by Portia Choi | Mar 19, 2022 | Events, Poems
Hello Poets and Friends, To celebrate National Poetry Month – April the First Friday Open Mic will be IN PERSON on April 1, 2022. Event starts at 6:00PM at Dagny’s Coffee 1600 20th (Corner of 20th and Eye St) Bakersfield 93301. Poetry, Spoken Word and...
by Portia Choi | Mar 16, 2022 | Events, Poems
Hello All, Since 2016, I have edited an annual themed anthology featuring work by writers in and around Kern County. The first anthology was Writing the Drought, followed by Writing Work, Writing Flora/Fauna, Writing Sound, and Writing Fields. Writing Fields was...
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 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...
by Portia Choi | Mar 25, 2021 | Events, Interviews, Poems
We had another performance of original poetry and music on February 5th by ZOOM. Creativity continues, as always, and a way to share our creations happens even during the social precautions of the pandemic. The performers and those listening were Carla Joy...
