Dearest readers, Thursdays on the Stoop is BACK! For those not familiar, Thursdays on the Stoop is a series of free, virtual writing workshops led for and by our community members. Topics range widely, from generative prompts to editing strategies. Sessions will be biweekly this summer, and weekly starting in the fall. For better or for worse, myths have taught cultures across time what to value, what to aspire to, and what to avoid. In this free hour-long workshop, we'll use poetry to explore how myths continue to shape the modern world — from the personal to the social to the political. After unpacking myths' power to both oppress and liberate, we'll analyze Nikki Giovanni's poem, "Ego Tripping" and begin to write our own personal mythologies. The session will take place this Thursday, 7/3, at 4:00 PM (ET) on Zoom. We'd love to see you there! |
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In other news, our July classes kick off in just over a week — secure your seat before time runs out! Financial aid and payment plans are available. Tell a friend! |
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One more thing: If you're as sweaty and miserable as I am, you probably need an ice cream cone. Maybe you should buy a $2 raffle ticket to win $50 of ice cream from Milk Jawn. Hot tip: we haven't sold many tickets, so your odds of winning are currently very good. Just saying. |
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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, 7/2, 3:30 – 5:30 pm ET: Creative Coworking. 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. (FREE/VIRTUAL)
- Thursday, 7/3, 4:00 – 5:00 pm ET: Miracle Workers & Porch Prophets — Myth in Poetry with MJ Ivory Jr. Thursdays on the Stoop is back! In this free hour-long workshop, we'll use poetry to explore how myths continue to shape the modern world — from the personal to the social to the political. (FREE/VIRTUAL)
- Thursday, 7/10, 6:00 – 8:00 pm ET: First Impressions — The Power of Opening Pages with Isle McElroy. What makes a novel impossible to put down? In this this craft seminar, students will study opening passages from authors like Gabe Habash and Raven Leilani to learn how novel beginnings convey the arc of the book to follow. ($30–50/VIRTUAL)
- Saturday, 7/26, 6:30 – 8:00 pm ET: Give Them Flowers. Join Blue Stoop for a reading and celebration of the Jennifer Weiner fellows at Head House Books. We'll hear from the cohort — Reema Rao, Tori Lee, Colette Walker, Alexandra Naughton, Liz Moorhead, and Larissa Pahomov — and Jennifer Weiner herself. (FREE/IN-PERSON)
- Tuesday, 7/29, 6:30 – 7:30 pm ET: Poetry Club. A peer-led poetry reading & discussion group, powered by Blue Stoop volunteers. Poems will be emailed out a few days before each meeting. (FREE/VIRTUAL)
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Got an event, organization, business, or book to promote? |
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~~~~~~~~~ Event title Philly Queer Book Club – HOUSEMATES Start time 7/3/2025 6:00pm Location Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room, 345 S. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Description When Bernie replies to Leah’s ad for a new housemate in Philadelphia, the two begin an intense and defiantly uncategorizable friendship based on a mutual belief in their art, and one another. Both aspire to capture the world around them: Leah through her writing; Bernie through her photography. After Bernie’s former photography professor, the renowned yet tarnished Daniel Dunn, dies and leaves her a complicated inheritance, Leah volunteers to accompany Bernie to his home in rural Pennsylvania, turning the jaunt into a road trip with an ambitious mission: to document America through words and photographs.What ensues is a journey into the heart of the nation, bringing the housemates into conversation with people from all walks of life–“the absurd dreamers and failures of this wide, wide country”–as they try to make sense of the times they are living in. Along the way, Leah and Bernie discover what it means to chase their own ideas and dreams, and to embrace what they are capable of both romantically and artistically. Link Contact info https://www.phillyqueerbookclub.com/book-club-selection Cost $0 ~~~~~~~~~ Event title Poetry Reading to Honor the Memory of Alice Notley Start time 7/6/2025 7:00pm Location Molly's Books & Records, 1010 s. 9th street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 Description An open reading to honor the memory of Alice Notley, one of America's greatest poets, passed away this spring, on May 19. Please join us to read a favorite poem by her or inspired by her poetry prompts. For facsimile copies of her 1978 class assignments, visit us on Instagram @mollysbooksandrecords Link Contact info Carla Dickie (mollysbookstore.events@gmail.com) Cost Free ~~~~~~~~~ Event title Big Gay Writing Project: Open Mic Night Start time 7/7/2025 6:00pm Location Tattooed Mom Description Write things (beforehand)! Read them! Meet people! Join The Big Gay Writing Project for an open mic night and mixer. Come read something you wrote, sing a song, tell a joke. Or, just watch and support! Open Mic night will be from 6-8pm with a sign up sheet at the door, followed by karaoke and a general time to party and mingle until 10pm. This event is free, with a $5 suggested donation. MONDAY, JULY 7TH 6-10PM SUGGESTED DONATION $5 >> NOTAFLOF << Link Contact info IG @biggaywritingproject Cost $5 Suggested, no one turned away. ~~~~~~~~~ |
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1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States |
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