Author: benjaminalanmorris

Pelican Bomb has a brief curated selection of poems on their current theme, health and wellness. A poem a day has to be as good as an apple, no?

The New Orleans Poetry festival — now in its second year — starts today, and runs through Sunday afternoon. From the organizers:

This year the festival will be held at the New Orleans Healing Center at 2372 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans. The Small Press Fair will be held in the main lobby of NOHC on Friday April 21 and Saturday April 22 and will be open to the public, with books, broadsides and other bookmakers’ arts on display and for sale. Panels, workshops, readings and performances will be held throughout the building from 10 AM to 5 PM Friday and Saturday. Nightly featured performances will be at Café Istanbul. The festival will close with an open mic reading at the Maple Leaf Bar, 8316 Oak St., on Sunday, April 23, at 3 PM.

More information and details on how to register at nolapoetry.com.

This week I’m delighted to be appearing at Hattiesburg-area high schools on behalf of the Write for Mississippi program, started earlier this year as an initiative to engage students in schools across the state on topics of social, civic, and political concern. More information about the project is available on its website, or in this interview; for now, I’m looking forward to meeting some whip-smart students and hearing about their vision for the state.

 

 

Louisiana Cultural Vistas has a review of Christopher Cenac and Claire Joller’s fascinating history of Terrebonne Parish in their spring issue — if you’re headed down that way anytime soon, grab a copy for sure.

I’m delighted to share the news of a new cookbook that has just arrived, a project of which I’ve been proud to be a part. Clean Kitchen: The Cookbook, authored by Jamie Page and Kellar McAlister, has just been published by Versus Press in Hattiesburg, MS, and will be having its launch party next Monday night, February 20, at SouthMouth Deli in Hattiesburg. As editor and project manager for the cookbook this past year, one of the most rewarding (and delicious!) projects of recent memory, I’ll be honored to say a few words about Jamie and Kellar’s beautiful book, and will look forward to sharing their success with everyone on the night.

The reading will feature a presentation, signing, Q&A, and yes, absolutely, a tasting. More information about the launch is available at the Versus Facebook page, but all you really need to know is: come hungry.

Today, A Studio in the Woods will be hosting a commemoration service and celebration of the life of Lucianne Carmichael (1931-2016), one of the founders of the Studio and a beloved artist, advocate, and educator in New Orleans. A lovely obituary ran in the Times-Picayune after her passing; today’s ceremony, which will begin at 3pm for any in the area who would like to attend, will feature public tributes and a reception in her memory. Come early to park.

I’m honored and delighted to be speaking this week with Richelle Putnam on her show “Looking Back,” hosted by 103.3 supertalk.fm, talking about Hattiesburg history and all its many twists and turns. A consummate raconteuse and expert on all things Lauderdale County and east Mississippi, Richelle is among the most gracious of hosts and ever a pleasure to speak to. The show airs live this coming Tuesday, January 24, at 9am.