Saturday, December 28, 2019, 2pm
The Poets of Pacifica
Featured readings and open mic
with host Camincha Benvenutto, Poet Laureate of Pacifica, and guest co-host Aileen Cassinetto, Poet Laureate of San Mateo County
Bring a poem and snacks to share to celebrate the end of the year! All are welcome.
Florey’s Books
2120 Palmetto Avenue
Pacifica
Monday, December 23, 2019, 7pm
San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto is the featured reader for the month of December.
Open mic follows.
Himalayan Flavors Restaurant
1585 University Ave. Berkeley 94703
Saturday, December 14, 2019, 2pm
A Holiday Poetry Concert & Reception
Presented by the San Mateo County Libraries and San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto
featuring the Poets of San Mateo County
with the West Bay Community Band Flute Trio and The West Bay Saxtet
Poetry Reading by
Caroline Goodwin, San Mateo County Poet Laureate 2014-2016
Lisa Rosenberg, San Mateo County Poet Laureate 2017-2018
Camincha Benvenutto, Pacifica Poet Laureate
Poetess Kalamu Chaché, East Palo Alto Poet Laureate
Tanuja Wakefield, Belmont Poet Laureate Emerita
Kaitlin Bonfiglio
Chuck Brickley
Stephanie Dobler Cerra
Sanderson Dean
Paul Fericano
Sophia Gamini
Emilia Hansen
Sarah Hansen
Monica Korde
Ida J. Lewenstein
Abigail Milne
Genevieve Zaidain
Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
*This event is part of the San Mateo County Poet Laureate’s campaign, “Speak Poetry,” which aims to elevate and celebrate the literary arts and their roles in public life.
Millbrae Library
1 Library Avenue
Millbrae CA 94030
Thursday, November 21st, 2019 at 7pm
Penelope’s Coffee & Teas
3 Plaza View Ln, Foster City, CA 94404
Tuesday, November 19, 2019, 7pm
Poetry Night hosted by Belmont Poet Laureate Jacki Rigoni featuring San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto
Belmont Library
1110 Alameda de las Pulgas
Belmont CA 94002
Saturday, November 16, 1:00PM to 3:30pm
San Mateo County Libraries with San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto present
“LOCAL ROOTS”
On Poetry & Indigenous Edibles
featuring Ron Riekki, author of My Ancestors Are Reindeer Herders and I Am Melting In Extinction: Saami-American Non-Fiction, Fiction, and Poetry, and chef/lecturer John Farais
Poetry Reading by
Caroline Goodwin, San Mateo County Poet Laureate 2014-2016
Jacki Rigoni, Belmont Poet Laureate 2018-2021
Lisa Rosenberg, San Mateo County Poet Laureate 2017-2018
Tanu Wakefield, Belmont Poet Laureate 2015-2018
This is a family-friendly event which includes poetry reading and food tasting. However, space is limited, and RSVPs are required.
To RSVP: Belmont Library
Belmont Library
1110 Alameda de las Pulgas
Belmont CA 94002
Sunday, November 17, 2019 at 4pm
Bay Area Poets Laureate on Social Justice Tour
(Events with poetry readings by city and county Poet Laureate recipients, reading their poems on social justice issues and Q&As with the audiences)
Aileen Cassinetto, San Mateo County Poet Laureate 2019-present
D.L. Lang, Vallejo Poet Laureate 2017-2019
Juanita J. Martin, Fairfield Poet Laureate 2010-2012
Cynthia Patton, Livermore Poet Laureate 2017-present
Lois Requist, Benicia Poet Laureate 2012-2014
and host Ron Riekki, co-editor of Undocumented: Great Lakes Poets Laureate on Social Justice
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera CA 94925
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 7pm
Doors open at 6:30 P.M., and the features begin at 7:00 P.M. A poetry open mic will begin around 8:00 P.M. This will feature 10 poets who have 5 minutes each to speak their work – no music, please. A signup sheet will be available at the coffee bar. As usual, beverages and light fare will be available all evening.
For this upcoming reading, we’ll welcome Bay Area poets Aileen Cassinetto, Joel Katz and Robert Perry.
Café Society
522 Main Street
Half Moon Bay CA 94019
Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 9am
Opening of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Meeting
Once each quarter, the Poet Laureate will open the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors’ Meeting with a poem. Board meetings begin at 9:00AM, and are open to the public. You are welcome to stay for all or any portion of the meeting.
Hall of Justice
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
Sunday, October 20, 2019, 2pm
HUMANITY, a reading and conversation featuring Eileen Tabios (St. Helena-based author most recently of “Witness in the Convex Mirror”), Murzban Shroff (Mumbai-based author most recently of “Fasttrack Fiction”), & Robert Cowan (New York-based author most recently of “Elsewhen”), hosted by San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto
ABOUT HUMANITY
Bird & Beckett Books
653 Chenery St.
San Francisco CA 94131
Saturday, October 12, 2019, 2pm-4pm
Litquake’s 20-20 curated by Maw Shein Win!
El Cerrito welcomes Litquake – San Francisco’s Literary Festival – coming to twenty new cities honor of the event’s 20th anniversary!
Join host and former El Cerrito Poet Laureate Maw Shein Win for 20-in-20: an afternoon of readings by local poets laureate, including:
Dani Gabriel, El Cerrito Poet Laureate
Rebecca Black, Albany Poet Laureate
Aileen Casinetto, San Mateo County Poet Laureate
Lisa Rosenberg, San Mateo County Former Poet Laureate
Ciera-Jevae Gordon, Richmond Poet Laureate
El Cerrito Library
6510 Stockton Ave.
El Cerrito CA 94530
October 12, 2019, 12:45pm & 4pm
Hot Off the Press Literary Readings hosted by Cecilia Brainard at the 5th Filipino American International Book Festival!
Koret Auditorium
San Francisco Main Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco CA 94102
Wednesday, October 9, 2019, 6pm
“Pssst! It’s Pilipinx Lit Night!”
The John Daly Branch Library & San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto present “Prose, Poetry, atbp, in the Pilipinx American Diaspora” in celebration of Filipino American History Month, featuring Abigail Licad, Beverly Parayno, Ivy Alvarez, Jason Bayani, Rashaan Alexis Meneses, Reme Grefalda, Walter Ang, and students from Jefferson and Westmoor High Schools
John D Daly Branch Library
134 Hillside Blvd
Daly City CA 94014
Tuesday, September 24, 2019, 9:30am
Interview with PenVoice’s Dani Gasparini
Peninsula TV Studio
1250 San Carlos Ave
San Carlos CA
Saturday, September 21, 2019, 2:30pm
The San Mateo County Arts Commission presents an All-Star Poetry Reading featuring Bay Area Poets Laureate!
“Meet Me In Millbrae”
Bay Area Poets Laureate Public Poetry Reading
Featuring
Camincha Benvenutto (Pacifica)
Cynthia L. Bryant (Pleasanton)
Aileen Cassinetto (San Mateo County)
Kalamu Chache (East Palo Alto)
Cathy Dana (Alameda)
Iris Dunkle (Sonoma County)
Johanna Ely (Benicia)
Amy Glynn (Lafayette)
Caroline Goodwin (San Mateo County)
Kevin Gunn (Livermore)
Dorsetta Hale (Pacifica)
Ronnie Holland (Dublin)
Maya Khosla (Sonoma County)
D. L. Lang (Vallejo)
Shikha Malaviya (San Ramon)
Juanita Martin (Fairfield)
Connie Post (Livermore)
Lisa Rosenberg (San Mateo County)
Jacki Rigoni (Belmont)
Thomas Stanton (Benicia)
Robert Sward (Santa Cruz County)
Maw Shein Win (El Cerrito)
All are welcome. Free & open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
Millbrae Library
1 Library Avenue
Millbrae CA 94030
Saturday, August 31, 2019, 3:00pm-5:00pm
Open Mic Afternoons with San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto
Featured poets: Pacifica Poet Laureate Camincha Benvenutto and Belmont Poet Laureate Emerita Tanu Wakefield
Light refreshments will be served and open mic to follow. Please feel free to bring a poem to share! This is a free and family friendly event. All are welcome!
South San Francisco Main Library Auditorium (Basement, accessible via an elevator)
840 West Orange Avenue
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Sunday, July 28, 2019, 3:00pm-5:00pm
Open Mic Afternoons with San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto
Featured poets: Melinda Luisa de Jesús, Dena Rod, Jan Steckel
Light refreshments will be served and open mic to follow. This is a free event.
South San Francisco Main Library
840 West Orange Avenue
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Monday, July 22, 2019, 7PM
A literary reading and salon featuring the curated works of San Francisco Bay Area poets, writers and storytellers, with musical guest.
With fine Bay Area Poets & Writers!
Chris Warren Smith + Keith Mark Gaboury
Elise Shabas Kazanjian + Aileen Cassinetto
Alan Bern + Glenn Ingersoll + Rebecca Radner
Melina Selverston Scher + Corin Scher
& Musical Guest: Keefer Backer, singer/songwriter (guitar)
at Harrington Galleries in The Mission, SF
Doors open: 6 p.m. Show: 7 p.m.
Suggested donation $10, includes with chapbook
*No one turned away for lack of funds.*
Bay Area Generations literary reading series features paired readers of differing generations in a curated submission based show. Since 2013, over 400 hundred notable authors, poets, writers, playwrights and musicians have read poetry and stories, or performed at this celebrated literary salon.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019, 7PM
Summer Hot July Lyrics & Dirges
Come join us on a warm summer evening to hear fiction, nonfiction, and poetry by some of the area’s best writers.
Also enjoy the refreshments, wine, and bookstore cat. Bring a date!
Judy Bebelaar
Aileen Cassinetto
Maya Khosla
Camille Norton
Fátima Policarpo
Curated and hosted by Sharon Coleman and Mk Chavez
Pegasus Books Downtown
2349 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
Tuesday, July 9, 2019, 9:00am
Poet Laureate Opening of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors’ Meeting
Once each quarter, the Poet Laureate will open the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors’ Meeting with a poem. Board meetings begin at 9:00am, and are open to the public. You are welcome to stay for all or any portion of the meeting.
Hall of Justice
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
Saturday, June 29, 2019, 12pm
San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto will read a poem at the Permanent Exhibit Opening of “Land of Opportunity: The Immigrant Experience in San Mateo County”
San Mateo County History Museum
2200 Broadway, Redwood City
June 8-16, 2019
The Literary Stage at the San Mateo County Fair presented by the California Writers Club-SF Peninsula
San Mateo County Event Center
1346 Saratoga Dr
San Mateo, CA 94403
June 8, 2019, 4pm-7pm
Celebrating the Art of Jack Cassinetto
Please join us in a reception and silent auction of Jack Cassinetto’s artworks to benefit the Sonora Area Foundation Scholarship Fund.
Sonora Opera Hall
Washington Street, Sonora
Tuesday, June 4, 2019, 6:00pm
In conversation with Christopher X. Shade, author of The Good Mother of Marseille
Book Passage
Ferry Building, One, #42
San Francisco, CA, 94111
Monday, May 27, 2019, 10:30am
78th Annual Memorial Day Observance
Musical prelude 10:30 a.m. Program 11 a.m.
San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto is a guest reader.
Golden Gate National Cemetery
1300 Sneath Lane (Veterans Way) San Bruno, CA 94066
Friday, May 24, 2019, 7:15pm to 8:30pm
Mental Health Open Mic Sponsored by Menlo Park Library
San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto joins us out in the community to help break the silence surrounding suicide and mental illness.
Cafe Zoe
1929 Menalto Ave,
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 4:30pm
Menlo Park Library Youth Poetry Awards Ceremony & Reception
Reception at the Menlo Park Main Library at 4:30PM
Ceremony at the Council Chambers at 5:30PM
Menlo Park Library
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, 94025
Council Chambers
700 Laurel St.
Menlo Park, 94025
Saturday, May 4, 2019, 6:30pm
10th Annual CSM Asian Pacific American Film Festival
San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto is a guest reader.
CSM Theatre Building 03
1700 West Hillsdale Boulevard
San Mateo, CA 94402
Saturday, April 27, 2019, 2:00pm
POETRY & COMMUNITY: A CONCERT
Presented by the Burlingame Public Library and the San Mateo County Poet Laureate, and featuring local poets and the West Bay Community Band. Aileen Cassinetto and East Palo Alto Poet Laureate Kalamu Chache co-host.
Free and open to the public.
*This event is part of the San Mateo County Poet Laureate’s campaign, “Speak Poetry,” which aims to elevate and celebrate the literary arts and their roles in public life.
Burlingame Main Library
480 Primrose Rd.
Burlingame, CA 94010
Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 6:30pm
Portola Valley Library’s 20th Annual Poetry Celebration with San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto
Community Hall
765 Portola Rd.
Portola Valley, CA 94028
Sunday, April 21, 2019, 5:30am on NBC Bay Area // 6pm on NBC’s COZI TV (Comcast 186)
San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto on NBC Bay Area
Saturday, April 20, 2019, 11:00pm to 1:00am (show will be archived for 2 weeks)
Poetry & Conversation with East Palo Alto Poet Laureate Kalamu Chache & “BAJABA on JaZzline” host Afrikahn Jahmal Davys
Saturday, April 20, 2019, 10am
California Writers’ Club SF Peninsula Monthly Meeting
Sequoia Yacht Club
441 Seaport Ct.
Foster City, CA 94063
Tuesday, April 16, 2019, 12pm
Skyline College Celebrates National Poetry Month with San Mateo County Poet Laureate Reading
Skyline College, Building 5
3300 College Drive
San Bruno, CA 94066
Sunday, April 14, 2019, 2:00pm-3:00pm
HAY(NA)KU!
Learn a new poetic form with San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto
Half Moon Bay Library
620 Correas St.
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Sunday, April 14, 2019, 3:30pm
PAW-ETRY OPEN READING & RECEPTION
Poets Raising Awareness for Shelter Pets
In addition to April being National Poetry Month, it is also Prevention Against Cruelty to Animals Month. On April 14th, you are invited to read a poem about a favorite pet, an animal you met at the PHS-SPCA or any shelter, a favorite poem about animals, or just come and support this worthy cause. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
Half Moon Bay Library
620 Correas St.
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Friday, April 12, 2019, 7:00pm
Poetry & Symphonic Masterpieces (Music of Leonard Bernstein)
Featuring music by the Aragon High School Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, & Choirs, and Poetry by San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto, San Mateo County Poet Laureate Emerita Caroline Goodwin, & San Mateo County Poet Laureate Emerita Lisa Rosenberg
Aragon High School Theater
900 Alameda de Las Pulgas
San Mateo, CA 94402
Tuesday, April 9, 2019, 9:00am
Proclamation of National Poetry Month by the Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County & Poet Laureate Opening of the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting
Once each quarter, the Poet Laureate will open the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors’ Meeting with a poem. On April 9th, the Board of Supervisors will issue an official Proclamation in support of National Poetry Month.
Board meetings begin at 9:00AM, and are open to the public. You are welcome to stay for all or any portion of the meeting.
Hall of Justice
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
Tuesday, April 9, 2019, 7pm-8:30pm
Poetry for the People and CCSF African American Studies present “Still I Rise: Maya Angelou and 400 Years of Resistance to Slavery”
Featuring: Kim Shuck, San Francisco Poet Laureate; Aileen Cassinetto, San Mateo County Poet Laureate; Kitty Costello, poet; Aliyah Dunn-Salahuddin, Professor of African American Studies; Tehmina Khan, poet and Professor of English; Maurisa Thompson, poet and high school teacher; and more Poets for the People
Tea and snacks will be served.
Batmale Hall, Room 203
CCSF Ocean Campus
50 Frida Kahlo Way
San Francisco, CA 94112
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
YourArtsyGirl Podcast Featuring Aileen Cassinetto & Ivy Alvarez
Monday, April 1, 2019, 7pm
Proclamation of National Poetry Month by the Mayor of the City of San Mateo presented to San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto
City of San Mateo
330 West 20th Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94403
Thursday, March 28, 2019, 6pm
Beating Guns Tour
Join the journey to end gun violence, led by Shane Claiborne and Mike Martin. This event will feature the forging of a gun into a garden tool. San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto will share a poem.
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
1300 Fifth Ave.
Belmont CA 94002
Monday, March 25, 2019, 7pm
Poetry Class at Maguire Correctional Facility
300 Bradford St.
Redwood City, CA 94063
Saturday, March 16, 2019, 2:00pm
Laureates Speak Poetry
Celebrate Women, Words, and the Power of Poetry with San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto and San Francisco Poet Laureate Kim Shuck! Open reading to follow and light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public.
Westlake Library
275 Southgate Ave.
Daly City, CA 94015
Monday, March 11, 2019, 7pm
Proclamation on Women’s History Month by the City Council of Daly City presented to San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto
City Hall
333 90th St.
Daly City, CA 94015
Saturday, March 2, 2019, 9:30am
“WOW Voices Now: A Morning of Readings and Refreshments”
Features San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto and award-winning fiction/nonfiction writer Jacqueline Doyle.
Skyline College
Student & Community Center, Building 6
3300 College Drive
San Bruno, CA 94066
Thursday, February 14, 2019, 6:30pm
ALL WE NEED: Valentine Poetry Open Mic & Reception
Bring a loved one (a date, a partner, a grandma, a friend, a child, or yourself!), and your favorite love poem. You can even renew vows in community with those at the gathering! San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto and Belmont Poet Laureate Jacki Rigoni co-host.
Millbrae Library
1 Library Avenue
Millbrae, CA 94030
Friday February, 8, 2019, 7:00pm
Come and watch students from five High Schools compete in the FIRST SAN MATEO COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION POETRY OUT LOUD COMPETITION!
San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto and East Palo Alto Poet Laureate Kalamu Chache will be among the judges.
Foster City Recreation Center,
Mist Room
650 Shell Boulevard
Foster City, CA 94404
Monday, February 4, 2019, 7:00pm
POETS!
Reading & Open Mic featuring San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto, and former Poet Laureate of Livermore Connie Post. Kim Shuck, Poet Laureate of San Francisco, and Jerry Ferraz, poetry czar of Bird & Beckett, co-host.
Bird & Beckett Books
653 Chenery St.
San Francisco, CA 94131
Tuesday, January 29, 2019, 9:00am
Poet Laureate Opening of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Meeting
Once each quarter, the Poet Laureate will open the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors’ Meeting with a poem. Board meetings begin at 9:00AM, and are open to the public. You are welcome to stay for all or any portion of the meeting.
Hall of Justice
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
December 2018
Hay(na)ku Exhibit at the Saint Helena Public Library
1492 Library Lane
St. Helena, California
Tuesday, October 23, 2018, 9:00am
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Meeting
“Adopt a resolution appointing Aileen Cassinetto to the honorary post of San Mateo County Poet Laureate for a two-year term from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020.”
Hall of Justice
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
Aileen Cassinetto 