This will be my first year going to AWP, and I’m sufficiently stoked that all of my writerly people are descending on Los Angeles. For the uninitiated, AWP is the mega-glorious conference for North American publishers, writers, and writing programs.
There are far (far, far, far) more impeccable readings and parties to go to than is humanly possible, but I think I’ve narrowed my plans down to the following:
Wednesday, 3/30
4-6pm
What: Hello Los Angeles: An AWP Kickoff Party
Where: barcito – 403 W 12th St, Los Angeles, CA
Why I’m going: to hear Teka Lark Fleming read
Info: Free, but $10 donation if possible to benefit 826LA/Litfolks
Cash Bar – Complimentary Hors D’oeuvres – Book Signings; FB info here
8-10pm
What: Writ Large Press Presents: Always in Translation: Trans Pacific Poetry and Prose
Where: Document Coffee Bar 3850 Wilshire Blvd #107, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Why I’m going: So MUCH Rad Poetry in Translation. & I heart K-town.
Info: Free FB info here
Thursday, 3/31
5:30-7pm
What: AWP Mingle with The Common & Los Angeles Review of Books & Young Literati & Santa Monica Review & Ecotone/Lookout Books
Where: barcito – 403 W 12th St, Los Angeles, CA
Why I’m going: Because the LA Review of Books is one of my favorite things coming out of this city.
Info: Free, & free drink tickets to early arrivals!
FB info here
7:30-9:00pm
What: Tender Omnibus Reading – Featuring Harryette Mullen & Dodie Bellamy, and many others (!!!!!)
Where: LACMA, Brown Auditorium; Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90036
Why I’m going: HARRYETTE MULLEN HARRYETTE MULLEN HARRYETTE MULLEN
Info: Free
Info here
9:30-10:30pm
What:(I’ll try to catch the end of) Poetry Magazine’s Prufrock Party
Where: Regent Theater – 448 S Main St, Los Angeles, California 90013
Why I’m going: Doug Kearney & Eileen Myles & Safiya Sinclair
Info: Free
FB info here
10:30pm-12am
What: “ledge it glow”: A Celebration of Clark Coolidge’s Selected Poems: 1962-1985
Where: Poetic Research Bureau – in Chinatown; 951 Chung King Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Why I’m going: PRB is easily one of my fave spots for thoughtful poetics in LA; also to hear Andrew Maxwell
Info: Free
FB info here
Friday, 4/1
4-5:30pm
What: AWP 2016: SMC MFA, Pool, and Wave Books Reading
Where: The Last Bookstore – 453 S Spring St (But the Main Entrance Is Around the Corner on 5th), Los Angeles, CA, United States
Why I’m going: Because I have tons of respect for Wave Books…& the Last Bookstore is amazing
Info: Free
FB info here
6-8pm
What: PUBLIC POOL Launch Party and Poetry Reading – AWP OFFSITE EVENT
Where: Avenue 50 Studio 131 N. Ave. 50 Highland Park, CA 90042
Why I’m going: Jason Koo of Brooklyn Poets! Dorothea Lasky! Camille Rankine!
Info: Free
FB info here
8-10pm
What: Lana Turner and Nightboat Books Reading (Feat: Claudia Rankine, Dawn Lundy Martin)
Where: Blank Spaces, 529 S Broadway, #4000, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Why I’m going: CLAUDIA RANKINE & DAWN LUNDY MARTIN
Info: Free
9-11pm
What: Poor Claudia, Kelsey Street Press, Image Text Ithaca
Where: Poetic Research Bureau, 951 Chung King Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Why I’m going: to hear Matvei Yankelevich from Ugly Duckling Presse
Info: Free
FB info here
Saturday, 4/2
5-7pm
What: Wave Books & Machine Project’s 5 Day Poetry Marathon (58 hours of poetry from 25 different poets!)
Where: Machine Projects – 1200-D North Alvarado Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Why I’m going: to hear Rodney Koeneke read
Info: $5 for members, $10 for non-members
Get tickets here
7-9pm
What: Triple Canopy’s “A Test of Poetry” Event
Where: JOAN – 4300 West Jefferson Boulevard #1
Los Angeles, California
Why I’m going: Canopy Canopy Canopy is doing really phenomenal work in the art-lit-critical space
Info: Free
Info here
9-11pm
What: 1913 Press, Insert Blanc Press, Les Figues Press @ PRB
Where: Poetic Research Bureau, 951 Chung King Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Why I’m going: Because PRB is my jam. Also it’s mega close to my house and by this time of AWP I’ll clearly be EXHAUSTED.
Info: Free
FB Link
[image by Storm Crypt]