Open Mic June 2, 2017

by | Jun 27, 2017 | Events, Pictures

  [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”47″ gal_title=”First Friday June 2017″] Story by Portia Choi Photos by Martin Chang At the June 2 open mic, Norma Camorlinga performed her poems before moving to the East Coast. She has been performing...

Brendan Constantine Teaches Everyday Poetry

by | Jun 14, 2017 | Events, Pictures

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”46″ gal_title=”Brendan”] By Martin Chang and Portia Choi Photos by Portia Choi and Martin Chang When Brendan Constantine shopped at big box stores, he saw the same word over and over.  “I was shopping at a place like...

Surprise Guest Poet at Open Mic May 2017

by | Jun 1, 2017 | Events, Pictures

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”45″ gal_title=”May 2017 Open Mic”] Story by Portia Choi Photographs by Ezekiel Espanola The councilman, Andrae Gonzalez, came to the open mic on May 5, 2017.  He represents the Bakersfield downtown area that includes...

Visions of Words: Art and Poetry

by | May 26, 2017 | Pictures

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”43″ gal_title=”Art & Poetry”] Story by Portia Choi Photographs by Ezekiel Espanola It was a celebration of the arts in the sculpture garden of The Arts Council of Kern on April 21, 2017.  There was art inspired...

Writing Poems of Awe and Wonder

by | May 17, 2017 | Interviews, Pictures, Poems

The taste of a grape and the fragrance of a crushed mint leaf, help writers to compose poems. On April 10, Portia Choi facilitated a workshop on “Writing Poems of Awe and Wonder” at the Art and Spirituality Center of Dignity Health, 2215 Truxtun Avenue. Choi had the...

Nancy Edwards’ Mother Remembered

by | May 14, 2017 | Uncategorized

 Nancy Edwards’ Beloved Mother story by Portia Choi          Nancy Edwards’ mother is remembered today on Mother’s Day. She often spoke of her mother’s Southern background, her gentility and graciousness.  It was during our lunches while planning poetry events that...

Poetry, A Vital Part of Life by Annis Cassells

by | Apr 20, 2017 | Featured Poet

    Poetry, A Vital Part of Life By Annis Cassells “Today is ‘Poem in Your Pocket’ Day,” I announced to the woman I’d just met at my assigned table at the Women’s Business Conference. “May I read you a poem?” I asked, whipping a piece of paper from my...

EVERYTHING BARREN WILL BE BLESSED by Don Thompson

by | Apr 20, 2017 | Uncategorized

EVERYTHING BARREN WILL BE BLESSED by Don Thompson, Kern County Poet Laureate Story by Portia Choi Poets and friends gathered to celebrate National Poetry Month at Dagny’s Coffee on April 1, 2017.  They celebrated by discussing poems in a book by Don Thompson, the...

Juan Felipe Herrera, US Poet Laureate, in Bakersfield

by | Apr 19, 2017 | Events

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”40″ gal_title=”Juan Felipe Herrera”] Story by Portia Choi                                                  Photograph by Ezekiel Espanola   There is excitement in the auditorium.  The first Latino to be named...