Poetry Santa Cruz Poetry Santa Cruz
Events

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
Quarterly The Flor y Canto / Flower and Song Open Mic Reading planned for July 11 is POSTPONED until AUGUST.  The Watsonville Library will be closed on Saturdays due to budget cuts, so we will need to find another venue.
Sunday, July 12
10:00
AM to 4:00 PM
Poetry Workshop with Lorna Dee Cervantes at a private residence in Live Oak near Capitola.  The workshop will include writing new work and response to a poem brought in by each participant.  Cost: $50.  Limited to 13 participants.  Advance registration and payment required.  To reserve a place, call Adela Najarro at (831) 600-7319.  Email: adelanajarro@comcast.net.
[ Read more about this event ]
Tuesday, July 14
7:30
PM
Francisco X. Alarcón and Lorna Dee Cervantes.
Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.  $3 donation suggested.  Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz.
[ Read more about this event ]
4th Sunday of each month
Sunday, July 26
2:00
PM
Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader John Laue.  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.

These events are supported, in part, by a grant from the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County.  Some events are supported by matching grants to our readers from Poets & Writers, Inc.  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 supported 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)

Mo 7/6 at 11:00 AM, Tu 7/7 at 8:30 PM,
Su 7/12 at 11:30 AM, Tu 7/14 at 8:30 PM,
We 7/15 at 12 PM, Tu 7/21 at 8:30 PM,
Th 7/23 at 11 AM, Mo 7/27 at 11:30 AM,
Tu 7/28 at 8:30 PM, We 7/29 at 12:30 PM.
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.  MHCAN Benefit Reading.  Producer: Joanna Martin.  Co-sponsored by Poetry Santa Cruz.
Wed 7/1 at 9:00 PM,
Fri 7/3 at 1:30 PM,
Su 7/5 at 2:00 PM.
Poetry Santa Cruz Awards Ceremony 2009, a one-hour TV poetry show on Community Television of Santa Cruz County, on Comcast cable channel 25 and Charter (Watsonville) channel 71.  High School Poetry Competition Reading and Awards Ceremony.  Producer: Community TV of Santa Cruz County.  Co-sponsored by Poetry Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz County Office of Education.
Mondays
Monday, July 6, 13
6:30
PM
The New American Poetry.  Reading and discussion of poems from the anthology, The New American Poetry.  Free.  Subrosa, 730 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.
Tuesday, June 30 and
Wednesday, July 1
7:30
PM
The Willing Suspension Armchair Theater presents The “Good” War.  Poetry, commentary and reminiscence by: John Ciardi, Randall Jarrell, W. H. Auden, Maxine Andrews, John Kenneth Galbraith, Mike Royko, Gertrude Stein and others about war and our connection to it.  Directed by Jean Weisz with Richard Gaughan, John Chandler, Paul Hughes, Patricia Grube, Bob Vallerga.  Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz.  Donations at the door.
The 1st Saturday of each month
Saturday, July 4??
2:30 to 5:00
PM
Lost Poets Salon Open Reading and Discussion.  Free.  Downtown Bagelry, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz.  (831) 425-0211
1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month
Tuesday, July 7
Signup 7:30
, Show 8:00 PM
The Legendary Santa Cruz City Poetry Slam.  The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz CA 95062.  $4 door.  $50 first prize.
2nd Monday of each month
Monday, July 13
7:00
PM
Poetry Reading @ Willow Glen Library with featured reader Kelly Cressio-Moeller.  Open mic to follow.  Willow Glen Library, 1157 Minnesota Avenue, San José.  Free.  Sponsored by Poetry Center San José.
2nd Tuesday of each month
Tuesday, July 14
7:00-9:00
PM
Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents Helen Mackinlay and Mira Oaten.  East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey.  $5.
The 3rd Saturday of each month
Saturday, July 18
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.
2009 Season
July 21 to August 30
Shakespeare Santa Cruz presents Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare plus Shipwrecked! An Entertainment—The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As Told By Himself) by Donald Margulies.
Summer schedule.  Tickets and Venues.
1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month
Tuesday, July 21
Signup 7:30
, Show 8:00 PM
The Legendary Santa Cruz City Poetry Slam.  The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz CA 95062.  $4 door.  $50 first prize.
Monday, July 27
8:30 signup 9:00 show
PM
Legendary Santa Cruz Indie Slam, featuring Kim Johnson.  Cash prizes, open signup list, 8 poets, 4 rounds.  $4 admission.  thelegendaryslam@gmail.com, Cypress Lounge, 120 Union St., Santa Cruz. www.legendarycollective.com/
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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, Susan Freeman and Lesley-Anne Taylor.  Live interviews, poems read by the host, taped readings or interviews.  Archived shows are podcast for listening from the website.
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 

The 33nd Annual Foothill Writers’ Conference • The Foothill Writers’ Conference will take place on the Foothill College Campus in Los Altos Hills Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12 and costs only $53 for California residents.  It covers Poetry, Fiction and Creative Non-fiction.  Speakers and teachers will include Alan Cheuse, Justin Chin, Lesley Dauer, Sharon Doubiago, Danielle Haysbert, Scott Inguito, Linda Janakos, Avotcja Jiltonilro, Carol Lem, Morton Marcus, Barbara Jane Reyes, Michelle Richmond, Doren Robbins, Floyd Salas, Greg Sarris, Tony Tulathimutte, Marianne Villanueva, R.J. Ward, Kim Silveira Wolterbeek, Al Young.  See the Conference web pages for more information.
 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 and Men (poetry focus)
• Thursdays 3:00-6:00 pm for Women and Men (all genres)

In addition, she offers the following writing retreats:
 
• 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 5-10, 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
• 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.
• November 13-15, 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.

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 April 23: 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28, 1:00 to 3:00 pm.  $64 Capitola residents, $76 non-residents.  Info 475-5935, Register 475-6115 for Class # 7412.301.
Sarah Rabkin High Country Writing Retreat taught by Sarah Rabkin at the San Francisco State University Sierra Nevada Field Campus, North Yuba River July 14-18, Tuesday-Saturday. Contact: jstele@sfsu.edu 650-738-1814 through May, 530-862-1230 June to August.

Everyday Poetry taught by Sarah Rabkin: Friday, September 18, at the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Cascade Head, Oregon Coast.   Writing poems is a way of paying attention. It can distill meaning from everyday moments and communicate all kinds of experiences. This workshop will open doors into poetryÕs myriad possibilities. Through guided exercises and individual writing time, we will range over a variety of topics, tactics, voices, and moods. Each participant will emerge with original poems and with tools for making poetry a life practice.  All are welcome; those with little or no poetry writing experience are especially encouraged.  For exact times and locations, fees, enrollment procedures, and other logistics, please see the Sitka Center website and Everyday Pooetry Workshop. or contact the Center at: info@sitkacenter.org or 541-994-5485.

For details about workshop content, call or email Sarah Rabkin at 831-475-7548 or srabkin@ucsc.edu.

 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, Six-week sessions, $175.
Thursday Evening Poetry Playshops, 7 to 9 PM.  Six-week sessions, July 16 to August 20, $200.
Friday Morning Poetry Playshops, 10 AM to Noon.  Six-week sessions, July 17 to August 21, $200.
Poetry of Spirit.  Four-week session in November 2008, $115.

In addition, she offers writing retreats: “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.”
• June 12-15, 2009 at the Hermitage in Big Sur.
• October 23-26, 2009 Mission San Antonio in Jolon.
• December 11-14, 2009 at the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur.
• April 9-12, 2010 at the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur. Three nights.
• May 21-24, 2010 Point Reyes.
To sign up, call 831-477-4375 or email Amber.

 Patrice Vecchione One-Day Writing Workshop.  We'll meet in a gorgeous Aptos home with views and room to spread out to delve into what we most need to say.  A mini-getaway to replenish your creativity and spirit.
Monday, June 22, 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
[ Learn more about this event. ]  For reservations and inquiries, please call 831-394-8459.

Mapping the Soul: Collage, Poetry, Creativity, A five-day workshop at Esalen.
Sunday, June 28 to Friday, July 3.  [ Learn more about this event. ]

Six-Week Summer Writing Workshops.
Santa Cruz: Monday afternoons 1:00 to 4:00, July 13 to August 17.
Monterey: Wednesday evenings 6:00 to 9:00, July 8 to August 19.
[ Learn more about this event. ]  For reservations and inquiries, please call 831-394-8459.

One-Day Collage Workshop with Patrice Vecchione.  We'll gather in my Monterey home for a day of creativity.  I'll make a gourmet lunch and do all I can to make you feel as beloved as you are!.
Saturday, July 11, 10 AM to 5:00 PM.
[ Learn more about this event. ]  For reservations and inquiries, please call 831-394-8459.

• 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, August 4 and
Wednesday, August 5
7:30
PM
The Willing Suspension Armchair Theater presents The Agony and Ecstasy of Getting Up on Stage, featuring poetry and prose from great writers. Directed by Susan Forrest.  Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz.  Donations at the door.
Tuesday, August 11
7:30
PM
Eva Salzman and George Lober.
Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.  $3 donation suggested.  Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz.
2nd Tuesday of each month
Tuesday, August 11
7:00-9:00
PM
Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents Bill Minor jazz group and poetry featuring Taelen Thomas.  East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey.  $5.
4th Sunday of each month
Sunday, August 23
2:00
PM
Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader Jay Salter.  Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz.  Free.  Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.
1st Tuesday of the month, Sept. to May
Tuesday, September 1
7:30
PM
Poetry First! open mic with featured readers to be announced.  Art Object Gallery, 591 North 5th Street, San José CA 95112.  Free.  Sponsored by Poetry Center San José and the Creative Writing Department at San José State University.
Tuesday, September 1 and
Wednesday, September 2
7:30
PM
The Willing Suspension Armchair Theater presents Some Stories: Mothers & Daughters, featuring poetry and prose from great writers. Directed by Patricia Grube.  Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz.  Donations at the door.
Tuesday, September 8
7:30
PM
Laurel Blossom and Gary Young.
Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.  $3 donation suggested.  Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz.
2nd Tuesday of each month
Tuesday, September 8
7:00-9:00
PM
Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents Ed Jarvis and John Schatz.  East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey.  $5.
4th Sunday of each month
Sunday, September 27
2:00
PM
Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader Devin Murphy.  Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz.  Free.  Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.
Tuesday, October 6 and
Wednesday, October 7
7:30
PM
The Willing Suspension Armchair Theater presents Tales with a Twist, featuring poetry and prose from great writers. Directed by Rita Wadsworth & Stuart Serman.  Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz.  Donations at the door.
Tuesday, October 13
7:30
PM
Jane Mead and Brian Teare.
Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz.  $3 donation suggested.  Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz.
2nd Tuesday of each month
Tuesday, October 13
7:00-9:00
PM
Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Reading Series presents Richard Lange and John Laue in a reading of short prose.  East Village Coffee Lounge, 498 Washington St., Monterey.  $5.
4th Sunday of each month
Sunday, October 25
2:00
PM
Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader Adela Najarro.  Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz.  Free.  Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.
Tuesday, November 10 and
Wednesday, November 11
7:30
PM
The Willing Suspension Armchair Theater presents Fences & Beyond, featuring poetry and prose from great writers. Directed by Dohn Grube.  Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz.  Donations at the door.
Tuesday, November 10
7:30
PM
Rebecca Foust and co-reader to be announced.
 Capitola Book Café, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola.  $3 donation suggested.  Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz.
Saturday, November 14
7:30
PM
William O’Daly reading from his translations of World’s End and The Hands of Day by Pablo Neruda as well as from his own poetry, accompanied by acclaimed Spanish classical guitarist Louis V. Johnson.  Prior to the reading, wine will be offered and Mr. Johnson will play a few numbers solo to entice audience members and set the mood.  Capitola Book Café, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola.
4th Sunday of each month
Sunday, November 22
2:00
PM
Poet/Speak Open Reading with featured reader Robin Somers.  Main Library upstairs Meeting Room, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz.  Free.  Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz and hosted by Joyce Keller.
Tuesday, December 8
7:30
PM
Robin Ekiss and co-reader to be announced.
 Capitola Book Café, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola.  $3 donation suggested.  Presented by Poetry Santa Cruz.
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