some october readings

Vancouver is hosting three big-dog events this month, namely the Vancouver International Writers Festival, Surrey International Writers' Conference and Vancouver 125 Poetry Conference, which - in classic Vancouver style - are all happening at exactly the same time (well, October 18th - 23rd for VIWF, 21st - 23rd for SIWC, and 19th - 22nd for V125PC). Sometimes I want to line up all of Vancouver's lit event organizers and then run down the line slapping them.

Two of the three (VIWF and V125PC) are collaborating a bit, with two "shared" readings between the two festivals on the evenings of the 20th and 21st. In response, I have decided to temper the intensity of my slaps. But the slaps are still a-coming, people.

If you want to save some money and still take in great writers (often the same writers as at the big events), here are fifteen other (free or cheap) readings happening this month:

Twisted Poets Literary Salon
Thursday, October 6th, 7:00 PM — 10:00 PM
The Prophouse Cafe
1636 Venables Street, Vancouver
Featuring: Susan McCaslin and Duncan Shields
$5 (suggested donation)


The Kranky Reading Series

Thursday, October 6th, 7:00 PM
Kranky Cafe
#216-228 East 4th Avenue
, Vancouver
Featuring: Rebecca Keillor, Kevin Spenst, and Jenn Farrell
Free!


Robson Reading Series
Thursday, October 13th, 7:00 PM
UBC Bookstore, Robson Square
800 Robson St, Vancouver
Featuring: Martha Schabas and Johanna Skibsrud
Free!


TWS Reading Series
Friday, October 14th, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Take 5 Cafe
429 Granville Street, Vancouver
Featuring: Jude Neale, Anthony Dalton, Adrienne Gruber and more!
Free!


Hot Sonnets: 14 Vancouver Poets
Saturday, October 15th, 2011, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
W2 Media Café
#250-111 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Featuring: Music, and readings by the poets
$20 (includes a calendar)


Writing for Social Change Reading Series
Sunday, October 16th, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Historic Joy Kogawa House
1450 West 64th Avenue
Featuring: Eric Enno Tamm
Admission by donation


V125PC Free Reading - Steven Heighton
Friday, October 21st, 11:00 AM
W2 Café
#250-111 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Featuring: Steven Heighton
Free!


V125PC Free Reading - David Seymour
Friday, October 21st, 1:00 PM
W2 Café
#250-111 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Featuring: David Seymour
Free!


V125PC Free Reading - Stephanie Bolster
Friday, October 21st, 3:30 PM
W2 Café
#250-111 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Featuring: Stephanie Bolster
Free!


Third Friday Reading Series
Friday, October 21st, 8:00 PM
People's Co-op Bookstore
1391 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Featuring: George Stanley and Mystery Guest (Oooooo...)
Free!


Emerge Anthology Launch
Saturday, October 22nd, 8:00 PM
Room 2555, World Art Centre, SFU Woodwards
149 West Hastings, Vancouver
Featuring: Readings by students of the SFU Writers Studio program
$10 (suggested donation)


Book Launch for The Bright Well: Contemporary Canadian Poems About Facing Cancer
Wednesday, October 26th, 7:30 PM
People's Co-op Books
1391 Commercial Drive
Featuring: Elise Partridge, Miranda Pearson, Rachel Rose, and Betsy Warland
Free!


Robson Reading Series
Thursday, October 27th, 7:00 PM
UBC Bookstore, Robson Square
800 Robson St, Vancouver
Featuring: Susan McCaslin and Christopher Patton
Free!


Cross-Border Pollination Series
Saturday, October 29th, 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
SFU Harbour Center, Room 1415
515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver
Featuring: Rob Taylor (that's me!), Maureen Hynes, Rhea Tregebov, and from Alaska: Peggy Shumaker, Joan Kane, and Sherry Simpson
Free!


Writing for Social Change Reading Series
Sunday, October 30th, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Historic Joy Kogawa House
1450 West 64th Avenue
Featuring: Tara Beagan
Admission by donation