(Nicole McFeely)

Featured Event: Thursday, September 8th – Porchlight- SHIPWRECKED: Stories from the Sea

Porchlight returns with a new run of storytelling after a month long break, kicking off the season in a new and exciting way over at the SF Maritime Museum. The performance room, which is located on the Lido Deck of this world-renowned San Francisco cruise-ship-inspired building overlooking Aquatic Park, has views of both bridges, the historic landmark vessels at Hyde Street Pier, and Alcatraz, not to mention wrap-around bridge wing balconies. I can’t imagine a better place to hear tales of sea travel gone awry from some terrific storytellers.

Also This Week:
What the beginning of the week lacks in quantity of events, it definitely makes up for with quality. On Monday, Septemeber 5th join the litnic in front of the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park with Quiet Lightning, featuring musical guests Con Brio and Michael Musika. Once your full day in the sun is done, cozy up to some wicked plants and hear some killer readings inside the Conservatory’s special exhibits room.

On Wednesday, September 7th check out some fine solo-performances at Words First, a series produced and curated by Vanessa Alabarces and Thao P. Nguyen at CounterPULSE. If you’re not too sure about the art of solo performance but love the art of storytelling, head to Fireside Storytelling and hear some wonderful (and not-so-wonderful) tales of pets. RADAR also hosts the RADAR Reading Series this evening for free at the main branch of the library with features Adam Boehmer, Tom Comitta, Dodie Bellamy and Anna Martine Whitehead (and cookies for questions!).

Trigger happy Thursday. That’s what I’m calling Thursday, August 8th. I already told you about Porchlight, so let’s get started on the rest of the seven events scheduled for this fine day. First up, don’t miss the opportunity to sign up and read new poems (under five minutes!) before James Cagney takes the stage at the new shit show. Seriously, new poems only. Or, watch Nic Alea cheat on the new shit show for a good cause by checking out the You’re Going to Die Fundraiser featuring a slew of performers including Nic and an opportunity to sign up for a chance to perform a piece or two under five minutes. Or, you could join City Lights as they celebrate the release of More Notes of a Dirty Old Man, a compilation of previously uncollected articles from the 20-year run of Charles Bukowski’s autobiographical newspaper column of the same name. Paul Madonna, author and artist of Everything Is Its Own Reward, and the All Over Coffee and Small Potatoes weekly strips will appear @ The Mechanics Institute. If you haven’t experienced Paul’s art, you are seriously missing out. In addition to all of this, Why There are Words presents Longing featuring Carolina De Robertis, Audrey Ferber, Louis B. Jones, Christina M. Meldrum, Nina Vida, and John Yewell, Poetry Flash presents: Zara Raab + Keith Ekiss, and Thursdays at Readers will feature James Byron and Cameron McHenry.

Friday, September 9th is also pretty packed, making it both difficult and awesome on all of us. RADAR hosts their second event of the week, the RADAR Lab Showcase, at Dolores Park Cafe tonight. Speaking of seconds, Paul Madonna makes his second appearance of the week @ the SF Zen Center. I’m going to stress this Paul thing again, guys. Check. Him. Out. Okay. Be prepared to laugh if you decide to hit up Mortified SF, a comic excavation of childhood journals, letters, poems, lyrics, plays, home movies, and art which tell a story about the lives of those sharing them. In the line of stories, photographer Julie Michelle and poet Silvi Alcivar have teamed up to create an amazing installation of photographs and original poetry, City, Speak to Me,  opening this evening. Or, you could always join Kim Addonizio at The Beat Museum for some Poetry + Blues.

If you can’t make it to see Kim on Friday, catch her, Howard Junker, Nick Krieger, Laura Goode, Naomi Worthington, and Robert Strong at Babylon Salon on Saturday, September 10th. However, with the type of week we’ve had so far, you should know this decision won’t be easy. For one thing, Writers With Drinks, Sparring With Beatnik Ghosts, and SF in SF are all also happening on this side of the Bay this evening. For two, Mortified Berkeley and East Bay on the Brain : Missed Connections are taking place over in the East Bay. Decisions, decisions.

Last but not least, Sunday, September 11th. I highly recommend the Thirteen Ways Poetry Reading at The Booksmith. Thirteen Ways, one of the Bay Area’s longest-standing poetry groups, invites each of their members to read for about ten minutes (should be quite interesting and good). This event ends early. So, grab a bite after whilst enjoying a full lineup of performers at Feast of Words- Buffet Flats.