Poetry Roadie Weekend

Last weekend, I met up with my special lady friend, and I got to be her roadie/driver for a Midwestern leg of her book tour. Here's the route:


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Thursday night was the Observable Readings Series at the Schlafly Bottleworks in St. Louis. Good times, but that place always feels like a cross between a hotel convention room and a sarcophagus.

Friday night was THE WORD in Rock Island, Illinois, and Saturday afternoon was a workshop at the Midwest Writing Center in Davenport, Iowa. I love the Quad Cities. Always good to be near my old stomping grounds. Poet Ryan Collins (who also loves the Quad Cities) organized these two events and graciously hosted both Dottie and her roadie. The roadie enjoyed talking football with Ryan. Ryan also plays drums in an excellent Chicago band called Sharks.

Finally, Sunday night was Iowa City for the Whenever We Feel Like It Reading Series at the Dey House, home of the Iowa Writer's Workshop. Being a poetry roadie requires little in the hauling of equipment, so I got to walk about the building a bit. It was cool to be in a building where so many famous writers and poets once (and still) read, taught and worked. Dottie read with another excellent poet named Caryl Pagel. After the reading, we went to George's Bar. If you're ever in Iowa City, go there and get yourself a hamburger.

Damn good weekend.

If you care to witness a Tiny Tour of poetry, click here.