readings around town all year round
Posted by Daniela Elza on Dec 22 2012
One of my pet projects last year was to make a list of as many of the regular reading/performance events as I could gather. Since I was the Vancouver/Lower Mainland Rep. for the Federation of BC Writers I thought that would be a good resource to have when people asked me where to go, how to find places to read, and connect with the writing community. That was what I did instead of starting another reading series. I looked at the calendar and could not find a day for it, so much was going on. Then I lent what energy and enthusiasms I had left to Twisted Poets Literary Salon, an already existing reading series that has been running for a decade.
Recently, I had the chance to update and add to the list under RC Weslowski’s initiative to spread the word and encourage people to come out. Also for those who already have their favourite events to perhaps encourage them to branch out and check out some other places around town. Cross-pollination is good for all of us. It makes for a more robust poetry/writing/creative community. So here on the eve of the new year I am going to post the list and maybe you will find yourself tempted. Maybe you will pick up that poem you have wanted to share and sign up for one of the many open mic possibilities. And maybe you will find further support and enthusiasm in a newly discovered community.
A recent post on Talonbooks, Texts in the City, speaks of the beginnings of two of the listed series below. (You will see my face half way through, but that should pass quickly. Thanks for the nod, Talon.)
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The list I have so far:
- TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Second Wednesday and Fourth Thursday of every month (Except August)
Usually there are two features and about nine open mic spots that fill up on a first come first serve basis. Open mic spots are 5 min. max.
Time: 7pm-9:30pm (sign up for open mic 7pm)
Location: Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street (at East 29th), Vancouver
(Note: Cottage Bistro takes cash or debit cards only)
Hosts: Bonnie Nish, Daniela Elza, Timothy Shay
Suggested Donation: $5.00 at the door.
Contact Bonnie Nish: blnish_pandoras@yahoo.ca
This is a Pandora’s Collective Event - LUNCH POEMS @SFU
Third Wednesday of every month
12:00 -1:00pm
@Teck Gallery, SFU Harbour Centre, 515 W. Hastings, Vancouver, BC
Lunch poems @ SFU hosts well-known and up-and-coming poets on the third Wednesday of every month. For more information visit www.facebook.com/LunchPoemsAtSFU.
Free admission, no registration required. - TWS READING SERIES
First Thursday of every month.
If you get on their mailing list the call for readers goes out the month before and then about eight or nine readers are scheduled with 10 min each. There is usually one feature. No open mic.
8:00-10:00 p.m.
@ the Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main Street (at East 29th), Vancouver
Hosts: Ivan and Karen
*Cottage Bistro takes cash or debit cards only - VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
Every Monday of the month @ Café Deux Soleils on Commercial Drive
Featured readers, poetry open mic and poetry slam - YOUTH POETRY SLAM
4th Monday of each month
Occasional Wednesday themed slams.
Jessica Masson-Paul is the slammaster touchmeirock@gmail.com
RC Weslowski looks after the youth slam rcarcee@yahoo.ca
Email for info about featuring at the slam. @vanposlam on Twitter - SLAM UBC
Where: 2505 West Broadway, Benny’s Cafe, Vancouver
When: 2nd (Standard Poetry Slam) and 4th (Anarchy Slam) Tuesday of every month;
Sign-up at 7:30 Open-Mic/Slam at 8
Cover: Entrance by Donation
poetryslam.ubc@gmail.com
Twitter: @ubcslam Facebook: Slam UBC - THE ABUNDANT MUSIC AND WORD FESTIVAL
Third Thursday of each month Prophouse Café—1636 Venables Street
7pm doors and sign up for open mic
Featured reader and musician each month
Carlos Joe Costa rennlos@yahoo.ca Eva Waldauf 778 227 3275
$5 suggested donation -
HOGAN’S ALLEY OPEN POETRY READINGS
Hogan’s Alley Cafe, The corner of Gore and Union in Chinatown.
First Wednesday of every month
Host: Timothy Shay
Time: 6PM – 8PM
No Cover
Featured reader and 6 minute Open Mic sets.
Sign up at the event.
Contact Timothy to be on mailing list: tshay1952@gmail.com - DEAD POETS READING SERIES
The second Sunday of the odd months of the year
(Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov)
from 3-5 pm
at Project Space, 222 East Georgia St., Vancouver.
Suggested donation of $5 but no one turned away
www.deadpoetslive.ca - SPOKEN INK READING SERIES, Burnaby
Spoken INK is a reading series presented by the Burnaby Writers’ Society on the third Tuesday of each month (except July and August).
For more information, visit
www.BurnabyWritersNews.blogspot.com
or contact bwscafe@gmail.com.
Hosts poetry and prose readings for features and Open Mic.
7:30 p.m. (Open mic sign up starts at 7:15 p.m.)
@ La Fontana Caffe, 101-3701 East Hastings in North Burnaby (NE corner of Boundary and Hastings). - GOLDEN EARS WRITERS, Maple Ridge
@ the Maple Ridge Arts and Culture Theatre (The ACT)
For more information please visit the Golden Ears Writers facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/GoldenEarsWriters
Or contact Katherine Wagner at educationwatch@gmail.com
Free admission. - POETIC JUSTICE READING SERIES, New Westminster
Most Sundays. (not ‘holiday weekends’)
Two to three features + Open Mic
3-5 pm
@Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St., New Westminster, BC
Contact Person is Franci Louann: flouann@telus.net
For more information and upcoming features/bios go to www.poeticjustice.ca - RENAISSANCE BOOKS READING SERIES, New Westminster
The second Sunday of each month, with some exceptions
Open Mic with Features
1 – 3 pm
Location: #43-6th St, New Westminster
Host: Amy Girard or Janene White
Contact: Lavana La Brey, 604-525-4566, renbooks@telus.ent
Free Event.
Format: Features (authors, poets, musicians) followed by an Open mic (Singer Song Writers, Poets and Authors) - ZERO to 360, White Rock
2nd Thursday of every month (though not December, July, August)
Sign-up for open mic spots at 7 pm; readings begin at 7:30.
Pelican Rouge Coffee House, SW corner of 16th Avenue and 152nd Street, White Rock.
All readers have Zero – 360 seconds (6 min) to read their poems a timer goes off if you go over.
Accessible via 351 bus which stops at the corner or, easy free parking as it’s in a mini-mall.
Melissa melissa@semiahmooarts.com
Sponsored by Pelican Rouge and Semiahmoo Arts Council - SURREY MUSE, Surrey
Every Fourth Friday of each month except December.
Presenters (Guest Author, Featured Poet, Featured Artist/Performer), Book Signing, Refreshments, Book Table, Open Mic (5min).
5:30-8:30 pm
@Room 418 – City Centre branch, Surrey Public Library
Events are free
Donations are welcome.
More Information: http://surreymuse.wordpress.com/meetings/ - WORDSTORM! Nanaimo
WordStorm – Nanaimo’s popular Spoken Word and Open Mike event now takes place at Demeter’s Coffee Vault, 499 Wallace Street, Nanaimo on the last Tuesday of the month.Consider coming early for dinner or a snack at Demeter’s Coffee Vault 250-591-0776. For WordStorm itself, doors open at 6:30 and the program begins at 7:00.
To reserve for WordStorm, email David at ascentaspirations@gmail.com - PLANET EARTH READING SERIES, Victoria
Fridays at 7:30pm.
@The Moka House, #103-1633 Hillside Avenue, Victoria, B.C., Canada, V8T 2C4 (250) 370-2077
$3 at the door.
Planet Earth Reading Series is a launching pad for the energies of writers and poets established and not. It is a place where words are most important. A venue in which all manner of poets and writers are welcome; a place for excellence, innovation, collaboration, diverse projects and experiments. The format includes an open mike and a featured artist. Visiting writers are encouraged to contact Yvonne Blomer at planetearthpoetry@gmail.com to arrange a reading.
If you have a regular literary/performance poetry event in the area, and you have not seen yours here, let me know and I will add it. I still have to find InCite Reading Series as they start up again in the new year. And there is the Play Chthonics Reading Series (out of UBC) to be added, once I figure out how regularly they run.