POETRY NEWS: July/August 2009 This is our only listing that combines news for two months; for all others, we post news on the first of each month. Our next update will be issued on Sept. 1. Listings of readings and performances in the Poetry News only include events in the greater DC area (covering roughly the same area that the METRO public transit system covers), although we include a larger geographic region for listings of Competitions, Grants, Calls for Entries, Workshops, and Special Events (covering all of DC, MD, VA, WV, and DE). To get listed in the Beltway Poetry News, please send an email with full information (including a phone number) any time during the month prior for readings and new releases, and up to two months prior for Calls for Entries and Special Events. We try to be as complete and accurate as possible; listing here does not constitute an endorsement, nor can we be responsible for changes and additions made after the first of the month. Please check with sponsors to confirm the accuracy of listings. Send your news to beltway.poetry@juno.com.     KUDOS ...to the 2009 DC National Slam Team, Tsion Jaleek, TwoDeep the Poetess, 13 of Nazareth, and Jonathan B. Tucker. The 2009 DC Youth Slam Team has also been selected. Congratulations to Justin Ryan Allen, Molly Barth, Bianca Davies, Diamante Dorsey, Brandon Douglas, Safia Elhillo, Ade Giwa-Bello, Allantra Lewis, and Michael Wood.     NEW RELEASES Christopher Conlon, Starkweather Dreams: Landscape with Figures (Creative Guy) Jane Satterfield, Daughters of Empire: A Memoir of a Year in Britain and Beyond (memoir, Demeter Press) Leo Shelton, Deep Breaths (Tugson Press) Leo Shelton, D'Liberate Ramblings (Tugson Press) Words.Beats.Life, Volume 4, Number 1, 2009. "It Ain't My Fault: Blame it on Hip-Hop" http://www.wblinc.org COMPETITIONS, GRANTS and CALLS FOR ENTRY The Washington Post is launching a new page of the Style section devoted to the coverage of love and relationships. The page, called OnLove, will occasionally feature first-person stories written by readers. They seek short, powerful narratives about some meaningful relationship experience. "Our hope is that these will be intimate and revelatory, but the tone can range from poignant or heartbreaking to profoundly comical. The field is wide open. The biggest challenge will be brevity -- we need pieces that are no longer than 700 to 900 words. Writers will, of course, have their bylines prominently displayed with their stories." No deadline listed. Send submissions to OnLove@washpost.com. Bethesda Magazine seeks poems and fiction by authors residing in Montgomery County, MD. No deadline listed. Pays contributors. Submit creative work as Word documents to Susan Coll at susan.coll@bethesdamagazine.com. NPR is sponsoring a "Three-Minute Fiction" Contest for previously unpublished (and unbroadcasted) stories of 600 words or less in English by a single author aged 18 or older. Seeking stories that are original, creative, and humorous. Judge: James Wood. Winner will be broadcast on Weekend All Things Considered. Deadline: noon on July 18. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105685925 DC Commission on the Arts, grant deadlines: Folk and Traditional Arts Mini-Grant on July 29, Artists in Schools on August 26, Arts Teacher Fellowship on August 26, Hip Hop Community Arts on September 10, Capitol Region Touring Program on September 10, Young Artist Program on September 16, Elders Learning Through the Arts on September 16, Small Projects Program on September 30. Guidelines and applications: http://dcarts.dc.gov. Dos Passos Review seeks poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction for its next issue through July 31. Send to: Editor, Dos Passos Review, Dept. of English, Longwood University, 201 High St., Farmville, VA 23909. http://www.brierycreekpress.org. Lines + Stars seeks submissions for Summer 2009 issue on the theme"scavenger hunt." Deadline: August 1. http://www.linesandstars.com. 6th annual Gival Press Short Story Award for best original previously unpublished literary story in English, approximately 5,000 to 15,000 words. Prize $1,000 and publication on website. Reading fee $25 per story submitted. Deadline August 8th. http://www.givalpress.com. 7th Annual Dogfish Head Poetry Prize, for a chapbook length poetry manuscript by a poet residing on the Delmarva peninsula. Publication, $200, and two cases of beer, plus a reading at the 11th annual John Milton Poetry Festival in Milton DE in December. Mail 10 copies of a ms. 34 pages or less, with two cover sheets (one with title and contact info, and one with just title). No mss. returned. Include one page with dedication and acknowledgments, one page with table of contents; include SAS postcard for acknowledgement of receipt, and $15 if you want to receive the winning book when published (checks payable to John Milton and Company Books). Deadline: Sept. 7. Mail to: Dogfish Head Poetry Prize, c/o John Milton & Co., 104 Federal St., Milton, DE 19968. Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, now accepting applications for residencies of 2 weeks to 2 months to take place between February and May 2010. Provides separate living and working quarters as well as all meals. Located in Amherst, VA, on a 450-acre estate at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns. Accommodates up to 23 artists at a time, a combination of writers, visual artists, and composers. Residents asked to contribute from $45 to $90 per day. Submit 3 copies of 6 to 10 poems (or 2 short stories or essays, or the first chapter or 20 pages of a novel or book of creative nonfiction) with resume, $25 application fee. Deadline: Sept. 15. http://www.vcca.com. CityLit Project sponsors the first annual Clarinda Harriss Poetry Prize and Chapbook Competition. Winner receives publication, $100, and 25 copies. $15 entry fee. Mss. must be 16 to 25 pages of poetry with contents, acknowledgements, and two cover sheets (one with title only). Deadline: Oct. 1. http://www.citylitproject.org.     WORKSHOPS, EXHIBITIONS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS "The Washington Caravan," exhibit of poems and photographic portraits, curated by Abdul Ali and Mig Dooley. Features 22 poets whose work has been influenced by Washington DC. Participating writers include: Kim Roberts, E. Ethelbert Miller, Brandon Johnson, Belle Waring, Joel Diaz-Porter, Carolyn Joyner, Derrick Brown, Fred Joiner, Katy Richey, Brian Gilmore, Karren Alenier, Patrick Washington, and A.B. Spellman. Through mid-September. Free. American Poetry Museum, Anacostia Gallery, 1922 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, DC. (202) 249-0253. http://www.americanpoetrymuseum.org/ Smithsonian Folklife Festival, June 24 through July 5, National Mall. Outdoor performances, craft demonstrations, food vendors, family programs, and exhibits. This year featuring the culture of Wales, Music in Latino culture, and "Giving Voice: The Power of Words in African-American Culture," with performances by Holly Bass, Toni Blackman, Kenny Carroll, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Toni Asante Lightfoot, Tonya Matthews, and Sonia Sanchez, among others. Free Admission. http://www.festival.si.edu/. Artomatic, 55 M St. SE, Navy Yard neighborhood, DC. Exhibits and performances (including some spoken word) through July 5. Located next to the Nationals Stadium. Non-juried exhibition of approx. 1,000 visual artists, plus four stages for theater, dance, film, and other types of performance. Open Wed. through Sun. Free admission. http://www.artomatic.org/ Lyrical City Writing Workshops: Toni Asante Lightfoot leads "Jean Toomer in DC: City as Identity" on July 5, Sharan Strange leads "The Personal is National: City as Monument" on August 23, and Holly Bass leads "City as Soundscape" on September 6th. All seminars meet Sundays from 2:30 to 5:00 pm at the Washington Historical Society at 801 K Street NW, DC. Lyrical City is a series led by outstanding writers with strong DC connections. Workshops are open to all, and focus on the African American poetry tradition in DC and various cultural aspects of the city. To apply: send your name, a brief statement (50-150 words) explaining what you hope to get out of the workshop, a writing sample (one poem or short prose piece). Pre-registration required; limited to 12. Cost: $25 for each workshop; some scholarships available. Email: langstondays@gmail.com. Hip-Hop Theater Festival, July 6 - 11. Theater, choreography, spoken word, music, film. Free admission to all events. Three venues: Kennedy Center, Dance Place, and THEARC Theater. http://www.hhtf.org. Capital Fringe Festival, July 9 - 26. Theater, dance, comedy, music, storytelling, experimental performances. Unjuried festival of the performing arts. Fees charged. Various downtown DC locations. http://capfringe.org/ "Journaling: A Renewed Approach to an Old Tradition," workshop with Christine Celise, Saturday, July 18 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, Emergence Community Arts Collective, 733 Euclid St. NW, DC. Open to writers at all levels. $20 fee. http://journalingworkshop.eventbrite.com/ Hurston/Wright 3-Day Writers' Workshop, Friday, July 24 throught Sunday, July 26 on the campus of Howard University, DC. Poetry with A. Van Jordan, Nonfiction with Patrice Gaines, and Fiction with Mat Johnson. Fee charged. http://www.hurstonwright.org. Shakespeare Theater Company's "Free for All" production of "The Taming of the Shrew," August 27 through Sept. 12. Harmon Hall, 450 7th St. NW, Gallery Place neighborhood, DC. (Note new location--moved indoors from Carter Barron Amphitheatre.) Free Admission. http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/ National Book Festival, Saturday, September 26 from 10am to 5 pm (rain or shine). National Mall, between 7th and 14th Streets, DC. Approx. 70 authors and illustrators in outdoor pavilions. Free admission. http://www.loc.gov.     AREA READINGS and PERFORMANCES July 6 Cafe Muse: JoAnne Growney with sculptor Mark Behme, plus refreshments, classical guitar by Michael Davis and open mic. Hosted by Adele Steiner and Laura Goldberg. Monday, 7:00 pm Free. Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase, MD. (301) 581-9439. July 7 Miller Cabin Series: April Lindner and Bonnie Naradzay, followed by open mic Tuesday, 7:30 pm Free. Rock Creek Park, Picnic Area 6, Beach Drive and Military Road Overpass, DC. (703) 820-8113. July 7 It's Your Mug Reunion Reading: Eric Antonio, Holly Bass, Toni Blackman, Twain Dooley, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Brian Gilmore, Reuben Jackson, Brandon Johnson, Carolyn Joyner, Dehejia Maat, Ernesto Mercer, Lisa Pegram, Venus Thrash, and Patrick Washington Tuesday, 9:00 pm $5 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 14th & V Streets NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. (202) 387-POET. July 9 Nine on the Ninth Series: featured reader TBA, followed by open mic. Hosted by Derrick Weston Brown. Tuesday, 9:00 pm $3 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 14th & V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET. July 8 Brookland Reading Series: "Lament for the Makers," a tribute reading of poets who have died in the last year, including Sekou Sundiata, Grace Paley, Aime Cesaire, Paula Gunn Allen, Thomas Disch, Mahmoud Darwish, Reginald Shepard, Hayden Carruth, W.D. Snodgrass, John Updike, Deborah Digges, and others. Wednesday, 7:00 pm Free. Brookland Visitors Center, 3420 9th St. NE, DC. (202) 526-1632. July 10 11th Hour Poetry Slam: 2 rounds, audience chooses winner, prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Friday, 11:00 pm (doors open at 10:00) $5 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 14th and V Streets NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. (202) 387-POET. July 11 Black Church Maraca Series: Venus Thrash, followed by open mic. Hosted by Jade Foster. Saturday, 8:00 pm $5 Admission. 4940 A St. SE, Apt. 407, DC. (202) 747-8802. July 12 Book discussion with E. Ethelbert Miller, author of the memoir The 5th Inning, moderated by Michon Boston Sunday, 4:00 pm Free. Busboys and Poets, 1025 K Street NW (at 5th St.), DC. (202) 789-2227. July 12 Iota Series: "Deanotations" celebration, featuring Dean Blehert and Pam Blehert, followed by open mic. Hosted by Miles David Moore. Sunday, 6:00 pm Free. Iota Club and Cafe, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Clarendon neighborhood, Arlington, VA. (703) 256-9275. July 14 Art Unplugged: "kimiko," featuring Holly Bass and musician Yoko K. Tuesday, 6:00 pm Free. Playbill Cafe, 1409 14th St. NW, DC. (202) 724-5613. July 14 Miller Cabin Series: George Drew and W. Luther Jett, followed by open mic. Tuesday, 7:30 pm Free. Rock Creek Park, Picnic Area 6, Beach Drive and Military Road Overpass, DC. (703) 820-8113. July 19 Sunday Kind of Love: featured readers TBA, followed by open mic. Hosted by Melissa Tuckey and Katy Richey. Sunday, 4:00 pm Free, but donations collected. Busboys and Poets, Langston Room, 14th & V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET. July 21 Miller Cabin Series: Cynthia Atkins and Dan Vera, followed by open mic Tuesday, 7:30 pm Free. Rock Creek Park, Picnic Area 6, Beach Drive and Military Road Overpass, DC. (703) 820-8113. July 23 Sparkle Series: featured reader TBA, followed by open mic. Hosted by Regie Cabico and Natalie Illum Wednesday, 8:00 pm $3 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 5th & K Streets NW, DC. (202) 315-1320. July 26 Sabor Sundays: Brian Gilmore and Carlos Parada, with visual art by Fred Joiner and Akeel Ali, and music by Pepe Gonzalez, Mark Merella, and friends Sunday, 1:00 pm Free. Sabor Cafe, 6209 Georgia Ave. NW, DC. (202) 829-3322. July 28 Miller Cabin Series: January Gill O'Neil, Joseph O. Legaspi, and Joseph Ross, followed by open mic Tuesday, 7:30 pm Free. Rock Creek Park, Picnic Area 6, Beach Drive and Military Road Overpass, DC. (703) 820-8113. August 3 Cafe Muse: Luis Alberto Ambroggio and Yvette Neisser Moreno, plus refreshments, classical guitar by Michael Davis and open mic. Hosted by Adele Steiner and Laura Goldberg. Monday, 7:00 pm Free. Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase, MD. (301) 581-9439. August 8 Black Church Maraca Series: featured reader TBA, followed by open mic. Hosted by Jade Foster. Saturday, 8:00 pm $5 Admission. 4940 A St. SE, Apt. 407, DC. (202) 747-8802. August 9 Iota Series: All-Open Reading. Hosted by Miles David Moore. Sunday, 6:00 pm Free. Iota Club and Cafe, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Clarendon neighborhood, Arlington, VA. (703) 256-9275. August 9 Nine on the Ninth Series: featured reader TBA, followed by open mic. Hosted by Derrick Weston Brown. Tuesday, 9:00 pm $3 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 14th & V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET. August 12 Brookland Reading Series: theme TBA Wednesday, 7:00 pm Free. Brookland Visitors Center, 3420 9th St. NE, DC. (202) 526-1632. August 14 11th Hour Poetry Slam: 2 rounds, audience chooses winner, prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Friday, 11:00 pm $5 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 14th and V Streets NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. (202) 387-POET. August 16 Sunday Kind of Love: featured readers TBA, followed by open mic. Hosted by Melissa Tuckey and Katy Richey. Sunday, 4:00 pm Free, but donations collected. Busboys and Poets, Langston Room, 14th & V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET. August 26 Sparkle Series: featured reader TBA, followed by open mic. Hosted by Regie Cabico and Natalie Illum Wednesday, 8:00 pm $3 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 5th & K Streets NW, DC. (202) 315-1320.   PLEASE NOTE: Open mic events are not listed on this page. Please see our full listing of Reading Series for more information.