by Portia Choi | May 15, 2022 | Events, Interviews, Poems
First Friday Open Mic on February 4, 2022 For another evening of poetry, poets gathered to share their creations virtually. The poets included Carla Martin, Chris Nielsen, Christopher Robert Craddock, Jill Egland, Portia Choi, Sandra Hughes, and Shelley Evans. The...
by Portia Choi | Apr 29, 2022 | Events, Interviews, Poems
In-person First Friday Open Mic returns to Dagny’s Coffee! After two years as a virtual event, First Friday Open Mic (FFOM) was held in-person at Dagny’s Coffee on April 1, 2022. The event occurred on the first day of National Poetry Month. The host for the Open...
by Portia Choi | Feb 24, 2022 | Events, Interviews, Poems
Kern Poetry First Friday Open Mic, January 7, 2022 For the first Open Mic of the New Year (2022) we enjoyed wonderful poetry and a time of sharing. Two of the performers had participated in poetry open mic a decade ago, at Russo’s Bookstore at the Marketplace. The...
by Portia Choi | Dec 14, 2021 | Events, Interviews, Poems
First Friday Open Mic on December 3, 2021 Year 2021 was graced with poetry, culminating in the virtual Open Mic on First Friday, December 3, 2021. The performers at that event were Carla Martin, Christopher Nielsen, Heather Ponek, Portia Choi and Shelley Evans. ...
by Portia Choi | Oct 25, 2021 | Events, Interviews, Poems
Poetry at State Water Board Meeting on October 5, 2021 Poets and creative persons from our community presented their works (virtually) to the State Water Board on October 5, 2021. Their presentations portrayed the importance of the Kern River to our community from...
by Portia Choi | May 25, 2021 | Events, Interviews
Portia Choi was interviewed by 23 ABC News | KERO in Bakersfield as part of Asian American Pacific Islander Awareness Month, May 2021. Please take some time to watch this phenomenal story about one of our Bakersfield Chinese Women’s Club members, Dr. Portia Choi. Her...
by Portia Choi | May 20, 2021 | Events, Interviews, Poems
First Friday Open Mic, May 7, 2021 The Open Mic was unique in that three of the poets sang their poetry. You may read the interviews of the poet-musicians by Carla Joy Martin, in this story. The evening was graced with performances by Carla Joy Martin, Christopher...
by Portia Choi | May 18, 2021 | Events, Interviews, Kern County Poet, Poems
April National Poetry Month Zoom Open Mic, April 18, 2021 To commemorate National Poetry Month in April, there was a second virtual open mic. The poets who participated were Anke Hodenpijl, Annis Cassells, Carla Martin, Christopher Craddock, Christopher Nielsen,...
by Portia Choi | Apr 15, 2021 | Events, Interviews, Poems
First Friday Open Mic on April 2, 2021 The First Friday Open Mic was the first event during National Poetry Month. It began with a virtual reading as poets got together to share their words. The poet interviewed for this story was Samuel Rain Benjamin who gave...
by Portia Choi | Mar 30, 2021 | Events, Interviews, Poems
The March 5, 2021 Open Mic (via ZOOM) was especially meaningful. The poet, Betty Lee Cortez recited her heart-felt poem about her brother who had died, and her family and friends joined the Open Mic, listening to her words. Also performing during the evening...
