Wordsmith Anniversary & Other Notes

I've gotten a little slack this week in promoting a couple of readings -- one that was last night and one tomorrow. Let's start with tomorrow.

Wordsmiths Books in Decatur is celebrating its one year anniversary this weekend with a series of readings, signings, musical acts, etc. Poetry Atlanta is hosting a reading tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the store featuring Kodac Harrison, Dan Veach and Karen Head. I'll be emceeing and will probably read a couple of pieces from After the Poison. Wordsmiths is on the Decatur Square at 545 N. McDonough St. Come out and join us and help this fabulous indie bookstore celebrate!

Last night I went over to U*Space Gallery on Edgewood Avenue to hear Megan Volpert, Laurel Snyder and Karen Head read. Wow! There was a great audience and U*Space is packed with beautiful art. The ladies all gave great readings from past and present work. I'll be reading at U*Space later this summer, so more details on that soon. Hats off to curator and owner Terrence Jackson for providing such a receptive (and cool) space for these readings that he calls "artlabs." 

Spare a thought for the Midwest, especially Iowa, where flooding has caused a Katrina-esque scene in the city of Cedar Rapids. Des Moines is being evacuated this evening. The weather becomes more and more volatile every year and I blame part of that on global warming. 

I was also sad to hear about the passing of Meet the Press host and journalist Tim Russert. He died of a heart attack this afternoon at the age of 58.