Dearest readers, I want to start by thanking everyone who shared and donated to our most recent fundraiser. In total, we brought in more than $1,500 to support Blue Stoop's free public programming. A big chunk of that will go toward Thursdays on the Stoop (TOTS), allowing us to increase the honorarium from $50 to $75! Huzzah! Speaking of TOTS, I am currently reviewing proposals for the next batch of sessions — if you've got a skill or prompt to share, we'd love to hear from you. I think most people assume they don't have the skills or teaching experience to apply. Please don't self-reject! Thursdays on the Stoop are meant to be community-led sessions. They're a great way to promote your book or show us you're ready to teach a full-length class, sure, but they're also an opportunity for beginners and early-career teachers to gain facilitation skills, test out lesson plans, and give back to the Blue Stoop community. All are welcome to apply, but we are especially interested in hearing from BIPOC writers and those living in our service area: Philadelphia, Delaware County, Chester County, Montgomery County, Bucks County, and Camden County. If you're on the fence about pitching, consider registering for this week's office hours session with yours truly. FYI: We keep all past TOTS applications on file, so even if we don't curate you into this upcoming semester, we'll keep considering you for future rounds. Applications are rolling, but I'll be making decisions about the summer and fall sessions very soon, so I don't recommend procrastinating — though I do love procrastinating in my free time. |
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In other news, we're co-sponsoring this upcoming workshop at Philadelphia Small Works Gallery on June 7th from 3:00-5:00pm ET. It's sliding scale ($10 – 25) and features poets and educators Alison Lubar and Taylor Alyson Lewis. The workshop will explore and break the limitations of the teacher/student and poem/reader binaries. Tap the image below to learn more and register. |
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In solidarity, Julian Shendelman
Co-Director P.S. Looking for more local literary connections? Check out our community calendar and resource pages. |
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- Wednesday, 5/21, 3:30 – 5:30 pm ET: Creative Coworking on Zoom. 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. (FREE/VIRTUAL)
- Thursday, 5/22, 4:00 – 5:00 pm ET: Office Hours with Julian. Want help brainstorming about your Thursdays on the Stoop pitch? Got questions about the format or about working with Blue Stoop? Swing by this office hours session with co-director Julian Shendelman and get some answers. (FREE/VIRTUAL)
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Got an event, organization, business, or book to promote? |
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~~~~~~~~~ Event title Uncle Bobbie's X Tourmaline - Marsha Book Tour Start time 5/21/2025 7:00pm (doors at 6:00pm) Location First United Methodist Church of Germantown, 6001 Germantown Ave Philadelphia, PA 19144 Description Marsha P. Johnson was a trailblazer, a revolutionary and an absolute force of nature. Her impact is woven into the fabric of Uncle Bobbie's so we are excited and honored to host an event dedicated to telling her story. Join us as we welcome, activist, writer and filmaker Tourmaline for the release of Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson. Tourmaline will be in conversation with poet, visual artist and Operations Manager of Uncle Bobbie's, Van Brooks! This will be an amazing night full of joy and community. All copies of Marsha will be signed. Street parking available. Wheelchair accessible entrance also available through the rear parking lot. Link Contact info Cost $9 for admission, or $33 with book ~~~~~~~~~ Event title “The Lovers Lied to Lilith” Book Release + Open Mic Start time 5/22/2025 6:00pm Location Nutmeg Bar & Market, 1835 E. Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148 Description May 22nd, join Collide as we celebrate the release of @gro_project_ro ‘s new LIMITED EDITION book, “The Lovers Lied to Lilith” ! Expect pre-order book pricing, discounted back issues of Collide, and a first-come first-serve open mic. Link Contact info @collidezinephilly on Instagram Cost $0+, By donation ~~~~~~~~~ Event title Boxx Press #4 Start time 5/23/2025 7:00pm Location Da Vinci Art Alliance, 704 Catharine Street, Philadelphia PA 19147 Description We are hosting a reading!! It’ll be the first BOXX event since November 2023. Held at the veritable Da Vinci Art Alliance, there will be some chairs (rarer and rarer at readings these days) and water. We’ll have performances by active Philly poet Myene Yanou, Sophia Tempest of Discount Guillotine and Giallo Lit fame, the notorious and deeply underrated Peter Webb (who we are publishing shortly), and PJ Lombardo de Baltimore, MD. That said (traveling act), please consider coming preparing to donate kash, green or virtual, to our readers. All good if not, you’re still more than welcome, poetry is about sharing. Would love to see any and all of you! Unfortunately DVAA is not ramp accessible, and the restroom is on the second floor. It is located at 704 Catherine St, South Philly, not far from downtown. Link Contact info @_boxxpress on instagram Cost Free ~~~~~~~~~ Event title Scribes on South Start time 5/25/2025 6:00pm Location Tattooed Mom, 530 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 Description SCRIBES ON SOUTH seeks to create community through poetry. Show out, share, and meet some new friends by sharing your work! Read poems. Kick ass. This reading’s featured reader is Massimo Elijah, a spoken word performer and Philly native. DOORS @ 6PM + SHOW @ 7PM. Not wheelchair accessible Link Contact info Follow @scribesonsouth on Instagram. Cost Free ~~~~~~~~~ |
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1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States |
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