Bring A Blanket reading series is born
On Sunday, June 4: Bring your own blanket, bring your own beverage, bring your own baby!
It’s almost impossible for me to go out at night. Actually these days, it’s not really. This was the case for the first seven months of my daughter’s life, but at some point in the past two months she learned how to sleep through the night. I think it has to do with eating more food, she’s no longer waking up every 2 or 3 hours wanting more milk. So yes, I could leave the house and do things after I put my daughter to bed, but I guess I’ve gotten so used to feeling confined to waiting and listening for a cry that I just can’t see myself going anywhere after 6pm. We still eat dinner at 5pm, I still go to bed around 9 or 10pm. It’s just a habit I’ve yet to change.
Anyway! I was recently talking on the phone to friend, fellow writer, publisher, and reading series host Amy Berkowitz about her new reading series called “Light Jacket” and I told her that I wished there was something like it in Philly.
Light Jacket is a new daytime reading series that takes place in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and looks absolutely divine. Outdoors in a park during the daytime seems like the perfect way to experience poetry. Don’t get me wrong, I also appreciate the feeling of adventure that comes from going to a nighttime reading, especially for someone who doesn’t drink or really go to parties anymore, but it’s not totally ideal for me right now. I also would like to bring my daughter to more poetry events, but since most events don’t start until 7pm or 8pm, it really doesn’t work out.
When I said this wish, Amy was just like, “Why don’t you just start your own daytime reading series?” With this blessing, I decided that I would. I sent a message to Josh Dale of Thirty West Publishing House, who I collaborated with before for our alternative to AWP weekend poetry events, and started putting an event together. We’re called “Bring A Blanket” Reading Series and our first event is Sunday, June 4 at 3:45pm in Washington Square Park, featuring writers Juliet Gelfman-Randazzo, Knox Peters, and Josh Dale. Bring your own blanket, bring your own beverage, bring your own baby! Hope to see you there!!
Aw. Sweet. Congrats on starting this great reading series! 4ish pm sounds like the perfect time too!