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July 2008
Page 1 of 1
Storied evenings
Who says reading has to be a solitary event? Not in this town, where
you could fill your calendar with reading series and lit magazine
issue-release parties, and never once walk into a bookstore.
Who says reading has to be a solitary event? Not in this town, where you could fill your calendar with reading series and lit magazine issue-release parties, and never once walk into a bookstore.
Babylon Salon Each event from this newish group shines a light on one literary journal and its stars. On September 13, the featured publication is Watchword, which prints some works in translation, from San Francisco’s Watchword Press. Guests will include managing editor Liz Lisle and one writer from its pages. Cantina: 580 Sutter St., S.F., babylonsalon.com
Canteen Issue three of this S.F.- and N.Y.-based fine-art magazine of fiction, poetry, essays, art, and photography will feature Benjamin Kunkel (Indecision; n+1) and Porochista Khakpour (Sons and Other Flammable Objects). Watch for the release party this summer. canteenmag.com
InsideStoryTime This monthly series puts the bar back in bard, as listeners sit back with a beer while authors take the dimly lit stage. The topic on July 17 is “punk,” and readers will include Frank Portman (King Dork) and Stephanie Kuehnert (I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone). Edinburgh Castle: 950 Geary St., S.F., insidestorytime.com
Literary Death Match Four authors read from their work for 10 minutes each at this almost monthly event; then it’s down to two, battling for the evening’s championship before a panel of astute judges invited by host Opium Magazine. Warning: Drinks have been thrown—once, anyway. July venue TBD; literarydeathmatch.com
Narrative Magazine The next Narrative Night in San Francisco, with authors Jennifer Egan and Robert Stone, is scheduled for March 12, 2009. Until then, join 40,000 online readers for the magazine’s new poetry, fiction, nonfiction, work in progress, and short stories. narrativemagazine.com
Porchlight Hostesses Beth Lisick (Helping Me Help Myself) and Arline Klatte (former Moscow Times lifestyles editor) invited their favorite storytellers from the past year to perform on July 11 for the sixth anniversary of their monthly evenings of tales told by writers and nonwriters, with no notes or memorization. This time, seven performers will consider the seven deadly sins for up to 10 minutes each, instead of the usual 6. Swedish American Hall: 2174 Market St., S.F., porchlightsf.com
Progressive Reading Series Host Stephen Elliott (Happy Baby; Sex for America) will call Neal Pollack (Alternadad), former Stegner Fellow Doug Dorst, Grotto founders Ethan Canin and Po Bronson, and Sister Spit’s Tara Jepsen to the stage on July 19. The series is held every month during election years, and proceeds go to progressive political candidates and causes. Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., S.F., makeoutroom.com
Writers with Drinks For this monthly meet-up, the well-connected Charlie Anders (Choir Boy) gathers performers for what she calls a “spoken-word variety show” of essay reading, stand-up comedy, poetry, and plenty of “other.” The next show is July 12. Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., S.F., writerswithdrinks.com
Zoetrope: All-Story Release parties for Francis Ford Coppola’s quarterly,
Babylon Salon Each event from this newish group shines a light on one literary journal and its stars. On September 13, the featured publication is Watchword, which prints some works in translation, from San Francisco’s Watchword Press. Guests will include managing editor Liz Lisle and one writer from its pages. Cantina: 580 Sutter St., S.F., babylonsalon.com
Canteen Issue three of this S.F.- and N.Y.-based fine-art magazine of fiction, poetry, essays, art, and photography will feature Benjamin Kunkel (Indecision; n+1) and Porochista Khakpour (Sons and Other Flammable Objects). Watch for the release party this summer. canteenmag.com
InsideStoryTime This monthly series puts the bar back in bard, as listeners sit back with a beer while authors take the dimly lit stage. The topic on July 17 is “punk,” and readers will include Frank Portman (King Dork) and Stephanie Kuehnert (I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone). Edinburgh Castle: 950 Geary St., S.F., insidestorytime.com
Literary Death Match Four authors read from their work for 10 minutes each at this almost monthly event; then it’s down to two, battling for the evening’s championship before a panel of astute judges invited by host Opium Magazine. Warning: Drinks have been thrown—once, anyway. July venue TBD; literarydeathmatch.com
Narrative Magazine The next Narrative Night in San Francisco, with authors Jennifer Egan and Robert Stone, is scheduled for March 12, 2009. Until then, join 40,000 online readers for the magazine’s new poetry, fiction, nonfiction, work in progress, and short stories. narrativemagazine.com
Porchlight Hostesses Beth Lisick (Helping Me Help Myself) and Arline Klatte (former Moscow Times lifestyles editor) invited their favorite storytellers from the past year to perform on July 11 for the sixth anniversary of their monthly evenings of tales told by writers and nonwriters, with no notes or memorization. This time, seven performers will consider the seven deadly sins for up to 10 minutes each, instead of the usual 6. Swedish American Hall: 2174 Market St., S.F., porchlightsf.com
Progressive Reading Series Host Stephen Elliott (Happy Baby; Sex for America) will call Neal Pollack (Alternadad), former Stegner Fellow Doug Dorst, Grotto founders Ethan Canin and Po Bronson, and Sister Spit’s Tara Jepsen to the stage on July 19. The series is held every month during election years, and proceeds go to progressive political candidates and causes. Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., S.F., makeoutroom.com
Writers with Drinks For this monthly meet-up, the well-connected Charlie Anders (Choir Boy) gathers performers for what she calls a “spoken-word variety show” of essay reading, stand-up comedy, poetry, and plenty of “other.” The next show is July 12. Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., S.F., writerswithdrinks.com
Zoetrope: All-Story Release parties for Francis Ford Coppola’s quarterly,
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Sharper image
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