The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free, public monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop.

Blue Hour is in-person for this season! Each event takes place at Haymarket House (800 W. Buena) on the third Wednesday of the month and includes a brief lottery-style open mic and two featured readers from Chicago and beyond, preceded by a generative writing workshop. All readings are also livestreamed! This month, we are thrilled to present two stellar featured readers: Maya Pindyck and Julian Randall.

2022-2023 Season Schedule Preview:
September 21: Faylita Hicks and Hila Ratzabi
October 19: Willie X. Lin and Dipika Mukherjee (co-sponsored by Kundiman Midwest)
November 16: Carlos Cumpián and Jennifer Scappettone
January 18: Kemi Alabi and Jessica Walsh
February 15: Natasha Mijares and D. Santina Ruiz
March 15: Kien Lam and Danni Quintos (co-sponsored by Kundiman Midwest)
April 19: Maya Pindyck and Julian Randall
May 17: CM Burroughs and Eugenia Leigh

About the Workshop:
The Blue Hour generative writing workshop begins promptly at 6 p.m., ends at 7 p.m., and is designed for writers and poetry fans of all levels. Each workshop includes discussion of a poem by one of the night’s featured readers, followed by guided individual writing using an exploratory prompt that draws on themes from the poem. Registration is required, and the workshop is sliding scale with a suggested donation of $10.

To register for the workshop on April 19, visit https://BHwApril.eventbrite.com for more details.

About the Reading:
The Blue Hour reading includes a brief open mic followed by two featured poets from Chicago and beyond. Pre-registration is free and recommended. The open mic includes five readers drawn lottery-style from a hat that goes out at 7:15. The reading starts promptly at 7:30. Each open mic poet reads one poem or for three minutes, whichever comes first.

To register for the reading session on April 19, visit https://AprilBHrdg.eventbrite.com for more details.

About the Space:
Haymarket House is a community space in the heart of Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood committed to uplifting the work of writers, artists, thinkers, activists, and educators who are committed to all struggles for a better world. This event includes professional ASL interpretation. Haymarket House is fully ADA-compliant and wheelchair accessible. Please let us know if you have any specific accessibility questions; if you use a wheelchair, please contact curator@poetrycenter.org to coordinate use of the ramp. Masks are not required but are encouraged and will be available to anyone who needs it.

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Tags: Blue Hour Reading & Workshop Series, Chicago, Chicago Poetry Center, Edgewater, Haymarket House, Julian Randall, Maya Pindyck