| Map of Austin Poetry |
| Written by Midge Kocen & Thom the World Poet | |
 Slam Poet Tony Jackson January poetry readings and happenings. While it may not enjoy the same brand name recognition as Austin music, the spoken word scene in Austin does hold quite a bit of cache on the circuit. Below is a monthly calendar of events. There is no cover unless otherwise noted, though tips are often encouraged. Listed contacts for more information may either be the venue or the hosting poet. Friday, January 2Resistencia Bookstore1801-A S. First St. / This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Café Libro provides a forum for emerging artists to perform and experiment with poetic/musical expression in a community gathering. Other young MCs, poets, artistas, and audience members are invited to come share and enjoy the cantos & cuentos. First and third Fridays every month. Saturday, January 3Expressions Bahá’í Center2215 E. M. Franklin Ave. / 7:00 / 512.926.8880 An evening of peace, poetry, and music. Hosted by Jim Stewart. This month, San Antonio poets invade Austin for a unique tale of two cities, featuring P.C. McKinnon, Edwardo Garza, Cody James, Martha Curcio, Patricia Ortiz, Donna Stewars, Tom Emrick. Poetry and singer-songwriters in an acoustic setting on the first Saturday of every month. Admission: bring a plate of food for the potluck and/or canned food for Poets Pantry. All ages. Sunday, January 4Kick Butt Coffee Shop5775 Airport Blvd. / 7:00-9:00 / 512.454.KICK Spoken and Heard weekly poetry event co-hosted by Stacey Shea and Element 615. Uncensored open mic in round robin format. Tantra (San Marcos) 217 W. Hopkins, San Marcos / 8:00-10:00 / 512.558.2233 A weekly round robin open microphone—just poetry. Fine food and drinks available. Before coming…increase your vocabulary and help feed the hungry (freerice.com). Each time you choose the right definition for a word, an advertiser will donate rice to the U.N. World Food Program.  Thom the World Poet Monday, January 5Hideout Theatre617 N. Congress Ave. / 7:00-10:00 Open mic hosted by Thom the World Poet. Weekly round robin poetry and music with featured performers. This week’s featured poet is Annie La Ganga. All ages are invited, but keep in mind this is an uncensored open mic. Food and drinks available. Tip jar will be passed around for featured performers. Poets Pantry collects canned food donations. Tuesday, January 6Ruta Maya World Headquarters3601 S. Congress Ave. / 6:00-9:00 Weekly open mic hosted by David Bates. Every Tuesday. Food and drinks available. Poets Pantry will collect canned food donations. Wednesday, January 7Scoot InnE. 4th & Navasota / 7:00 / $3 / austinslam.com Weekly slam starts at 8:30 (sign-up begins at 8pm), with open mic preceding at 7:00. The top three winners vie for $100 in cash prizes. Drinks and cocktails available. Venue is 21+. Neo-Soul Lounge 5804 I-35 South / 8:00 / southflavas.com South Flavas Entertainment presents open mic poetry with DJs spinning the best in R&B, neo-soul, and conscious hip-hop. Nationally known DJ Cut Creator (LL Cool J’s DJ) performs after the open mic. First and third Wednesdays each, with slam competitions on alternating Wednesdays. Antonio’s Tex-Mex 7522 North I-35 / 8:00 / southflavas.com Weekly open mic hosted by 13 (with slams on second and fourth Wednesdays). Food and drink available, kitchen closes at 10:00. Vinny’s Italian Café 1003 Barton Springs Rd. / 7:00-9:00 512.482.8484 Round robin poetry and singer-songwriter musicians Daniel Cioper and Denny Starr at this moderately priced Italian restaurant. First Wednesday of every month. KOOP-FM 6:00-7:00 / koop.org Writing on the Air radio show hosted by G. Dillon McKinsey Robinson. Just in case you can’t make it to the plethora of Wednesday poetry happenings. Every Wednesday on KOOP, 91.7-FM. Thursday, January 8Barnes & Noble (Arboretum)10000 Research Blvd. / 7:30 / 512.418.8985 Longest running continuous poetry venue in Austin. This monthly event is co-hosted by Barbara Youngblood Carr and Herman Nelson. Featured in January will be John Berry and Barbara Youngblood Carr. For the open mic that follows, bring poetry about the new year and starting over, or how happy you are about the holiday season finally ending (maybe issues returning unwanted gifts, relative peace from relatives, etc.). Or, whatever. BookWoman 5501 N. Lamar Blvd. / 7:00 / 512.343.7940 Monthly open mic welcoming all styles and ages (and sexes). Hosted by Deb Akers with featured readers preceding the open mic. Maui Wowie (Wimberley) Off RR 12 (Wimberley) / 7:00-9:00 / 512.847.6215 Bi-weekly (second and fourth Thursdays) poetry and live music in Wimberley’s favorite Hawaiian coffee and smoothie shop. Hosted by Oda Lisa. This week features Nancy Fierstein. Round robin open mic follows featured performers (poet and musician). Admission is a donation of canned food for the Crisis Bread Basket in Wimberley.  Poetry and music at LaTazza Fresca Friday, January 9LaTazza Fresca37th & Guadalupe / 7:00-9:00 An intimate café venue hosted by Kathleen Romana, featuring freeform musicians jamming with al fresco poets. Every second and fourth Friday of the month. Saturday, January 10Mitchie’s Fine Black Art & Gift Gallery6406 N. I-35 (Lincoln Village Shopping Center) / 4:00-6:00 / 512.323.6901 Monthly poetry slam hosted by Reggie Goodwin. Hampton Library / 2:00-4:00 / 512.892.6680 Hampton Poets and Artists Forum. Sunday, January 11Kick Butt Coffee Shop5775 Airport Blvd. / 7:00-9:00 / 512.454.KICK Spoken and Heard weekly poetry event co-hosted by Stacey Shea and Element 615. Uncensored open mic in round robin format. Tantra (San Marcos) 217 W. Hopkins, San Marcos / 8:00-10:00 / 512.558.2233 A weekly round robin open microphone—just poetry. Fine food and drinks available. Before coming…increase your vocabulary and help feed the hungry (freerice.com). Each time you choose the right definition for a word, an advertiser will donate rice to the U.N. World Food Program. Monday, January 12Hideout Theatre617 N. Congress Ave. / 7:00-10:00 Open mic hosted by Thom the World Poet. Weekly round robin poetry and music with featured performers. This week’s featured poet is Craig La Salle, who will explore mythos, bathos, pathos, and other Musketeers. All ages are invited, but keep in mind this is an uncensored open mic. Food and drinks available. Tip jar will be passed around for featured performers. Poets Pantry collects canned food donations. Tuesday, January 13Ruta Maya World Headquarters3601 S. Congress Ave. / 6:00-9:00 Weekly open mic hosted by David Bates. Every Tuesday. Food and drinks available. Poets Pantry will collect canned food donations. Lucy's (San Marcos) 131 E. Hopkins, San Marcos / 8:30 / $6 / southflavas.com Open mic poetry begins at 9:30. Neo-Soul & Poetry Lounge, hosted by Know-torious. Wednesday, January 14Scoot InnE. 4th & Navasota / 7:00 / $3 / austinslam.com Weekly slam starts at 8:30 (sign-up begins at 8pm), with open mic preceding at 7:00. The top three winners vie for $100 in cash prizes. Drinks and cocktails available. Venue is 21+. Neo-Soul Lounge 5804 I-35 South / 8:00 / $6 / southflavas.com South Flavas Entertainment presents a poetry slam open to poets, singers, spoken word lyricists competing for cash prizes. Abbreviated open mic precedes the slam competition. Nationally known DJ Cut Creator (LL Cool J’s DJ) performs after the slam. Second and fourth Wednesday each month, with full open mic on alternating weeks. Antonio’s Tex-Mex 7522 North I-35 / 8:00 / southflavas.com Weekly open mic hosted by 13 (with slams on second and fourth Wednesdays). Food and drink available, kitchen closes at 10:00. KOOP-FM 6:00-7:00 / koop.org Writing on the Air radio show hosted by G. Dillon McKinsey Robinson. Just in case you can’t make it to the plethora of Wednesday poetry happenings. Every Wednesday on KOOP, 91.7-FM. Thursday, January 15Victory Grill1104 E. 11th / 7:00 word/Jazz Low Stars combine free jazz improvisation with spoken work improvisation, with each aspect feeding off each other. The poet becomes another instrument in the ensemble. First and third Thursdays each month. Barnes & Noble (Arboretum) 10000 Research Blvd. / 512.418.8985 Monthly poetry workshop hosted by Barbara Youngblood Carr and John Berry. Those interested should bring ten copies of a work in progress for friendly critiquing. Brave New Books (downstairs) 1904 Guadalupe St. Suite B/ 7:00-9:00 / 512.480.2503 Uncensored open mic. This monthly event actively includes politics, philosophy, poetry, and music. Hosted by Daniel Cioper. Dripping Springs New Life Lutheran Church 120 Frog Pond Lane, Dripping Springs / 512.858.2024 Monthly event in Dripping Springs hosted by Nancy Fierstien with featured poets followed by round robin open mic. Light refreshments are provided (no alcohol). You are encouraged to bring canned food for the homeless. Friday, January 16Resistencia Bookstore1801-A S. First St. / This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Café Libro provides a forum for emerging artists to perform and experiment with poetic/musical expression in a community gathering. Other young MCs, poets, artistas, and audience members are invited to come share and enjoy the cantos & cuentos. First and third Fridays every month. Sunday, January 18Kick Butt Coffee Shop5775 Airport Blvd. / 7:00-9:00 / 512.454.KICK Spoken and Heard weekly poetry event co-hosted by Stacey Shea and Element 615. Uncensored open mic in round robin format. Tantra (San Marcos) 217 W. Hopkins, San Marcos / 8:00-10:00 / 512.558.2233 A weekly round robin open microphone—just poetry. Fine food and drinks available. Before coming…increase your vocabulary and help feed the hungry (freerice.com). Each time you choose the right definition for a word, an advertiser will donate rice to the U.N. World Food Program. Monday, January 19Hideout Theatre617 N. Congress Ave. / 7:00-10:00 Open mic hosted by Thom the World Poet. Weekly round robin poetry and music with featured performers. This week’s featured poet is Paul Joiner, back from stage shows to show this stage. All ages are invited, but keep in mind this is an uncensored open mic. Food and drinks available. Tip jar will be passed around for featured performers. Poets Pantry collects canned food donations. Tuesday, January 20Ruta Maya World Headquarters3601 S. Congress Ave. / 6:00-9:00 Weekly open mic hosted by David Bates. Every Tuesday. Food and drinks available. Poets Pantry will collect canned food donations. Wednesday, January 21Scoot InnE. 4th & Navasota /7:00 / $3 / austinslam.com Weekly slam starts at 8:30 (sign-up begins at 8pm), with open mic preceding at 7:00. The top three winners vie for $100 in cash prizes. Drinks and cocktails available. Venue is 21+. Neo-Soul Lounge 5804 I-35 South / 8:00 / southflavas.com South Flavas Entertainment presents open mic poetry with DJs spinning the best in R&B, neo-soul, and conscious hip-hop. Nationally known DJ Cut Creator (LL Cool J’s DJ) performs after the open mic. First and third Wednesdays each, with slam competitions on alternating Wednesdays. Antonio’s Tex-Mex 7522 North I-35 / 8:00 / southflavas.com Weekly open mic hosted by 13 (with slams on second and fourth Wednesdays). Food and drink available, kitchen closes at 10:00. KOOP-FM 6:00-7:00 / koop.org Writing on the Air radio show hosted by G. Dillon McKinsey Robinson. Just in case you can’t make it to the plethora of Wednesday poetry happenings. Every Wednesday on KOOP, 91.7-FM. Thursday, January 28Maui Wowi (Wimberley)14200 RR 12, Wimberley / 7:00-9:00 / 512.847.6215 Bi-weekly (second and fourth Thursdays) poetry and live music in Wimberley’s favorite Hawaiian coffee and smoothie shop. Hosted by Oda Lisa. Round robin open mic follows featured performers (poet and musician). Admission is a donation of canned food for the Crisis Bread Basket in Wimberley. NeWorlDeli 4101 Guadalupe/ 6:30-8:30 Austin Poetry Society’s monthly event (fourth Thursday) hosted by Robert Cogswell with round robin poetry by everyone who comes. This month’s round robin will be preceded by featured APS poets Neil Meili (Canadian/Texan rancher-poet) and Marcelle Kasprowicz, author of Organza Skies. Located at NeWorlDeli, where you may feed yourself silly while well-appointed phrases enchant you. Friday, January 23LaTazza Fresca37th & Guadalupe / 7:00-9:00 An intimate café venue hosted by Kathleen Romana, featuring freeform musicians jamming with al fresco poets. Every second and fourth Friday of the month. Saturday, January 24Yarborough Branch Library2200 Hancock Dr. / 2:00 / This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it The Past Poetry Project every fourth Saturday. Sunday, January 25Kick Butt Coffee Shop5775 Airport Blvd. / 7:00-9:00 / 512.454.KICK Spoken and Heard weekly poetry event co-hosted by Stacey Shea and Element 615. Uncensored open mic in round robin format. Tantra (San Marcos) 217 W. Hopkins, San Marcos / 8:00-10:00 / 512.558.2233 A weekly round robin open microphone—just poetry. Fine food and drinks available. Before coming…increase your vocabulary and help feed the hungry (freerice.com). Each time you choose the right definition for a word, an advertiser will donate rice to the U.N. World Food Program. Monday, January 26Hideout Theatre617 N. Congress Ave. / 7:00-10:00 Open mic hosted by Thom the World Poet. Weekly round robin poetry and music with featured performers. All ages are invited, but keep in mind this is an uncensored open mic. Food and drinks available. Tip jar will be passed around for featured performers. Poets Pantry collects canned food donations. Tuesday, January 27Ruta Maya World Headquarters3601 S. Congress Ave. / 6:00-9:00 Weekly open mic hosted by David Bates. Every Tuesday. Food and drinks available. Poets Pantry will collect canned food donations. Wednesday, January 28Triumph Café & Coffee Shop3808 Spicewood Springs Rd. / 512.343.7940 Borders-on-the-Word hosted by Barbara Youngblood Carr. One of the longest-running poetry venues/gigs. Featured poets are followed by open mic. This month will feature stalwarts of Austin poetry, John Berry, Herman Nelson, and Chip Ross. For the following open mic, bring poetry about the new year and starting over, or how happy you are about the holiday season finally ending (maybe issues returning unwanted gifts, relative peace from relatives, etc.). Or, whatever. Scoot Inn E. 4th & Navasota / 7:00 / $3 / austinslam.com Weekly slam starts at 8:30 (sign-up begins at 8pm), with open mic preceding at 7:00. The top three winners vie for $100 in cash prizes. Drinks and cocktails available. Venue is 21+. Neo-Soul Lounge 5804 I-35 South / 8:00 / $6 / southflavas.com South Flavas Entertainment presents a poetry slam open to poets, singers, spoken word lyricists competing for cash prizes. Abbreviated open mic precedes the slam competition. Nationally known DJ Cut Creator (LL Cool J’s DJ) performs after the slam. Second and fourth Wednesday each month, with full open mic on alternating weeks. Antonio’s Tex-Mex 7522 North I-35 / 8:00 / southflavas.com Weekly open mic hosted by 13 (with slams on second and fourth Wednesdays). Food and drink available, kitchen closes at 10:00. KOOP-FM 6:00-7:00 / koop.org Writing on the Air radio show hosted by G. Dillon McKinsey Robinson. Just in case you can’t make it to the plethora of Wednesday poetry happenings. Every Wednesday on KOOP, 91.7-FM. |