National Poetry Slam
I love me some NPS, though I've only ever been to one. That was Albuquerque a gazillion years ago. I was hanging with the NYC set, supporters and competitors. It was also this amazingly supportive environment for poets. I still have VIVID memories of driving through desert with Ed Garcia, Nina Velez, Jessica Torres, and Maria Nieves to go to Santa Fe for a museum, because they are cool like that. This year NPS is on my doorstep. Oakland! Yes! I'll miss the first few days as I'll be getting back from my own tour. Literally, I'll have had a reading the night before I get back, which is awesome and exhausting just thinking about it. Still, the plan is to go to as many events as I can the final few days. My man and I have tickets, and we are going to do this thing! Below is the schedule of events that I can actually attend. In italics are what I think might be on the menu for me ... but sometimes I've italicized a few things in the same block, because it's hard to choose! Now these are long days, so we will see how I do, considering I'll have just come back (literally) from Ireland. I REALLY want to take Yoga from Ekabhumi, but I'm just not sure my body will be able to go a whole day yet. We will see.
And I may have to pick up my car on Friday and get my parking pass for the new school year, which may impact my day. We'll see.
9:00-9:45am Yoga with Ekabhumi – Hotel Ballroom
10am-11:30 “Shout It Out” Youth Workshop #3 – Grand Live
10am- 11:30 Page to Stage to Screen: Defining the Cinematic Poem – Vinyl-B
10am-11:30 ASL Reading – Vinyl-A
10am-11:30 Grief and Remembrance – Hotel Ballroom
11:45am-1:15pm Ableism 101 Workshop – Hotel Ballroom
11:45am-1:15pm Take a Hike… around beautiful lake Merritt – Hotel Lobby
11:45am-1:15pm Slam This! NPS B-ball Tournament – Semis – Lincoln Sq Park
11:45am-1:15pm Deepening The Craft: A writing workshop series, Cinematic Poetry
With Brandon Maurice Williams – Grand Live
1:30-3:30 Polish Your Performance – Hotel Ballroom
1:30-3:30 Penmanship Books Showcase – Vinyl-A
1:30-3:30 Contemporary Queer Poetics – Vinyl-B
1:30-3:30 Youth workshop mentor follow-up – Grand Live
3:45-5:00 Nerd Slam – Grand Live
3:45-5:00 Disability, Visible and Invisible Illness Open Mic – Hotel Ballroom
7:00 – 8:30 Prelim Bouts-Early
Awaken Cafe, Blend, Grand Live, Shadow Lounge, Sole Space, Vinyl
9:00 – 10:30 Prelim Bouts-Late
Awaken Cafe, Blend, Grand Live, Shadow Lounge, Sole Space, Vinyl
9:00 – Midnight Tourettes Without Regrets – Oakland Metro (630 3rd St)
11pm-1am Take Back the Night Women’s Open-Mic – Shadow Lounge
11pm-1am Decathlon Slam – Grand Live
11pm-1am Board Game Night – Hotel Ballroom
9:00-9:45am Yoga with Ekabhumi – Hotel Ballroom
10am- Noon “Shout It Out” Youth Workshop #4 – Grand Live
10am- Noon Slam Masters Meeting – Hotel Ballroom
10am- Noon Music Fanatics Slam! – Vinyl-A
11:45am-1:15pm Take a Hike… around beautiful lake Merritt – Hotel Lobby
11:45am-1:15pm Slam This! NPS B-ball Tournament – Finals – Lincoln Sq Park
11:45am-1:15pm Deepening The Craft: A writing workshop series – Grand Live
1:30-3:30 Chocolate City – Vinyl-B
1:30-3:30 Make Noise! Social Justice Open Mic – Hotel Ballroom
1:30-3:30 Mommas and Poppas – Vinyl-A
1:30-3:30 Youth Mentor Follow up # 4 – Grand Live
3:45-5:00pm H2H Haiku Finals – Grand Live
8:00 – 10:00 Semi-Finals
Grand Live, HUB Oakland, Shadow Lounge, Sweets Ballroom
11:00pm – 1am Group Piece Finals – Sweets Ballroom
10:00-11:30am Youth Showcase – Awaken Cafe
10:00am-Noon Finals tickets pick up #1 – Hotel Lobby
10:00am-Noon Slam Family Meeting, Hotel Ballroom
noon-3:00pm Slam Family Picnic/Panthers in the Park -Defremery Park
12:30-2:00pm Quiet Lightning – Hotel Ballroom
2:30-4:30pm Finals tickets pick up #2 – Hotel Lobby
3:00-5:00pm Legends Showcase – Hotel Ballroom
8:00-10:00pm Finals – Scottish Rite Center
11:00pm-1:00am After-Party – Shadow Lounge