Open Mic Directory - Poetry Directory of Open Mikes, Poetry Slams, Featured Readings in San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland.html

Open Mike Directory

updated 28 April 08

SF Poet Laureate Jack Hirshman was the featured reader at the last Berkeley Poetry Festival. East Bay poet Tshai Unger was the co-MC for the event.

Mother's Hen arc


Sunday	Monday	Tuesday
Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Saturday	Podcasts

We will add any other venues to our list. Our requirement is that they not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender or sexual preference. We prefer to list free events, but will list those that charge a moderate fee. Call 510 549-3345.
*Sunday* Valona Deli 4 PM, Free, 2nd Sunday of the Month, Open Mike with Featured Readers, 1323 Pomona St., Crockett, 925 682-0457, Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Cafe Prague 4 - 5:30PM, Free, Open Mike with Featured Reader, 584 Pacific Ave (at Kearney)., San Francisco, 415 905-8837, sciaf@yahoo.com, Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Fireback Poetry on the Waterfront Reading Series 3 PM, Free with refreshments, Barnes & Noble, Loft Event Space, 3rd Sunday of the month, Jack London Square, 98 Broadway, Oakland, 510-272-0120, AwaterDragon52@aol.com Wheelchair Access, Children Beware: Free Speech Zone Pleasanton's Century House Poetry Reading and Open Mike 1 - 3 PM, $5 , Open Mike to follow the readings (limit one poem per reader, 40 lines or less, original or other favorite poem), 1st Sunday of even numbered months, 2401 Santa Rita Rd, Pleasanton, 925 931-5361 (Civic Arts info line), http://www.poetslane.com Palo Alto Slam Doors open at 7:15 PM, Show starts at 8 PM, $5 or $3 with student ID, 1st & 3rd Sundays, Dragon Theatre, 530 Alma Street, Palo Also, CA 94301, 650248-3777, http://www.paloaltoslam.com/ check their web site for other events and dates “Say What?” Kids Poetry Workshop 2 -4 P.M., Free , donations appreciated , Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 2nd Sunday of the month, All kids welcome to experiment with words and share your favorite poems, 1601 Paru St., Alameda, 510-523-695, www.frankbettecenter.org Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Top of page *Mondays* The Bistro 8 - 11 PM, Free, Open Mike with Music, call first since their format changes each week, 1001 B St. at Main, Hayward, 510 886-8525, Wheelchair Access, Children Not Welcomed after 8:30 PM Poetry Express at Priya Restaurant 7 - 9:30 PM, Free, Open Mike, 2072 San Pablo Avenue (near University Ave), Berkeley, Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome, dreamboogie@yahoo.com Bird and Beckett Books and Records 7:30 PM, Free, Features and Open Mike, 1st & 3rd Mondays, 2788 Diamond (Glen Park BART station), San Francisco, 415 586-3733, birdbeckett@sbcglobal.net, Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Open Mic at Cafe Amsterdam 8:30 PM, Free, 23 Broadway (near Sir Francis Drake Blvd.), Fairfax, 415 256-8020, Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Monday Night Open Mic @ Brainwash 8 - 11 PM, Free, Open Mike with a weekly improv poet's battle, 1122 Folsom St. (at 4th in SOMA), San Francisco, Wheelchair Access, Children Not Welcome, http://www.brainwash.com Top of page *Tuesdays* Poetry & Jazz Tuesdays @ Club Deluxe, Sign-up begins at 8:30 PM, Free, Open Mike with Music, 1511 Haight @ Ashbury, San Francisco, 415.552.6949, http://www.thewordparty.com, http://www.novajazzonline.com Wheelchair Access, Children Not Welcome Keane's 3300 Club 7PM, Free, Open Mike with Featured Reader, last Tuesday of the month - call first, 3300 Mission, San Francisco 94110, 415 826-6886, Wheelchair Access, Children Not Welcome Poetry & Music Divesified at World Ground Café , 7:30 - 9 PM, Open Mike Sign-up 7:30 - 8 PM, Free - donations accepted, Open Mike & Features (Piano & Microphone Available), 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month, , 3726 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland 94619, 510 482-2933 http://www.worldgrounds.com Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Benicia Public Library 7:00 PM, Free, Open Mike, 1st Tuesday of each month, 150 East "L" St., Benicia, Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Top of page *Wednesdays* Berkeley Poetry Slam 6:30 PM sign-up, 8:30 -11 PM Slam, $7/$5 with student ID, Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley 94705, 510 841-2082, voluptuary@hotmail.com, http://www.daniland.com/slam Wheelchair Access, Children Beware: Free Speech Zone Sacred Grounds Café 7 - 9:30 PM, Free, Open Mike with Featured Readers, 2095 Hayes (at Cole), San Francisco 94102, 415 387-3859, No Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome La Peña Cultural Center 7:30 PM, $2 and up, Open Mike with Features, 2nd & 3rd Wednesdays each month,call for details, 3105 Shattuck, Berkeley 94705, 510 849-2568, http://www.lapena.org, Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Poets at Walden Pond Books 7-9 PM, Free, Sit-down Poetry Meeting Group, 1st & 3rd Wednesdays each month, 3316 Grand Ave., Oakland 94610, 510 832-4438, No Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Open Mic at Canvas Cafe 7 PM Sign-up, Open Mic (includes live music, poetry, spoken word & dance) 7:30 - Midnight , Free, 1200 9th Ave., San Francisco 415 504-0060 Wednesday Night Youthism , 7 - 9 P.M., Free, Open Mic for Teens, 818 Marin St., Vallejo (downtown), CA 94590, 707 554-4540, Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome, http://www.listenandbeheard.net/htmlarea/poetrycafe/ Mechanix Poets, 6:00 - 7:30 P.M., Free, A different theme each month - bring poetry on the topic or other work to share, 1st Wednesday each month, Mechanics' Institute Library, Room 405, 57 Post, SF (near Montgomery BART),415 393-0119x192, www.milibrary.org. Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Sunset Poetry by the Bay 7 - 9 PM, Free, Featured Reader & Open Mic, 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month, Northpoint Coffee House, 1250 Bridgeway, Sausalito, 415.331.0777, http://www.northpointcoffee.com Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Spoken 3^rd5 - 7 PM, Free, Open Mic, 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month, Javalencia Cafe @ 3900 Third Street (at Fairfax), San Francisco, 415.355.2849, Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Will start February 20, 2008 Top of page *Thursdays* Holla Back:EastSide Arts Alliance 8:30 - 10 P.M., Donations Accepted, Open Mic session for poets, songwriters, and theater artists, 2587 International Blvd., Oakland, CA 94601, 510 533-6629, Wheelchair Access, Children Not Welcome Black Dot Café 9 PM, $3, Open Mike Spoken Word, 23rd Ave. & E. 15th St., Oakland 94601, 510 533-6629, Wheelchair Access, Children Not Welcome Albany Public Library 7 - 9 PM, Free, Open Mike, 1st Thursday each month, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany, 510 526-3720, Wheelchair Access, ChildrenWelcome, http://www.aclibrary.org/branches/alb/albanyhome.asp Poetic Medley 7:45 PM, Free, Open Mike with Features, 2^nd Thursday each month, Barnes & Noble, 4972 Dublin Blvd, Dublin, 925-560-1495. Wheelchair Access, ChildrenWelcome, http://www.languageandculture.net Tourettes Without Regrets 8 PM sign-up - 12 AM show, $6, Oakland Metro, 1st Thursday of the month, 201 Broadway (at 2nd), Jack London Square, Oakland, tongueartillery@hotmail.com, http://www.oaklandmetro.org/ ChildrenWelcome 3^rd Thursdays Poetry Open Mike Night, 7 - 9 PM, Free, light refreshments served, Open Mic (Bring 5 - 10 minutes poetry), 3^rd Thursday each month, The Bookstore (Used & Rare), 2911 Hopyard Road (at Valley Ave.), Pleasanton, CA 94566, 925 931-5350 or mrusso@ci.pleasanton.ca.us Bazaar Cafe Open Mike, 7 PM, Free, Open Mic, Bazaar Cafe, 5927 California St. (between 21st & 22nd Ave.), San Francisco, 94121, (415) 831-5620, lmw@bazaarcafe.com Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Top of page *Fridays* The Last Word Reading Series 7 PM, Free, Featured Readers with Open Mike following, 2nd Friday of each month, Nefeli Caffe (full dinner menu with tapas, coffees & wine & beer), 1854 Euclid (@ Hearst, Berkeley, 510.841.6374, NoWheelchair Access, Free Speech Zone - Children Beware Poetry and Performance at Café International 8 PM, Free, Open Mike, 508 Haight, San Francisco 94117, 415 474-6159, ra_mu_aki@sbcglobal.net Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Poetry Saloon (Drunk on Poetry) 7:30 PM, Free, Open Mike, 2nd Friday each month, 472 44th St., Oakland, 510-594-2200 , clive@matson-ford.com or http://www.matsonpoet.com/, No Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Oakland is a Holy City Poetry Reading Series 7 PM Donations appreciated, 4th Friday of the month, Joyce Gordon Art Gallery, 406 14th St. @ Franklin (one block from Broadway), 510-268-1585, pdise18@yahoo.com Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Oakland S.O.U.P. (Sing, Open Up, and Poetize) 6:30-8:30 P.M, Donations appreciated, 4th Friday of the month, Features and Open Mike, Temescal Cafe , 4920 Telegraph Ave. @ 50th St., selene@matchlessgoddess.com Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Listen & Be Heard Poetry Cafe, 8 - 11 P.M., $5 (1st 10 poets to sign up for the Open Mic are let in Free), 818 Marin St., Vallejo (downtown), CA 94590, 707 554-4540, Featured Poets & Open Mic, Wheelchair Acess, Children Welcome http://www.listenandbeheard.net/htmlarea/poetrycafe Top of page *Saturdays* Bay Area Poets Coalition Open Mike 3 - 5 PM, Free, 1st Saturday each month except July (2nd), The Strawberry Lodge Dining Room, 1320 Addison Street (Please do not park in the parking lot of the facility), Berkeley , 510 527-9905, www.bayareapoetscoalition.org Wheelchair access, Children Welcome Berkeley Art Center Rhythm & Muse 7 PM, Free, Poetry & Musical Features, Poetry Open Mike, 4th Saturday of the month, 1275 Walnut St., Berkeley, 510 527-9753 or 510 352-6643, sheflerium@earthlink.net, Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Frank Bette Center for the Arts Poetry & Prose Reading 7-9 P.M., Free but donations appreciated, 2nd Saturday of the month, Features followed by Open Mic, 1601 Paru St., Alameda, 510-523-695, www.frankbettecenter.org Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Everything Poetry 9 - 11 A.M., Free - light refreshments served, All aspects of poetry are covered, 1^st & 3^rd Saturdays of the month, Towne Center Books, 555 Main St. (at Division St.), Pleasanton, CA 94566, 925 931-5350 or mrusso@.ci.pleasanton.ca.us , Wheelchair Access, Children Welcome Top of page *Podcasts* Mystic Babylon, This is the San Francisco Haight Street poetry podcast. Poets from the Open Mics and poetry readings in the San Francisco Bay Area, http://mysticbabylon.podomatic.com

Poets from top to bottom:
Nonie Howard, H.D. Moe, Jesse Beagle, Max Schwartz, Johnnie Hart, Joannie Gatten, Dale Jensen, Randy Fingland, L.A. Wood, Louis Cuneo, Mark States, Randy Fingland, Audience, Berkeley's 1st Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Julia Vinograt & Berkeley Councilmember Kriss Worthington,Touch of A Poet Series audience with Walter Ligget, Mary Mackey, Michael, Marcia Poole and Lee Williams , Edwin Massey Jr., "Dixi" Richard Cohn, Jennifer Stone and friends, Maggi H. Meyer, Phillip Nails, Dr. Juan Sequeria and Andrena Zawinski, Judy Wells, & Charles Ellick

Mother's Hen, PO Box 695
Berkeley, CA 94701
Telephone: 510 549-3345
Email: mpoole2@mindspring.com
© Lean Frog 8/2001