POETRY NEWS: October 2009 Listings of readings and performances in the Poetry News only include events in the greater DC area (covering roughly the same area that the METRO public transit system covers), although we include a larger geographic region for listings of Competitions, Grants, Calls for Entries, Workshops, and Special Events (covering all of DC, MD, VA, WV, and DE). To get listed in the Beltway Poetry News, please send an email with full information (including a phone number) any time during the month prior for readings and new releases, and up to two months prior for Calls for Entries and Special Events. We try to be as complete and accurate as possible; listing here does not constitute an endorsement, nor can we be responsible for changes and additions made after the first of the month. Please check with sponsors to confirm the accuracy of listings. Send your news to beltway.poetry@juno.com.     KUDOS ...to Beny Blaq, the new poet-in-residence at Busboys & Poets Shirlington. He will be filling the position that Fred Joiner is vacating.     NEW RELEASES Ned Balbo, Something Must Happen (chapbook Finishing Line Press) Geraldine Connolly, Hand of the Wind (Iris Press) Charles Jensen, The First Risk (Lethe Press) Haki R. Madhubuti, Liberation Narratives: New and Collected Poems, 1966-2009 (Third World Press) Ron Moore, Washington Cats (Publish America) JMWW, Fall 2009. Issue includes Tim Wendel, Carolyn Srygley-Moore, Christian Bell, Jen Michaelski. http://jmww.150m.com/ COMPETITIONS, GRANTS and CALLS FOR ENTRY So To Speak annual poetry and nonfiction contests. Winners get $500 and publication; all entrants get free issue. Poetry submissions up to 5 poems (no more than 10 pages). Judge: Robyn Schiff. Nonfiction submissions up to 4,000 words. Judge: Richard Hoffman. For each, submit two copies of entry (one blind format) with SASE, cover letter with bio, and $15 reading fee. Deadline: Oct. 15. http://www.gmu.edu/org/sts/contests.php. DC Commission on the Arts, Elders Learning Through the Arts program. Grants of $500 to $5,000 to indivisuals and organizations serving seniors. Deadline: Oct. 15. http://dcarts.dc.gov. Seeking poets to guest teach in the Arlington Public Schools. Prior teaching is helpful; must propse a specific 50-minute workshop aimed at particular grade levels. Stipends paid. Contact Allison Manion Gilbert, Humanities Project Coordinator: (703) 228-6299 or agilbert@arlington.k12.va.us. Washington Writers' Publishing House, Call for Poetry Manuscripts. Poets living within 60 driving miles of the Capitol (including Baltimore) are eligible. Submit two copies of manuscript with $20 reading fee and small SASE (no mss. returned). Blind format: include cover page with contact information. Include acknowledgements page for previously published work. Winner receives $500 and 50 copies of their book. WWPH is a cooperative press, so all winners become members and should be prepared to participate actively in the work of the press. Deadline: Nov. 1. Mail to: Brandel France de Bravo, WWPH, 3541 S St. NW, DC 20007. The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities offers residential fellowships to scholars and writers in the humanities. Seeking applications that are intellectually stimulating, imaginative, and accessible to the public. No restrictions on topic; applications invited from across the broad spectrum of the humanities. All applicants are considered for two endowed fellowships. Fellowships are open to faculty members in the humanities, independent scholars, and others working on projects in the humanities. Applicants need not have advanced degrees. The maximum fellowship stipend is $15,000 per semester. Fellowships are awarded for one semester or a full academic year. Deadline: Dec. 1. http://www.virginiafoundation.org/research/fellowships.     WORKSHOPS, EXHIBITIONS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS "Writing the Body" workshop, led by Anne Becker, Oct. 4, Oct. 18, Nov. 1, Nov. 15, and Dec. 6. "For those with experience of life-threatening or chronic illness as patient, caregiver or family member." Fee: $240. Information or registration: (301) 270-8037 or annebecker@bodywriting.org. Edgar Allan Poe exhibit, Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr., Baltimore. Includes works by Gaugin, Manet, and Matisse inspired by Poe stories and poems. Free admission. Oct. 4, 2009 through Jan. 17, 2010. http://artbma.org. First Annual Writers Ball, a benefit dance for Washington Writers' Publishing House, Saturday, October 17, 8:00 to 11:00 pm, Danzon Art Gallery, 1848 Columbia Rd. NW, Adams Morgan neighborhood, DC. Dance, refreshments, raffle. WWPH is celebrating 35 years of publishing and promoting area writers. $25 Admission; partly tax deductible. http://www.washingtonwriters.org. "Poetic Art" exhibit, Workhouse Art Center, Lorton, VA, October 21 through November 21. Opening reception October 25. Poets collaborating with visual artists. Sales from show benefit the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a nonprofit assisting wounded troops at Walter Reed and their families. Free Admission. (703) 584-2946. http://www.lortonarts.org. "A Literary Feast," Saturday, October 24. Thirty dinner parties at Capitol Hill addresses (6:30 to 8:30 pm) followed by dessert and dancing at Eastern Market North Hall (9:00 to 11:30 pm). Each dinner is inspired by a different novel or nonfiction book, from Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea to Cervantes's Don Quixote, to Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. Sponsored by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation; fundraiser for Sports on the Hill. Fees charged. http://aliteraryfeast.org/ "Tell Your Story True: a 2-day Memoir/Autobiography Intensive," led by Marita Golden, Sat. Oct. 24 and Sun. Oct. 25. Held at the Thurgood Marshall Center, 1816 12th St. NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. Fee: $299. http://maritagolden.com/ "Imagi-Nation: a 2-day Fiction Writing Intensive," led by Marita Golden, Sat. Oct. 31 and Sun. Nov. 1. Held at the Thurgood Marshall Center, 1816 12th St. NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. Fee: $299. http://maritagolden.com/     FALL AND WINTER CONFERENCES AND FESTIVALS Capital BookFest, Saturday, October 3. Presented by Parks & Recreation, Prince George's County. Readings, panels, book fair, family events. Participating authors include: Marita Golden, Le Hinton, Lucille Clifton, Charisse Carney Nunes. http://www.capitalbookfest.org. 7th Annual James River Writers Conference, Richmond, VA, October 9 & 10. Faculty includes Thomas Lux, Michael Knight, Phyllis Theroux. Fees charged. http://www.jamesriverwriters.com. 5th Annual Sotto Voce Poetry Festival, Shepherdstown, WV, Oct. 16-18. Workshops, panel, readings. Presenters include Rick Campbell, Alice Friman, Stanley Plumly, Peggy Shumaker, Peter Stitt. Fees charged for some events; others free. http://www.somondocopress.com/sottovoce/ F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference, Rockville, MD, October 17. Faculty includes: Kim Roberts, Henry Allen, Susan Muaddi-Darrah, Julia Alvarez, Azar Nafisi. Workshops, panels, awards. Fees charged. http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/potomacreview/fscott/ The Hyman S. and Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival, October 18-28, Washington DCJCC. Readings, lectures, films. Fees charged. Events include a tribute to Philip Roth, an eventing of spoken word poetry featuring Jake Marmer, and readings by Joy Ladin and Dara Horn. http://www.washingtondcjcc.org/litfest. Baltimore Writers' Conference, Towson, MD, November 14. Faculty includes Jane Satterfield, Joanne Cavanaugh Simpson, Michael Downs. Fees charged. http://www.towson.edu/writersconference. 17th Annual Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway, Cape May, NJ, Jan. 15-18. Faculty includes Stephen Dunn and Mark Doty. Fees charged. http://www.wintergetaway.com.     AREA READINGS and PERFORMANCES October 4 Charles Jensen and Merrill Feitell Sunday, 2:00 pm Free. Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, MD (301) 654-8664. October 5 Angie Estes and Kathy Fagan Monday, 7:00 pm Free. Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase, MD. (301) 656-2797. October 6 Hear Us Out! 2009, hosted by the Free Minds Book Club, an organization for young inmates. Reading by released membes of the program reading their work and the poems of friends still incarcerated Tuesday, 7:00 pm Free. Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW, Chinatown neighborhood, DC. (202) 758-0829. October 8 J.C. Hallman, author of the short story collection, The Hospital for Bad Poets. Followed by reception; hosted by Sandra Beasley Thursday, 7:00 pm Free. Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I St. NW, DC. (703) 994-3166. October 9 Juliana Spahr, winner of the O.B. Hardison, Jr. Poetry Prize Friday, 7:30 pm $12 Admission. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St., DC. (202) 544-7077. October 9 Nine on the Ninth Series: featured reader plus open mic, hosted by Derrick Weston Brown. Tuesday, 9:00 pm $3 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 14th & V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET. October 9 11th Hour Poetry Slam: 2 rounds, audience chooses winner, prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Friday, 11:00 pm (doors open at 10:00) $5 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 14th and V Streets NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. (202) 387-POET. October 10 Luis Alberto Ambroggio and Yvette Neisser Moreno Saturday, 3:00 pm Free. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., Auditorium, Arlington, VA. (703) 228-5990. October 11 Larry Moffi and Settlement House Press poets Dennis Sampson, Louise Skipper, and Sheppard Ranborn Sunday, 2:00 pm Free. Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, MD (301) 654-8664. October 11 Iota Series: Luis Alberto Ambroggio and Yvette Neisser Moreno, Hosted by Miles David Moore. Sunday, 6:00 pm Free. Iota Club and Cafe, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Clarendon neighborhood, Arlington, VA. (703) 256-9275. October 14 Brookland Reading Series: "It Came From Beneath Brookland," the monster of all poetry readings, celebrating monsters, the monstrous, Godzilla, Gojira, and more. Wednesday, 7:00 pm Free. Brookland Visitors Center, 3420 9th St. NE, DC. (202) 526-1632. October 15 Intersections Series Thursday, 7:00 pm Free. Charles Sumner School, 1201 17th St. NW, DC. (202) 249-0253. October 15 "Ghosts, Goblins & Shadows: A Halloween reading of Poetry and Fiction": Kim Roberts, Lesley Wheeler, Cynthia Atkins, and Laura Brodie Thursday, 7:00 pm Free. Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, 8230 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. (301) 608-9101. October 16 HOME Series Friday, 7:00 pm (sign-up for poets opens at 6:00 pm) $5 Admission. Hillyer Art Space, 9 Hillyer Court NW, DC. (202) 338-0680. October 18 Gail Rosen reads from Hilda Stern Cohen's Words That Burn Within Me Sunday, 2:00 pm Free. Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, MD (301) 654-8664. October 18 Sunday Afternoon Author Series: C.M. Mayo discusses her novel The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire Sunday, 3:00 pm Free. Historical Society of Washington, 801 K St. NW, Mount Vernon Square neighborhood, DC. (202) 383-1850. October 18 Sunday Kind of Love, featuring Randall Horton and Emily Warn Sunday, 4:00 pm Free, but donations collected. Busboys and Poets, Langston Room, 14th & V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET. October 21 Kay Ryan, US Poet Laureate Wednesday, 7:00 pm Free. Library of Congress, Jefferson Blg., Coolidge Auditorium, 10 First St. SE, DC. (202) 707-5394. October 21 Poesis Seris: featuring Katie Bowler, reading poems of hers and others about Hurricane Katrina, with Shep Williams on keyboards and Curly Robinson on drums. Open mike follows. Wednesday, 7:00 pm Free. Pentagon City Borders, 1201 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA (703) 418-0166. October 22 Takoma Park Reading Series Thursday, 7:30 pm Free. Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, MD (301) 891-7224. October 23 Reading from the journal Reverso, featuring Hernan Bravo Varela, Karen Plata, Alejandro Tarrab, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Sandra Beasley, and Carlos Lopez de Alba Friday, 7:30 pm Free. Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, MD (301) 654-8664. October 25 WWPH reading by William Littlejohn and Jehanne Dubrow Sunday, 2:00 pm Free. Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, MD (301) 654-8664. October 26 James McBride reads from his novel Song Yet Sung, part of the One Maryland One Book program Monday, 7:00 pm Free. Montgomery College, Theatre Arts Arena, 51 Mannakee St., Rockville, MD. (240) 567-7417. October 27 Lannan Poetry Series: Harry Clifton Tuesday, Seminar at 5:30, Reading at 8:00 pm Free. Georgetown University, Seminar in ICC 462; Reading in Copley Lounge, DC. (202) 687-7435. October 28 Sparkle Series: featured reader TBA, followed by open mic. Hosted by Regie Cabico and Natalie Illum Wednesday, 8:00 pm $3 Admission. Busboys and Poets, 5th & K Streets NW, DC. (202) 315-1320. October 28 Brian Brodeur and Barbara Goldberg Wednesday, 7:00 pm Free. Kensington Row Bookshop, 3786 Howard Ave., Kensington, MD (301) 949-9416. October 29 Terese Svoboda Thursday, 7:30 pm Free. Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, MD (301) 654-8664.   PLEASE NOTE: Open mic events are not listed on this page. Please see our full listing of Reading Series for more information.