April is National Poetry Month!

Following is a wonderful array of events and programs in Baltimore in which to participate. If you have never been to any, try one. If you have places you regularly go, try somewhere new.  See how many wonderful events you can soak up! Print this out. Post it; forward to your friend, your egroup, etc.

[Compliments of The Good People at Poetry For The People Baltimore]

April

1 Friday - SPOTLITE (every 1st Friday) @ Notre Maison (18 W. 25th St.). Monthly event feat. emerging artists in various genres: jazz, neo-soul, hip hop, spoken word, or comedy. Hosted by Bleek, DJ Fredlocks or J-Rizz. 8p-11p $5. (410)235.4773 www.notremaison25th.com

2 Saturday  - HEAL A WOMAN HEAL A NATION CONFERENCE: The Spirit of Woman. Morgan State University McKeldin Center. FREE. 9a-6p feat. performances by P4PB women poets and keynote speaker Special Secretary to the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs: Sharon Pinder. healawomanhealanation@yahoo.com or call 443.885.8311.

 -WRITERS LIVE! FEAT. THABLOC; Words, Photographs and Baltimore City in Black, White and Gray  by t.p. luce: winding collection of photographs, poetry and short stories that tell the tale of one man's journey into his own evolving neighborhood in east Baltimore. thaBloc   2pm.  Light Street Branch.1251 Light Street.  WWW.EPFL.NET

 -POETRY DISCUSSION GROUP on CLAUDIA RANKINE* @ Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Library (400 Cathedral St.) 12 noon.   www.epfl.net or (410)396.5487.

              - COSMIC ALIGNMENT: POETRY AND SCIENCE* "The mind is a miniature universe." Poetry and science hand-in-hand. Local author, Conrad Countess, will discuss themes from his book Cosmic Alignment and read from his poetry. Light refreshments served. 3 p.m. Books available for purchase. Pennsylvania Avenue Branch 1531 W. North Ave.

5 Tuesday -BOOK THING BENEFIT BASH! @ The Ottobar (2549 N. Howard Street) 8 pm $10 feat. Ad Lib, Rahne Alexander, Mark "Wireman" Coburn, t.p. luce, Karla Mancero,  Meridian Dance Company, Michael Shellington, Tom Swiss, TT Tucker and the Bum Rush Band, Steve Yorkman & others.

6 Wednesday - POETRY READING by RICHARD KATROVAS*: a Fulbright Scholar and English professor from Western Michigan University. 1-2:30 P.M. Free. Truxal Library Special Collections Rm. 302, Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold. 410-777-1149

7 Thursday -LAST POET STANDING $1000 POETRY SLAM. 5 Seasons (830 Guilford Ave.) 8pm-2am www.lastpoetstanding.com  to register and RSVP

8 Friday - KRS 1 CONCERT presented by The Elements Party @ The Ottobar (2549 N. Howard Street) 9p-2a $15 adv tix pfunk@elementsparty.com (410)366.1362 a'ook thang !
             -DA BOOK THANG* (every 2nd Friday of the month) @ Notre Maison 18 w. 25th St. (between charles & maryland ). Book discussion group meet/greet authors/book signings/sales 8p-11p This month: thomas t. long - author of "A THUG'S LIFE"; carlos muhammad - author of "CARRESSED SPIRITS" (in association with URBAN KNOWLEDGE book store Mondawmin Mall - lower level). 410-235-4773   www.notremaison25th.com

9 Saturday -STATE OF THE ART @ Porter's Coffee House (771 Washington Blvd.. off MLK Blvd).  An evening of Poetry & Jazz presented by Sebastian Knight Black Circle Group. Hosted by Ad-Lib every 2nd Saturday.  8p-11p.  $10-buffet included.  www.porterscoffeehouse.com

               -DANCING NAKED ON THE FLOOR BOOK PARTY: new book by poet Kwame Alexander. Food, friends, fun & autographed copies @ The Brass Elephant Restaurant on Charles St. 12 noon.   writerslair@comcast.net

               -NEW MOON REFLECTION POETRY SERIES @ The Yabba Pot (2433 St. Paul St.) "A sensory stumilization for positive mind relations. A speak-easy session for the soul every new moon Saturday.  7pm. FREE with great food available. (410)662.TOFU

               -GIMME SHELTER PRODUCTIONS BENEFIT performance for the Saint Mary's Outreach Center: "the World Parliament of Faith/The Four WInds" by Mark Colasurdo. A production both theater and religious service: a collage of original spoken word, well known prose and poetry, religious texts, prayers, song and music. Saint Mary's Outreach Center : 3900 Roland Avenue. 8pm. $3. all profits go to the Saint Mary's Outreach Center. 410-435-7162

14 Thursday -BATTLE UV DA SKOOLZ INTERCOLLEGIATE POETRY SLAM. artistic battle among area colleges and universities, hosted by E the poet-emcee and DJ Bart with guest appearances from underground stars. Presented by Poetry for the People Baltimore. 218 W. Saratoga St. 7:00p $5. pforp_bmore@hotmail.com

16 Saturday -CiITY LIT FESTIVAL* feat. Panels, Readings, Open-Mic, Exhibitors, Poets' Ink Workshop @ Enoch Pratt Central Library. 10a-5p. Free. For a complete schedule check www.epfl.net

                  -NATIONAL UNDERGROUND SPOKEN WORD & POETRY AWARDS at The Summit (5570 Silver Hill Road Forestville, MD--Penn Station Shopping Center)  7 p– 11p $25 in advance. greatpublishing@yahoo.com for more info.

17 Sunday   -3RD SUNDAY READING sponsored by Maryland State Poetry and Literary Society @ Minas Art Gallery.. 815 W. 36th St. 4-6p $4. (410)732.4258

21 Thursday -POET'S INK WORKSHOP  Catonsville Library (on Frederick Ave.) Poetry workshop for future publication and reading. Meet with senior editors 1 on 1 to discuss submitted work. Poems are then collected for a future issue of Poets Ink. 7-9p   dpbarnes8@hotmail.com

                  -3RD THURSDAYS OPEN-MIC* Poetry/Shortstorys event @ The Great Blacks in Wax Museum (1601 E. North Av.) 7:pm. Prizes $3 dollars for audience/$5 for slam competitors. (410) 539-7163.

                 -HIP HOP SUMMIT @ MSU www.hsan.org for more info.

23 Saturday -CREAM: CREME DE LA CREME SPOKEN WORD THEATRE: Four individual one wo/man shows @ Showtime Theatre (6 W. 25th St., at 25th & Charles).  Starring Helena D. Lewis, Al Letson, Gayle Danley, Lamar Hill and the Strayhorn Lewis Project. www.poetology.com

-POETS' INK ISSUE #14 READING. Baltimore Ethical Society, Franklin St. Featured poets, followed by open-mic.  7-9p dpbarnes8@hotmail.com

29 Friday      -HEAT @ The Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel (101 W. Fayette St., downtown). Poetry Showcase featuring poets on the "bleeding edge of the current poetry movement" fea. Talaam Acey, 13 of Nazareth, Archie  the Messenger and more. 9p. Tix $15-$25 available through http://www.missiontix.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=2911 and www.talaamacey.com A limited # discount hotel rooms available. (443)414.4600

May 1 Sunday -SPEAK N SPIN feat. USULA RUCKER (Illadelph poet from The Roots albums) & DJ Nat Turntables.  Poetry Month finale by Poetry for the People Baltimore @ Fletcher's Club (701 S. Bond St., Fells Pt.) hosted by Olu Butterfly & The Dri Fish of the 5thL with special guests & a lottery open mic.  7:45p $10adv/$12 door. (410)481.SEAT www.ticketmaster.com   for general info:  pforp_bmore@hotmail.com

Youth Events (other youth friendly events on this calendar are marked with *)

POETRY LIVE! WORKSHOP for TEENS (poetry with a touch of hip hop) by The 5th L. April 4-20th at various Enoch Pratt Library Locations. Pre-registration required.  www.5thL.com or www.epfl.net for more info.

POETRY CAFE for TEENAGERS every Friday 7-9p @ Ames-Sudbrook United Methodist Church (501 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville)  Youth can relax, play boardgames, and read and write poetry. (410)484.1368 

Weekly Events

Sundays -THE SMOKIN WORD REVOLUTION at Sylvan Beach Cafe (7 W. Preston St.) A closed mic set hosted by E the poet-emcee.  $5 before 7:30p $10 after. (410)685.5752 

            -REAL POETRY SUNDAZE @ Wydeye Coffeehouse (1704 Aliceanna St., Fells Pt.) open mic, acoustic, and drum musicians welcome. 6:30-10p (410)342.7474

Mondays -SLAMICIDE at Xando's (3003 N. Charles St.). Baltimore/DC's official track to the National Poetry Slam Competition. 7:30p. $5. www.4luvofpoetry.com for more info.

             -SPOKEN HEARD @ Club 347 (347 N. Calvert Street in downtown Baltimore). $5. 7pm open mic with featured artists, DJ Fredlocks on the wheels.  Hosted by J-Rizz.  For more information call 443.415.2949.  

              -SEATTLE'S BEST COFFEE OPEN MIC Night at 1340 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville. FREE 6-8:30p (410)580.1190

Tuesdays -ORGANIC SOUL TUESDAYS: The Art of Living. 218 W. Saratoga St. 7:30p-11p. $5. Open mic/jam session hosted by Olu Butterfly & D. Chase with house band. (410)358.6484   www.blackoutstudios.com

              -SOUL THERAPY SESSIONS @ The Haven Lounge in the Northwood Shopping Center (Argonne Rd. b/w Loch Raven & Hillen, near MSU) Open mic with the Soul Therapy Band. 9p-12midnight. $5

Wednesdays -WARM WEDNESDAYS at the 5 Seasons (830 Guilford Ave.) $5 before 11pm. Open-mic and afterparty. Hosted by Walter Jones with DJ lil Mic.

Thursdays -POETIC SIT* by Pozative Chainge @ Notre Maison 18 W. 25th St. 8pm. $5

              -CREATIVITY COLLABORATION WORKSHOP @ Wydeye Coffeehouse (1704 Aliceanna St., Fells Pt.) For creative people looking to combine their talents.  8:30p-midnight. FREE (410)342.7474

Fridays -Alternating Events at Urban Blends Coffehouse (8702 Liberty Rd., Liberty Plaza Shopping Center in Randallstown):

             -SOUL IMANI OPEN MIC Every 1st & 3rd Fridays. Hosted by Jay Rags & Reggie Luv.  8p-11p $5 www.blackbookscafe.com (443)801.5876

              -POETIC FLOW Every 2nd & 4th Fridays.  Where da word is spoken. Open mic hosted by Bleek of Pozative Chainge.  7p-10p $5 (410)922.3976
Urban Blend Coffeehouse Presents Poetic Flow