This is a member-created list for local events and readings in poetry that are occurring in the NC area. If there’s an event you want to see here, use the contact button above to let us know about it!
New Events
February 22 (Wednesday), 7 pm
General Classroom Building, Auditorium A218, NC A&T University Campus, Greensboro
NC A&T Carolina on My Mind Reading Series: “The Obsidian: Literature in the African Diaspora Journal Special Edition: This Historic event will feature some of the best of North Carolina’s Black fiction, nonfiction writers and storytellers working and performing in the genre today. Featuring: Sandra Govan * Sheila Smith McKoy * Beverly Burnette * Lenard D. Moore and others. Free and open to the public.
February 23 (Thursday)
Queens University Sports Complex & Conference Center, 2229 Tyvola Road (near Park Road), Charlotte
The Charlotte Writers’ Club
Third Thursday of every month (except December, when it’s on the second Thursday)
This month: Jeffrey Deaver, award-winning writer of mysteries and thrillers and creative of the Lincoln Rhyme series, will read and discuss his work.
Schedule of future readers:
March 20. Annual Critique Groups Powwow. Charlotte Writers’ Club members involved in critique groups will gather to discuss and connect.
April 17. Dorianne Laux and Joseph Millar will help us celebrate National Poetry Month. Winners of the Tony Abbott Student Poetry Prize will read their poems.
May 15. Valerie Nieman will read from her new novel, Blood Clay, “a true-to-life, sensitive and gripping piece of fiction.”
Beginning in January 2012, the Charlotte Writers’ Club will meet at the Queens University Sports Complex & Conference Center, 2229 Tyvola Road (near Park Road) in Charlotte.
February 24 (Friday), 10 pm
Beyu Caffe, 335 West Main St, Durham
Beyu Caffe Poetry Slam
$5 cover with $10 minimum purchase
Featuring members of EL GRITO DE POETAS from NYC
http://www.elgritodepoetas.com/
This is a special poetry competition in which selected poets are invited to compete for a cash prize. Hosted by Dasan Ahanu
About El Grito De Poetas:
EL GRITO DE POETAS is a collective of seven diverse Latinos representing the Caribbean, Central and South America, dedicated to educating though creative forms of art.
February 27 (Monday), 7 pm
Tannenbaum-Sternberger Room of the Central Library, 219 N Church St, Greensboro
The Gilbert-Chappell Distinguised Poet Series (Central Region) readings will kick off on February 27th with a presentation by distinguished poet Ann Deagon and student poet Caitlin Johnson. A short open mic will follow.
March 15 (Tuesday), 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Taste Full Beans Coffehouse
Downtown Hickory
Poetry Hickory
Featured readers Malaika King Albrecht and Maureen Sherbondy. Workshp at 4:00: Writing from art.
Writers’ Night Out at 4:00
For more information contact Scott Owens: 828-234-4266 or asowens1@yahoo.com
March 22 (Thursday)
Common Ground Theater, Durham
World Premiere of Controversial Play CREEDS by Richard Krawiec
This is opening night, but the play will run for 2 weeks, Thursday through Sunday, with Sunday being a matinee. http://cgtheatre.com/events for more information.
- CREEDS is a volatile drama, laced with black humor, based around the story of Robert Hanssen, the arch conservative, Opus Dei Catholic who was a double agent for the Russians, and considered the greatest spy in U.S. history. Most people know about Hanssen. It deals with themes of faith, secrets, sexual boundaries, and betrayals.
- CREEDS focuses equally on Bonnie, who has been treated officially as if she’s completely innocent, but who, as CREEDS explores, may have been complicit in every area of her husband’s life.
- The cast features Lori Mahl*(courtesy Actors Equity, a NYC veteran who shared the stage with some big names – Carol Channing, Tyne Daly ), Jeff Alguire(winner of a Best Actor from the Indy) and an ensemble of actors who have performed on all the major stages in the Triangle.
For information or reservations, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/224259. NCPS members receive a 20% discount for Friday and Saturday performances. If interested in this discount contact richard krawiec directly at jacarpress@gmail.com
March 31 (Saturday), 10 am – Noon
Mebane Public Library, 101 S First St, Mebane
Debra Kaufman will lead a free workshop focusing on effective use of imagery. Using imagery is how a writer summons up a picture—landscape, still life, portrait, dramatic scene—in the minds of readers. How do we take a thought or feeling and translate it into something concrete and knowable? What makes your poem one that only you could have written? We will discuss selected poems, write in class, and take time for (optional) sharing.
To sign up, contact Katherine Arends at karends@alamancelibraries.org. If you would like to submit one poem for critique, please email it to Debra at kaufman57@gmail.com by March 16. The workshop is limited to 25 participants on a first-come, first-served basis, and the class fills up quickly.
April 10 (Tuesday), 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Taste Full Beans Coffehouse
Downtown Hickory
Poetry Hickory
Featured readers Richard Krawiec and others from the Jacar Press Love Anthology …and love….. Workshop at 4:00: Are your eady to publish?
For more information contact Scott Owens: 828-234-4266 or asowens1@yahoo.com
April 14 (Saturday)
Walking into April Poetry Day celebrates its ninth year at Barton College. Featured poets Debra Kaufman and Bill Griffin will read and discuss their work. Joining them will be this year’s Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Michael White, who teaches at UNC-Wilmington, and the student poets he has mentored. The event takes place in the Ragan Writing Center on the campus of Barton College in Wilson and runs from 10:00-3:00. Everyone is invited to bring books to sell and a poem to read during open microphone time. The only cost is for lunch. Those who want to reserve lunch should send a check for $9.50, made out to Barton College, to Rebecca Godwin, Department of English and Modern Languages, Barton College, Box 5000, Wilson, NC 27893. Lunch reservation deadline is April 10. For more information, contact Rebecca at rlgodwin@barton.edu or (252) 399-6364 or Marty Silverthorne at marty.koda@yahoo.com.
April 15 (Sunday)
Page Walker Arts & History Center, Cary
2012 Nâzim Hikmet Poetry Festival
The festival will include a poetry workshop and readings by invited poets and finalists of the 2012 poetry competition. For more information: http://www.nazimhikmetpoetryfestival.org/index.php?id=3
February 22 (Friday), 7 pm
General Classroom Building, Auditorium A218, NC A&T University Campus, Greensboro
*NC A&T Carolina on My Mind Reading Series: “Home is Where….” This groundbreaking anthology brings together some of the best of North and South Carolina’s Black poets writing and performing in the genre today. Featuring: Marcus Amaker, Colema Corbett, Michele Reese, Cedric Tillman, Carolyn Beard Whitlow, Anjail Rashida Ahmad.
May 8 (Tuesday), 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Taste Full Beans Coffehouse
Downtown Hickory
Poetry Hickory
Featured readers Helen Losse and Carol Novack
Writers’ Night Out at 4:00
For more information contact Scott Owens: 828-234-4266 or asowens1@yahoo.com
June 12 (Tuesday), 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Taste Full Beans Coffehouse
Downtown Hickory
Poetry Hickory
Featured readers Robert Lee Brewer and Tammy Foster Brewer.
Workshop at 4:00
For more information contact Scott Owens: 828-234-4266 or asowens1@yahoo.com
July 10 (Tuesday), 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Taste Full Beans Coffehouse
Downtown Hickory
Poetry Hickory
Featured readers Robert S. King and Robert Kimsey.
Writers’ Night Out at 4:00
For more information contact Scott Owens: 828-234-4266 or asowens1@yahoo.com
August 14 (Tuesday), 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Taste Full Beans Coffehouse
Downtown Hickory
Poetry Hickory
Featured readers Celisa Steele and Jo Taylor.
Writers’ Night Out at 4:00
For more information contact Scott Owens: 828-234-4266 or asowens1@yahoo.com
September 11 (Tuesday), 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Taste Full Beans Coffehouse
Downtown Hickory
Poetry Hickory
Featured readers Kathryn Kirkpatrick and Alice Osborn.
Writers’ Night Out at 4:00
For more information contact Scott Owens: 828-234-4266 or asowens1@yahoo.com
October 9 (Tuesday), 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Taste Full Beans Coffehouse
Downtown Hickory
Poetry Hickory
Featured readers Debra Kaufman and Amy Tipton Cortner.
Writers’ Night Out at 4:00
For more information contact Scott Owens: 828-234-4266 or asowens1@yahoo.com
November 13 (Tuesday), 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Taste Full Beans Coffehouse
Downtown Hickory
Poetry Hickory
Featured readers Molly Rice and Alex Grant.
Writers’ Night Out at 4:00
For more information contact Scott Owens: 828-234-4266 or asowens1@yahoo.com
December 11 (Tuesday), 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Taste Full Beans Coffehouse
Downtown Hickory
Poetry Hickory
Featured readers M. Scott Douglass and Jonathan K. Rice.
Writers’ Night Out at 4:00
For more information contact Scott Owens: 828-234-4266 or asowens1@yahoo.com
Recurring Meetings and Writing Groups
The Second Thursday Flyleaf Poetry Reading Series date has been changed to the THIRD Thursday for March only. On March 15 at 7 pm, featured readers are award-wining poet Shelby Stephenson, Playing Dead, and Katherine Soniat, The Swing Girl, winner of the 2011 Oscar Young Book Award. An open mic will follow the featured readers. Please contact Debra Kaufman at kaufman57@gmail.com for more information.
Coastal Poets Consortium (CPC)
CPC is a group of innovative local poets that meets first and third Thursdays at The Book Exchange (211 Western Blvd.) in Jacksonville, NC (Onslow County). We are open to all.
Friday Noon Poets
Fridays, 12:30pm-1:30pm
Amity United Methodist Church
Corner of Estes Dr. and Airport Blvd., Chapel Hill
Informal meetings every Friday. Read your poetry or poems of others.
Free parking, side entrance. All are welcome!
*Call Dave Manning for details, 919-462-3695
Jackson’s Java Poetry Open Mic
Second Thursday of Each Month 8:00pm
Jackson’s Java in Town Center Plaza
8544 University City Blvd., Charlotte
*Hosted by Jonathan K. Rice, editor and publisher of Iodine Poetry Journal. Visit www.iodinepoetryjournal.com for more information.
Lyric/Soul
Every Wednesday from 9 pm-11 pm
In the Cafe located at AV’s Bar and Grille
3138 Raeford Rd in Fayetteville
Java Jams: Fayetteville’s Premiere Poetry Open Mic
Sundays, 7:00-11:00pm
Coffee Scene
3818 Morganton Rd., Fayetteville
Writers’ Ink Guild – Poetry and Prose Critique Group Meeting
Third Tuesday of Each Month 7:00pm (Note: Tuesday, not Thursday, as was previously said in this newsletter)
Barnes and Noble at Glensford Commons
121 Glensford Rd., Fayetteville
“You don’t have to be a great writer or even a good writer to attend; you just have to be an enthusiastic writer.”
*Contact: Jerry Bradley at (910) 574-5019 or TwoBradlez@aol.com.
Cellar 101 Open Mic
Third Thursday of Each Month 5:00pm
Cellar 101, 101 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina
*This is a monthly Open Mike event hosted by Malaika King Albrecht and Jan Parker, sponsored by Main Street Rag. For details, email Malaika at pomegranite8@hotmail.com or call Cellar 101 at 919-285-3416.
2nd Thursdays Poetry & Spoken Word
Second Thursday of Each Month, 8 pm
Poor Richard’s Book Shoppe, 118 S South St, Gastonia
Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse
Second Tuesday of Each Month
29 2nd St. NW, Hickory
5pm – NC Writer’s Network Night out
6:30pm – Poetry Hickory
*Contact Scott Owens at asowens1@yahoo.com or 828-234-4266 for more information.
Raleigh Reading Open Mic Night
hosted by Maureen Sherbondy
First Thursday of Each Month 7:00-8:30pm
Royal Bean Coffee House & Gathering Space (across from Meredith College)
3801 Hillsborough St., Raleigh
*Co-sponsored by Main Street Rag Publishing Company. Come to read or just to listen, bring poems, short-short stories, or essays. If you plan on reading, please let Maureen know: msherbondy@nc.rr.com. For more info, call Royal Bean at 919-834-BEAN.
Join the Kitchen Table Writers
with Marjorie Hudson, MFA
Tuesdays 10 – 11:30 am at the Rosemary House Bed and Breakfast in Pittsboro
and Thursdays 1:30 – 3 pm at McIntyre’s Books in Fearrington
Fee: $125 for 10 sessions
www.kitchentablewriters.wordpress.com
*If you know events or regular meetings you feel should be added, please use the contact form above (by following the “contact” link in the menu) or simply email the webmaster (cari@inawildflower.com). Thanks for making the NCPS website even more full of resources for poets in North Carolina!
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