✨ Writing with the stars ✨

Dearest readers,    This week marks the end of our spring semester and the beginning of a planning period. Spring has been a resounding success, with 11 classes, 133 students, $8,000+ in financial aid, 14 Thursdays on the Stoop, and 17 Creative Coworking sessions. We are beyond grateful to everyone who made this possible — our teachers, facilitators, students, donors, and board members. A special thank you goes to our volunteer team, who generously contributed their time, creativity, and expertise. We couldn't have done it without you!    One of our biggest goals for summer and fall is to continue empowering our volunteers to lead public programs. Planning is underway for a new poetry discussion group, a happy hour meet-up, and the relaunch of Novels in Progress, among other concepts.    Despite being volunteer-led, these projects still require funding to cover supplies, staff supervision, and reader stipends. That's where you come in! In collaboration with our fiscal sponsor, we're running a super short fundraising campaign to fund our free public programs, including the aforementioned volunteer-designed initiatives, and our ongoing series: Thursdays on the Stoop and Creative Co-working.    Our goal is to bring in $1,500 by the end of the day on May 15th. Will you help us get there in time? There's no minimum donation, and every dollar makes a difference. Thank you for considering!   SUPPORT FREE PROGRAMS In solidarity,   Julian Shendelman Co-Director   P.S. Looking for more local literary connections? Check out our community calendar and resource pages. ON THE STOOP Wednesday, 5/7, 3:30 – 5:30 pm ET: Creative Coworking, both on Zoom and in-person at CultureWorks in Center City, Philadelphia. Stop by for a few minutes or stay for the whole session — it’s totally up to you. Write, edit, read, daydream, or do whatever best serves your literary life. We'll open and close the session with 10 minutes to check-in about our writing goals, obstacles, and accomplishments. Registration required. (FREE/HYBRID)   Thursday, 5/8, 4:00 – 5:00 pm ET: Thursdays on the Stoop presents “Writing with the Stars" with Marjorie Cottrell. In this free hour-long workshop, we'll explore ways to use astrological symbolism for writerly inspiration and insight. Participants will learn how astrology has shaped several famous writers' work, and then apply these frameworks to their own practices. (FREE/VIRTUAL) CLASSIFIEDS Got an event, organization, business, or book to promote?  Blue Stoop offers affordable ad space here and on our website.  BEYOND THE STOOP   Here's an excerpt from our community calendar. Adding an event is easy and free! ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Mad Poets Society Reading   Start time 5/7/2025 7:00pm    Location Community Arts Center, 414 Plush Mill Rd., Wallingford, PA, 19086   Description Featuring Dilruba Ahmed & Darla Himeles. Open mic to follow.   Accessible entrance around to the right of the building and up in the elevator, plentiful free parking in the CAC lot. Light refreshments will be served.    Link http://www.madpoetssociety.com/events/2025/5/7/mad-poets-first-wednesdays-ahmed-and-himeles   Contact info Contact series host Sibelan Forrester with any questions: email sforres1@swarthmore.edu or leave voicemail at 610-328-8162.   Cost Free   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Atop An Underwood #9   Start time 5/9/2025 6:00pm    Location Philly Typewriter, 1735 East Passyunk Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19148   Description We return to Philly Typewriter with jazz poems, travel stories, and songs of empowerment. We’ll channel the counterculture of the Beat Generation in community and spoken word. In addition, the typewriters will be set up to write an original scroll like Jack Kerouac’s On The Road together. All are welcome. Aspiring beatniks, dharma bums, and general poetry lovers encouraged. Come for the featured readers and stay for the open mic. A perfect community to try your hands at a typewriter and find your voice in a poem.   Featured performers include: Vagabond Poetry Caravan (led by Mark Lipman) Queen Phierce and Kelpius (Lindsay Hargrave & Luca Farrell)   Refreshments will be provided. Bring your friends. Doors at 6pm. Open mic starts at 6:30pm. Philly Typewriter is a wheelchair accessible venue.   Link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/atop-an-underwood-reading-series-9-hosted-by-dream-poet-for-hire-tickets-1337322239819?aff=oddtdtcreator   Contact info dreampoetforhire@gmail.com   Cost Free   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title MILFADELPHIA: The Roast | (Mothers I Like to Laugh with) Fundraiser   Start time 5/9/2025 7:00pm    Location Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107   Description Get ready to laugh till you cry (or cringe a little) as we roast some of Philly's biggest, baddest Mothers while raising vital funds for Asian Arts Initiative’s free Youth Arts Programs. It's a night of comedy, community, and creativity—where the burns are hot, the food is delicious, and the cause is something we all believe in.   Our roasters are ready to take the heat, and here’s who you’ll be laughing with (or at) on May 9th: Sinta Storms, Founder of Modero, Dancer, Curator Anne Ishii, Program Director US Artists, Musician, PKA ED at AAI Debbie Wei, Founder of Asian Americans United and Chinatown Champion   Link https://asianartsinitiative.org/programs/milfadelphia-the-roast-or-aai-annual-benefit   Contact info jeanette@asianartsinitiative.org   Cost $80+   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Frank O'Hara's Last Lover (FOHLL)   Start time 5/10/2025 7:30pm    Location Sam's Morning Glory Diner, 735 S 10th St. Philadelphia, PA 19147    Description Next on deck at Frank O’Hara’s Last Lover, Sue Landers, Andy Dieck, and Kit Schluter will read over at Sam’s Morning Glory in Philadelphia on Saturday May 10th. These events are free and wheelchair accessible. If yr in the Philadelphia area, consider stopping by!   Cost Free   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title DTL Poetic Vibez Open Mic & Showcase   Start time 5/11/2025 1:00pm    Location KANVAS, 3870 Lancaster Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104   Description We welcome you to join us for another DTL Poetic Vibez Event. A platform for artist all over to share their talents with the world. DTL also known as DareToListen brings you a positive atmosphere with great people, words that you are bound to take home with you, and overall a night to remember with great vibes. This Event is Hosted by Trish.   Featured Poets: MoeFlowz StoryTeller Gordon Aloneatiq Black Chakra Khalil Houston   Link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dtl-poetic-vibez-open-mic-showcase-tickets-1306067907269?aff=ebdsoporgprofile   Contact info dtlpoetry@gmail.com   Cost $25   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Sawyer Lovett, "Shampoo Unicorn" Launch Party   Start time 5/11/2025 4:00pm    Location Main Point Books, 116 N Wayne Ave Wayne PA 19087   Description Main Point welcomes Sawyer Lovett and his debut YA novel "Shampoo Unicorn." He'll be joined by special guest Erin Entrada Kelly. This event will be in our lower level event space. RSVPs via Eventbrite are requested; walk-ins are welcome as space allows. You can pre-order the book on our website.   Link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sawyer-lovett-shampoo-unicorn-launch-party-tickets-1296301896869?aff=BlueStoop   Contact info events.mainpointbooks@gmail.com   Cost free   ~~~~~~~~~ VIEW MORE EVENTS 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300 Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States Unsubscribe or Manage Preferences