Wednesday 3/18: A Bay area sighting of poet Kazim Ali is always notable, and even more so when it includes a chance to check out the Center for Literary Arts at San Jose State University. Do you know the way to San Jose? This would be a good time to figure it out. Free, 7 p.m., Center for Literary Arts.
You’ve heard of “Christmas in July”? How about “Halloween in March?” If you just can’t wait till October, check out the anthology, The Uncanny Reader: Stories from the Shadows, presented by editor Marjorie Sander, contributor Namwalli Serpell, and translator Edward Gauvin. Free, 7:30 p.m., The Booksmith. (RSVP appreciated.)
Thursday 3/19: It’s anniversary time for “Under The Influence“, the reading series created two years ago for The Emerald Tablet by Evan Karp and Lapo Guzzini. That’s worth celebrating, especially when one of the performers is Chris Peck (Peck The Town Crier) whose local profile has been too low as of late. Other performers include Christina Kolozsvary, Joe Loya, Allison Landa, and Peter Bullen. $5-10, 7:30 p.m., The Emerald Tablet.
Rumpus books editor Brian Hurley would like to call your attention to “A Melting” in good old Oakland, co-hosted by The Rumpus, along with Vouched Books and Omni Commons. “A Melting” features visiting readers Mike Young and Luke Bloomfield along with local talent Jayinee Basu,Na’amen Tilahun, and Leora Fridman. Free, 7 p.m., Omni Oakland Commons.
Spring in the groves of academe: it’s time for the MFA Mixer Spring 2015 at which students from many of the Bay Area’s MFA programs will read their work at the Cat Club in the Mission District. Where else will you see and hear hot poets reading from a go-go dancer’s cage? Flirtations may ensue. The festivities are organized by Jeff Von Ward and Sean Labrador Y Manzano and will feature Corey Bell (CCA), Lily Black (CIIS), Philip Harris (SFSU), Mia Amir (Mills), RJ Ingram (St. Mary’s), j divina erickson (Mills), Jenny Alton (SFSU), Veronica Jordan-Sardi (CCA), and Elizabeth Wright (St. Mary’s). Find out what the kids (and some elders) are up to. Free, 7 p.m., Cat Club.
Friday 3/20: Michelle Tea and Radar Productions are not in the habit of disappointing their audiences. Tonight, they present Beat Remix at the Beat Museum in North Beach, featuring Lil Miss Hot Mess, Raquel Guttiérrez, Kate Schatz, Lauren Wheeler, Bucky Sinister, and Ben McCoy. Slap on a turtleneck and a beret and prepare to pop your fingers. Free, 7 p.m., Beat Museum.
Saturday 3/21: Nana K. Twusami, Jared Stanley, and Donna de la Perrière read at The Featherboard Writing Series at Aggregate Space Gallery, surrounded by the art work of Darrin Martin. Free, 6 p.m., Aggregate Space Gallery.
Oakland Review, a new journal of the East Bay literary scene, will get launched at Studio Morey, with live music and multiple readers including East Bay luminaries Paul Corman-Roberts, SB Stokes, Cassandra Dallett, and J de Salvo. Music from “Wreck This Place” (which certainly sounds promising). Free (donations welcome), 7 p.m., Studio Morey.
Monday 3/23: Bay Area Generations returns for its bi-monthly engagement at Hotel Rex with four pairs of intergenerational readers: Will Waller + Asha Fletcher-Irwin, Brenda Hammond + Ellen Woods, Jenny Pritchart + Kathy Gilbert, and Bonnie McManis + Raluca Ioanid. $7 ($10 with souvenir chapbook), 7 p.m., Hotel Rex.
Tuesday 3/24: University of San Francisco opens a two day “Emerging Writers Festival” as part of the Lone Mountain Reading Series, with Hala Alyan, Chanan Tigay, and Nina McConigley. Free, 7:30 p.m., USF Main Campus (Maraschi Room in Fromm Hall).
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This week’s theatre recommendation comes from TheatreStorm reviewer Barry David Horwitz, Professor Emeritus of Theatre and English at St. Mary’s University. Barry recommends “Other Desert Cities” at New Conservatory Theatre Center. He says that this play “builds up a tremendous head of steam and comes crashing down on us, theatrically, effectively, explosively…” Sounds like you won’t fall asleep. Read Barry’s review here. Find attendance details (including venue and ticket information) here.
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This week’s featured local author is Nayomi Munaweera (click here to read an interview):
