JULY

• Thu Jul 29 7pm – 9pm
  Azucar Morena, The E-Zone, $3 cover
• Fri Jul 30 7pm-9pm
  (w)ILL SPEAKS, Poetry, Hip Hop, Spoken Word
• Sat Jul 31 All day
  Jazz w Melvin

AUGUST

• Wed Aug 4 2pm – 3pm
  Risa/Storytime Drama Class
• Thu Aug 5 8pm – 10pm
  Toledo Flows w/ Vocal Ink
• Fri Aug 6 7pm – 9pm
  SOUL-OH Faith Edition-YASU
• Sat Aug 7 7pm – 10pm
  Yes, I Said Yes and Robin Renee – EK Lounge

Theater-goers are invited to enjoy a special presentation of Lenora Welch’s “Hands in the Mirror” by New Works Writers Series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday July 3rd, 2010 at the Ground Level Coffeehouse, 2636 West Central Avenue in Toledo.  Admission is $3.

“Hands in the Mirror” is a Dramatic Dance/poem with performances by Latoya Williams, Richard Brown, Jeanette Turner, & Tonya Steward

In its second decade, New Works Writers Series is Northwest Ohio’s oldest independent black theater and performing arts organization. A 501(c)3 non-profit, New Works has presented plays and workshops within the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library system, at Pittsburgh Kuntu Repertory Theatre and Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, to name only a few venues.

Admission to all events is $3.

“We promise exciting performances of these outstanding works,” adds Hunt. “We also expect to enjoy lively discussions.”

For more information, contact Dr. Imelda Hunt at (419) 380-8464 or via e-mail at director@newworkswritersseries.org.

So yeah, we totally missed the Poetry Appreciation Month this year.  No major features, no special events.  We plan on making up for it starting this JUNE!

Starting June 3rd we will be hosting a poetry and/or literary event EVERY WEEK!

The highlight will be a special appearance from New York City’s Mahogany L. Browne Sunday June 6th.  The cover is $5.

A little about Mahogany L. Browne:

The Cave Canem Fellow is the Editor of His Rib: Stories, Poems & Essays by HER & Barbershop Chronicles, and author of several books including her latest book of poems: Destroy Rebuild & Other Reconstructions of the Human Muscle. Mahogany has released five LPs including the live album Sheroshima and is the Publisher and founder of Penmanship Books. As co-founder of the Off Broadway poetry production, Jam On It, and co-producer of NYC’s 1st Performance Poetry Festival: SoundBites Poetry Festival, Mahogany bridges the gap between lyrical poets and literary emcee. Her freelance journalism can be found in magazines Uptown, KING, XXL, The Source, Canada’s The Word and UK’s MOBO. She also facilitates performance poetry and writing workshops throughout the country, focusing on women empowerment and youth mentoring. She is the owner of PoetCD.Com, an on-line marketing and distribution company for poets and is the host and curator at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

Also, check out the rest of this months special Poetry events!

Toledo Flows
Thurs. June 3, 8pm, $3

Village Voice Poetry Cafe
Thurs. June 10, 8pm, $3

Azucar Morena’s E-Zone
Thurs. June 24, 8pm, $3

Open Mic and Featured Poets
ALL SUMMER LONG

• Wed. June 2 Jazz Session
• Thur. June 3 Toledo Flows Poetry feat. T Miller, Myriha Burton
• Fri. June 4 Soul Beat Music Group
• Sat. June 5 S.T.R.E.S.S. Hip Hop Showcase
• SUNDAY SPECIAL EVENT! June 6th Mahogany L. Browne (NYC) 7pm open mic, 8pm feature, $5
• Tue. June 8 Movie Night
• Thur. June 10 Village Voice Poetry Cafe
• Fri. June 11 Relativity
• Sat. June 12 8-10 Steven Guerrero w. Lobelia (UK) and Steve Lawson

The Funhouse Writers Group Presents:

An Evening of Food and Music with the Cottonwood Jam String Band

Introduced by Frank Murphy

$10 per person for buffet dinner and concert

Band’s share of proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross for the National Disaster Relief (The Gulf Coast Disaster)

Join us for an evening of Traditional Musical Americana

Wednesday May 26th, beginning at
7:00pm at The Ground Level Coffee House

The American Red Cross name is used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, or any product, service, company, individual or political position.

For more information about the American Red Cross, please call 1-800 HELP NOW or email info@usa.redcross.org

• Thu. 5-20 The Dutchman, Theatrical Performance
• Fri. 5-21 Bob & Kevin: Live Music
• Sat. 5-22 Faux Paus
• Tue. 5-25 Movie Night: Mario Van Peeples ‘Fair Game’
• Wed. 5-26 Cottonwood Jam String Band Benefit Concert
• Thur. 5-27 Azucar Marena presents The E Zone Erotic Poetry Night
• Fri. 5-28 Watson St. Loft Harry Hazard
  
• Sat. 5-29 2pm Heritage Rose/ 8pm Swill Gates

• Fri. 5-7 Yes, I Said Yes
• Sat. 5-8 Amplified Resonance: Steve Guerrero, Glenn Poorman
• Tue. 5-11 Naki Akrobettoe CD Release Party
• Thur. 5-13 Village Voice Soultry Cafe
• Fri.5-14 Nate Ziegler, Stately Mane, Shannon
• Sat. 5-15 Steve Masternak & Friends

• Tue. 4-27 Movie Night:  The Debut, Asian/Pacific Island independent film
• Fr. 4- 30 ANNIVERSARY PARTY!!
• Sat. 5-1 Star Bowers poetry reading/Old State Line

ON DECK

• Wed. 5-5 Aurora House Poetry Reading A Must See Event!!
• Fri. 5-7 Yes, I Said Yes
• Sat. 5-8 Amplified Resonance: Steve Guerrero, Glenn Poorman

AND DON’T FORGET!
Open Mic Every Monday!! Spoken Word Every Thursday! Weekly Movie Nights, Jam Sessions, and More!!

• Wed. 4-21 Steven Mullan
• Fri. 4-23 Dorian Strange Magician!!!
• Sat. 4-24 Philip Fox
• Sun. 4-25 Flash Dance Publicity Stunt!?

ON DECK

• Tue. 4-27 Movie Night:  The Debut, Asian/Pacific Island independent film
  Fr. 4- 30 ANNIVERSARY PARTY!!
• Sat. 5-1 Old State Line
• Wed. 5-5 Aurora House Poetry Reading A Must See Event!!
• Fri. 5-7 Yes, I Said Yes
• Sat. 5-8 Amplified Resonance: Steve Guerrero, Glenn Poorman

AND DON’T FORGET!
Open Mic Every Monday!! Spoken Word Every Thursday! Weekly Movie Nights, Jam Sessions, and More!!

We were pleasantly surprised to see this article on “Insider Ohio” which included The Ground Level (and Flying Rhino) as a Great Third Place.

Not familiar with “Third Places”?  They accurately define it  this way:

Home is home, and work is work, but our beloved coffee shop is something else altogether. Falling somewhere in between, these places serve as alternatives to our traditional employment and socializing venues. While there, customers can read the newspaper, catch up with friends and neighbors, or put the finishing touches on the Great American Novel. Coffee shops also have become our go-to sources for hyper-local news and information. A great cappuccino is merely a bonus.

We can’t take credit for this acknowledgment. This is totally due to our wonderfully loyal customers, baristas, friends, and family. Thanks Toledo.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE >>>>>>

BTW:  This is what they said about our great “Third Place” atmosphere

Tucked into the former home of Brewed Awakenings, the freshly minted Ground Level Coffee House (2636 W. Central Ave., 419-671-6272, www.groundleveltoledo.com) is destined to become a home-away-from-home for many in the Toledo’s arts community. “We are artist and performer owned,” says founder Jesse Lipman, a writer and poet. Possessing an intimate performance space, the coffeehouse is the site of frequent live events, ranging from concerts to poetry slams.

Serving Flying Rhino Coffee, a Toledo-based product, Ground Level takes its brew as seriously as its blues. The small-batch roaster provides some of the finest single-origin beans in the region. Both children and adults can get behind the house hot chocolate, made with both dark and white chocolate blended with steamed milk. Well-constructed sandwiches and other light fare means that hungry performers need not slip out at set-break for snacks.