The Sunflower Poetry Slam — Lenexa, KS

The Sunflower Poetry Slam — Lenexa, KS

Let’s talk age. More than once—okay, often—okay, most nights—when I walk into an open mic or a slam (especially a slam), I’m the oldest poet in the room. Sure, I’ve surrendered the title a few times to a white-haired hippie or a retiree who hasn’t lost (or perhaps...
SoulFood Coffeehouse — Redmond, WA

SoulFood Coffeehouse — Redmond, WA

First, a confession: I lost the notebook with multiple glorious lines and quotes captured from this, my latest entry in the open mic tourist logbook. The short version is, it was fantastic and you should totally go, especially if you’re a musician. The long version?...
Hilo Town Tavern — Hilo, HI

Hilo Town Tavern — Hilo, HI

Yeah, that’s right, Hawaii. When I declared this open mic tourist thing to be A Thing, my sights were set only on the lower 48. And I’d have been plenty happy with that. But when my older sister paved the way for a seriously amazing family vacation on the Big Island,...