Wednesday 8/27: San Francisco Poet Laureate Emeritus Jack Hirschman recently uncovered a book-length poem that’s been lost for more than 40 years, will read from the newly published Viet Arcane. Free, 7 p.m., The Emerald Tablet.
The Berkeley Poetry Slam prepares for The Individual World Poetry Slam, in Phoenix this October; the top eight poets battle to see who will rep the team: Toaster, Leo Bryant, Jaz Sufi, Nazelah, Cam Awkward-Rich, B Deep, Jelal, and Abe Becker. $10, 8:15 p.m., The Starry Plough.
Passages on the Lake features readings by Fernando Meisenhalter, Jason Bayani, Brianti Williams, and Hannah Wehr, with music by Jessamyn Lynn. Free, 7 p.m., The Terrace Room.
Thursday 8/28: Writing Without Walls has Fia Maxwell, Calvin Fantone, Pam Benjamin, William Taylor Jr., Jonathan Downer, Fred Dodsworth, and Youssef Alaoui-Fdili all addressing the topic: When I Was Young. Free, 7:30 p.m., Cafe Du Soleil.
Lewis Buzbee reads from his new book, A Personal History of the Classroom, a teacher’s meditation on the abilities of a new and degenerating school system to save at-risk students. Free, 7:30 p.m., The Booksmith.
Thinking Captions 2014 is a kickoff to SF Zine Fest, with performances by Nomi Kane, Rick Kitagawa, Amy Burek, Tomas Moniz, and Ryan Sands. $8, 7 p.m., Cartoon Art Museum.
Friday 8/29: Anhvu Buchanan celebrates the launch of his new chap, Backhanded Compliments & Other Ways to Say I Love You, with a reading by friends Diana Salier, Ivan Hobson, Danny Reyes, and Lindsey Englehardt. Free, 8 p.m., Press: Works on Paper.
Saturday 8/30: Day 1 of SF Zine Fest: start your day off right with a stroll through the many wonderful DIY creations of Bay Area artists. Free, 11 a.m., San Francisco County Fair Building.
Mark Cronin’s book release redux for Dear Ghost of My Love, published by The Gorilla Press, with Ctch Bsnss, Kate Robinson, and Joel Landmine. Hosted by Jason Schenheit. Free, 7 p.m., E.M. Wolfman General Interest Bookstore. – Alexandra Naughton
Donna de la Perrière’s Bay Area Poetry Marathon boasts a stellar lineup: Megan Breiseth, Trevor Calvert, Natalie Catasús, Norma Cole, Gillian Conoley, Owen Hill, Andrew Joron, Kevin Killian, and Nora Toomey. $5, 7:30 p.m., The Emerald Tablet.
Saturday Night Special‘s got an Over the Hill theme for this month’s open mic, which also includes featured readings by Michelle Gonzales and Hannah Wehr. Free, 7 p.m., Nick’s Lounge.
Woolsey Heights hosts poetry by Michael Cross, with Elain Kahn performing as Horsebladder (voice, keys, pedals, rhythm, events) and Bill Orcutt playing four-stringed solo guitar (blues skewers noise skewers blues, ouroboros-style). Free, 8:30 p.m., 1628 Woolsey Street, Apt. C.
Sunday 8/31: SF Zine Fest continues! DIY to the extreme. Free, 11 a.m., San Francisco County Fair Building.
Monday 9/1: The POETS! series features Charles Curtis Blackwell, followed by an open mic. Free, 7 p.m., Bird & Beckett.
Tuesday 9/2: Gina Arnold reads from her new book Exile in Guyville, about Liz Phair’s album of the same title. Free, 7:30 p.m., The Booksmith.
*
Videos from some of last week’s notables: Under the Influence (Micah Ballard, D. Scott Miller, Vernon Keeve III, Tessa Micaela, Emji Spero); A Very Vouched Birthday (Maisha Z. Johnson, Scott Simpson, Maw Shein Win, Sarah Griff, Tim Toaster Henderson, Jelal Huyler, Casey Childers, Amy Berkowitz, Jenny Bitner, Heather Bourbeau, Kwan Booth).
*
This week’s featured local author is Susan Gevirtz (click to read an interview):
