News

January 24, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Hasani Harris

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

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

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.

January 10, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Mic RNS and writing workshop

Please note that Mic RNS postponed. Kevin “Kaoz” Moore will be performing in his place. “Though I wear many hats, if I had to choose an all-encompassing title, it would be ‘storyteller’. Everything I do involves some sense of storytelling, whether it’s rhyming, writing a script, dance, acting, drawing—all of it involves story.” 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. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Golden Thyme Coffee Café at 921 Selby Avenue (corner of North Milton Street) in Saint Paul, MN 55104.

December 26th, 2012: Dakota Writers Speak to Presence

On the 150th anniversary of the largest mass execution in the history of the United States—the hanging of 38 Dakota men in Mankato for their role in the U.S. Dakota Conflict—and in the 150 anniversary year of the Dakota conflict, Dakota writers speak to Presence. Although our presence is often erased or misrepresented in mainstream media, we are here. Join us as we reflect, remember and share. Featuring Nick Metcalf, Monique Leith (reading poems by her grandpa Ron Leith), Richard Merlin Johnson Jr., Terri Yellowhammer, Colleen Casey, and Lisa Yankton.

Colleen Casey

Submission deadline for 2014 Almanac extended til year end

The Saint Paul Almanac is happy to announce that its submissions deadline has been extended until the end of the year. Submissions for the 2014 Saint Paul Almanac will now be accepted until midnight on December 31st, 2012!

Two Murray High School Eighth Graders

Tonight it was my honor and pleasure to chauffeur local lit legend Phebe Hanson. I told her that I remember her from high school when my English teachers Sara Sexton and Larry Risser (Southwest HIgh, Mpls) brought her in to speak to our class about journal writing. I even brought out my copy of 25 Minnesota Poets (from 1974), in which she is featured, and asked her to sign it. In it she noted that today is Emily Dickinson’s birthday. She told me in the car that she has been throwing parties for Dickinson since 1972.

A Wealth of Poetry

Last night Parthenia and I made the rounds of poetry readings. After making the scene in Minneapolis, we shot over to Lowertown in St. Paul to attend the Saint Paul Almanac-sponsored Lowertown Reading Jam at the Black Dog Cafe. “Three Artists, Three Themes” was curated by J. Otis Powell‽. He was joined by Tish Jones and Shá Cage. The cafe was warm and full of friends as three very different artists took the small stage and brought their best and most beautiful voices to their stories.

December 26th, 2012: Aimee Renaud presents “By Chance By Choice: Radical Writings on Family” at the Lowertown Reading Jam

The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the third in its 2012–2013 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city. The “By Chance By Choice: Radical Writings on Family” Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, December 26th, 2012 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 Aimee Renaud, features performances by Danez Smith, Laura Nuckols, Hieu Nguyen, Melinda Lee, Chantz Erolin and Aimee Renaud.

The Winter Saint Paul Farmers’ Market opens on December 1st!

On December 1st, the Saint Paul Farmers’ Market’s winter market opens, following the end of the fall season. Open every Saturday (except March 16th) from 9am-1pm, the market offers both an outside location—in the regular market at 4th and Wall Street—and an inside location, in Golden’s Deli. You may be tempted to think not much is still being produced by local farms during the winter, but the Saint Paul Farmer’s Market’s winter version offers a not inconsiderable variety and quantity of food during the chilly months…

December 20, 2012 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Lewis Mundt

Lewis Mundt is a poet, performer, organizer, and recent graduate of the creative writing program at Hamline University — but that says little about who he is and more about what he is. His work has been featured (textually) in the Mas Tequila Review, Bestiary Magazine, and the forthcoming Poetry City, USA: Volume 3; (visually) in the Poetry Observed and Amani Media video projects; and (audibly) at the Indiefeed Performance Poetry Podcast and on the Button Poetry CD compilation. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Golden Thyme Coffee Café at 921 Selby Avenue (corner of North Milton Street) in Saint Paul, MN 55104. All ages are welcome, and there is no cover charge.

December 13, 2012 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Aimee Renaud

Aimee Renaud strives to be full of joy. Winner of the Urban Griots New Spoken Word Artist of the Year Award in 2009, and recipient of the 2011 VERVE Grant for spoken word artists, Aimee occasionally likes to read her poetry out loud, and hopes to spend the next year learning how to effectively foster her creative tendencies. When she isn’t getting paid to sling espresso for motorcyclists, she can usually be found playing with boisterous kittens, devouring the pastryarchy, reading books, traveling everywhere, sending letters, and trying (sometimes desperately, yes) to feel free. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Golden Thyme Coffee Café at 921 Selby Avenue (corner of North Milton Street) in Saint Paul, MN 55104. All ages are welcome, and there is no cover charge.