Within Words We Are One
Our Vallejo Poets Laureate Kathleen Herrmann and Jacalyn Eyvonne will be reading at the Earth Daze Festival in Vallejo on Saturday, April 27th from 12:15 to 1:00 PM. They will also be participating in the Climate Change Ekphrastic Exhibit, Temple Arts Loft, May 25, June …
Happy National Poetry Month! Also known as National Poetry Writing Month, you can challenge yourself to write a poem every day. Academy of American Poets established the tradition in April 1996. Poetry themed holidays Special National Poetry Month Events In addition to regular open mics here are some upcoming …
February is Black History Month. There are many upcoming events in Solano County to educate yourself and celebrate the many incredible contributions of the Black community to our nation and our world.
Our Poet Laureate Jacalyn Eyvonne will be among the featured speakers at two events:
JFK Black History Month Poetry Night on February 22nd at the JFK Library in Vallejo at 505 Santa Clara
Other features include: Dr. Genea Brice, Inaugural Poet Laureate of Vallejo, Stephen Sharpe, Current Poet Laureate of Richmond, Elaine Brown aka Poet E. Spoken, 2nd Granddaughter of Josh Halsey (1898) and Swirv Azubuike. Hosted by Dr. Genea Brice.
Black History Month celebration February 24 at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum at 734 Marin Street.
Other speakers include: Keith Thompson, Leila Steinberg, Louis King, Stu Summerville, Courtney Mims, Keki Dexter, Erica Rose, Lori Herrera, Myla J, and Sharday Botts. Hosted by Lerecia Davis.
Additional upcoming events at the Solano Library system for Black History Month:
https://solanolibrary.com/services/black-history-month/
More event listings from the Vallejo Sun:
https://www.vallejosun.com/upcoming-vallejo-events-black-history-month-begins/
We encourage you to support Black poets who have been active in our Vallejo scene. Support them during Black History Month and all year round!
Here’s just a few with books and/or albums: Lee Lee, Poetic Old Soul, G.O. 284, Dr. Genea Brice, Poet E Spoken, QR Hand, Lady-D., Kyrah Ayers, Linda Bryant, Lyrical Comp, Courtship’s Lovesong, Juanita J. Martin, Jeffrey Williams, Aqueila M. Lewis Ross, and Jacalyn Eyvonne.
Ekphrasis is when one form of art inspires another. There are three upcoming ekphrastic events in Solano County. Two in Fairfield and one in Benicia. Details are below. Questions should go to the poet laureate organizing each event. Request to join their mailing lists to …
The seeds of poetry are abloom in Solano County. If your New Year’s resolution is to share your poetic creations with a welcoming, diverse community of writers or just enjoy live spoken word, there are plenty of local opportunities just waiting for you. On a …
Below are the expected dates of regular shows, barring unforeseen circumstances and federal holidays, there are many opportunities to read your poetry and hear spoken word performers in Solano County, ranging from all ages to 21+ events. Always check official Facebook pages and websites closer to the date to confirm just in case of conflicts.
Current Vallejo Poets Laureate Jacalyn Eyvonne and Kathleen Herrmann are starting a new open mic series called Tea House Poetry, meeting on the second Sundays from 2 to 4 PM at 717 Marin in Vallejo beginning June 9th, 2024.
Poetry Speakeasy at Chris Club meets twice a month every other Monday at 656 Benicia Road, Vallejo at 7 PM. Due to the nature of the venue, participants must be 21 or older. Follow Chris Club on Facebook for announcements. The show is hosted by Remo Valentino.
Poetry by the Bay meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 51 Daniels Avenue, Vallejo at 7 PM. Visit poetrybythebay.com for details. Hosted by Keith Thompson. Vallejo’s longest running open mic, the show was founded by Kyrah Ayers who hosted from 2008 to 2018, and Jeremy Snyder hosted from 2018 to 2023, temporarily moving the show online during the pandemic. Verify dates and times on the Mira Theater Guild website.
Art Beat Poetry Hour on KZCT 89.5 FM meets on the 4th Thursdays at 1026 Georgia Street, Vallejo at 10:15 AM. Poets take turns reading their work live on the air. Airtime is 10:30 AM. Due to national holidays in November and December, shows in those months are scheduled on a different date, TBA closer to the time. Hosted by DJ LaLa and Tom Stanton.
Every Wednesday at the Townhouse, Rich Adams hosts an open mic from 8 to 11 PM. Primarily musicians, but poets are welcome. 401a Georgia Street. 21+
Poetry in Notion will return January 13th, 2024 from noon to 2 PM at the JFK Library in downtown Vallejo at 505 Santa Clara Street. Genea Brice formed this group at the library, hosting from 2015 to 2017, D.L. Lang hosted from 2017 through 2019, and Jeremy Snyder hosted a few meetings before the pandemic disrupted the schedule. Kathleen Herrmann and Jacalyn Eyvonne, the new Vallejo Poets Laureate, will host the poetry circle. It meets in the Program Room on the 2nd Saturday of the month. Verify dates and locations on the Solano Library website.
Poetry in Notion was cancelled due to low attendance.
Hosted by Benicia’s Poet Laureate, the Benicia First Tuesday Poets meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 150 East L Street, Benicia. Come for snacks and schmoozing at 6:15. Show starts at 6:30 PM. Benicia’s current poet laureate is Kathy Monroe. Visit Library website for more information.
Visit the website of Poet Laureate, Suzanne Bruce for regular ekphrastic events and occasional poetry open mics in Fairfield.
In an historic first Vallejo, California will appoint two poets to serve the community side by side as co-poets laureate, Jacalyn Eyvonne and Kathleen Herrmann. Their term will begin January 1st, 2024, and they will be proclaimed at city hall at a later date.
In celebration of November’s Vallejo Art Walk and annual Vallejo Open Studios, Jean Cherie invites poets to write an ekphrastic poem to her life-size sculpture Edna & The Turtle Dove. This visual and poetic art collaboration will be held at the Temple Art Lofts Gallery in downtown Vallejo, California. Poets are …
Address: 51 Daniels Avenue, Vallejo, CA
Website: http://www.poetrybythebay.com
Host: Keith Thompson
Vallejo’s longest running poetry open mic!
Poetry by the Bay meets at 51 Daniels street on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7 PM.
Open mic format. 4 minutes per poet. Multiple rounds depending on how many folks show up.
List does not close, so you can sign up at any time during the show. However, the venue closes at 9:30 PM, so arrive early and sign up to ensure you get on stage.
Park behind the building in the chain linked fence area and use the accessible entrance in the back.
Event is all ages, so all are welcome, but it is uncensored, so expect to hear colorful language and subject matter.
Event is free, but donations are accepted to support the venue and PBTB’s rental of the space.
Host: DJ LaLa
Address: 1026 Georgia Street, Vallejo, California
Arrive by 10:15 if you intend to read. Otherwise just tune in to KZCT 89.5 FM
Host: Remo – https://instagram.com/remo.valentino
Address: 656 Benicia Road, Vallejo, California
Event is 21+ since the venue is a bar and serves alcohol.
Applications are now closed. A new poet laureate will be chosen and announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned. Thank you to all that applied. The application for Vallejo Poet Laureate was due November 15th. Follow in the footsteps of Vallejo Poet Laureate – Genea …