Bookish Events in Philadelphia: April 17–April 23
We are in the midst of National Poetry Month, and Philly is a city of poetry love. It's a fact! How do we know? Just look at this full list of events. It's hard to keep up! How have you been spending this poetry month? Writing a poem a day? Learning to speak in iambic pentameter? Wishing there was a National Fiction Month? Whatever you're doing, whatever you're into, here are a few events to light up the literary places in your brain.
Friday, April 17th: Lots of things happening! Choose your own literary adventure. Metropolarity & Laser Life present James Hannaham reading from his 2nd novel, Delicious Foods. A-Space Anarchist Community Center, 4722 Baltimore Ave,6pm.
Those in the northwest part of the city may want to head to the Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane, for Earthly Rituals: Women in Celebration of and Dialogue with Earth. In honor of both Poetry Month and Earth Day, five area women poets, Hila Ratzabi, Therese Halscheid, Amy Small-McKinney, Alison Hicks, and Catherine Bancroft will be reading work about the earth and its myriad representations.
Finally on Friday at 7:30pm, check out To Pimp a Justice System at A Poet Art Gallery, 4032 W. Girard Ave. The event will use spoken word poetry to spark a dialogue about some of the issues inside of the African American community, especially police brutality and the lack of justice received there. Philadelphia poets Seff Al-Afriqui and Kirwyn Sutherland are two of the evening's featured performers. There will also be a discussion panel where performers and audience members will collaborate.
Saturday, April 18th is Philly Poetry Day! Look for pop-up poetry events all over the city. Many of them will be listed on Philly Poetry Day's Facebook page, so check it out for the many happenings, and feel free to curate and list your own events. Tell a haiku to a random stranger on SEPTA, or read "The Raven" aloud by the Poe House, perhaps. At least one Apiary staff member is considering printing poetry parking tickets to leave under windshield wipers. Be on the lookout.
One event we're loving on Saturday is the Hanging Out with Poetry Hour. The Germantown Artist Round Table is holding this 2nd annual outdoor lunch-hour love-in featuring Germantown poets reading original & favorite poems. Bring your favorite poem to hang on the poetry clothesline! Hosted by Gtown poet and USDAC cultural agent Yolanda Wisher, 12pm-1pm, 26 W Maplewood Mall.
Quick shoutout to the Philly Youth Poetry Movement Grand Slam Finals, Saturday at 5:30pm at the Suzanne Roberts Theater. More info and ticket links on their event page. GO IN, youth poets, and leave it all on the stage!
Sunday, April 19th, there's poetry at the Pen & Pencil Club starting at 8pm. 1522 Latimer Street.
Thursday, April 23rd, head to L'Etage as Vice Principal Hand presents Lisa Sewell, Suzanne Wise, and Jenn McCreary. These three talented women will present plenty of great poetry–serious, click the link and see their fantastic credentials. 8pm. 624 S 6th Street.
