Saturday, September 20, 2014

your ripe autumn annogram


Happy September.  I love the gold quality of the light through the trees, and the blue skies.  Good news:  My poem, “Trinity,” based on Shakespearian Sonnet 34, appears in Out of Sequence: The Sonnets Remixed.  Editor D. Gilson is posting about the project, and the Parlor Press book arrives this fall.  Main Street Rag Press has accepted “At the County Airport, 1964,” for its car anthology; and best of all, my interview with translator and poet J. Chester Johnson will appear in Illuminations in June.

Little Games at the Eastchester Inn

Little Games at the Eastchester Inn - photo by Mike Virsinger
Little Games, a band featuring my husband Michael Cefola, made its debut at the Eastchester Inn on September 6.  The band plays a riveting mix of 1960s British blues-rock, from Yardbirds, Animals and Who to later artists such as Eric Clapton, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and Gary Moore.  From left to right: keyboardist Anthony Nisi, guitarist Michael Cefola, drummer Tommy Vinton, and bassist Larry Schwartzman.  Be sure to catch Little Games at Foley’s in Pleasantville on November 8 at 10pm.  See you there for more amazing music!
  
Bookbinder Malcolm Summers
Traditional English Bookbinder

What a pleasure to discover the joys of bookbinding from Malcolm Summers, whose sunlit studio above the Chester Bookworm is filled with quality acid-free paper, Scottish leathers, space-age glue and old-fashioned presses.  He binds everything from antique books and dissertations to wedding albums, and his clients span the globe.  You can even take a workshop with him to learn this noble trade.  Aren’t you relieved to know that someone like Malcom is still crafting books?

Linda Simone and new book
Linda Simone and Archeology

Poet Linda Simone is pleased to announce the publication of Archeology (Flutter Press, 2014). Linda’s long-time fascination with archeology led to this collection, which juxtaposes poems about real archeological finds with poems about modern experiences that serve to reconnect people--both living and dead.  I love Linda’s work, and encourage you to purchase this distinctive collection.

Kevin Pilkington Master Poetry Class

National Book Award poet and novelist Kevin Pilkington is holding a Poetry Master Class for five sessions this fall at the Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute for students with an MFA or MA in Writing who would like to get back into a workshop atmosphere, Tuesdays, November 11 - December 16, 6pm-8pm. Here are all of the detailsKevin's novel, Summer Shares, is now available as a paperback on Amazon.

Ferguson in view of Elaine Race Massacres

J. Chester Johnson


The Task Force Against Racism at Trinity Wall Street will host a symposium on the Elaine Race Massacre today at 2 pm, at St. Paul’s Chapel.  The Elaine Race Massacre, perhaps the deadliest racial conflagration in US history, led to the Supreme Court’s Moore v Dempsey ruling toward equal protection and eventually to the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.  Civil rights activist, historian and poet J. Chester Johnson will speak on this tragic event.  If you miss it, be sure to read his essay.

OSilas Gallery Celebrates Local History

Hotel Gramatan in Bronxville, NY
Legacies, Landmarks & Achievements: Celebrating 350 Years – Eastchester, Tuckahoe, Bronxville celebrates  30+ local historical figures as well as the legacies of the Tuckahoe marble quarry and the famed Hotel Gramatan.  Discover surprising history in your own backyard!  At the OSilas Gallery through November 9; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 12-5pm; Thursday: 12-7pm; Saturday & Sunday: 2-5pm. 

Quick Draw returns

John Lehr as Sherriff John Henry Hoyle


Ever wonder whatever happened to the Geico caveman?  John Lehr stars in Quick Draw, a western comedy on Hulu that has just returned for a second season.  Archeologist John McCray inspires the program’s historical authenticity, going as far as Fort Smith, Arkansas to research the notorious Belle Starr for an episode or two.  Bravo to Lehr and McCray for creating a hilarious and authentic comedy!

Calls for Work

Highland Park Poetry wants poems and photos about grandparents or great-grandparents. Send poems (30 lines max) and jpegs by September 23 to jennifer@
highlandparkpoetry.org.

Vida looking for essays on intersections between gender, race, sexuality, class, physical abilities; misogyny in workshops/publishing/readings/theater/film that illuminate larger social issues; feminist literary successes/innovations; making gender privilege visible in the literary and larger world. 

Evie Shockley
Poetry Readings / Talks

Fall ushers in poetry readings and talks to keep you round and sweet as a Gala apple: 

September 23 – Eleni Sikelianos on mixing genres, Poets House, 7pm

September 28 – Ellen Bass, Katonah Library, 4pm

October 4Richard Forman, Tracie Morris; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm


October 9Evie Shockley, St. Francis College, 4:30 p.m.

October 11Kate Berlant, Tony Torn, Ubu Sings Ubu; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm

October 12 – Jim Daniels, Katonah Library, 4pm

October 18Jomar Statkun, Christopher Stackhouse, Maria Damon; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm

October 25Malik Gaines, Alex Segade; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm

The Frank O'Hara Chocolate Shake

Frank O'Hara (1926-1966), a premier New York School poet, loved having a daily cheeseburger and chocolate shake for lunch, his favorite meal.  He'd walk around midtown, get some inspiration and type up a poem before starting on his afternoon work.  Those poems ultimately became Lunch Poems (City Lights, 1964).  I love his poetry as much as a good shake, and this one is good for you.  

2 cups almond milk*
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon or more raw cacao powder
1 half of a ripe avocado
1 heaping teaspoon of almond butter
1 tablespoon or more of raw coconut nectar
a dash of cinnamon

Put all ingredients in the blender and blend on high for a few minutes.  Taste to see if the shake is sweet and chocolaty enough, and adjust if you need stronger flavor.  Pour into a tall glass and enjoy!

*To make your own, soak one-half cup raw slivered almonds in filtered water overnight.  Pour water and almonds in blender with teaspoon of vanilla, two cups or more water, and blend on high for three minutes.  Strain almond milk through a tea-strainer into a container with a lid.  Keeps three to four days.

'Round the Net

One of Powell's 25
Cindy Hochman, editor of First Literary Review East, for the latest issue


Francis Battista, Best Friends cofounder, on “Four-Footed Citizens

Guy Bennett, editor, for publishing Portia Elan’s Ghazals for the Body (Mindmade Books, 2014)

Another Powell's 25
Christopher Brisson, writer, for this wonderful upbeat video for dog lovers

Terry Dugan, poet and filmmaker, for Powell's 25 Books to Read Before You Die

Cindy Dunne, Lakota Kids Enrichment, for beautiful poetry by Lakota children

Dennis Dybeck, translator, on Jerome the patron saint of translators

Gary Glauber, poet, for poems in jmww and 3 Elements Review (page 47)

Ruth Handel, Dos Madres Press poet, on her recent Warner Library reading

Cindy Hochman, editor of First Literary Review East, for the latest issue

And one more
Mary McCray, poet, for this take-off on net neutrality and fabulous fall Big Bang Poetry newsletter

Christina Rau, Dancing Girl Press poet, for "Notes From Her Suicidal Bed" selected by Goodreads in July

Sam and Liz, editors of Circumference, for bringing back this great translation journal

Jay Shulman, music archivist, for this Zombies band documentary and revelation on Jim Morrison's death; and for celebrating the lives of Bob Crewe, Charlie Haden and Johnny Winter.

Tourism Santa Fe, for the Burning of Zozobra (feel sorry for Zozo—what did he do?)

Frank Vitale, filmmaker, for his “Car Driving” and “Traffic Signaling in the Mediated City” videos

Wishing you the ripe creativity of fall,