Category: Asheville

April Poetrio at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe

National Poetry Month begins at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe with Poetrio this Sunday at 3:00 p.m. This month’s featured poets include Ed Madden, Ray McManus and Anne Harding Woodworth.

Here’s an abridged version of the poets bios from the Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café news release:

Anne Harding Woodworth is a member of the Poetry Board at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.  She is a part-time resident of both Washington, D.C. and the Western North Carolina mountains. On April 1 this year, she will read from her fourth book, THE ARTEMIS SONNETS, ETC.

Ray McManus teaches creative writing, Irish literature, rhetoric, and composition at the University of South Carolina, Sumter.  We are very pleased to welcome him back with his second poetry collection, RED DIRT JESUS, for which he won the Marick Press Poetry Prize.

At the November 2009 Poetrio event here at Malaprop’s, Ed Madden read from Signals, the 2008 poetry collection for which he won the South Carolina Poetry Book Prize.  His most recent collection of poetry is PRODIGAL: VARIATIONS.

Learn more about the April 2012 Poetrio at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe at their web site.

Book Launch for Look Up Asheville Collection II

Look Up Asheville II by Michael Oppenheim and Laura Hope-Gill

Tonight at 6:30 p.m. the Look Up Asheville II book launch begins at the Battery Park Champagne Bar/Book Exchange. Join the festivities for the launch of Look Up Asheville II featuring photography by Michael Oppenheim and essays by Laura Hope-Gill. Poet Robert Morgan writes: “Look Up Asheville II takes us into the heart of the city’s diverse and colorful history, scene of its current flourishing culture.”

From the event invitation: “Look Up Asheville II features more architectural details captured by local photographer, Michael Oppenheim, accompanied by historical essays by Laura Hope-Gill, with a Foreword by premier author and poet Robert Morgan (Gap Creek, Lions of the West, Terroir). Designed by Michele Scheve, Look Up Asheville II does more than inform readers and viewers of the architectural, social and creative history of Asheville; it celebrates all these with stories and luminous images. The new book contains Asheville’s grand Bed and Breakfasts and more of the exquisitely built churches, inns, museums and downtown treasures.”

Poetry at the Altamont

Poet Laura Hope-Gill

Tonight from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., Poetry at the Altamont continues with this month’s featured poet, Laura Hope-Gill.

It’s been awhile since I visited the The Altamont Theatre. I believe it was during last year’s Wordfest. It’s a gorgeous setting to hear poets read their work. I’m looking forward to tonight’s event.

Here’s more details about the event Poetry at the Altamont from their Facebook invite page:

Poetry at the Altamont is a reading series for poets and poetry lovers commencing on the third Monday of each month at seven o’clock in the evening at The Altamont Theatre in downtown Asheville. The event consists of a reading by the feature poet followed by an open microphone, for which readers may sign up and recite one or two short pieces. During the open portion of the event, we encourage new voices and accomplished poets alike to share what they have been working on, a space where writers have the opportunity to try out new works in front of an audience on a regular basis. Please join us for consistent, fine poetry in a setting that is equally fine.

Hosted by Jeff Davis and Laura Hope-Gill
Produced by Caleb Beissert and Aaron Price

$5 at door
Beer and wine served

(link)

Literary reading series continues at Posana Cafe this weekend

Saturday night, March 17,  6:00 p.m. at Posana Cafe in downtown Asheville, NC. The literary reading features writer Elizabeth Lutyens and poet Tina Barr.

From a press release:

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches the Prose Master Class in the Great Smokies Writing Program of UNC Asheville and is Editor of The Great Smokies Review, its online literary journal. A former journalist, she got her MFA in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson College, and since has been at work on a novel set in the mid-19th century in Boston and the Port Royal Islands of South Carolina.

Tina Barr has received Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Her awards include the Editor’s Prize for book publication from Tupelo Press. Her poems are published in anthologies and journals like The Harvard Review, The Southern Review and The Paris Review.

True Blue quotes artist Vadim Bora.

Poetrio at Malaprop’s

The monthly poetry reading series Poetrio continues Sunday, March 4, 2012, 3:00 p.m. at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café. The March Poetrio features Megan Volpert with SONICS IN WARHOLIA, Rupert Fike with LOTUS BUFFET, and Jethro Clayton Waters with SOUTH OF ORDINARY.

Please note that UNC-A has a champion basketball event downtown this weekend and the public parking garages will charge a special daily “event fee.” Park away from the center of downtown Asheville and enjoy a lovely Sunday afternoon stroll to Malaprop’s. They have a wonderful café with refreshments and poetry for after a nice walk through the city.

POETRIO readings and booksignings:
Megan Volpert, Rupert Fike, Jethro Clayton Waters
Sunday, March 4, 2012, 3:00 p.m.
Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801
www.malaprops.com

Why am I wandering the mall at this hour? (Taken with instagram)

(Source: http://instagr.am/p/HklH4lzJJ8/)

Big week for poetry shows in Asheville

Poetry at The Altamont

Today at 7:00 p.m. Poetry at The Altamont is a NEW monthly series. Hosted by Laura Hope-Gill and Jeff Davis. $5 Cash at the door. The event consists of a full reading by a featured published poet followed by an open mic for new voices and accomplished poets alike.

Open Mic at the Vanuatu Kava Bar

Every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. Hosted by poet and translator, Caleb Beissert. Poetry, comedy, spoken word and music. This is a poetry open mic, but we welcome all forms of artistic self expression.

Barbie Angell’s Bar Poetry Show & Benefit.

Saturday, February 25, 2012, 8:00 p.m. at Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues. Event features Asheville Poet, Barbie Angell performing her charming, audacious “bar poetry” with special guest Asheville singer/songwriter Chelsea LaBate, known as Ten Cent Poetry. The evening is a benefit performance for Grateful Steps Foundation, a local nonprofit publishing house, bookshop and community space.

Literary Reading at Posana Café

Later this week, a literary reading featuring Catherine Reid and Valerie Neiman. February 18, 2012, at Posana Cafe, at 7:30 p.m.

Catherine Reid is the author of COYOTE: SEEKING THE HUNTER IN OUR MIDST, as well as essays in such journals as GEORGIA REVIEW, MASSACHUSETTS REVIEW, FOURTH GENRE, and BELLEVUE LITERARY REVIEW. Currently, she directs the undergraduate creative writing program at Warren Wilson College, where she also teaches creative nonfiction and environmental writing.

Jane Alison calls  Valerie Nieman‘s third novel, Blood Clay “both a tense, plot-driven story about complicated issues of race and guilt, and a meditation on solitude, history, and ways of living.”

A former newspaper reporter, Nieman is also the author of a collection of short stories, Fidelities, and a poetry collection,Wake Wake Wake. She teaches at the John C. Campbell Folk School and serves as poetry editor of Prime Number magazine.

From an email from Mark Prudowsky and Katherine Soniat

Juniper Bends Literary Reading

This week the Juniper Bends reading series continues this Friday, February 10th, at 7:00 p.m. at Downtown Books and News. The event features readings by: Kate Zambreno, Katherine Soniat, Jesse Rice-Evans and Adam Jernigan. Visit the Facebook event page for more details. (link)

All aboard

 

Downtown #avl all lit up.

A view from my afternoon office.

Poetrio on hiatus until February 2012

Some of you may already know this, but I received an email from Malaprop’s informing that the Poetrio readings will be on hiatus until February 2012. Here’s an excerpt from an email I received:

Here at Malaprop’s, we’ll take a break from Poetrio in December 2011 and in January 2012.  Proximity of holidays and sometimes risky weather often make it difficult for visiting poets and some of you to travel to Poetrio in December and January; but be sure to mark your 2012 calendars for the first Poetrio of the new year: 3:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, February 5.

The naked ribs of a building.

Grove Arcade decorated for the holidays. #avl

Beer City USA gingerbread house. #avl #avlbeer

Nothing says home like #avl public transit.

Big night in Asheville for poetry readings

Malaprop's reading for Nov. 11, 2011

Last night Asheville hosted two great poetry readings.

Loretta’s Cafe featured the Flood Reading Series with poets DeWayne Barton, Gyorgyi Voros, and Landon Godfrey.

Malaprop’s featured readings by Evie Shockley and Luke Hankins.

Unfortunately, I missed both readings because I was on the road and didn’t return to my adopted hometown until after the readings. Anyone have a report to how the readings went? Please feel free to offer a review of the readings in the comments.

Tomorrow, Poetrio at Malaprop’s

POETRIO reading/booksigning featuring Tony Abbott, Scott Owens, Katherine Soniat.
Sunday, November 6, 2011, 3:00 p.m.
Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café
55 Haywood Street
Asheville, NC 28801
www.malaprops.com

Dear #AVL city council, Asheville is the seventh worst in the country for hunger

Do something about the four following issues that will improve the local economy. Consider that more than 17,000 people in Asheville are out of work, Asheville is the seventh worst in the country for hunger, and the cost of living is unreasonably high compared to surrounding cities.

  • Housing cost in Greenville, SC is 26% less than Asheville, NC., 19% less than Charlotte, NC, and 16% less than Knoxville, TN.
  • Utilities cost in Greenville, SC is 20% less than Asheville, NC., 19% less than Charlotte, NC, and 16% less than Knoxville, TN.
  • Healthcare cost in Greenville, SC is 6% less than Asheville, NC., and 16% less than Knoxville, TN (healthcare costs in Charlotte, NC is more than Asheville, but most of the other categories are still significantly less than Asheville).
  • Grocery items in Greenville, SC cost 2% less than Asheville, NC., 7% less than Charlotte, NC, and 13% less than Knoxville, TN.
    (via cnnmoney)

Beautiful October Sunday morning in #avl

Handmade collage by Sebastian Matthews

Kidlinger going to level two while kickin’ ‘hood style on the bus