Feeling a lot nostalgic as I write. My life partner, Wayne Morgenthaler, and his Jungle Vibes was the site of the beginning of Poetry Walk for many years, and we loved it. Smooth Toad playing great and funny scat jazz on the back deck along the River, me taking as much video as I could manage and hoping someone else would edit it for Petaluma Community Access TV (PCA) Channel 26!
Grateful the Walk Goes On Sun. Sept. 16th, beginning at 11am at Viva Cocolat on Petaluma Blvd., as founder, Geri DiGiorno has handed the Sonoma County Poet Laurette mantle over to Bill Vartnow, who reads this time at Riverfront Gallery noonish.
Expect some delish snacks in several host locations along the route. I’d want a hot chocolate at Viva Cocolat or at LEAST one or two of Lynn Wong’s lush gourmand chocolates from the counter. At Apple Box I always want the chicken curry salad, at Copperfields, well, a BOOK! Or at least a magazine. And that list goes on…
The poets are food for heart and mind. At Cocolat will be Judy Halebsky, author, Sky=Empty, then Jackie Kudler, author of The Sacred Precinct, Donna Emerson, author, The Place That Inhabits Us. Poetry Walk then moves practically next door to Riverfront Art Gallery at noon for Ron Salisbury, once owner of our locally famed Deaf Dog Coffee, then David Beckman and Bill Vartnow. Will be very glad to make it to Apple Box to hear Geri Digiorno, Nancy Keene, Susan Browne and Godelieve Uyttenhove of Belgium, then on to Copperfields for A.D. Winans, SF poet, Maria Mazziotti Gillan. The Phoenix features Jack Foley, a KPFA FM radio host of Cover to Cover, Adelle Foley, Clara Hsu and David Wong, then on to Graffitti for Alan Kaufman, Jennie Orvino, author, Poetry, Politics and Passion, then on to Aqus Cafe for my old fav’s Smooth Toad (beat poet jazz trio) with GP Skrats, himself a beat poet and just one of those SF guys with huge, warm CHARACTER. Loved the bit of time I got to hang out with him in Jungle Vibes! We agreed The Store was well loved. Not a week goes by someone doesn’t tell me they have “Jungle Vibes withdrawal”. So glad again this important walk around downtown is still in action and plenty of it.
The Aqus reader list includes Jonah Raskin, well known Sonoma prof. and author, and singer/songwriter, Sarah Baker and last but not at all least, Timothy Willians, guitarist, poety, publisher with The Poetry Rhyme Band. Fun With Words and Those Who String Them Together with Grace – all day and into the night! Not to be missed.
“This event is supported by Poets & Writere, Inc., through grants it has received from The James Irvine Foundation and is co-sponsored by Poetry Flash.” Says so at the bottom of the schedule you’ll want to pick up at any venue or the library.