Abandoned Spots and Forgotten Spaces: Floodwall South

Where: meet by the overlook/parking lot at 14th (Hull) St. and E. 1st (across the street from the old Railway Museum)
When: Saturday August 22, noon; event to be postponed in case of rain
RSVP required (reply by email: dottoressa.joanna at hotmail dot com)

Consider this your inspired tour of the downtown skyline from a South-of-the-river perspective! We'll be spending the afternoon sharing and discussing recent works and in general all things poetic while taking in more of the Richmond river scene. Gentle hiking is a part of this particular session, so bring your walking shoes & sunscreen, and bring poems! Light picnic fare, water bottles and discrete adult beverages are likewise encouraged. Note that this is an open air event with minimal amenities, narrow walkways and stair access.

Freewrite Tuesdays at Sub Rosa!
Sub Rosa Bakery
620 N. 25th St., RVA 23223
Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30am
Who says poetry has to be done in a shuttered attic or at a lonely desk? Come battle your writer’s block with us! This group’s purpose is to create a cozy and informal venue to freewrite and converse-- we believe writing doesn't have to be a solitary sport, and that you never know what inspiration might walk through the door. Although we're open to specialized topics and sharing, there is no formal critique or workshop agenda— simply show up & come and go as you please!

Monday Night Workshop & Critique Series
Urban Farmhouse Market & Café (Shockoe), 1217 E. Cary St. RVA 23219
Enjoy the summer while you can! Our 3rd Monday workshops are still on hiatus until September. Join us, though, for our regularly scheduled critique groups on the 2nd and 4th Mondays to keep those creative juices flowing! Sessions are always completely free and open to all experience levels. Please bring 1-3 poems-in-progress with a handful of copies (4-8) to share round the table.

Small group critique dates: Monday August 10th & Monday August 24th, 6:30-8pm

Don’t forget that Tuesday, September 1st is our inaugural open mic/reading event Words on Fire: Poetry Happy Hour at Firehouse! Including mini-features by a few voices you may know, our signature open mic and a cash bar, we’re hoping to make this new event a smashing success, so come on out, support and get heard! It’s the perfect way to wind down your workday and light up an otherwise blah middle of the week. 6-7:30pm.

Also, today, July 31, is the LAST DAY for earlybird (discount) registration to the James River Writers 2015 Fall Conference, happening right here in Richmond October 16-18. For those of you whom I haven’t already reminded repeatedly—er, for those of you who might not have heard—this year’s conference will have a full-blown poetry track with 4 breakout panel sessions and a special Master Class on the Art of Slam. Featuring friends, colleagues & exceptional poets Joshua Poteat, Derek Kannemeyer, Tom Sanchez Prunier, Angela Marie Carter, John Survivor Blake and more, this is going to be one not to miss. Panels & panelist details, as well as registration options, can be found here. Definitely worth a look.

As ever, feel free to send my way any questions, concerns, suggestions you may have. Here’s to an inspiring end to the summer!

Yours in poetry,
Joanna