The Bay Area literati has a full plate this month with the arrival of Litquake Palo Alto, poetry readings, and more.
Listen up, culture vultures: What could be more relaxing than a poetry reading by a couple of American greats and some live jazz inside a mattress store? This Saturday, March 5th, head over to McRoskey Mattress Co. for readings from Fred Moten and Nathaniel Mackey, presented by the SF State Poetry Center. Moten’s The Feel Triowas a 2014 National Book Award Finalist; Mackey, author of six books of poetry, has garnered numerous accolades including a Guggenheim Fellowship. There will also be a live performance by saxophonist (and SF State prof) Hafez Modirzadeh. // $10 (admission is free to SFSU students and Poetry Center members); 7pm. Sat. March 5; McRoskey Mattress Co, 1687 Market St., 3rd floor (Mid-Market), poetry.sfsu.edu
Quickfire Challenge: Novel Edition
Is it possible to create an amazing novel in 32 hours? Apparently so. On Sunday evening, March 13th, you can celebrate the fourth novel from the SF-based 32-Hour Project, which, launched in 2014, recruits Bay Area residents with a yen for writing to gather for an intense 32 hours of book writing, revising, binding, and distribution. The whole thing will go down at Alley Cat Books, which will host the launch party as well. Have a beer and hear excerpts from the book, meet the authors, and take home your own original copy ($30) hot off the press. // Sun. March 13, 7pm: Alley Cat Books, 3036 Mission St. (Mission), facebook.com/events
The festival for bookworms, Litquake brings its brainiacs to Palo Alto’s Oshman Family Jewish Community Center on March 13th for a night of readings and discussions ranging from historical fiction to “men-oirs.” You can expect a star-studded cast of guest authors, including Yangsze Choo (The Ghost Bride), keynote speaker Joyce Carol Oates, and Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket. Dump the kids at the event's literary workshops for children eight and up, or leave them at home so you can stop by Blues, Booze & Schmooze afterparty. Who said Silicon Valley is just for techies? // Sun. March 13, 3-8pm; Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, 3921 Fabian Way (Palo Alto), paloaltojcc.org
Lively local poetry press Omnidawn is celebrating the recent publication of Omnidawn Nights with a roundup of readings from some of the Bay Area’s most talented scribes—think Lyn Hejinian, Meredith Strickler, MG Roberts, and more. Grab a snack and chat up your favorite authors. // Fri. March 18, 7:30pm; Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. (Berkeley), moesbooks.com
The one-of-a-kind Sick Fest explores what it means to be a sick and/or disabled in today’s society with performances and readings from chronically ill and disabled writers and activists. Look for words from Neve Be, Carolyn Lazard, Sarah Godfrey, Amy Berkowitz, and keynote speaker Johanna Hedva, author of the acclaimed article, "Sick Woman Theory." // Sat. March 26, 4-9pm; Chapter 510, 2301 Telegraph Ave. (Oakland), sickfest.org
