Sparring With Beatnik Ghosts Poetry Series

According to Sparring With Beatnik Ghosts poetry series producer and creator Daniel Yaryan, the idea for SWBG was “to channel the spirits of the deceased Beats through back-to-back poems and songs that seemed to flow continuously and colorfully like the spontaneous thoughts of Jack Kerouac being typed upon his scroll of teletype paper.” And, in August of 2008, Yaryan hosted a six-hour, non-stop marathon of music and poetry at the Li Po Lounge in San Francisco (stomping grounds for Beats Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder, Philip Lamantia and Philip Whalen) becoming the very first installment or Round One of this mystic poetry boxing match called Sparring With Beatnik Ghosts.

On Sunday, July 15, 2012, the SWBG poetry series comes to the LAst Bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles for Round 37 of this exciting spoken-word poetry event that’s sure to knock you out! Hosted by local hero Mike “The Poet” Sonksen, author of I Am Alive in Los Angeles!, the bygone beatniks will throw down with some of the best spoken-word champs LA has to offer.

The scorecard for Round 37 includes: Steve Abee, Jason Brain, Chiwan Choi, Sean Hill, Armond Kinard, Terry McCarty, Amy Uyematsu, plus some mystery poets and surprise ringers to help stack the deck for the living bards.

When:
Sunday, July 15, 2012 – 3 p.m.

Where:
The Last Bookstore – Downtown Los Angeles
453 S. Spring St. (main entrance around the corner on 5th)

Who:
Mike “The Poet” Sonksen is a 3rd-generation LA native acclaimed for poetry performances, published articles and legendary city tours. Poet, journalist, historian, tour guide, teacher, Sonksen graduated from U.C.L.A. and is the author of I Am Alive in Los Angeles, which is also available on iTunes and has been added to the curriculum of several universities. Mike has performed his poetry coast to coast at college campuses, museums, bookstores, nightclubs and just about any venue you can imagine. See Mike The Poet in action on YouTube.

Read about the rest of the contributors: Steve Abee, Jason Brain, Chiwan Choi, Sean Hill, Armond Kinard, Terry McCarty, Amy Uyematsu at Frank Mundo’s LA Books Examiner.

Language with Mike the Poet at The Last Bookstore

If you’re looking for a great way to beat the heat on Sunday afternoon, The Last Bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles is holding its monthly open mic event called Language With Mike The Poet.

When: Sunday, May 20th, 3 pm – 5 pm

Where: The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring Street in Downtown. 213.488.0599. Get Directions.

Who: Mike “The Poet” Sonksen is a 3rd-generation LA native acclaimed for poetry performances, published articles and legendary city tours. Poet, journalist, historian, tour guide, teacher, Sonksen graduated from U.C.L.A. and is the author of I Am Alive in Los Angeles, which is available on iTunes and has been added to the curriculum of several universities. Mike has performed his poetry coast to coast at college campuses, museums, bookstores, nightclubs and just about any venue you can imagine. See Mike The Poet in action on YouTube.

Featured poets for this month’s event are Traci Akemi and Gia Scott-Heron.

Traci Akemi is a multi-disciplinary artist, arts educator, community organizer and founder of the Tuesday Night Project. Author of a collection of poetry, Signaling (The Undeniables press), Traci tours universities, libraries and community events, presenting readings and workshops to diverse audiences, from performers to youth educators, high school students to senior citizens.

Gia Scott-Heron AKA “Miss Gia” has been writing songs and poetry since the age of 10. She began pursuing poetry full time after graduating with honors from Pitzer college in 2002. Miss Gia has performed at various venues, including Spreadin’ Love N Spoken Word, The World Stage, The Regent, ‘Da Poetry Lounge, Remedy, Reflections, Shades of Afrika, Green, and Natural High, to name a few. She has published books of poetry, including Introducing Me, Scott Free, and Contagias and produced an LP called Souletree, a compilation of 12 of her favorite poems set to music. Learn more about Miss Gia and her work at her website.

Other great Local poets, artists and performers scheduled to appear include: Armond Kinard, Joe Gardner, V. Lazaro Zamora, Allan Arnold Gamalinda Aquino, Cara Van Le, Irene Soriano, Edren Sumagaysay, Trevon Kelley, Jamal Carter, Forrest Wilson, Juan Bueno, Sho’ EslaBomba Kilson, Peter Woods, Jesse Bliss, Elena Secota, and me, Frank Mundo, your LA Books Examiner.

Get out of the house this weekend! Join Mike The Poet at The Last Bookstore for a great line-up of poetry and spoken-word performances from local writers and artists you don’t want to miss.

Frank Mundo is the author of The Brubury Tales and Gary, the Four-Eyed Fairy. Don’t forget to subscribe to my emails and follow me on Twitter @LABooksExaminer for the latest updates to LA Books Examiner.

This Week in Books: April 16 – April 23

The LA Books Examiner is your place for books articles, poetry videos, and author interviews. Last week bestselling author Peter Hedges (who wrote both the novel and the screenplay What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?) shared with you the first chapter of his powerful and authentic new book, The Heights, named after the beautiful Brooklyn neighborhood in which the novel is set. If you haven’t read it yet, check it out now. This week we have another surprise author stopping by for an interview, so check back in often to find out who it is.

In the meantime, check out some of the great local book events scheduled this week from LA to Hollywood, the Palisades to Pasadena in this week’s Books Calendar from Frank Mundo, the LA Books Examiner.

Saturday April 16

POETRY.LA Presents: Lights, Camera, Poets: live performances by Michelle Bitting, Laurel Ann Bogen, Wanda Coleman, BH Fairchild, Sherman Pearl, Mike The Poet Sonksen, Pam Ward and more at Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 7:30 p.m. (310) 822-3006. (See website for pricing and more info). Hosted by poet Hilda Weiss and videographer Wayne Lindberg, co-founders of Poetry.LA, the online video showcase of poets and poetry venues in Southern California. 

Mary McDonough discusses and signs Lessons From the Mountain at Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Philip Kerr discusses and signs Field Gray at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena. 6 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Sunday April 17

Jim Krusoe discusses and signs Toward You at Diesel Books (Brentwood), Brentwood Country Mart, 225 26th Street, Santa Monica. 3 p.m. Free. 310-576-9960. 

Leo Braudy discusses and signs The Hollywood Sign at Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175. 

Monday April 18

Denis Wood presents and signs Everything Sings: Maps for a Narrative Atlas at Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free.  (310) 659-3110. 

Aryn Kyle and David Goodwillie read from their respective works, Boys and Girl Like You and Me and American Submersive at Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Tuesday April 19

Jason Goodwin discusses and signs An Evil Eye at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Wednesday April 20

Lauren Goldstein Crowe discusses and signs Isabella Blow: A Life In Fashion at Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

DJ MacHale presents and signs The Black at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Marianne Williamson discusses and signs A Course in Weight Loss: 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever at Bodhi Tree Bookstore, 8585 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 659-1733.  http://www.hayhouse.com/  http://www.marianne.com/

Thursday April 21

*Feral Fusion Presents Poet Scott C. Kaestner and Open Mike: Hosted by Angel Uriel Perales and Cindy Weinstein, Feral Fusion encourages experimentation in the spoken word: lyric poetry, prose poetry, free verse, hip hop, slam and storytelling at The Amsterdam Café, 10905 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. Free. Sign-up at 8 pm. Show starts at 8:30 pm. Email: feralfusion [AT] cindynw.com

Douglass Daniel discusses and signs Tough As Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks at Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Matt Logelin discusses and signs Two Kisses for Maddy at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Dan Millman discusses and signs The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World at Bodhi Tree Bookstore, 8585 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 659-1733. http://www.newworldlibrary.com/  http://www.peacefulwarrior.com/

Friday April 22

Maria Menounos discusses and signs Every Girl’s Guide to Life at Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Noah Levine discusses and signs The Heart of the Revolution at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Saturday April 23

Peter Lunenfeld discusses and signs The Secret War Between Downloading and Uploading: Tales of the Computer as Culture Machine at Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

*All events and speakers are subject to change without notice. Always confirm with the bookstore before attending any event.

If you’d like to announce your Los Angeles area book events on LA Books Examiner, or the release of an upcoming book, send info at least 10 days prior to the email address under my bio. While you’re there, sign up for my emails and follow me on Twitter @LABooksExaminer.

Frank Mundo is the author of The Brubury Tales (foreword by Carolyn See), which is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Borders in paperback and in eBook. The Brubury Tales won Reader View’s 2011 Reviewer’s Choice Award for Poetry Book of the Year and The 2011 Bookhitch Award for Most Innovative Poetry Book of the Year.

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