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LITERA
GLOSSO BABEL, the mighty and the mighty weird, plays Ruta Maya, 218 W. Fourth. Fri, Feb 28, 11-12pm.THE TEXAS CENTER FOR WRITERS will present a reading by author Tim O'Brien (Going After Cacciato, The Things They Carried, and In the Lake of the Woods), to be held in Jessen Auditorium on the UT campus. Wed, March 5, 7:30pm. 471-1601.
ADOPT A POET for April in support of the Austin International Poetry Festival. The poets who come from all over the planet need a place to rest their wearies from April 1-7. John Hawk, 371- 1254.
ARTS & LETTERS LIVE presents its sixth season of readings and performances by distinguished writers, actors, and musicians. Featured are such notables as Bobby Short, Brenda Vaccaro, U.S. poet laureate Robert Haas, Horton Foote, Janine Turner, G.W. Bailey, Judith Ivey, and many, many more. The programs continue thru May 9. They sell out fast so call now: 214/922-1219.
A SELECTED SHORTS program will be in Austin March 8 and 9 as part of the Arts & Letters Live program. Call now. 471-1631.
PAUSING TO EXPLORE THE SACRED WILDERNESS is an overnight retreat at Selah, the Bamberger Ranch, that will explore the various ways that nature can be a connection to the spiritual. The works of poets and writers who used their art to express the connection between nature and the sacred will be examined. Activities include group discussion, time for shared and silent reflection, a walking meditation, and a tour of the ranch. Fri & Sat, Mar 14 & 15. Kathleen Holland or Patricia Speier, 708-1710 or e-mail: KHolland20@aol.com
Lectures, Classes, Misc.GEMINI, INK is a San Antonio nonprofit company that celebrates art in literature. The deadline for registration is approaching for the first session of its spring semester. The seven courses include a book study and review writing class taught by agent, editor, and publicist Louise Michelson. Other instructors include Kay Price, Marilynn Talal, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Marion Winik. Classes are held at the Dote' Foundation, 121 West Woodlawn, San Antonio. Six-week courses usually cost $75; workshops, $50. 210/826-7348.
EAST OF THE FREEWAY is an anthology by East Austin great raúlrsalinas. Ten years in the making. The best wines must wait, n'est pas? Drink this deep, all you young poets north south west east and central in this city, this state, this USA. Here is a master of voice and rhythm and soulful clarity. El Maestro. Pick up your copy at Resistencia Bookstore, Bookstore, 2210-B S. First.
Reviews
AUSTIN YOUNGER POETS AWARD is a poetry contest in conjunction with the Austin International Poetry Festival. The contest is open to middle and high school students in the Austin and Central Texas area. Ask your English teacher for the rules. $100 in cash prizes. Deadline is March 1, 1997. 346-8717. Email: aipf97@aol.com
Call for EntriesCONVERSATIONS WITH JOHN HERNDON is a new talk radio program airing on Sundays, noon-2pm on KJFK-FM 98.9. Poet, journalist, and teacher, John will focus on books and authors, the arts, ideas, and culture on his show. John promises lots of poetry and readings and interviews from and with authors, artists, scholars, and thinkers. Poets, authors, musicians, artists, and arts organizations are encouraged to send books, CDs, schedules, and other material to: John Herndon, 3616 Far West Blvd. #101-145, Austin, TX 78731-3074.
ART-CORE is now accepting submissions of photos, drawings, paintings, video, et cetera. They support uncensored anarchistic art -- and have been doing so for quite some time now, kiddies. PO Box 49324, Austin, TX 78765. 323-0774.
NERVE COWBOY is accepting submissions of poetry, short fiction (up to five pages), and black-and-white artwork for issue #3. They would especially like subs from Texas. So torpedo yo' hoagie-burritoed schtuff along with a SASE to: Joseph Shields and Jerry Hagins, PO Box 4973, Austin, TX 78765.
LITERALLY, Austin Monthly Journal of the Liberal Arts, is accepting submissions of art, cartoons, photography, fiction, and poetry, etc. Send to: Terry R.W. Whisenant, 1700 Burton, #423, Austin, TX 78741.
PATCHWORK POEMS Submissions must be received by the full moon each month (next full moon is Mar 24). Send to: New Moon Publishing, 1528 W. Contour, Suite 103, San Antonio, TX 78212. Fax: 210/684-3050.
UTTER is a reading series of original fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Come listen to local writers on the second Thursday of every month at 7pm in the Reception Room of the Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe.
Ongoing Readings & Misc.SHORT FICTION WRITERS' GROUP welcomes beginning to professional writers for critique. First Sun each month at the Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe. 1-3pm? 467-2588 or e-mail jomiya@aol.com
BOOK PEOPLE, 603 N. Lamar, reading group meets every other Wednesday, 6:30-8pm on a new topic every two months. Call for a schedule and/or to get on mailing list. 472-5050 or 459-8081.
*Book People's Book Group meets 6:30-8pm in the Community Room, third floor. The current session of Book People Book Group features Granta magazine's best young American novelists. (Mar 12 Krik? Krak!; Mar 26 Iona Moon.) For the schedule/to reserve a spot call 472-5050. 603 N. Lamar. 459-8081.
AIR SALON is the current poetry and theatre radio show from KVRX-FM with hosts Caitlin Wood and Phil West. Tuesdays, 7-7:30pm. Send submissions: Air Salon c/o KVRX-FM, UT, PO Box D, Austin, TX 78713.
THE AUSTIN POETRY ENSEMBLE (APE) features Mike Henry, Peter Manriquez, Susan Somers-Willett, Hilary Thomas, Genevieve Van Cleve, and Phil West. These sorted (sordid?) circus runaways from Blue Plates and environs will perform their no-net, high-wire poetics on a monthly basis in costuming yet to be determined. (It's too scary for the children in the audience for the APE to attempt weekly derring-do of such a volatile nature and Slam-seamytresses Van West is still wrestling in the basement with the fish hook thong prototype.) The last Friday of each month at 8:30pm in the Electric Lounge.
WRITING FROM THE HEART, North Village Branch Library, 2139 W. Anderson, writing group, every other Sat, 11am-1pm. 445-6573.
* Weekly *THE AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL is set for April 4-6. Planning meetings are held every Mon at 6:30pm at Sharri's Sidewalk Cafe (formerly Cafezino), 5416 Parkcrest Dr. Open mike follows at 7:30pm. Festival volunteers are needed and anyone interested is welcome to come and participate. 335-8599 or e-mail: AIPF97@aol.com
RUTA MAYA presents APAL open readings every Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Located at 218 W. Fourth. John Hawk, 371-1254.
STORYTELLERS OF AUSTIN performs traditional and original stories at Koffee `n Ice Cream, 6700 Middle Fiskville Rd. Guest tellers welcome. Mondays, 6:30-8pm. 453-0665.
THE 1997 AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL is set for April 4-6. Planning meetings are held every Tuesday night at Soma. Festival volunteers are needed and anyone interested is welcome to attend and participate. 212 W. Fourth, 6-7pm. 335-8599 or e-mail at AIPF97@aol.com
HYDE PARK UNPLUGGED features hosts Glen Alyn and Steve Brooks. Thursdays, 7-9pm. Joel T's Cafe, 41st & Guadalupe. 453-8482.
JUDGE ROY'S BEAN EMPORIUM, 604 Brazos, presents Langtry's Poetry Open Mike, Tuesdays, 8-10pm. Surprise guests. 928-0619 or 837- 8693.
MOJO'S DAILY GRIND, 2714 Guadalupe, features gibberish @ 10pm every Fri. Sign up before 9:30. Bring some, make some up, or just listen. Poets, storytellers, ranters, rêvers. They're flexible. Hosted by Naomi Frye. 477-6656.
WORDSNIGHT The Blue Pearl, 129 E. Hopkins, San Marcos is a new open-mike poetry reading, held every other Sunday, 7-9pm. Storytellers are also welcome; limit three poems or stories per person. Hosted by Bob Clark. 369-1689.
SPIDER HOUSE welcomes poets on DRY nights to the outdoor stage on Wed nights at 7pm. The Austin Poets at Large meet before the reading at 6pm to plan various and sundry poetrying deviltry and all are welcome to the meeting and to the reading. Call John Hawk. 2908 Fruth, just east of Guadalupe between 29th and 30th (behind Antone's). 371-1254.
* Monthly **AUSTIN POETRY SOCIETY meets 10am on the third Saturday of each month, through May. North Loop Library, 2210 Hancock Dr. 276-7858.
*THE ELECTRIC LOUNGE POETRY SLAM is hosted by Slamistress Genevieve Van Cleve on the first Tuesday of each month at 8pm. Monthly winners will qualify for the slamoff to determine next year's Austin Poetry Slam Team competing in the National Poetry Slam. And each monthly winner gets 50 green slims. 302 Bowie. 476-FUSE.
* BORDERS BOOKS & MUSIC, 10225 Research. The shop hosts a different book discussion group every Wed--staff booksellers or customers select and read various titles, then make recommendations for discussions. A Literary Group meets the first Wed; Mystery the second; SF the third; Horror the fourth. Also on the fourth Wed of each month at 7:30 features free poetry hosted by Barbara Carr. 795-9553.
*AUSTIN HISTORY SHORT FICTION GROUP meets in the O. Henry Room, first Sunday of each month, 1-3pm. 467-2588.
*BARNES & NOBLE, Arboretum Poetry the second Thursday each month, 7:30-10pm. Hosted by John Berry. Round-robin open-mike follows. 928-0619 or 837-8693.
Third Thursday of each month (Mar 20), AWL and the Texas Commission on the Arts sponsors a Poetry Workshop at the B&N shop led by Jill Timmons, 7:30-10pm. Bring 10 or more copies of any one-page, original poem. 335-7078.
Women's Book Discussion Group meets at the Arboretum store at 7pm every fourth Wed.
The Fiction Book Group at the Arboretum meets at 7:30 on the last Monday of the month. 502-8468 or 418-8985.
*AND AT WESTLAKE Barnes & Noble at 2757 Bee Caves: A Poetry Workshop sponsored by the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Austin Writers' League is held on the first Thursday (Mar 6) of each month from 7:30-10pm. Hosted by Barbara Carr. Bring 10 or more copies of any one page original poem. 343-7940.
Other events at the Westlake location: two children's story times, Wed and Sat, 11am.
Book Discussion Group idea? Seminar idea? Call Amy at Barnes & Noble 418-8985.
* Women's Book Discussion Group every fourth Wed, 7:30pm (call 477-6318). More poetry! The other day I was playing a game of Uncle Wiggily with my three year old, Ramona. It is a counting game where you draw a card and move 1 to 10 spaces on the board. Ramona could recognize 1 thru 5 and occasionally 6 and 8, but she was consistently identifying the figure 10 as 6. I tried any number of ways to get her to remember the configuration as 10 but she wouldn't or couldn't. She even giggled a lot at my persistence. I was getting terribly frustrated and she knew it but she continued to giggle and would put her index finger on her left cheek and say, "I'm dinking. I'm dinking, daddy." She got it sometimes but not others. I was really, inexplicably pissed off, but luckily we have a great relationship and we continued to play, though with less laughter, till I had to leave for work. As I was driving I started to cry. What an asshole I had been. How sad I thought when she finally could recognize the difference between a 6 and a 10. A phase of her life would be over that would never return and I had pushed her thru it like a drill sergeant. I had been relatively nice about it, but she clearly knew I disapproved of her abilities. What an asshole. That night we played and when I showed her the card with the 10 on it and she missed it I just hugged her and said no that's a 10 and I moved her piece for her. She looked at me and said, "But you got mad yesterday, daddy." I almost corrected her to say no, it was this morning, but I didn't. I just said "Yeah, I did and I'm sorry about that. I wasn't being nice." She smiled and we played on. She hasn't missed a 10 since and tears fill my eyes even now. Vaya con patience.
Poem of the Issue
and he
watches me as I walk
he sees me as the shadow sees the sun:
far away, vague,
rough around the edges
--Julie Albrecht "ongoing" (an excerpt)