Swimming with the Sharks
2013
Among our family stories is one with a lesson: Don’t try swimming with the sharks.
Mawk-Eyed
2013
A RETIRED NEUROSURGEON, John Mawk teaches all the sciences at the international high school in Lowertown.
Poem for the Saint Paul City Council
2013
The New Year, with its dependable timing, its greeting full of bells and whistles and promises, has arrived. We stand, once more, at a new beginning.
February 14, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Antoine Duke
2013
As an artist, performer, poet, educator, spoken word artist, dancer, and director, Antoine Duke is indeed a man of many hats. As a 19-year-old performer and teaching artist he has received grants, founded companies, and has competed nationally as a spoken word artist. Antoine is currently working for Pillsbury House Theater. Antoine chooses social justice education through theater, and art because he believes that art cannot only teach creative, and powerful practices, but also because it can educate us on how to become better human beings. He says that "Art allows you to listen to the world around you and take in other perspectives."
February 7, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Saymoukda Vongsay and writing workshop
2013
Saymoukda "Mooks" Vongsay is a Lao American poet and playwright whose passion is arts advocacy. Her work has been published by Altra Magazine, The Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement, Saint Paul Almanac, Lao American Magazine, and Bakka Literary Journal, to name a few. Vongsay pens the series Pushing the Pen, published weekly in the Asian American Press, interviewing literary artists from across the nation. She has taught and performed spoken word poetry from the Midwest to the East and West coasts, as well as in Italy and Japan.
January 31, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Patricia Van Ert
2013
Patricia Van Ert is a poet, writer, storyteller, mentor, social activist and mother. She is an enrolled member of the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation and a member of the TGI-Frybread Native American writing group at the Loft. Currently working on a monologue around congestive heart failure and a series of children’s stories, Van Ert is creative director/teacher of Words Out Loud—a spoken word poetry group and class at the Rondo Library from 2006–2010.
January 24, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Hasani Harris
2013
Hasani Harris enjoys writing. Along with writing, he is a spoken word artist. He was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota for all twenty years of his life. Hasani always wanted to be a comedian but realized early his jokes were not that funny so now he writes semi-funny poetry instead. Hasani has not won many awards or publications for his writing, but he is young and believes this will come with time. The Golden Thyme Coffee Café and the Saint Paul Almanac are pleased to announce the "Soul Sounds Open Mic," hosted by Tish Jones! The "Soul Sounds Open Mic" series is held every Thursday, with a special pre-performance writing workshop on the first Thursday of each month.
January 23rd, 2013: Louis Alemayehu presents “Nuevo Mestizos” at the Lowertown Reading Jam
2013
The "Nuevo Mestizos" Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. This presentation of the popular and eclectic series, curated by Louis Alemayehu, features performances by Emmanuel Ortiz, Leo Lara and Louis Alemayehu. "We will explore through song, story and spoken word some of the ideas of Gloria Anzuldua as to what it means to live in the border lands of culture, race, sex, class and nationality. There is a visionary identity that connects us to the world, ecologically, spiritually, politically, culturally in a new way... Nuevo Mestizos."
January 17, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with The Mimz
2013
The Mimz is a spoken word artist who started her love affair with words early, as the daughter of a poet and artist. She fell in love with hip hop in the early 80s “where everyone had to be doing something.” She chose rhyme, and loved it, performing increasing her self-esteem and people skills. The Golden Thyme Coffee Café and the Saint Paul Almanac are pleased to announce the "Soul Sounds Open Mic," hosted by Tish Jones! The "Soul Sounds Open Mic" series is held every Thursday, with a special pre-performance writing workshop on the first Thursday of each month.
Hats Off to Larry Ho: Saint Paul Poet and Politician
2013
Laurence “Larry Ho” Hodgson (1874–1937) was a unique combination of poet and politician, a prolific writer who produced thousands of poetic and prose works.
Clarence Street for Sale
2013
Let us think on the porch darling. Sit anywhere you like. I sit here because it fits me.
I can get up quickly, if need be, possibly never return.
You stay here with the morning sun dripping on your forehead.