Minneapolis is about to be flooded with more than 15,000 writers, editors, and publishers. The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference and book fair takes place this Wednesday through Saturday. Although it costs about $200, it is akin to SXSW, in which there are plenty of off-site events that will offer comparable content with an intimacy that the Convention Center does not offer. These are all from my Facebook and (*) denotes my picks.
Wednesday
Mn Artists is having this kickoff at the Walker’s posh Skyline Room. $5 w/ cash bar; 5–7pm @ Walker Art Center.
Cave Canem is doing a very large reading as a fundraiser. Reading will feature Lillian-Yvonne Bertram, Malika Booker, F. Douglas Brown, Mahogany Browne, Kyle Dargan, Alyss Dixson, Kelly Norman Ellis, t’ai freedom ford, JP Howard, Bettina Judd, Nate Marshall, Kyla Marshell, Jamaal May, Jonathan Moody, Angel Nafis, Ife-Chudeni Oputa, Ladan Osman, Katy Richey, Aaron Samuels, and Kevin Simmonds. $10 suggested donation w/ cash bar; 7–9 pm @ Loft Literary Center.
A reading with Rae Armantrout, Sarah Gerard, Ian Dreiblatt, and Nicholas Rombes. Free; 7 pm @ Magers And Quinn Bookstore.
The readings are performances. Readers include Natalie Shapero, Hadara Bar-Nadav, Catherine Pierce, Jay Nebel, Timothy Liu, Sharon Mesmer, Elisabeth Workman, Maureen Thorson, Danielle Pafunda, Krystal Languell Megan Kaminski, Tyler Gobble, Stella Corso, and Alexis Orgera. Free w/ cash bar; 7–10 pm @ New Century Theatre.
Co-hosted by Curbside Splendor Publishing, Anvil Press, Civil Coping Mechanisms, featherproof books, Barrelhouse, and Tyrus Books. Readers include Dasha Kelly, Cyn Vargas, Jon Paul Fiorentino, Brandi Wells, Mairead Case, Justin Marks, and Jim Ruland. Free w/ open bar; 8 pm @ Crooked Pint Ale House.
Minneapolis. Prince. This is an all-Prince party in the dance party alcove of First Ave. Readings and dance party to follow. Readers include Stacey Lynn Brown, Cornelius Eady, Khary Jackson, Saeed Jones, Allison Joseph, Rachel McKibbens, Nate Marshall, Angel Nafis, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Patrick Rosal, Roger Reeves, Sam Sax, Danez Smith, Patricia Smith, and Alyesha Wise. DJ’ed by DJ Shannon Blowtorch. $5 w/ bar; 10 pm @ The Record Room.
Thursday
Free stuff and a playlist by Rachel Kushner on the Walker’s Garden Terrace. Free (with AWP badge) w/ cash bar (drink tickets for the early); 5–7 pm @ Walker Art Center.
Readings by John Beer, Jamalieh Haley, Lucy Ives, Danniel Schoonebeek, Rich Smith, and Drew Scott Swenhaugen. Free; 5:30 pm @ James & Mary Laurie, Booksellers.
Avenues is raising awareness of youth experiencing homelessness. Readers include Roxane Gay, Marlon James, Saeed Jones, Nick Flynn, Stephen Elliot, Melissa Febos, Eduardo Corral, and Eileen Myles. Free with RSVP; 6–8 pm @ Minneapolis Central Library.
Co-hosted by Forklift, Ohio, Cooking & Light Industrial Safety, H_NGM_N Books, Poetry City, USA, Slope Editions and Yes Yes Bøøks. Readers include Katie Byrum, Caroline Cabrera, Russell Dillon, Alina Gregorian, Matthew Lippman, Tanya Olson, Caryl Pagel, Ross Robbins, James Schiller, and Mary Austin Speaker. Free w/ bar. 6–8 pm @ Triple Rock Social Club.
Readings by four ex-Minnesotans: Alex Lemon, Amanda Nadelberg, Gary Dop, and Stephen Burt. Free. 6:30–7:15 pm @ Walker Art Center.
Readings by Anne Carson, Peter Gizzi, Eleni Sikelianos, Cole Swensen, Dara Wier, Forrest Gander, Pierre Joris, and Nicole Peyrafitte. A party afterward. $10 w/ bar. 8–11 pm @ Walker Art Center.
Co-hosted by Graywolf Press, Milkweed Editions, Riverhead Books, A Public Space, The Loft Literary Center, and Minnesota Center for Book Arts. Free w/ bar. 7–9 pm @ The Open Book.
Hosted by BIRDS, LLC. Readings by Eric Amling, Jerriod Avant, Ben Fama, Elaine Kahn, Kelin Loe, Monica McClure, Guy Pettit, Niina Pollari, Sara Jane Stoner, Jennifer Tamayo, and Mike Young. New works presented by many publishers. Free w/ bar. 7:30pm @ Sisyphus Brewing.
Readings by Samiya Bashir, Tarfia Faizullah, Ladan Osman, Solmaz Sharif,and Safia Elhillo. Free. 7:30pm-10:30pm @ The Common Table.
Readings by Lara Avery, Joshua Edwards, Ian Hatcher, Lara Mimosa Montes, Nick Montfort, Alexis Pope, Danniel Schoonebeek, and Talin Tahajian. Free and BYOB. 9 pm @ a mansion at 1818 LaSalle Avenue.
Friday
Co-hosted by Triple Canopy and Revolver. A discussion on the nature of poetic work and research and readings by Harmony Holiday, Lara Mimosa Montes, and Jared Stanley. Workshop to follow. Free. 1p–3pm @ Nina Hale, Inc.
Readings by Amelia Gray, Tarfia Faizullah, Janaka Stucky, Adrian Matejka, Monica McClure, Brian Foley, Lisa Ciccarello, Sampson Starkweather and Sheila Squillante. Music by William Tyler & Frankie Teardrop. Free w/ discounted PPR & free pizza (probably heggies). 5–8 pm @ Lee’s Liquor Lounge.
A reading-free happy hour hosted by Tumblr, Tin House, Coffee House Press, Unnamed Press, and Guernica. There’s a raffle, too. Free w/ open bar. 5:30–7:30 pm @ The Local.
Hosted by Columbia College Chicago’s Center for Book and Paper Arts and Department of Creative Writing & DoubleCross Press. Readings, a letterpress printing demo, and a tour of the facilities. Readers include Matvei Yankelevich, Matthew Shenoda, Lisa Fishman, Joshua Young, Justin Limoli, Krystal Languell, Robert Alan Wendeborn, Ian Dreiblatt, Gracie Leavitt, and Tonya Foster. Free. 6–9 pm @ Minnesota Center for Book Arts.
Co-hosted by Conduit, Fence, and Ugly Duckling Presse. Readings by Corina Copp, Ben Fama, Dobby Gibson,, Jennifer Mackenzie, Hoa Nguyen, James Shea, and Dara Wier. Free w/ bar. 7 pm @ Harriet Brewing’s Tap Room.
I did not realize Amber Tamblyn was a poet, too. Okay. Hopefully you can find a seat. Readings by Patricia Smith, xTx, Roxane Gay, Amber Tamblyn, Franny Choi, and Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz. $5 suggested donation. 7 pm @ The Loft Literary Center.
Co-hosted by Coconut Poetry, Inter|rupture: a journal of poetry and art, Smoking Glue Gun, T E N D E R L O I N, Slope Editions, and ILK journal. Readings by Adam Day, Gale Marie Thompson, Carrie Murphy, Aubrie Marrin, Sam Sax, Lynn Melnick, Kristin Sanders, DeWitt Brinson, Jennifer Tamayo, Shelly Taylor, Danielle Pafunda, Lucy Ives, and Kit Frick. Free w/ bar. 8 pm @ The Nicollet.
EQ is the Loft’s series dedicated to building communities of color through spoken word. Headliners are Patricia Smith and Regie Cabico. Many, many other short readings. $5 suggested donation. 9 pm @ The Loft Literary Center.
Co-hosted by Our Flow Is Hard, Weird Sister, and Dancing Girl Press. Readings by Jia Oak Baker, Ashley Barr, Jessica Rae Bergamino, Emily Brandt, A.T. Grant, Bettina Judd, Juliana Delgado Lopera, Kelly Morse, Morgan Parker, Caitlin Scarano, Kimberly Ann Southwick, Zayne Turner. Dance party afterwards. Free w/ bar. 7 pm @ Honey.
Readings by Julie Brooks Barbour, Alicia Catt, Kelly Harwood, Sara Leavens, Mary King, Jean Ho, Vanessa Borjon, Janice Sapigao, Jennifer Hanks, Sarah Xerta, Jill Khoury, Jade Hurter, Clare Harmon, and Hannah Baggott. Dance party afterwards. Sliding scale w/ bar. 7:30 pm @ MXDXMXE (ask around for the address).
Hosted by Revolver, this will be a dance party driven by your favorite rhythmically interesting sentences. Cocktail bar by The 1887. Hosted in a historic mansion. Not to be missed. $10 suggested donation w/ keg until it runs out. 10 pm.
Saturday
With the opening of International Pop, the Walker’s exhibition on the global emergence of Pop art from the 1950s to the early ’70s, this is the perfect opportunity to peruse the galleries. Readings based on the collection will be presented on the tour. $10 gallery admission. 2 pm @ Walker Art Center.
They say it’ll be the “most memorable experience at AWP 2015.” Readings and performances by Adam Atkinson, Jessica Rae Bergamino, Lucas de Lima, Johannes Göransson, Rj Equality Ingram, Saeed Jones, Tim Jones-Yelvington, Andrea Lawlor, Joyelle McSweeney, Megan Milks & Sam Cohen, Carrie Murphy, Sade Murphy, Ife-Chudeni Oputa, JD Scott, Sarah Smith, Christopher Soto (aka Loma), Jennifer Tamayo, Cassandra Troyan, and Ronaldo Wilson. Free w/ bar. 7 pm @ Kieran’s Irish Pub.
Readings by Corina Copp, Nick Demske, Nathaniel Farrell, E. Tracy Grinnell, Johannes Göransson, Stefania Heim, Lucy Ives, Chris Martin, Daniel Poppick, Susan Scarlata, Mary Austin Speaker, and Matvei Yankelevich. Free. 7–10 pm @ The White Page.
Readings by John Beer, Marina Blitshteyn, David Buuck, Christopher DeWeese, Karin Gottshall, Cecily Iddings, Montana Ray, Kit Schluter, Emily Skillings, and Ronaldo Wilson. Free. 7 pm @ Gamut Gallery.
Micro-readings by Amelia Gray, Brandi Wells, Dessa, John Brandon, John Jodzio, Lindsay Hunter, Laura van den Berg, Safy-Hallan Farah, and Simon Jacobs. Dance party afterward. $5 w/ RSVP & bar. 8 pm @ Public Functionary.
I’m already exhausted. There are plenty of other things to do in Minneapolis, so be sure to take a break from all the words.
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