Thurs Sept. 23 is a special Voices of Venus for 2 reasons — it’s not in scheduling conflict with Tree so I can go, and it’s a line-up of 4 people who I’ve wanted to hear read or read again. They’re bringing in Vox Femina:
half of a troup of internationally known poets and activists. Comprised of Luna Allison (Ottawa, Montreal), Jill Battson (New Mexico, Toronto), Sandra Alland (Edinburgh, Toronto) and Adeena Karasick (NYC), Vox Femina promises an evening of unforgetable poetry that will stir your soul and make you think.
(thanks to Apt 613 and Christine McNair’s event listing in the show interviewing John Lavery for the heads up.)
And speaking of upcoming events, the fall writers fest schedule is up.
Venues are now scattered around town so have to read the listings carefully to give yourself travel time. My best picks:
- 14 artists collaborating for 7 performances 7 minutes long in music, spoken work, and digital art, presented by PEN, Arts Court Theatre on Oct 14
- relit awards at the Barley Mow on the 20th
- history of the cello on Oct 21 at Southminster United Church,
- Comedian David Rakoff at the Mayfair at 6:30
- Transgress is usually good, 22nd at the Mayfair, 8 pm
- Ken Sparling and Sheila Heti sharing novel excerpts at the Manx at 5 on the 23rd,
- Sam Kean on the History of the World from the Periodic table at Southminster United Church at 8 on the 23,
- Books and Brunch at 11 a.m. with Micah Toub, Charlotte Gray, Roy MacSkimming and Lawrence Martin at National Arts, Panorama Room, 53 Elgin St. on the 24th
- Sandra Birdsell, John Lavery and David Bergen at the Mayfair Theatre, 1070 Bank St. on the 24th
- John Newlove awards at Southminster United Church, 6:30 of the 25th
- Poetry Cabaret with Peter Norman, Sandra Ridley, George Murray
and MT Kelly at the Mayfair Theatre, 8:30 on the 25th - Soccer stories with Dave Bidini and John Doyle at the Ottawa Public Library Main Branch Auditorium, 120 Metcalfe, noon, Oct. 26
- Outsiders: 3 novels by Anchee Min, Emma Donoghue, and Alexander MacLeod (one on Pearl S. Buck) at the Mayfair, 6:30, Oct 26
A lot of talks of reinforcements of popular ideas: terrorists, torture, ghosts, WWII, depravity, murder, that predictions of future are off. Hm. I like the open university type things better. Noon hour author talks on craft are all gone. Still, at least one thing to taste per day.