2)Tia Chucha Café Culture – Free Flow Friday Reading – 8 pm
Poet and journalist Luis Rodriguez started Tia Chucha Press some years back to promote the diverse work of artists and writers in the Chicago poetry scene. He and his wife Trini moved to the East San Fernando Valley and founded Tia Chucha Centro Cultura, a non-profit arts center that contains a bookstore, café, art gallery and performance space.
The Free Flow Friday reading is an experience that I have never encountered with any other venue. I went to this reading in Feb. 2005 with two other poets. We were singularly impressed with the friendliness and warmth extended not only to us, but also to the other poets, and to the neighbors that showed up for a cup of coffee and sat down to listen to the poetry—regulars who’ve obviously lived in the area for 100 years, which, frankly, is NOT the kind of patron I see haunting the poetry readings I frequent.
There didn’t seem to be any rules; the reading is run in a round-robin style—take a turn at the mic, read a poem or sing a song, and then sit down and wait for your next turn. The timing works out well; this keeps the poetry whoring to a minimum. Free Flow Friday fetes the occasional feature, so check the website for details.
3) Rhapsodamancy—bimonthly on the last
Sunday of the Month—7:30 pm
Sometimes, it’s better to sit and LISTEN than to flap one’s poetic gums… or, at least, that's what my father would have said to me, if he were still alive. In this case, I agree and happily encourage poets to attend the Rhapsodamancy reading and salon at the Good Luck Bar, hosted by Wendy Ortiz and Andrea Quaid in the heart of East Hollywood.
It’s a bit of a stretch to say that the crème de la crème of the literati feature here, but I have never been disappointed with the quality of poetry at this reading. This is where I heard Media Cake’s editrix, Tess. Lotta, read for the first time; where I became enamored—for at least three days—with the poetry and voice of Tony Barnes; and where I was able to finally to watch with glee poet and friend Jerry “grateful, but not dead” Garcia conquer the audience with his splendid poetry. There is a modest cover of $3, but the monies go to a variety of charities listed on their website. The poetry is fab, the drinks are not watered down, and the vibe is hip and cool without being pretentious.
4) Velvet Guerilla Caberet – Open Mic – Wednesdays, 8:30 pm
Now in its third incarnation, the open mic reading at The Unurban Café in Santa Monica is curated by poet and political activist Michael Slobotsky.
This reading has been flourishing for more than eight years. The Velvet Guerilla Caberet has some wacky rules: NO hate speech, a two dollar donation, and sign-ups are done online via email. The last rule is the most important, as one could walk into the Unurban and find as few as 20 to as many as 50 poets, comedians and musicians waiting for their turn at the mic.
The UnUrban has random acoustics, which, in my opinion, can be forgiven for the quality of chai lattes and for the fun of being part of the ordered chaos. As for the quality of poetry, this reading is the closest descendant of the Midnight Special that I have been able to find, so it’s ideal for beginning poets or for poets coming out of retirement and wanting to get their feet wet again.
5) Beyond Baroque, First Sunday of the Month Reading – 5 pm
Yes, I DO believe in shameless self-promotion. I HOST this reading. I am one in a long line of lucky curators to do so.
Beyond Baroque is to Los Angeles what City Lights is to San Francisco. BB is a non-profit literary arts center with an art gallery, workshops, and bookstore that has been in operation since the ‘60s and has made it its mission to promulgate poetry and spoken word in all its variegated glory. The First Sunday of the Month Reading, which, if I am not mistaken, has celebrated its fifth year, is a reading where those who are truly serious about poetry come and partake as well as participate in the artistic process.
The rules are simple: three minutes or two poems, turn off cell phones, and, if you arrive after 5:30, you are most welcome to stay and listen, but, regrettably, not allowed to read. The features are a mix of emerging and established poets and writers who come from all walks of life and from all corners of the SoCal area. Admission is free, though we do ask for donations for the features, so they can put gas in their cars, fill their flasks with gin, and stock their bookshelves full with more poetry.