Festival Notes
Fri., March 28, 1997
Although most of the 400 poets (hailing from Austin to Australia) will read during the traditional Thursday to Sunday block, significant events have been frontloaded to Tuesday and Wednesday, encouraging the public to attend more activities.
On Tuesday, 7-10pm at Borders Books & Music (10225 Research), AIPF will stage a showcase for the festival's 36 emcees. Because the majority of festival events group the poets by region, genre, school, or ethnicity, this particular showcase is intended as a sampler of the whole event.
The event, however, also places a group of predominantly local poets in the same room together. Some of the poets have never been in the same audience together, let alone the same stage, making this emcee showcase one of the more diverse offerings at the festival.
On Wednesday night from 7 -10pm, APIF hosts a tribute to Albert Huffstickler at the Hyde Park Theatre (511 W. 43rd St.). Huffstickler is one of the best-known and most celebrated poets in Austin poetry circles, and the tribute boasts an local all-star cast, including former Blue Plate Poets Marlys West and W. Joe Hoppe, former Friendly Fire poet Larry Thoren, and noted local performance poet David Jewell, in addition to Huffstickler. The event costs $10. -- Phil West
