cruz is also grateful for the support of its members and donors, In Celebration of the Muse, and those who donated in memory of Maude Meehan. The William James Association acted as our fiscal sponsor for our first four years. Our readings are sponsored by Bookshop Santa Cruz, Capitola Book Café, The Attic, Casablanca Inn, The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, Cabrillo College, KUSP and the National Writers Union Chapter 7. Membership premiums have been donated by Graywolf Press, the University of Pittsburgh Press, Robert Sward, Coffee House Press, Copper Canyon Press, and Farrar, Straus and Giroux. A voluntary donation of $3 may be requested at venues where collection of donations is permitted.

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OTHER POETRY EVENTS DURING THE NEXT MONTH (See also Weekly Events, below)

Tu 11/4 at 8:30 PM, Th 11/6 at 1:00 PM,
Mo 11/10 at 4:30 PM, Tu 11/11 at 8:30 PM,
Sa 11/15 at 3:30 PM, Tu 11/18 at 8:30 PM,
We 11/19 at 4:30 AM, Su 11/23 at 9:00 AM,
Tu 11/25 at 8:30 PM, Fri 11/28 at 11:00 AM The Poetry Box, a half-hour TV poetry show on Community Television of Santa Cruz County, on Comcast cable channel 27 and Charter (Watsonville) channel 73. Brian Turner Part 2, filmed September 9, 2008.
Producer: Joanna Martin. Sponsored by Poetry Santa Cruz.

Every Friday
7:00 to 9:45 PM The Wired Poets Open Mic is back. La Vie Café, 429 Front Street, Santa Cruz. (831) 429-6746.

First Tuesday of the month)
Tuesday, December 2
7:30 PM Poetry First! open mic with featured readers . South First Billiards, 420 S. 1st Street, San José. Sponsored by Poetry Center San José and the Creative Writing Department at San José State University.

Friday, Dec. 5 at 8 PM
Saturday, Dec. 6 at 8 PM
Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 PM Works in Progress features Helene Simkin Jara reading her prose poem, Josefina, and short plays by Wilma Marcus Chandler, Philip Slater, Steven Walton-Hadlock, Patricia Grube, and Steve Spike Wong. Free. Actors Theatre, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. Donation suggeste4d at the door.

The 1st Saturday of each month
Saturday, December 6
2:30 to 5:00 PM Lost Poets Salon Open Reading and Discussion. Free. Downtown Bagelry, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. (831) 425-0211

The 3rd Saturday of each month
Saturday, December 20
8:00 PM, signup at 7:30 Open Mic for musicians, poets, magicians and other artists of all ages to perform in front of a live audience. Refreshments provided. Donations accepted. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County, 6401 Freedom Blvd. Aptos. 477-7588.

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ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS

Every day
9:01 AM and 8:01 PM The Writer’s Almanac with Garrison Keillor on KAZU 90.3 FM.

Every Sunday
9:00-10:00 PM The Poetry Show on KUSP 88.9 FM. Hosted by Dennis Morton and Morton Marcus. Live interviews, poems read by the host, taped readings or interviews.

Various weekdays Capitola Book Café hosts many author events, with local and visiting authors. Visit their website at http://www.capitolabookcafe.com/ for an up-to-date schedule.

Various Check the literary events page for Monterey County.

Every Wednesday
8:00-9:00 PM Out Of Our Minds on KKUP 91.5 FM. Hosted by J.P. Dancing Bear. Live interviews, poems read by the host, taped readings or interviews.

Every Wednesday
3:00-3:30 PM Cover to Cover on KPFA 94.1 FM. Hosted by Jack Foley.

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WORKSHOPS

Ellen Bass Ellen Bass offers the following writing workshops. See Ellen’s website for more details and recent updates.
• Ongoing Weekly groups in Santa Cruz: Writing About Our Lives (And Everything Else).
• Tuesdays 6:00 to 9:00 pm for Women and Men (all genres)
• Wednesdays 1:00-4:00 pm for Women (poetry focus)
• Thursdays 3:00-6:00 pm for Women (all genres)
In addition, she offers the following writing retreats:

• December 7-12, 2008: Writing and Knowing: A Poetry Workshop with Ellen Bass, Dorianne Laux, and Joseph Millar at the Esalen Institute, Big Sur. For more information and to register, visit www.esalen.org or call 831-667-3005
• February 20-22, 2009: The Writer’s Life with Ellen Bass at the Esalen Institute, Big Sur. For more information and to register, visit www.esalen.org or call 831-667-3005
• February 28-29, 2009: Poetry Workshop in Redondo Beach with Ellen Bass. For more information email Carine Topal
• April 24-26, 2009: White Lotus Poetry Workshop with Ellen Bass at the Rowe Conference Cente, Rowe, MA. For more information call 413-339-4954 or visit rowecenter.org.
• May 27-31, 2009: Truth & Beauty with Ellen Bass and Marie Howe at Mabel Dodge Luhan Inn in Taos, New Mexico. For more info, email ellen @ ellenbass.com
• July 30-August 2, 2009: Mendocino Coast Writers Conference with Ellen Bass, Charlotte Gullick, Gennifer Choldenko, and others. For more information visit www.mcwc.org. Contact: info@mcwc.org or 707-962-2600, ext. 2167
• September 13-18, 2009: Writing Our Lives with Ellen Bass at the Hollyhock, Cortes Island, British Columbia. For more information and to register, visit www.hollyhock.ca, email registration@hollyhock.ca or call 800-933-6339.

Joyce Keller Creative Writing. Learn to make writing easy and enjoyable. Memoir, poetry, story-telling. Taught by Joyce Keller, M.S. Capitola Community Center, 4400 Jade St., Capitola, six Thursdays beginning October 30: 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11 (not 11/27), 1:00 to 3:00 pm. $62 Capitola residents, $74 non-residents. Info 475-5935, Register 475-6115 for Class # 7412.601.

Amber Coverdale Sumrall Amber Coverdale Sumrall offers the following writing workshops. See Amber’s website for more details. Call 477-4375 or email Amber for her current schedule and to reserve a place.
• Monthly Saturday Drop-In Poetry Revision Workshop, 10-12:30. Limited to six participants.
• Revision Group, prose and poetry, Thursday mornings. Eight-week sessions.
• Wednesday Evening Writing Group, 9/12 to 10/17, 7 to 9 PM. Six-week sessions, $175.
• Thursday Evening Journal Writing Group, 7 to 9 PM. Six-week sessions, $175.
• Friday Morning Journal Writing Group, 10 AM to Noon. Six-week sessions, $175.
• Poetry of Spirit. Four-week session in November 2008, $115.
In addition, she offers the following writing retreats:
• December 12-15, 2008 at the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur. Three nights, $330. “I have been leading weekend writing retreats at The Hermitage in Big Sur for eight years now. All of us who attend find the experience to be just what we need for our writing and inner process. There is time for reading, walking, napping, meditation, and simply being in a spectacularly beautiful and serene setting. The monastery is situated on a mountain high above the Big Sur Coastline with panoramic views in every direction. We maintain an atmosphere of silence during the retreat except for our meetings. If you find that you haven't enough time for writing, if you have pieces you can't seem to get started on, or if you just want to join others who are putting thoughts and feelings to paper, this is a spectacularly beautiful and nourishing place in which to do so.”

Patrice Vecchione • Writing and the Spiritual Life: Finding Your Voice Within, a workshop with Patrice Vecchione to be held November 23-28 at Esalen Institute. Register directly from the Esalen website: www.esalen.org or call 831-667-3005.
• For additional information on workshops by Patrice Vecchione, see her website, www.patricevecchione.com. Contact Patrice at heartwrd@mbay.net, or 831-394-8459.

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LOOKING AHEAD

Tuesday, December 9
7:30 PM Joseph Stroud and Susan Freeman.
Capitola Book Café, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola. $3 donation suggested. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz.
[ Read more about this event. ]

2nd Tuesday of each month
Tuesday, December 9
7:00-9:00 PM Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents Dan Linehan and Barbara Mossberg. East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey. $5.

2nd Sunday of each month
Sunday, December 14
2:00 PM Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader Mary A. Carr. Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.

Tuesday, January 13
7:30 PM Annie Boutelle and Roz Spafford.
Capitola Book Café, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola. $3 donation suggested. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz.

2nd Tuesday of each month
Tuesday, January 13
7:00-9:00 PM Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents Joseph Stroud and Samuel Salerno. East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey. $5.

4th Sunday of each month
Sunday, January 25
2:00 PM Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader to be announced. Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.

Tuesday, February 10
7:30 PM D. Nurkse and Stephen Kessler.
Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $3 donation suggested. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz.

2nd Tuesday of each month
Tuesday, February 10
7:00-9:00 PM Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents Kathryn Petruccelli and David Allen Sullivan. East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey. $5.

4th Sunday of each month
Sunday, February 22
2:00 PM Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader to be announced. Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.

2nd Sunday of each month
Saturday, March 7
7:30 PM The 27th Annual In Celebration of the Muse. Cabrillo College Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.

2nd Tuesday of each month
Tuesday, March 10
7:00-9:00 PM Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents David Gitin and Stephen Kessler. East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey. $5.

4th Sunday of each month
Sunday, March 22
2:00 PM Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader to be announced. Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.

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CURRENT POETRY SANTA CRUZ EVENTS
Tuesday, November 18 7:30 PM	Lucille Clifton Reading Cancelled. Lucille Clifton is ill and unable to travel to read in the First Annual Maude Meehan Memorial Poetry Reading. Sadly we must cancel this reading. We will try to bring her some time in 2009.
First Friday Friday, December 5 8:00 PM	Favorite Poem Project Reading featuring visual artists reading favorite poems. Mill Gallery, 131 Front Street, Santa Cruz. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz in coordination with the Santa Cruz Institute for Contemporary Art and the Santa Cruz First Friday Art Tour.
Tuesday, December 9 7:30 PM	Joseph Stroud and Susan Freeman. Capitola Book Café, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola. $3 suggested donation. [ Read more about this event. ]
Sunday, December 14 2:00 PM	Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader Mary A. Carr. Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.

[return to top] OTHER POETRY EVENTS DURING THE NEXT MONTH (See also Weekly Events, below)
Tu 11/4 at 8:30 PM, Th 11/6 at 1:00 PM, Mo 11/10 at 4:30 PM, Tu 11/11 at 8:30 PM, Sa 11/15 at 3:30 PM, Tu 11/18 at 8:30 PM, We 11/19 at 4:30 AM, Su 11/23 at 9:00 AM, Tu 11/25 at 8:30 PM, Fri 11/28 at 11:00 AM	The Poetry Box, a half-hour TV poetry show on Community Television of Santa Cruz County, on Comcast cable channel 27 and Charter (Watsonville) channel 73. Brian Turner Part 2, filmed September 9, 2008. Producer: Joanna Martin. Sponsored by Poetry Santa Cruz.
Every Friday 7:00 to 9:45 PM	The Wired Poets Open Mic is back. La Vie Café, 429 Front Street, Santa Cruz. (831) 429-6746.
First Tuesday of the month) Tuesday, December 2 7:30 PM	Poetry First! open mic with featured readers . South First Billiards, 420 S. 1st Street, San José. Sponsored by Poetry Center San José and the Creative Writing Department at San José State University.
Friday, Dec. 5 at 8 PM Saturday, Dec. 6 at 8 PM Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 PM	Works in Progress features Helene Simkin Jara reading her prose poem, Josefina, and short plays by Wilma Marcus Chandler, Philip Slater, Steven Walton-Hadlock, Patricia Grube, and Steve Spike Wong. Free. Actors Theatre, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. Donation suggeste4d at the door.
The 1st Saturday of each month Saturday, December 6 2:30 to 5:00 PM	Lost Poets Salon Open Reading and Discussion. Free. Downtown Bagelry, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. (831) 425-0211
The 3rd Saturday of each month Saturday, December 20 8:00 PM, signup at 7:30	Open Mic for musicians, poets, magicians and other artists of all ages to perform in front of a live audience. Refreshments provided. Donations accepted. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County, 6401 Freedom Blvd. Aptos. 477-7588.

[return to top] ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS
Every day 9:01 AM and 8:01 PM	The Writer’s Almanac with Garrison Keillor on KAZU 90.3 FM.
Every Sunday 9:00-10:00 PM	The Poetry Show on KUSP 88.9 FM. Hosted by Dennis Morton and Morton Marcus. Live interviews, poems read by the host, taped readings or interviews.
Various weekdays	Capitola Book Café hosts many author events, with local and visiting authors. Visit their website at http://www.capitolabookcafe.com/ for an up-to-date schedule.
Various	Check the literary events page for Monterey County.
Every Wednesday 8:00-9:00 PM	Out Of Our Minds on KKUP 91.5 FM. Hosted by J.P. Dancing Bear. Live interviews, poems read by the host, taped readings or interviews.
Every Wednesday 3:00-3:30 PM	Cover to Cover on KPFA 94.1 FM. Hosted by Jack Foley.

[return to top] WORKSHOPS
Ellen Bass	Ellen Bass offers the following writing workshops. See Ellen’s website for more details and recent updates. • Ongoing Weekly groups in Santa Cruz: Writing About Our Lives (And Everything Else). • Tuesdays 6:00 to 9:00 pm for Women and Men (all genres) • Wednesdays 1:00-4:00 pm for Women (poetry focus) • Thursdays 3:00-6:00 pm for Women (all genres) In addition, she offers the following writing retreats: • December 7-12, 2008: Writing and Knowing: A Poetry Workshop with Ellen Bass, Dorianne Laux, and Joseph Millar at the Esalen Institute, Big Sur. For more information and to register, visit www.esalen.org or call 831-667-3005 • February 20-22, 2009: The Writer’s Life with Ellen Bass at the Esalen Institute, Big Sur. For more information and to register, visit www.esalen.org or call 831-667-3005 • February 28-29, 2009: Poetry Workshop in Redondo Beach with Ellen Bass. For more information email Carine Topal • April 24-26, 2009: White Lotus Poetry Workshop with Ellen Bass at the Rowe Conference Cente, Rowe, MA. For more information call 413-339-4954 or visit rowecenter.org. • May 27-31, 2009: Truth & Beauty with Ellen Bass and Marie Howe at Mabel Dodge Luhan Inn in Taos, New Mexico. For more info, email ellen @ ellenbass.com • July 30-August 2, 2009: Mendocino Coast Writers Conference with Ellen Bass, Charlotte Gullick, Gennifer Choldenko, and others. For more information visit www.mcwc.org. Contact: info@mcwc.org or 707-962-2600, ext. 2167 • September 13-18, 2009: Writing Our Lives with Ellen Bass at the Hollyhock, Cortes Island, British Columbia. For more information and to register, visit www.hollyhock.ca, email registration@hollyhock.ca or call 800-933-6339.
Joyce Keller	Creative Writing. Learn to make writing easy and enjoyable. Memoir, poetry, story-telling. Taught by Joyce Keller, M.S. Capitola Community Center, 4400 Jade St., Capitola, six Thursdays beginning October 30: 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11 (not 11/27), 1:00 to 3:00 pm. $62 Capitola residents, $74 non-residents. Info 475-5935, Register 475-6115 for Class # 7412.601.
Amber Coverdale Sumrall	Amber Coverdale Sumrall offers the following writing workshops. See Amber’s website for more details. Call 477-4375 or email Amber for her current schedule and to reserve a place. • Monthly Saturday Drop-In Poetry Revision Workshop, 10-12:30. Limited to six participants. • Revision Group, prose and poetry, Thursday mornings. Eight-week sessions. • Wednesday Evening Writing Group, 9/12 to 10/17, 7 to 9 PM. Six-week sessions, $175. • Thursday Evening Journal Writing Group, 7 to 9 PM. Six-week sessions, $175. • Friday Morning Journal Writing Group, 10 AM to Noon. Six-week sessions, $175. • Poetry of Spirit. Four-week session in November 2008, $115. In addition, she offers the following writing retreats: • December 12-15, 2008 at the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur. Three nights, $330. “I have been leading weekend writing retreats at The Hermitage in Big Sur for eight years now. All of us who attend find the experience to be just what we need for our writing and inner process. There is time for reading, walking, napping, meditation, and simply being in a spectacularly beautiful and serene setting. The monastery is situated on a mountain high above the Big Sur Coastline with panoramic views in every direction. We maintain an atmosphere of silence during the retreat except for our meetings. If you find that you haven't enough time for writing, if you have pieces you can't seem to get started on, or if you just want to join others who are putting thoughts and feelings to paper, this is a spectacularly beautiful and nourishing place in which to do so.”
Patrice Vecchione	• Writing and the Spiritual Life: Finding Your Voice Within, a workshop with Patrice Vecchione to be held November 23-28 at Esalen Institute. Register directly from the Esalen website: www.esalen.org or call 831-667-3005. • For additional information on workshops by Patrice Vecchione, see her website, www.patricevecchione.com. Contact Patrice at heartwrd@mbay.net, or 831-394-8459.

[return to top] LOOKING AHEAD
Tuesday, December 9 7:30 PM	Joseph Stroud and Susan Freeman. Capitola Book Café, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola. $3 donation suggested. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz. [ Read more about this event. ]
2nd Tuesday of each month Tuesday, December 9 7:00-9:00 PM	Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents Dan Linehan and Barbara Mossberg. East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey. $5.
2nd Sunday of each month Sunday, December 14 2:00 PM	Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader Mary A. Carr. Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.
Tuesday, January 13 7:30 PM	Annie Boutelle and Roz Spafford. Capitola Book Café, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola. $3 donation suggested. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz.
2nd Tuesday of each month Tuesday, January 13 7:00-9:00 PM	Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents Joseph Stroud and Samuel Salerno. East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey. $5.
4th Sunday of each month Sunday, January 25 2:00 PM	Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader to be announced. Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.
Tuesday, February 10 7:30 PM	D. Nurkse and Stephen Kessler. Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $3 donation suggested. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz.
2nd Tuesday of each month Tuesday, February 10 7:00-9:00 PM	Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents Kathryn Petruccelli and David Allen Sullivan. East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey. $5.
4th Sunday of each month Sunday, February 22 2:00 PM	Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader to be announced. Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.
2nd Sunday of each month Saturday, March 7 7:30 PM	The 27th Annual In Celebration of the Muse. Cabrillo College Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.
2nd Tuesday of each month Tuesday, March 10 7:00-9:00 PM	Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents David Gitin and Stephen Kessler. East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey. $5.
4th Sunday of each month Sunday, March 22 2:00 PM	Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader to be announced. Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz. Free. Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.
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