100 Thousand Poets for Change

On September 24, 2011 there will be a celebration of the worldwide event, "100 Thousand Poets for Change", at the University of Toledo's Small Theater.

This is an excellent opportunity to share your artistic talent and to be a part of a historic event. If you are interested in participating, please contact Jonie McIntire at jonier.mcintire@gmail.com.

For more information on this event, you can visit the 100 Thousand Poets for Change website.

Red Fez Publications Releases 35th Issue Online

FEZLANDIA. Monday, June 13, 2011-- Red Fez Publications is proud to annouce the release of its 35th issue online. This issue marks over 600 poems published since the first issue online in 2003. Nearly 450 authors from around the world have had their work published in Red Fez and it is still available to read in the archives.

The current issue includes five articles and reviews, eleven stories, twenty-seven poems, two groups of photography and art and one audio piece. The next issue will be published on July 13, 2011. Submissions are now open.

For more information or to read Red Fez go to http://redfez.net/

About Red Fez Publications:

Established in 2002 and founded by Leopold McGinnis, Red Fez Publications is an Independent publisher committed to bringing recognition to underground and under-recognized writers and artists. Red Fez publishes an online literary journal featuring literature and art and has published over 400 authors from around the world. Poems and short stories that have first appeared on Red Fez have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, storySouth Million Writers Award, Sundress Publications Best of the Net and Dzanc Books Best of the Web.

Red Fez Publicatio​ns Releases 34th Issue Online

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEZLANDIA. Friday, May 13, 2011 — Red Fez Publications has just released Issue #34. Monthly issues are published on the 13th of each month and this month is no exception. Oh no, we’re not a-scared of Friday the 13th!

Back for Part II of “Drink with the Coyotes” is Paul Corman-Roberts’ column Dispatches from Atlantis. Migs makes it to Cali but you’ll have to read to find out what drives him to the edge… “Mission St – This is the wondrous alien nightmare the evening news sang of in my youth. A landscape belonging to pedigree uniforms by day, and the trolls I was warned about as a child by night.”

Ani Smith, Michael Filippone and Robert Kloss offer up thoughtful reviews on three small press books. A midget is on the loose in Margaret Ozemet’s non-fiction piece and you’ll find inspiration galore in Frankie Metro’s “excerpt from the professional donor”. There’s also a treat in the Articles and Reviews section– our very own Headitor Patrick Simonelli brings you a special report on Rammstein. Whether you do or don’t know what a Rammstein is, you’re sure to enjoy this article.

Speaking of Headitors – Michael Grover delivers a fine intro for this issue and along with our other hard-working fezitors, a great line-up of poetry. Julie Valin, Matt Amott, Melanie Browne, Nathan Savin Scott, ML Heath, Sheri L. Wright, Ben Bartman, Clara Hope Mitchell, William John Watkins, David Cicerone, Changming Yuan and Cassandra Dallett make their first appearance in the Fez along with returning contributors Melissa Hansen, John Grochalski, Jack Varnell, Dan Provost, Craig Fishbane, Marc Pietrzykowski, Alan Catlin, Luis Rivas, M.P. Powers, Jessica McHugh and Justin Hyde.

Cecelia Chapman along with collaborators Jeff Crouch and Steve Johnson bring you another great video from the Danger Archive. Our favorite Red Fez Radio guest F.N. Wright is back with some amazing artwork along with photography from Eleanor Leonne Bennett.

Tom Andrews returns to the stories section with a hilarious flash fiction piece called “At The Hors d’oeuvre Convention” and Bill McLaughlin is back with the third installment in the six-part series, “Breakfast and a Cigarette, A Novella in Four Directions”. The other talented authors included in this section are Timothy Gager, Bill Ectric, Cindy M. Kelly, Patricia Carragon, Donald O’Donovan, Forrest Aguirre, George Sparling, Fawzy Zablah, Jeff Chon and Jason Lancaster Cooney.

Submissions are currently open until May 31st for the next issue due online June 13, 2011. Guidelines can be found at http://www.redfez.net/.

About Red Fez Publications:

Established in 2002 and founded by Leopold McGinnis, Red Fez Publications is an Independent publisher committed to bringing recognition to underground and under-recognized writers and artists. Red Fez publishes an online literary journal featuring literature and art and has published over 400 authors from around the world. Poems and short stories that have first appeared on Red Fez have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, storySouth Million Writers Award, Sundress Publications Best of the Net and Dzanc Books Best of the Web.

Open Mic at Bridget's

On Thursday, May 12, 2011, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, there will be an open mic at Bridget's. The poetry event is being hosted by Melvin Johnson and Vocal INKorporated.

There is a $2.00 cover charge which will go towards a donation to local youth programs. Food specials include Catfish Nuggets with Fries ($3.00), Catfish Sandwich ($5.00), 3 Wings ($2.50) and 5 WingDings with Fries ($3.00).

Bridget's is located at 12 Hillwyck Drive (which is off of Hill Ave. just west of Reynolds). Come on out and support local spoken word artists!

Poetry Speaks! at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library

On Monday, April 4, 2011, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, the Toledo Lucas County Public Library is hosting an event called 'Poetry Speaks!'. According to the Toledo Lucas County Public Library's web site it is "in celebration of National Library Week, Poetry Speaks @ Your Library is pleased to welcome renowned poet and editor of The Kenyon Review, David Baker. Baker will be reading from his recent collection of poems, Never-Ending Birds."

There will also be an opportunity to hear the prose of many talented local poets:

6:15 George Majchrzak
6:30 Jonie McIntire
6:45 Matthew Potack
7:00 Intermission
7:15 Kerry Trautman
7:30 Gary Bond
7:45 Joel Lipman

This event will take place at the Huntington Meeting Room Main Library, 325 Michigan Street, Toledo, Ohio.

Broadway Bards at the Original Sub Shop & Deli

Are you looking for somewhere to go to where you can hang out with local poets and eat delicious food? The Original Sub Shop & Deli is hosting its monthly Broadway Bards poetry reading/open mic on Saturday, March 19, 2011 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow spoken word artists and get your voice heard. Also, there is a variety of delectable treats to enjoy such as Flying Rhino coffees, herbal teas, chili, paninis, and submarines.

The Original Sub Shop & Deli is located at 402 Broadway, Toledo, Ohio. It is free to attend this event.

ACGT Announces Artomatic 419! 2011 to take place April 2, 9 & 16

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo is pleased to announce that its popular program, Artomatic 419!, returns in 2011, taking place over three full Saturdays, April 2, 9 & 16, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day.

Celebrating it’s fourth incarnation, the biennial event – held every other year – is looking at one of its biggest and best years yet! As Northwest Ohio’s largest nonjuried, multi-media arts showcase, Artomatic 419! 2011 will see nearly 300 visual, performing, and literary artists from across our region’s Creative Community take over two buildings in Downtown Toledo’s St. Clair Village, situated right in the heart of the burgeoning Warehouse District neighborhood across from Fifth-Third Field.

Due to an overwhelming response from ACGT’s call for artists in the autumn of 2010, Artomatic 419! Out grew its first building, adding for the first time in the event’s history a second site. The 2011 event will take place simultaneously in the 3-story historic building at 407 Washington St. (behind Jed’s), and kitty-corner at 25 S. St. Clair Street (across from Homeslice Pizza). Both of these wonderful structures have been empty for some time, despite being situated in the city’s core. Filled with art, live performance, and Artomatic 419! event-goers, these building will enjoy new life and new recognition for the first time in years.

This year’s event will also feature the new addition of an “official after-party.” The after-party event is sponsored by The Ottawa Tavern and Toledo.com, and will feature regional live entertainment each night from 10 p.m. to midnight at The Event Center (23 N. Summit St.).

This year’s event is made possible through the generosity of our building partners STS Management (407 Washington) and Martin and Wood Appraisals Group LTD along with new tenant, The Art Supply Depot (25 S. St. Clair St.), and The Event Center.  This event is also supported by the Ohio Arts Council, the Small Business Administration, The Toledo Blade, ProMedica, Clear Channel, WTO5 Toledo’s CW, Devicious, Toledo.com, Wayne Lumber, SFC Graphics, the Ottawa Tavern, Flash Toledo, Old West End Records, Crafts 2000 Monroe, Scrap4Art, and the Toledo Warehouse District.

Red Fez Publications announces nominations for 2011 Million Writers Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CANADA. Thursday, March 10, 2011–Red Fez Publications is pleased to announce their nominations for the 2011 Million Writers Award.

In a continued effort to promote underground writing, the following writers have been nominated for the 2011 storySouth Million Writers Award for their recent work published in Red Fez Publications— William Taylor Jr., “The Bastards Were Everywhere and Would Endure”; Karl Koweski, “A Handful of Dice” and Sean Pravica, “To Have the Ass”.

Forty-eight stories were considered for nomination. All of the stories were published online between March 2, 2010 and November 30, 2010. They can be read in the archives at http://www.redfez.net/.

From the storySouth website:
“The Million Writers Award takes its name from the idea that we in the online writing community have the power to promote the great stories we are creating. If only a few hundred writers took the time to tell fifteen of their friends about a great online short story–and if these friends then passed the word about this fiction to their friends (and so on and so on)–this one story would soon have a larger readership than all of the works in Best American Short Stories.”

The deadline for nominations is March 15. Individual writers and readers may nominate one story. Editors may nominate up to three short stories from their online publications. There is no entry fee. The list of notable stories of the year will be released by April 1, 2011, with the top ten stories released by the first of May.

About Red Fez Publications:
Red Fez Publications is an online literary journal published monthly. Red Fez features poetry and prose outside of the narrow, academic stream. Red Fez is committed to bringing light to underground and under-recognized writers and writing.

For more information visit http://redfez.net/ or http://www.storysouth.com/

Art Night at the Attic

On Thursday, March 10, 2011, from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm, there will be the 'Art Night at the Attic' event at Mano's Greek restaurant. The featured spoken word artist is John Dorsey, who is an extremely talented local poet.

There will also be an exhibition and forum for discussion with local artists. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Collingwood Arts Center.

Mano's Greek restaurant is located at 17th and Adams Street in downtown Toledo. The Attic is located on the upper level of the restaurant.

Village Voice Poetry at ICE restaurant and bar

On Tuesday, March 8, 2011, from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Village Voice Poetry will be hosting an open mic poetry reading at the ICE restaurant and bar.

According to the Facebook page for the event, "The Village is a supportive group of eclectic people that show their love through words. Sharing our stories in front of a audience that is welcoming can be very exciting for a poet, or those of us who just have poetry tendencies, so bring your notebooks, listening ears, and a lot of love, the Village is waiting.

Soultry discribes this night. Addiix of POETRY and NEO SOUL gather to meet and let their WORDS be heard throughout the VILLAGE. The Village is everyone, the voice is our words, and the message comes from the poet and story teller. The stories reflect on past, present, future, and those situations that don't exist, FICTION. The stories are SHARED, and the VILLAGE becomes the WELCOMING of THE VOICE."

The cover charge for the poetry reading is $3.00. The ICE restaurant and bar is located at 405 Madison Ave, Toledo, Ohio (inside of the PNC building).

So come out and support local poetic talent!

Mickey Finn's Pub hosts open call for video shoots of local artists

Are you looking for a bigger audience to enjoy your music, poetry, or visual art? If so, Mickey Finn's Pub will begin shooting local talent for their compilation dvd series and local television show on Thursday, March, 3, 2011.

There will be filming of local talent every Thursday, starting at 8:00 pm, until it seems as though every available artist in the Northwest Ohio area has been covered. All styles and mediums of artists and bands are encouraged to participate in this event.

Each participant will receive a copy of a dvd highlighting the footage of their performance and/or exhibition. Also, participants will be given an uploadable track that they can post on their web page.

Talent is being booked on a first come/first served basis. So if you would like to be included in this exciting project, and want to see your talent being showcased on both a series of dvds and a television show, send a response by email to justajunkie@yahoo.com. When corresponding, please make sure that the subject line says "Video" so that it does not get classified as spam mail.

The Ground Level Reading Room Vol. 1 poetry event

On Wednesday, March 16, 2011, the Ground Level will be hosting its first open mic poetry reading since their coffee shop closed in November 2010.The event is called "The Ground Level Reading Room Vol. 1."

It will take place from 8:00 pm to midnight, at the Bozarts Arts and Music Gallery, which is located at 151 South St. Clair, Toledo, Ohio. The cover charge is $5.00 and the proceeds will go towards helping the owners of the Ground Level Coffeehouse settle outstanding bills.

Some of the featured poets and musicians include:

• Azucar
• Darius Hall
• Elevated Thinkin
• Fortune
• Huntor Prey
• John Dorsey
• Josh Ward (of Stately Mane) and The ‘Leles
• Ky Learic
• Melvin Douglas
• Rhonda Sewell
• Steven Guerrero

There is still time to sign up to be a featured poet or musician. If you are interested in participating in the open mic, please RSVP Imani Lateef by emailing him at imanilateef@gmail.com.