Listings For March, 2014

Listings After March

About the Poetry Menu

How to Submit Events

Donation Info

The Lincoln Arts Council

The Nebraska Arts Council

Nebraska Center for the Book

Humanities Nebraska

the Nebraska Writers Collective

Nebraska Writers Guild

Nebraskans For The Arts

Poetry Resources

American Life in Poetry: A column by Ted Kooser

The Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City

The Nebraska Center for Writers

The Nebraska Library Commission

Nebraska Shakespeare Festival

The Neihardt State Historic Site

Omaha Public Library

Series and Festivals

the Clean Part Reading Series

The (downtown) omaha lit fest

John H. Ames Reading Series

Louder Than a Bomb: Omaha

Naked Words open mic

The Nebraska Book Festival

the no name reading series

OM Center Poetry Events:
OmahaSlam.com

The Plains Writers Series

Tuesdays With Writers

Wayne State College Poetry Slams

Wednesday Words

Presses

The Backwaters Press

Bradypress

Logan House Press

University of Nebraska Press

Nebraska Territory Review

WSC Press and WSC Press Facebook

Independent Bookstores

A Novel Idea Bookstore

The Bookworm bookstore

Indigo Bridge Books

Blogs/Artist Info

The H.U.N. Poets

Blog of the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors

MidVerse.com

The Plains Song Review blog

Prairie Moon Reading & Music News (Lincoln-area readings)

Pseudo Poseur Productions

The Wordsmiths

National Poetry Resources

For US and worldwide poetry listings, go to The Poetry Kit

Poetryslam.com

March

Event of the Month:The Louder Than a Bomb Poetry Festival, March 19-April 17!

• 3/1, Sa-- 1-2:30pm, The 2nd Saturday Poetry Workshop with the Omaha Public Library and Nebraska Writers Collective at the Swanson Branch Library (9101 W Dodge Rd, Omaha). This month features a workshop by Benson and Bryan LTAB coach Ruth Kohtz. There is also food provided. Free!

• 3/2, Su-- 9pm-1:30am, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off at The Shark Club (2808 S 72nd St, Omaha). Online sign ups on our FB 24/7 for priority stage time: facebook.com/Shootyourmouthoff. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Mandy Morgan and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's slam scene and free drinks prizes await you. The best free show in Omaha! (every Sunday)

• 3/3, M-- 7pm, Open Mic at the Moon, at Crescent Moon Coffee (140 N 8th St #10 Lower Level, Lincoln). For more information, contact crescentmoon@inebraska.com and check www.crescentmooncoffee.com/. (every Monday)

• 3/4, Tu-- 7pm, Tuesdays with Writers at The South Mill (4736 Prescott, just west of 48th and Prescott, Lincoln). Featured readers TBA. There is an open mic following the feature. For more information, contact Deborah McGinn at dmcginn@lps.org (1st Tuesday of the month)

• 3/5, W-- 8pm, Travis Davis invites you to "Poet Show It" at 1122 D St. (Lincoln). Local writers come and read. Local people come and drink. Coffee, Booze, Poetry, Fiction. Discovery. Discovery. Discovery. Go here for the FaceBook link: Facebook.com. (1st and 3rd Wednesday)

• 3/5, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 3/6, Th-- 1pm, Spring 2014 Plains Writers Series at Wayne State College (second floor lounge in the Humanities Building, Wayne). Sean Garner and Barbara Schmitz read at 1pm, Cat Dixon and Erik Campbell at 2pm. The Plains Writers Series is held several times a year in an attempt to bring attention to the prose and poetry of local Great Plains writers through reading and interacting with area audiences. Free and open to the public.

• 3/6, Th-- 7pm, Poetry Slam XXXI at the Max Bar and Grill (downtown Wayne), with registration starting at 6:30pm. If anyone would like to participate in the slam they will need 4 original poems and $5 for registration at the door. All events are free and open to the public. This is the longest-running poetry slam in Nebraska.

• 3/8, Sa-- 7:30pm, the OM Center Poetry Slam and open mic (1216 Howard, Omaha). It's the longest-running slam in Omaha, often featuring some of the best performance poets in the nation. Open mic starts at 7:30 followed by the slam; sign up BEFORE 7:30 as signup is limited. Hosted by Matt Mason. $7 suggested donation. Call 402/345-5078 or go to OmahaSlam.com for more information. (2nd Saturday of every month)

• 3/9, Su-- 9pm-1:30am, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off at The Shark Club (2808 S 72nd St, Omaha). Online sign ups on our FB 24/7 for priority stage time: facebook.com/Shootyourmouthoff. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Mandy Morgan and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's slam scene and free drinks prizes await you. The best free show in Omaha! (every Sunday)

• 3/9, Su-- 9pm, the Shelterbelt Battle Slam at the Shelterbelt Theater (3225 California St, Omaha). The Shelterbelt Battle Slam is an eight-poet bracket slam. Performers will go head-to-head to earn high scores from the judges, with the winner advancing to the next round. Sign-up opens at California Taco at 8:30, see full info at The Facebook Event Page.

• 3/10, M-- 10am-noon, Writing workshop with internationally known performance poet Sonya Renee at the Benson Community Center (6008 Maple St, upstairs).Start your spring break off right! Award winning Poet, Activist and Transformational Leader Sonya Renee believes in the life shifting power of art. Sonya is a National and International poetry slam champion, author and educator who has mesmerized audiences across the US, New Zealand, Australia, England, Scotland, Sweden, Canada and the Netherlands as well as in prisons, mental health treatment facilities, homeless shelters, universities, festivals and public schools across the globe. Free, open to students and adults. See the Facebook event page at Facebook.com.

• 3/10, M-- 7pm, Open Mic at the Moon, at Crescent Moon Coffee (140 N 8th St #10 Lower Level, Lincoln). For more information, contact crescentmoon@inebraska.com and check www.crescentmooncoffee.com/. (every Monday)

• 3/11, Tu-- 7pm, shake off the winter doldrums with Nebraska State Poet Twyla Hansen at the TRU Cafe (2100 Central Ave, Kearney).

• 3/12, W-- 5:30pm, Letras Y Voces at El Museo Latino (4701 S 25th St, Omaha). Today features Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Sáenz is the author of 20 books, the latest being Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club. He was awarded the 2013 Pen-Faulkner Award for Fiction. Presented by the UNO Writer’s Workshop and El Museo Latino. Book signing at 5:30, reading at 6:30pm.

• 3/12, W-- 6:30-7:30pm, STIR at First Christian Church-Omaha (6630 Dodge St.). Bound: Fear. Featuring dancer, Amy Fae, actor, Julia Hinson, and poet Heidi Hermanson. The event is free and open to the public. Light appetizers will be available.

• 3/12, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 3/14, F-- 7-9pm, the 2nd Annual Community Poetry Slam at UNL (Nebraska Union Auditorium, Lincoln). There will be prizes awarded to the top Poetry Slam participants! See full details and registration information at: involved-apps.unl.edu/a/SlamPoetry.

• 3/14, F-- 7pm, Open Mic Poetry Night at A to Z Books (507 North Jeffers, North Platte) -- ultra large bookstore. It's a fun, funny, widely varied group. Poems can be short or long, funny or touching, rhymed or free verse. Musicians too. George Lauby of The North Platte Bulletin emcees and makes you feel comfortable. (2nd Friday, 4th Saturday).

• 3/16, Su-- 9pm-1:30am, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off at The Shark Club (2808 S 72nd St, Omaha). Online sign ups on our FB 24/7 for priority stage time: facebook.com/Shootyourmouthoff. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Mandy Morgan and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's slam scene and free drinks prizes await you. The best free show in Omaha! (every Sunday)

• 3/17, M-- 7pm, Open Mic at the Moon, at Crescent Moon Coffee (140 N 8th St #10 Lower Level, Lincoln). For more information, contact crescentmoon@inebraska.com and check www.crescentmooncoffee.com/. (every Monday)

• 3/19-4/17-- the Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains Youth Poetry Festival! One of the biggest high school poetry festivals in the world returns for its 3rd year, featuring schools from around the area! Watch for the full schedule coming soon but mark April 17th on your calendar, that's the Finals at the Holland Center in Omaha.

• 3/19, W-- 6:30-7:30pm, STIR at First Christian Church-Omaha (6630 Dodge St.). Bound: Demons. Featuring Steve Hartman, actor, Julia Hinson and poet, Heidi Hermanson. The event is free and open to the public. Light appetizers will be available.

• 3/19, W-- 7pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains kicks off in Lincoln with a feature by Buddy Wakefield at the UNL Union Auditorium (UNL campus, Lincoln). Tonight's bout features teams from Lincoln North Star, Lincoln East, Lincoln High School, and City Impact. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 3/19, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 3/19, W-- 8pm, Travis Davis invites you to "Poet Show It" at 1122 D St. (Lincoln). Local writers come and read. Local people come and drink. Coffee, Booze, Poetry, Fiction. Discovery. Discovery. Discovery. Go here for the FaceBook link: Facebook.com. (1st and 3rd Wednesday)

• 3/20, Th-- 7-11pm, Verbal Gumbo with Felicia Webster and Michelle Troxclair at House of Loom (1012 S. 10th St., Omaha). $5, all ages until 9pm, 21+ after. Crabby about the political climate? Want some okra change? Just want to discuss your relationshrimps--or the andouille sausage in your life? Well, Verbal Gumbo is here with some hot, spicey flava with a side o' rice and rhythm. This is the Spoken Word event that promotes our rich diversity of culture and style. Soul session immediately following by DJ Real. (3rd Thursday)

• 3/20, Th-- 7pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains Bout 2 at the OM Center (1216 Howard, Omaha). Tonight's bout features teams from Omaha Burke, Marian, Omaha NorthWest, and Bellevue East. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 3/21, F-- 6:30pm, see the movie that got it all started here, Louder Than a Bomb plays at KANEKO (1111 Jones St, Omaha). Following the movie, there will be a panel discussion with filmmaker Greg Jacobs, poet from the film Lamar Jorden, and local Louder Than a Bomb organizer Matt Mason. See details at TheKANEKO.org. See more about the local Louder Than a Bomb events going on now at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 3/22, Sa-- 7pm, Open Mic Poetry Night at A to Z Books (507 North Jeffers, North Platte) -- ultra large bookstore. It's a fun, funny, widely varied group. Poems can be short or long, funny or touching, rhymed or free verse. Musicians too. George Lauby of The North Platte Bulletin emcees and makes you feel comfortable. (2nd Friday, 4th Saturday).

• 3/23, Su-- 4-6pm, a WhyArts? and Nebraska Writers Collective reading at KANEKO (1111 Jones St, Omaha). This event features finished work by students with disabilities as well as a featured reading by individual World Poetry Slam champion Chris August. See more about the local Louder Than a Bomb events going on now at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 3/23, Su-- 5-7pm, A book release party and reading for The Untidy Season at the House of Loom (1012 South 10th St, Omaha). The Untidy Season (Backwaters Press) is an anthology of Nebraska women poets. It will be hosted by co-editor by Heidi Hermanson. Various contributors will read. Books will be available for purchase and signing after the reading. See more book description here: The Untidy Season.

• 3/23, Su--2pm, poetry reading by Nebraska State Poet Twyla Hansen in the Prayer Chapel at York College, 1125 E 8th St, York. For more information, contact Beverly McNeese at 402-363-6487.

• 3/23, Su-- 9pm-1:30am, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off at The Shark Club (2808 S 72nd St, Omaha). Online sign ups on our FB 24/7 for priority stage time: facebook.com/Shootyourmouthoff. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Mandy Morgan and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's slam scene and free drinks prizes await you. The best free show in Omaha! (every Sunday)

• 3/24, M-- 5:30pm and 7:30pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains Bouts 3 and 4 at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom (Approximately 62nd and Dodge, UNO campus). Tonight's 5:30 bout features teams from Saint Luke's Teen Center, Omaha Central, Ralston, and Waverly. The 7:30 bout features Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson, Duchesne, Millard South, and Omaha North. It is UNO's spring break, so all campus parking is open. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 3/24, M-- 7pm, Open Mic at the Moon, at Crescent Moon Coffee (140 N 8th St #10 Lower Level, Lincoln). For more information, contact crescentmoon@inebraska.com and check www.crescentmooncoffee.com/. (every Monday)

• 3/25, Tu-- 5:30pm and 7:30pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains Bouts 5 and 6 at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom (Approximately 62nd and Dodge, UNO campus). Tonight's 5:30 bout features teams from Bellevue West, Gretna, Lincoln SouthEast, and Duchesne. The 7:30 bout features Omaha Bryan, Omaha South, Omaha Central, and Millard North. It is UNO's spring break, so all campus parking is open. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 3/26, W-- 5:30pm and 7:30pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains Bouts 7 and 8 at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom (Approximately 62nd and Dodge, UNO campus). Tonight's 5:30 bout features teams from Creighton Prep, Mount Michael, Elkhorn, and Omaha Benson. The 7:30 bout features Westside, Skutt, Saint Luke's Teen Center, and Kent Bellows Studio. It is UNO's spring break, so all campus parking is open. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 3/26, W-- 6:30-7:30pm, STIR at First Christian Church-Omaha (6630 Dodge St.). Bound: Grief. Featuring: painter, Paula Wallace, actor, Julia Hinson and poet, Heidi Hermanson. The event is free and open to the public. Light appetizers will be available.

• 3/26, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 3/27, Th-- 7pm, Poetry Slam in Vermillion, SD at Raziel's (13 West Main St, Vermillion SD). $5 at the door. Sponsored by the Vermillion Literary Project. For more information, see sites.usd.edu/projlit/poetry-slams (last Thursday of the month)

• 3/27, Th-- 7-8:30pm, the Park Teen Center Underground Open Mike Coffeehouse Night. Open mic/slam poetry/hot cocoa/coffee/acoustic music for Grades 8 thru 12 at Park School (855 S 8th St (basement of the school), Lincoln). For more info, call 402/441-9471. $1 cover. (last Thursday of the month)

• 3/29, Sa-- 1pm and 3pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains Bouts 9 and 10 at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom (Approximately 62nd and Dodge, UNO campus). Tonight's 1pm bout features teams from Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln, Omaha Burke, Lincoln North Star, and Gretna. The 3pm bout features Lincoln HS, Bellevue East, Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson, and Marian. It is UNO's spring break, so all campus parking is open. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 3/30, Su--2 pm, John H. James Reading Series at the Heritage Room in Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 South 14th Street, Lincoln. With Stephanie Grace Whitson, Karen Gettert Shoemaker, Helen Waring Johnson, Andrew Jewell and Nebraska State Poet Twyla Hansen. Call 402-441-8516 for more information.

• 3/30, Su-- 9pm-1:30am, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off at The Shark Club (2808 S 72nd St, Omaha). Online sign ups on our FB 24/7 for priority stage time: facebook.com/Shootyourmouthoff. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Mandy Morgan and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's slam scene and free drinks prizes await you. The best free show in Omaha! (every Sunday)

• 3/31, M-- 5:30pm and 7:30pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains Bouts 11 and 12 at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom (Approximately 62nd and Dodge, UNO campus). Tonight's 5:30 bout features teams from Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln, Millard South, City Impact, and Bellevue West. The 7:30 bout features Lincoln East, Lincoln SouthEast, Omaha NorthWest, and Omaha North. Parking is available in the university's east lot. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 3/31, M-- 7-8pm, WriteLife Presents: Writers' Open Mic at The PS Collective (6056 Maple St., Omaha). There will be 10 minute slots available for writers to sign up to read their work. This can be poetry, an excerpt from your published book, a piece that you're working on...anything goes, as long as you wrote it! Not a writer, but want to catch a glimpse of local creativity and talent? Stop by and be entertained! (last Monday)

• 3/31, M-- 7pm, Open Mic at the Moon, at Crescent Moon Coffee (140 N 8th St #10 Lower Level, Lincoln). For more information, contact crescentmoon@inebraska.com and check www.crescentmooncoffee.com/. (every Monday)

Coming Up:

• 4/1, Tu-- 5:30pm and 7:30pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains Bouts 13 and 14 at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom (Approximately 62nd and Dodge, UNO campus). Tonight's 5:30 bout features teams from Kent Bellows Studio, Norfolk, Omaha Benson, and Omaha South. The 7:30 bout features Mount Michael, Millard West, Norfolk, and Waverly. Parking is available in the university's east lot. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 4/2, W-- 5:30pm and 7:30pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains Bouts 15 and 16 at the South Omaha Metropolitan Community College campus, room 120 in the Industrial Training Center (near 27th and Q Streets, See campus map). Tonight's 5:30 bout features teams from Skutt, Millard North, Millard West, and Elkhorn. The 7:30 bout features Creighton Prep, Omaha Bryan, Ralston, and Westside. Parking is available in the university's east lot. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 4/2 W-- 6:30-7:30pm, STIR at First Christian Church-Omaha (6630 Dodge St.). Bound: Sickness Featuring Susann Suprenant, actor, Julia Hinson and poet, Heidi Hermanson. The event is free and open to the public. Light appetizers will be available.

• 4/7, M-- 7pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains 1st Semi-Final at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom (Approximately 62nd and Dodge, UNO campus). Parking is available in the university's east lot. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 4/8, Tu-- 6:30pm, see a screening of the movie SlamNation at KANEKO (1111 Jones St, Omaha). The movie features some of the biggest names at the start of the National Poetry Slam: Taylor Mali, Marc Smith, Patricia Smith, Saul Williams, and more. Following the movie, there will be a panel discussion with Matt Mason, Zedeka Poindexter, Katie F-S, Dan Leamen, and others who have been on various teams at the National Poetry Slam. See details at TheKANEKO.org. See more about the local Louder Than a Bomb events going on now at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 4/8, Tu--6:30pm, poetry presentation with Nebraska State Poet Twyla Hansen at Abrahams Branch Public Library, 5111 N 90th St, Omaha. For more information, call 402-444-6284.

• 4/9, W-- 5:30pm and 7:30pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains 2nd and 3rd Semi-Finals at the South Omaha Metropolitan Community College campus, room 120 in the Industrial Training Center (near 27th and Q Streets, See campus map). See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 4/11, M-- 7pm, Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains 4th Semi-Final at the Joslyn Art Museum's Witherspoon Concert Hall (2200 Dodge St, Omaha). See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 4/12, Sa-- 1pm, Letras Y Voces at El Museo Latino (4701 S 25th St, Omaha). Today features UNO student Chelsea Borchardt, Rev. Dr. Nikitah Okembe-RA Imani, and Lucy Adkins. Rev. Dr. Nikitah Okembe-RA Imani is a sociologist, political activist, scholar, poet, and author. His most recent book, Code Name Deadly: Occupation Poet, was published in 2010. Lucy Adkins’ poetry has been published in anthologies including Woven on the Wind, Times of Sorrow/Times of Grace, Crazy Woman Creek and Nebraska Presence. Presented by the UNO Writer’s Workshop and El Museo Latino. Book signing at 5:30, reading at 6:30pm.

• 4/12, Sa-- 6-8:30pm, Margaret Atwood reads at the Abrahams Branch Library (5111 N. 90th St, Omaha) There will be cocktails and a presentation by Atwood.

• 4/17, Th-- 7pm, the Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains Finals at the Holland Performing Arts Center (1200 Douglas St, Omaha). 32 teams started, 4 are left competing with poetry. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.

• 4/25-6-- the Nebraska Book Festival at the Thompson Alumni House, UNO campus. Keynote by poet Don Welch as well as readings and workshops by great nebraska writers. See the schedule at bookfestival.nebraska.gov/2014.

• 4/26, Sa-- 1-9pm, the Individual Finals of the Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains at the UNL Union Auditorium (UNL campus, Lincoln). LTAB is mainly a team competition, today has individuals competing in several bouts through the day leading to the 7pm Finals. See more information at LTABGreatPlains.org.