NYC Readings Roundup :: May 6 – 12
Middle Schoolers from the Poetry Outreach program read at the Annual CCNY Poetry Festival, now in its 41st year. Friday, May 10th (details below)
Editor’s note: welcome to the 10th iteration of our new weekly series, the Readings Roundup…which you might notice is growing steadily! Sorry if I’m repeating myself to some of you but if this is your first time here it bears noting that it’s long been a pipedream of ours to revive the NYC Poetry Calendar (started in 1977 by Bob Holman), to provide for the community here a true and cohesive overview of the vibrant scene that seems to birth a new event every day.
How does a poet new to New York or just new to the readings landscape figure out where to go, what these different events and organizations represent and offer?
We have a habit of biting off more than we can chew, so even though we have an overwhelmingly robust spreadsheet we’re working on making into an interactive page on the site, in future, we decided not to wait. In the meanwhile, we’ll start small — featuring in particular long running events and venues, making sure always to keep a healthy balance between styles and associations. We are judgement free and love filled, we’re just excited people are writing, reading, and sharing this important form. Come out!
– Lynne DeSilva-Johnson, Poetry/Managing Editor
Featured Events:
May 10 (9am-5pm) | free admission
NYC Poetry Festival @ Aaron Davis Hall (City College)
The 41st annual iteration of this full day poetry celebration is organized by the CCNY Poetry Outreach program, and kicks off with readings by public school students from middle schools and highschools throughout NYC. Also on the program are City College undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and poets from around the world, as well as a reading from featured poet Tom Sleigh.
May 10&11 (8-10:30pm) | $20 for one night, $30 for both
Epic Now: Poetry for Epic Times @ The Poetry Project at Saint Mark’s Church
“We’re living in a time of legends” says The Poetry Project, whose two night Spring Benefit – Epic Now: Epic Poetry for Epic Times – invites poets and performers and present their own epic remixes of an epic poem.
MONDAY 5/6
6-7:30pm | free admission
Four Way Books Poets @ NYU Bookstore
Poets will read from their most recent collections. Featuring Alex Dimitrov,Yona Harvey, Allison Benis White, Bruce Willard and Jay Baron.
7-9pm | free admission
Monday Night Poetry @ KGB Bar
Poets will read from their most recent collections. Featuring Louis Jenkins and Glyn Maxwell.
7:30-10pm | free admission
louderARTS Poetry Open Mic @ Bar 13
Sign ups start at 7pm. Arrive early for pre-show workshop [6-7pm], an informal drop in workshop series.
8-10pm | free admission
Saturn Series Poetry @ Revival Bar
Saturn Series Poetry is a writers’ open mic every Monday night. This is not a slam. Poets, playwrights, screenwriters and novelists perform prose, poetry and sometimes a song or two.
TUESDAY 5/7
starts 7pm | $10; $7 for students/seniors; free for Poets House Members 
Passwords: Stephen Dobyns on James Wright @ Poets House
Poet and novelist Stephen Dobyns discusses the life and poetry of Pulitzer-prize winner James Wright (1927-1980).
7-9pm | free admission
Women Write Resistance: Poets Resist Gender Violence @ KGB Bar
“The anthology Women Write Resistances: Poets Resist Gender Violence (Hyacinth Girl Press, 2013) views poetry as a transformative art. By deploying techniques to challenge narratives about violence against women and making alternatives to that violence visible … this anthology intervene[s] in the ways gender violence is perceived in American culture”
WEDNESDAY 5/8
starts 8pm | $8, $7 students and seniors, $5 members
Evelyn Reilly & Nathaniel Tarn @ The Poetry Project at Saint Mark’s Church
The featured poets will read from their recent work.
THURSDAY 5/9
starts 7pm | free admission
NYU Creative Writing Presents: Mark Doty and Angelo Nikolopoulos @ Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House
National Book Award–winner Mark Doty’s and NYU Creative Writing Program alumnus Angelo Nikolopoulos read from their recent work.
FRIDAY 5/10
begins 10pm | $10
Friday Night Slam @ The Nuyorican Poets Cafe
NYC’s first poetry slam was held at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in 1989 and 20 years later it is still going strong. Watch poets perform and compete. Judges are 5 randomly chosen audience members.
SATURDAY 5/11
4:30-6:30pm | $5
The Segue Reading Series @ Zinc Bar
Segue hosts this experimental reading series that has run continuously for 25 years. Featuring readings by Susan Gevirtz and Trish Salah.
SUNDAY 5/12
5:30pm | $5 admission goes to the readers
Zinc Bar Reading Series: Curated by Lungfull!@ Zinc Bar
“Mariana Ruiz hosts special secret guests”
7-9pm | free admission
Sunday Night Fiction @ KGB Bar
The KGB Bar Sunday Night Fiction showcases contemporary fiction from new and emerging writers. Featuring Brando Skyhorse, Soren Stockman and Mary Hanlon.
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Resources:
Poets and Writers (P&W) Literary Events Calendar (Filter by City, State) Poetry Project Calendar
Belladonna* Reading Series KGB Bar Calendar
Nuyorican Poets Cafe Calendar Poets House Calendar
Time Out New York | Book Events
The series is overseen by Managing/Poetry Editor Lynne DeSilva-Johnson and maintained by Taylor Quilty, Exit Strata Program Assistant. Please email editors@exitstrata.com to submit your event/organization with READINGS ROUNDUP in the subject line for inclusion in future listings!
