Wednesday 1/20: James Warner (All Her Father’s Guns) presents readings by three novelists at “Inside Story Time: Harbingers.” They are Val Brelinski (The Girl Who Slept with God), Juan Alvarado Valdivia (¡Cancerlandia!), Saeeda Hafiz (The Healing), and MC Mars (Burner). Free, 7 p.m., El Amigo Bar.
The release of Oakland Review #2 is celebrated with readings by contributors Cassandra Dallett, Tim Donnelly, Mg Roberts, Alexandra Naughton, Marc Olmsted, Zephir O’Meara, William Taylor Jr, Andrew J. Thomas, Arisa White, and Jezebel Delilah X. Hosted by editors Paul Corman-Roberts and J. de Salvo. This collection of readers is an impressive lineup of members of Oakland’s self styled “Beast Generation.” If you’ve been wondering about the burgeoning Oakland literary scene, this event would be a great introduction. Free, 7 p.m. E. M. Wolfman.
Thursday 1/21: Poetry Flash presents Dan Bellm (Practice) and Helen Wickes (World As You Left It). Free, 7:30 p.m. Moe’s Books.
Alley Cat Books presents the second installment of the “Bloody Mary” reading series, “The Bloodening,” featuring five poets: Kelly Egan, Melissa Burke, Nick Vulpes, Raina Leon, and Jacob Minasian. Hosted by Kevin Kvist Peters and Kelly Egan. Free, 7 p.m., Alley Cat Books.
Friday 1/22: Neeli Cherkovski, a still-committed member of the Beat generation, now described in a blurb as a “reluctant elder,” celebrates the release of his latest book of poems, The Crow and I. In addition to Cherkovski, this event will feature several members of the “Beast Generation,” heirs apparent to the Beats, who have been described by Allie Marini Batts as “a collective who read tirelessly throughout the Bay Area and whose highly confessional, direct, often brutally honest work has a feel and spirit that is both intoxicating and inimitable.” Readers include Cassandra Dallett, Paul Corman-Roberts, William Taylor, Jr., and SB Stokes. Free, 7 p.m., The Beat Museum.
ZYZZYVA hosts the release of its winter issue. Readers include Heather Altfeld, Dan Alter, David L. Ulin, Elizabeth Tallent, and Anthony Marra. Free, 7 p.m., Diesel, A Bookstore.
Saturday 1/23: Jeff Von Ward recommends Jon Sindell’s reading series, “Rolling Writers,” which Jeff describes as “literary camaraderie par excellence!” Readers include Nancy Davenport, Fred Dodsworth, Rebecca Foust, Taino Hagelberg, Evelyn Posamentier, Robert Thomas, and Amos White. Free, 6:30 p.m., Rolling-Out Cafe.
Sunday 1/24: The “Curiosity Poetry Reading Series” debuts in Emeryville featuring Sarah Kobrinsky, Vernon Keeve III, and Todd Melicker. Free, 12 p.m., Scarlet City.
Monday 1/25: “Bay Area Generations” presents edition #29, guest-curated by Audrey Esquivel, along with Bay Area Generations Board curators J. K. Fowler and Charles Kruger. The reading features paired performances by readers of different generations, plus a musical interlude, presented in an elegant venue. The readings are published in a souvenir chapbook available at the event. $7 ($10 with chapbook), 7:30 p.m. Hotel Rex.
Tuesday 1/26: Co-hosts Alexandra Naughton and J. K. Fowler present “Be Live About It #4.” This unusual performance series includes literary readings, musical performances, comedy, physical theatre, and a sit-down interview with one of the features, conducted by the co-curators. Always fun and interesting. Featured poet: Tomas Moniz. Featured comedian: Edna Mira Raia. Featured musician: Michael Fortes. Free, 8 p.m., Woods Bar & Brewery.
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This weeks theatre recommendation is Marin Theatre Company’s production of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. Set in 1904, Gem of the Ocean is part of Wilson’s masterful ten-play Century Cycle, which tells stories of Black Americans from each decade of the 20th century. MTC has previously presented two other award winning productions from the Century Cycle: Fences and Seven Guitars. Gem of the Ocean features Margo Hall, one of the Bay area’s most distinguished Black theatre artists. For further information, click here.
For more extensive coverage of the Bay area theatre scene, visit TheatreStorm.
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Evan Karp presents video of this week’s featured local author, Alison Luterman. Read an interview here.
And, finally, Quiet Lightning shares recent video of SF Notable, Annelyse Gelman.
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If you have a Bay Area event listing you’d like us to consider for Notable SF, please contact [email protected] as far in advance as possible, and include the date of the event in the subject line.
