July Special Readings & Events

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 7:30 PM

SUMMER COFFEEHOUSE SERIES & OPEN MIC POETRY READING
CALLANWOLDE FINE ARTS CENTER
Join amateur and professional poets alike as Callanwolde celebrates the art and performance of poetry with its Summer Coffeehouse Series and Open Mic Poetry Readings. Held in the unique setting of the Callanwolde Conservatory, the evening begins at 7:30 with singer/songwriter/poet Kodac Harrison. Then at 8:15, the open mic readings are open to all poets who would like to read their original poetry. The first ten poets to call and sign up at 404-872-5338 ext. 228 will have the opportunity to read for 5 minutes. $5 General Admission, $3 Students/Seniors/Members. For more information call 404-872-5338. www.callanwolde.org

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 7:00 PM

NEW SOUTH READING

FEATURING JAMIE ALLEN, PETER HYLAND & MELISSA RANGE

HIGHLAND INN BALLROOM

Georgia State's literary magazine, New South, will host a reading featuring contributing writers Allen, Hyland and Range. There will also be music by The Secret Weapon Quartet. www.review.gsu.edu

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 8:00 PM

COLLIN KELLEY, LAKARA FOSTER & YOLO AKILI

UNITED 4 SAFETY TASK FORCE BENEFIT

Award-winning poets Collin Kelley, Lakara Foster and Yolo Akili perform at this fundraising event, "The Coming Out Party," to aid victims of violence in the LGBTQ community. The event will be held on the rooftop terrace of the Oakland Park condos, 563 Memorial Dr. (just across from Oakland Cemetery). There will be live music, food and wine. Admission is $20. RSVP to united4safety@gmail.com

MONDAY - FRIDAY, JULY 20 - 24, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

ADULT CREATIVE WRITING CLASS

LED BY NATALIE LYALIN & BRUCE COVEY

Natalie Lyalin, Creative Writing Professor at Temple University in Philadelphia and co-editor of GlitterPonyMagazine (www.glitterponymag.com), will teach a 5-day workshop in creative writing and poetry at the Abernathy Arts Center in Sandy Springs. Guest readers will be present throughout week and class will culminate with a reading Friday evening featuring student work and Atlanta poet and Emory Professor, Bruce Covey. Class cost is $150. Class held at Abernathy Arts Center at 254 Johnson Ferry Road, NW Atlanta, GA 30328. Please call 404-303-6172 or e-mail Abernathy Program Coordinator, Lauren Bernazza, atlauren.bernazza@fultoncountyga.gov for more information and to register.

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 9:00 PM

BLOOD BATH SLAM

APACHE CAFE

The Atlanta-Java Monkey, Decatur-Art Amok and Charlotte slam teams square off before heading to the National Poetry Slam in August. Hosted by Queen Sheba and Kodac Harrison, with special performance by slam champ Gypsee Yo. Doors open at 8 p.m., show begins at 9 p.m. and slam at 10 p.m. Admission is $15-20 at the door. The event is a fundraiser to help offset the costs of the teams traveling to the Nationals. Apache Cafe is at 64 Third St. 

 

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 8:15 PM

COLEMAN BARKS

GEORGIA CENTER FOR THE BOOK

Coleman Barks, the distinguished, prize-winning poet and translator, visits us with an important new book, Winter Sky: New and Selected Poems, 1968-2008. Critics are calling it "masterful," rich in vitalilty and originality, "funny, brave and honest." Barks has taught creative writing and American poetry in the English department at the University of Georgia for 30 years, and has written and translated dozens of books. He is the foremost translator of the 13th century mystic poet Jalal Al-Din, and his bestsellers include The Essential Rumi, The Soul of Rumi and Rumi: The Book of Love. 7:15 p.m., Thursday, July 30, Decatur Library Auditorium. www.georgiacenterforthebook.org