A Night of Poetry at the Foundry Art Centre

Only a week away from one of the largest poetry events west of the Missouri River. "A Night of Poetry at the FAC" will be held Friday, Jan. 27, beginning at  7 p.m. at the Foundry Art Centre in Historic St. Charles, Missouri.

Poets to read include:
Michael Castro
Peter Carlos
Teddy Norris
Kelli Allen
Dawn Dupler
Julia Gordon-Bramer

There'll be a cash bar provided by local restaurant Russo's, and most of the poets will have table set up for books sales and autographs.

Admission is only $5.

If you're in the St. Louis area and you love poetry, this is something you don't want to miss.

Until Next Time...
Excitedly,
Michael

Revised Sage Books Frenchtown Schedule

Due to the holidays, and all the conflicting schedules, the regular open mic poetry readings at Sage Book Frenchtown will be cancelled until Jan 18th, 2012 - the third Wednesday in January.

After that, the schedule will resume a third Wednesday of the month regular event. It's free, open to the public, coffee and snacks are provided, and the setting it quite intimate. It's a great play to practice your poetry reading skills or try out something new you've written on a positive and upbeat crowd.

Hope to see you in January.

Until Next Time...
In Holiday Survival  Mode,
Michael

Two new poems at tonight's Coffeehouse

I will be reading two brand new poems at tonight's SCC Coffeehouse at St. Charles Community College. "My Wife Married a Mutant" and "Jane, Jane, Jane" are both experimental poems for me, so tonight should be interesting.

In case you don't know about the Coffeehouse - four times per semester year, St. Charles Community College hosts an open mic event for poets and musicians. Starts at 7 p.m., goes until we're done. Coffee and snacks are provided.

Until Next Time...
Experimentingly Yours,
Michael

Reminder of Upcoming Events

Just a quick reminder for those Cheesy readers who still check here from time to time.

The Storm Country Anthology Release Party and Signing is coming up this Sunday, Nov. 13 from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd. It is free and open to the public, and sponsored by the Graduate Writers Association in partnership with the Missouri Writers Guild.

Then on Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 7-9 p.m., SageBooks Frenchtown will be hosting Open Mic Poetry Reading. This event takes place the first and third Wednesday of every month, and I can speak from personal experience when I say the first night was a blast. It is also free and open to the public, and in a very cozy atmosphere in the heart of Frenchtown, St. Charles.

Until next time,
Prepping more poems,
Michael

Storm Country Anthology

Not sure what to do with your Sunday night? Not in the mood to watch the Patriots and the Jets? Then on Sunday, Nov. 13, you should go out to the release party and book signing for the Storm Country Anthology.

The Graduate Writers Association in partnership with the Missouri Writers Guild will be presenting this free and open to the public event at the Regional Art Commission of St. Louis (6128 Delmar Blvd.).

Scheduled to read are: Elaine Viets, Linda Austin, Lynn Obermoeller, Linda O'Connell, Donna Volkenannt, Anene Tressler-Hauschultz, Kelli Allen, and more.

Party starts at 7 p.m., and unless you're a Tom Brady or Mark Sanchez fan, we expect you to be there.

New Events at Sage Books Frenchtown

Starting November 2, 2011, Sage Books Frenchtown, St. Charles, MO, will be hosting open mic poetry readings.

The tentative schedule is to be the first and third Wednesday of every month, and it'll be free and open to the public. Coffee and treats will be provided. Keep in mind, though, that poetry and its various forms is going to be the primary focus. Flash fiction, prose poetry, etc., are all acceptable. Musicians won't be turned away, but since two other local places offer open mics for musicians, this one wants to give poets a more regular forum than other places do.

No need to RSVP, just show up and be ready to read.

Dates until the end of the year are:
Nov. 2
Nov. 16
Dec. 7
Dec. 21

Until Next Time...
Expressively Yours,
Michael

Local poets reading at Dressel's

Unfortunately, due to a prior commitment with the Foundry Art Centre Book Club, I will be unable to attend the "Poems, Prose, and Pints" event held at Dressel's, 419 North Euclid, in the Central West End. Local poet (and my Facebook friend) Tony Renner will be reading there tomorrow evening, as well as Billy Foster, Pat Piety, Jason Dockery, Dawn Dupler, Sarah Kuntz Jones, and Stef Russell.

Admission is free, the readings begin at 7:00 p.m., and music will be provided by Kevin Renick.

If you're in that area (thereby NOT attending my event), be sure to stop by and support this group of poets.

Until Next Time...
Supportively,
Michael

SCC Coffeehouse Open Mic Night dates

I have the dates for this academic year's SCC Coffeehouse Open Mic Night:

• Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011
• Friday, Dec. 2, 2011
• Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012
• Friday, April 13, 2012

These events are open to the public, non-students, soon-to-be students, and anyone else who can stand behind a microphone and perform for about five to seven minutes. I'll add reminders as the dates approach, and if you want more info, check out the official site.

Until Next Time...
Keeping the coffee coming,
Michael

Sex on the Moon

Sometimes I hold off buying a book on the off chance that I may be given an opportunity to review it, therefore receiving a free copy. This time Doubleday/Random House was kind enough to oblige me, and today when I came home from work, "Sex on the Moon" by Ben Mezrich was waiting for me.

Known for his books "The Accidental Billionaires" (which became the movie "The Social Network") and "Bringing Down the House" (which became the movie "21"), Mezrich now reveals the tale of three individuals who conspire to steal moon rocks from the heart of NASA's most secure laboratory. It promises to be every bit of an equal to his previous books, and is already generating a fair amount of media buzz.

As soon as I finish the Foundry Art Centre's selection for September ("Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet"), which should only take about a week, I'll read Mezrich's novel and hope to have the review posted before the end of August.

Until Next Time...

Lunarly Yours,

Michael

Open Mic Updates

I found a new place for Open Mic Nights in Manchester, MO.

Stone Spiral Coffee & Curios hosts open mic nights every Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. I may be checking it out soon, and I'll report back here.

* * * *

In the meantime, Beatniks, in New Town St. Charles closed their doors July 1, 2011, leaving only Picasso's Coffee as the open mic location in St. Charles county on Thursday nights.

Keep watching here though, as I learn of (or plan) other open mic events on the west side of the Missouri River, I'll post 'em here.

Until Next Time...

Spiraling,

Michael