Wed 4/6 @ 5:30-8:30PM
Literary Cleveland celebrates Cleveland’s literary history at the BottleHouse Brewing Company. Come hear local poets Susan Grimm and Mary Weems read poetry at 7 PM after mixing and mingling with readers and writers, starting at 5:30PM. Rachel Hunt, who hosts the show Guilty Pleasures on WRUW 91.1FM, is the MC.
Never been to the BottleHouse Brewery? This is the perfect chance to check it out. Drink some craft beer or the oldest fermented beverage in the world – mead—and enjoy poetry in a casual but upbeat Cleveland brewery that opened in 2012.
But introducing the brewery first is a mistake. This is a night for poetry. Susan Grimm won the Copper Nickel Poetry Prize and the Hayden Carruth Poetry Prize, and in 2014 she received her second individual Excellence Award from the Ohio Arts Council. Dr. Mary Weems is an accomplished poet who received a Wick Chapbook award, was nominated for a Pushcart prize and two Ohioana Book award nominations. Both poets try to make sense of our human condition in metaphor, images, and verse.
Literary Cleveland made its mark in Cleveland with Inkubator on August 1, 2015 at the Cleveland Public Library’s main library. While it’s new to the literary scene in Cleveland, the organization has sparked the imagination of writers and readers by building a strong community with programming, emails, and social media connections. The organization builds on Cleveland’s strong literary tradition that stems from the historical the Poets and Writers League of Greater Cleveland (later renamed the Lit), with its rich history of community-based literary programs in Cleveland. The Inkubator was an independent project run by an advisory group of 15+ community members, with vital early support/partnership from Lake Erie Ink, a nonprofit serving youth writers. Additionally, CPL has supported free public writers’ workshops since the Inkubator, and will do so again from May-October.
Lee Chilcote, founder of Literary Cleveland says, “We’re deeply grateful to CPL for jumping on board and being a great collaborator.” Learn more about the Inkubator at clevelandinkubator.org and about Lit Cleveland at litcleveland.org/.
Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia Taller asked Lee Chilcote about the incubation of Literary Cleveland, and he said, “The journey towards starting Lit Cleveland was difficult, like any startup venture, but also deeply personally rewarding. We were all heartened by the enthusiastic community response. We have a great writing community here, but there’s a gap when it comes to programs that help writers helping writers develop in Cleveland, and writers want to build community.”
The timing was right—the first Inkubator was attended by 300 people, and the second one is scheduled for this summer, also at the CPL’s main library branch.
Much of the success of Literary Cleveland stems from Lee Chilcote’s leadership.
“Nearly every workshop has filled up since we started, and our events for readers at the Happy Dog have also been well-attended and well-received,” Chilcote reports. “I’m surprised by how quickly it’s grown, frankly, but not by the strong response. Our group knew that there was a gap when it came to this type of programming in the community, and we aimed to fill it. Thankfully, we’ve been successful.” He’s quick to say, however, that he has lots of support from other writers who envision a strong community of writers in Cleveland.
It’s not just about helping writers evolve. Even though Cleveland has some great writers, we’re not known for that. But we should be, according to Chilcote. The organization seeks to develop writers and heighten awareness of them, and it also views itself as a creator of original programming and a supporter of collaborative efforts.
If you’re considering attending the event at Bottlehouse Brewery but are concerned that it might be like those snooty poetry readings your literature major girlfriend insisted you attend during college, fear not. The event is for anyone who enjoys feeling and hearing words set in rhythm and rhyme, and telling stories about who we are.
“You’ll walk into the Bottlehouse, be greeted, get a nametag, go grab a beer or drink of choice, mix and mingle, and listen to great writers,” says Chilcote. “It will be tons of fun!”
The poets who will perform their poetry at this event are acclaimed local writers selected by the venerable Cleveland literary community. It’s National Poetry Month and Literary Cleveland wants to celebrate local voices. For more information on this event, go to litcleveland.org/special-events.
Cool Cleveland Contributor Claudia Taller is the former President and board member of Skyline Writers and The Society of Professional Journalists, Cleveland, and the creator and principal of Word Lovers Retreats and Salon. She has published five books. Find out more at claudiajtaller.com/