Spotlighted Literary Events

Mar. 28th, 7:30 pm: This Sunday marks the final qualifying showdown of this season's Portland Poetry Slam. Greg Bee, a Seattle slam-er and published poet, will be coming into town for this match. City finals are right around the corner, so expect the poets to bring only their best to the table. The slam has a suggested donation of $5 and is hosted at Backspace (115 NW 5th, Portland).

Mar. 31st, 7:30 pm: Peter Nathaniel Malae will be sharing his rendition of the Me Generation by reading from his debut novel What We Are. After publishing essays, poetry, and short fiction, it will be a pleasure to see this literary voice grow. Malae will be reading at Powell's City of Books on Burnside (1005 W Burnside, Portland)

Through Apr. 2nd: American diplomat John Van Antwerp MacMurray witnessed the early years of the Chinese republic after the fall Qing dynasty. Watching China change from an imperial power to a modern state, MacMurray documented the steps of this struggle. More than one thousand photographs, artifacts, and letters from MacMurray's time in China are currently on exhibit in the Collins Gallery of the Multnomah County Central Library (801 SW 10th, Portland).

Spotlighted Literary Events

Date: TODAY! Friday, May 15
If any of you hepcats happen to be in the Seattle area this evening, the local literary arts group, Youth Speak Seattle, is hosting the 2009 Seattle Youth Poetry Slam. Showcasing local youth talent, contestants will be selected for a team to compete at the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam.
When: 7pm
Where: Seattle Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave., Seattle, WA 98101
Cost: Youth $10 / Adult $15 available through brownpapertickets.com/event/55316
Contact: Angela Dy, 206-661-2036, angel@seattleyouthspeaks.org
For future events and additional program offerings, be sure to check out the official website for Youth Speaks Seattle: http://www.seattleyouthspeaks.org/

Date: Wednesday, May 20
Join the Graphic Novel Book Club in a discussion of The Surrogates: Volume 1 by Robert Venditti (drawn by Brett Weldele). It's 2054 and the world is populated by surrogates: remote-controlled articifical bodies that interact with one another. When a terrorist begins destroying surrogates, cops search for the perpetrator and begin to reevaluate the role of virtual reality. The book is available for check-out from the Multnomah County Library. The club meets the third Wednesday of every month. Next month's read: Exit Wounds by Rutu Modau.
When: 6:30pm
Where: Belmont Library, 1038 Se 39th Ave
Cost: free
For more information, call the Belmont Library at 503-988-5382 or visit www.multcolib.org/events/graphicnovel.html

Date: Thursday, May 21
Thursday begins the first of the Write Around Portland's spring series of writing workshops. For ten weeks, eight 2-hour sessions are being offered to new and seasoned writers. Engage the Portland writing community and gain valuable insight to your craft through freewrites and feedback from trained facilitators. Writing journals, pens, bus tickets, childcare and snacks provided. Pre-registration is requested. Email hotlipspizza@writearound.org with your name, phone number and date of workshop you would like to attend. Contact is Dawn Thompson at 503-796-9224.
When: 9-11am
Where: HOTLIPS Pizza at 2211 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Cost: suggested donation of $20 per workshop
For more information, be sure to check out http://www.writearoundportland.org/

Spotlighted Literary Events

Date: Wednesday, December 17
Spitfire Grill in Seattle hosts the Seattle Poetry Slam's Women of the World Finals with featured poet Taalam Acey. There are weekly poetry slams featuring some of the best spoken word artists, some of whom have gone on to the National Poetry Slam contests. Each Wednesday night, join the supportive atmosphere for open mic, a featured poet, and of course, a poetry slam.
Where: Spitfire Grill, 2219 4th Ave.; Seattle, WA 98121
When: 8:00pm
Cost: $5 cover charge; 21 and over; ID required
For more info, visit www.seattlepoetryslam.org

Date: Wednesday, December 17
Celebrate the successful publication of San Francisco State University's Fall 2008 literary journal, Fourteen Hills, at the Bollyhood Cafe in San Francisco. Reading their works from the journal are contributors Barbara Jane Reyes, Craig Santos Perez, Michael McAllister, Dustin Wells, and Jeff O'Keefe. Enjoy food, beverages, and a raffle throughout the evening of poetry, non-fiction, fiction, plays, and literary non-fiction.
Where: Bollyhood Cafe, 3372 19th St. (at Mission); San Francisco, CA 94110
When: 7:00pm
Cost: Free
For more info, visit www.bollyhoodcafe.com

Date: Thursday, December 18
In Other Words Bookstore hosts a night of reading entitled West Meets West. Portland poets Heather Lane and Franciszka Voeltz share the stage with Vancouver B.C. poets Jen Curin and Christine Lecleic. After the readings there will be an acoustic performance by Pelican Ossman.
Where: In Other Words Bookstore, 8 NE Killingsworth; Portland, OR 97211
When: 7:00pm
Cost: Free
For more info, visit www.inotherwords.org