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Best Venues For Spoken Word And Poetry Readings In Detroit

April is National Poetry Month, a time to celebrate this beautiful literary art form, when language is expressed in its aesthetic and evocative form in addition to, or in lieu of, its commonplace semantic.  "April showers bring May flowers" is a poem we use to teach children the virtue of patience, reminding us that even the most unpleasant of things, like the dreary rains of April, can bring about spectacular beauty – a myriad of flowers in May.  Poetry helps us learn new concepts, cope with unbearable grief, remember epic dates and complex data, and indoctrinate us to our culture. Poets gather to share the beauty of the spoken word regularly in the Detroit area; you, too can experience the joy.

Book & Poem
Lake St. Clair Metropark
31300 Metropolitan Parkway
Harrison Twp, MI 48045
(248) 667-8254
BookPoem.com

Hours: Email Membership@BookPoem.com for membership information

Book and Poem Venue
(credit: bookandpoem.com)

Book & Poem is to the spoken word as Renoir and Monet are to paintings. William Wordsworth's poem Daffodils is recited beside the lake, beneath the trees near a field of golden daffodils. Ode to Autumn by John Keats is recited at a cottage nestled among blazing red maples.  Book & Poem emphasizes a "sense of place" when celebrating poetry, holding high teas and mint julep socials in Victorian mansions, manicured parks and butterfly gardens. Some recitals are held on chartered yachts. A wine toast tops off every function, and is paired to the poetic theme -  Jane Seymour Wines pair with "Somewhere in Time" themed poetry. The group's goal for 2012 is to bring one of the world's most famous living poets, Margaret Atwood, to Detroit for a candlelight supper.

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Microphone
(credit: Thinkstock)

Spirit Spit (Live Acts & Open Mic)
Spirit of Hope Church
1519 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48208
(248) 837-9592
www.facebook.com

Hours: See Facebook page for upcoming event information

Spirit Spit is dedicated to the soul of poetry, and is located in Detroit at Spirit of Hope Church.
Visitors may walk in during the performance to seek safe haven. Spirit Spit is an all-inclusive, welcoming community that encourages artists, musicians and most importantly, poets from all over the community to share their poetry with others. The atmosphere of Spirit Spit is enchanting - the church's Gothic architecture adds to the spiritual experience. Writer L. Bush is both producer and emcee of Spirit Spit. Bush is a gifted poet, whose prose captivates the audience.

Lido Gallery Event
(credit: lidogallery.com)

Lido Gallery Poetry & Music Series
33535 Woodward Ave.
Birmingham, MI 48009
(248) 792-6246
www.lidogallery.com

Hours: See calendar of events

The Lido Gallery offers a smorgasbord of delicious events for people who have great taste for the arts. Not only does the gallery offer a poetry series, it also hosts book signings for regional artists and exhibits rare and intriguing vintage prints. Suited with a gift shop and arts shop, this venue has a lot to offer patrons of the arts.

Broadside Press Poets Theater
Meets at Grounds Coffee Haus
Lower level of the Student Union at University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols
Detroit, MI 48221
(313) 673-6313

Hours: Every third Sunday of the month from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A favorite of junior scholars, Broadside Press Poets Theatre meets every third Sunday of the month from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at U of D Mercy. Meetings are attended by students, faculty, and visiting poets, in a nurturing and empowering setting. The theatre emphasizes self-determination through positive affirmations.

Marick Press
(credit: marickpress.com)

Marick Press
P.O. Box 36253
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
(313) 407-9236
www.marickpress.com

Marick Press holds bi-monthly readings at the Grosse Pointe Park libraries and at the Marick Press site in TechTown. Marick assembles some of the most important poets and writers to participate in readings, and also serves as a book publisher to poets. Meeting days and times vary; email info@marickpress.com .

Grosse Point Art Center
(credit: grossepointartcenter.com)

Poets Follies Reading Series
Grosse Pointe Artists Association
16900 Kercheval St
Grosse Pointe, MI 48230
(313) 821-1848
www.grossepointeartcenter.org

The Poets Follies Reading Series is the place to hear world-class poetry. Past presentations have included appearances by Raúl Zurita, winner of the National Poetry Prize in Chile. Organized by the Grosse Pointe Artists Association, this event draws a highly sophisticated audience.

Scarab Club Monthly Poetry  
217 Farnsworth
Detroit, MI   48202
(313) 831-1250
scarabclub.org

Hours: See events calendar

The Scarab Club offers two poetry events on its calendar every month: Musing, and The Woodward Line.  Hosted by James Hart, The Woodward Line hosts an impressive monthly line-up of local, regional and national poets: 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m.  Hosted by Ann Holdreith, Musing presents a couple of scheduled artists, and offers open mic for guests: 3rd Sunday of every month at 2:30 (except December; Second Sunday in June).

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Romero Anton Montalban-Anderssen is the winner of the 2009 first prize in journalism from the Detroit Working Writers Organization. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University School of Law. He has seasonal residency in Detroit Michigan, The Italian Riviera, and Honolulu Hawaii. His work can be found at Examiner.com.


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