September/October 2020
Peninsula Virtual Bookfest
The Peninsula Virtual Bookfest brings together a diverse community of writers and book lovers, in a series of vital and inspiring readings and conversations during the months of September and October.
Curated by San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto, the virtual bookfest will feature 60 authors, in collaboration with the Burlingame Public Library, the Daly City Public Library, the San Mateo County Libraries and the South San Francisco Public Library, and local booksellers.
PENINSULA VIRTUAL BOOKFEST 2020 SCHEDULE
Welcome Message from San Mateo County Supervisor Carole Groom and local librarians
September 2, 1pm PT
Burlingame Public Library presents a virtual bookfest featuring NPR’s Malaka Gharib, Sari-Sari Storybooks’ founder Christina Newhard & NYT bestselling YA author Erin Entrada Kelly. Webinar/FB Live. (Fiction, Middle School/YA)
September 3, 5pm PT
Poetry & Home in Diaspora featuring Kai Coggin, Lee Herrick, Antonio Lopez & Persis Karim. SMCL Youtube Channel. (Poetry/Nonfiction)
September 7, 5pm PT
San Mateo County Libraries presents a virtual bookfest featuring Irenosen Okojie, London-based author & winner of the 2020 AKO Caine Prize for African Writing, Murzban Shroff, Mumbai-based & recipient of the John Gilgun Fiction Award, and Ricco Siasoco, San Francisco-based author & National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow. Facebook Watch Party. (Fiction)
September 10, 6pm PT
Burlingame Public Library presents a virtual bookfest featuring Thea Matthews with MK Chavez, Natasha Dennerstein & Tongo Eisen-Martin. Webinar/FB Live. (Poetry)
September 16, 6pm PT
Daly City Public Library presents a virtual bookfest featuring Veronica Montes with Alan Chazaro, Elsa Valmidiano & Ricco Siasoco. Webinar/FB Live. (Fiction)
September 17, 6pm PT
Daly City Public Library presents a virtual bookfest featuring Barbara Jane Reyes with Arlene Biala, Marianne Chan, Janice Lobo Sapigao & Jean Vengua. Webinar/FB Live. (Poetry)
September 20, 2020
“The Makers’ Call to Action” featuring Kai Coggin, Samuel Getachew, Tureeda Mikell, Dena Rod and Michael Simms.
September 21, 2:30pm PT
Burlingame Public Library presents a virtual bookfest featuring Ellen Bass, Hugh Behm-Steinberg, Danusha Lameris, hosted by San Mateo County Poet Laureate Emerita Lisa Rosenberg. Webinar/FB Live. (Poetry)
September 21, 6pm PT
San Mateo County Libraries presents a virtual bookfest featuring Johanna Ely, Joel Katz, Phyllis Klein, Ron Riekki, Jacki Rigoni, Kim Shuck, Tanuja Wakefield & July Westhale. Hosted by San Mateo County Inaugural Poet Laureate Caroline Goodwin. Zoom/SMCL YouTube Channel. (Poetry)
September 22, 6pm PT
Daly City Public Library presents a virtual bookfest featuring Janet Stickmon with Michelle Bautista, Herna Cruz-Louie & Melinda Luisa de Jesus. Webinar/FB Live. (Nonfiction)
September 24, 6pm PT
Daly City Public Library presents a virtual bookfest featuring Maw Shein Win with Jennifer Hasegawa, Jenny Qi & Audrey T. Williams. Webinar/FB Live. (Poetry)
September 30, 6pm PT
San Mateo County Libraries presents a virtual bookfest featuring Carole Bumpus, Mignon Bravo Dutt, Joan Gelfand, Audrey Kalman & Geri Spieler, with California Writers Club Immediate Past President Lisa Meltzer Penn. Zoom/SMCL Youtube Channel. (Fiction/Nonfiction)
October 3, 1pm PT
South San Francisco Public Library presents a virtual bookfest featuring children’s book authors Christina Newhard, Gayle Romasanta & Justine Villanueva, and illustrator Lynnor Bontigao. Webinar/FB Live. (Fiction/Nonfiction)
October 5, 5pm PT
San Mateo County Libraries presents a virtual bookfest featuring Cody Tolmasoff. SMCL YouTube Channel. (Middle School/YA Fiction)
October 13, 3pm PT
San Mateo County Libraries presents a virtual bookfest with devorah major, Jason Bayani & James Cagney. Zoom/SMCL Youtube Channel. (Poetry)
October 23, 2pm PT
South San Francisco Public Library presents a virtual bookfest featuring July Westhale, author of “Occasionally Accurate Science” and Nomadic Press’ J.K. Fowler. Webinar. (Poetry)
October 26, 5pm PT
San Mateo County Libraries presents a virtual bookfest featuring Francesca Bell, Barbara Berman, Joe Cottonwood, Peter N. Carroll, Ken Haas, Kathleen McClung, Connie Post, & Lee Rossi. Hosted by San Mateo County Poet Laureate Emerita Lisa Rosenberg. Facebook Watch Party/SMCL Youtube Channel. To join via Zoom, please email smcpoetlaureate at smcl dot org BEFORE October 22. (Poetry)
October 28, 2020
“Speak Poetry” Open Mic
Please click here for the full schedule.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Guest speaker at SFSU
Thursday, October 29, 2020, 5pm
Art & Expression with Bren Bataclan
Daly City Public Library
Friday, November 6, 2020, 4pm PT
Skyline College presents a Reading and Conversation with Luisa Igloria, Poet Laureate of Virginia and Octavio Quintanilla, former Poet Laureate of San Antonio, TX
Webinar (details to follow)
November 20, 2020, 7pm
Wall + Response Film Screening + Q&A hosted by Evan Karp
The Bindery & Booksmith
December 2 & 9, 2020, 5pm
Youth Poetry Workshop via Zoom
PAST EVENTS
Saturday, October 11, 2020, 8:30am
Clarion Alley Mural Project filming with Megan Wilson, Maw Shein Win, Adriana Camarena, Luis Poot, Evan Karp, Mahima Kotian, Heather Bourbeau, Chris Stroffolino, Tongo Eisen-Martin.
Clarion Alley San Francisco
Friday, October 16, 2020
Skyline College via Zoom
Sunday, September 20, 2020, 4pm
The New Genesis with Ambition the Poet
FB Live
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
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.
via Zoom
Thursday, September 10, 7pm
Words for a Better Today: Antonio López for City Council of East Palo Alto, CA
FB Live/YouTube
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Poets & Writers Virtual Check-In for Bay Area Literary Presenters
via Zoom
Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 4pm-4:30pm Pacific
Book, Please! Women and the Vote
Join this casual discussion where we share what we are reading on the topic of voting rights and equality. In particular, we want to honor the contributions of women of color in the fight for the vote.
San Mateo County Libraries
Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 10:15am Pacific
R.I.S.E. 2020: Women’s Equality Day Celebration!
With poetry by SevanKelee Boult, Ina Cariño, Meera Dasgupta, Bethlehem Roberson (vocussionist), Kim Shuck, Tynea Smith & Angelique N. Zobitz, hosted by San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto. Keynote from Congresswoman Jackie Speier.
This is a free event. Please register here to join the zoom meeting.
Or watch via Facebook Live.
August 8 & 9, 2020
THE 27th ANNUAL PISTAHAN
“Quarantine Kwentos: Pilipinx Poetry”
Thursday, July 30, 2020, 5pm Pacific
Power to the Poets: Vote for Change
Bethlehem and Sad Patrick
Harini Krishnan
John Wesley Shipp
Karen Bryant Shipp
James Cagney
Kai Coggin
Raymond Tyler
Tony Robles
Poetess April J. Armstrong
Timothy Proctor
Tynea Smith
Lydia Cook
Aquil Ali
Emunah The Poetess
POWER TO THE POETS is a live reading series curated by San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto. We’ll be broadcasting live on this event page. Video will appear as a post under the Discussion tab. The reading will be archived here.
Saturday July 18, 2020 5pm Pacific Time (US and Canada) / Sunday July 19, 2020 8am Philippine Time
In the Dictator’s Aftermath: Conversation and Book Launch for PAGPAG by Eileen R. Tabios
Saturday, July 11, 2020, 2pm Pacific
Los Angeles Public Library High School Career Day Presentation
via Zoom
Thursday, July 9, 2020 at 5pm Pacific/7pm Central/8pm Eastern
Via Facebook Live
Josiah Luis Alderete
April J. Armstrong
Bernard Collins
Meera Dasgupta
Shanelle Gabriel
Ambition the Poet Harper
Antonio Lopez
Shikha Malaviya
Tureeda Mikell
Albert Mills
Greer Nakadegawa-Lee
Elijah Pringle III
Octavio Quintanilla
Gentle Ramirez (They/Them)
Amos White
POWER TO THE POETS is a live reading series curated by Aileen Cassinetto. We’ll be broadcasting live on the event page. Video will appear as a post under the Discussion tab. The reading will be archived here.
Watch Power to the Poets: Poets of Color for Change.
Watch Power to the Poets: A Juneteenth Special.
Sunday, July 5, 2020, 5pm Pacific
5th of July Poetry in Protest curated Raymond Tyler
Via FB Live
Saturday, July 4, 2020, 10am Pacific
RED, WHITE & THROUGH: Poetry & Other Unsilent Words organized by Megan Brown
Via FB Live
Friday, July 3, 2020, 5pm Pacific
Black Love Poetry Series presents Aileen Cassinetto and Guy Stanford on the African-Asiatic Connection. Hosted by Aquil Ali and Tynea Smith aka Queen T.
Blogtalkradio.com
Friday, June 19, 2020, 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern
POWER TO THE POETS: Juneteenth
Thank you to everyone who supported last week’s POWER TO THE POETS which featured Josiahluis Alderete, Ina Cariño, Bernard Collins, Melinda Luisa de Jesús, Tongo Eisen-Martin, Cole Larry Eubanks, AmbitionthePoet Harper, Venus Jones, Antonio López, Indigo Moor, Elijah B Pringle III, Tony Robles, Dena Rod, Glenis Redmond, Erika Clay Robinson & Raymond Tyler.
Due to the number of requests for an encore, we are proud to present
Friday, June 19, 2020
5:00PM Pacific / 8:00PM Eastern
Facebook Live
Special guest:
Howard Wiley
Featured poets:
Vernon Keeve III (Oakland, CA)
devorah major (San Francisco, CA)
Elijah Pringle III (Philadelphia, PA) & Melinda Luisa de Jesús (Oakland, CA)
Kim Shuck (San Francisco, CA)
McTate Stroman II (San Jose, CA)
Raymond Tyler (Atlantic City, NJ)
Howard Wiley (San Francisco, CA)
Maw Shein Win (El Cerrito, CA)
Angelique N. Zobitz (West Lafayette, IN)
Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern
POWER TO THE POETS
Poets of Color for Change
Please join this historic gathering of poets of color from the East Coast & West Coast, organized by Aileen Cassinetto.
Featured readers:
Josiahluis Alderete (Oakland)
Ina Cariño (Raleigh)
Bernard Collins (Philadelphia)
Melinda Luisa de Jesús (Oakland)
Tongo Eisen-Martin (San Francisco)
Cole Larry Eubanks (Mays Landing)
AmbitionthePoet Harper (Sicklerville)
Venus Jones (San Jose)
Antonio López (East Palo Alto)
Thea Matthews (San Francisco)
Indigo Moor (Sacramento)
Elijah B Pringle III (Philadelphia)
Tony Robles (Hendersonville)
Dena Rod (Oakland)
Glenis Redmond (Greenville)
Erika Clay Robinson (Orange County)
Raymond Tyler (Atlantic City)
Sunday, June 7, 2020, 5pm PDT
Our Voice: Part 3, The Struggle
Via Zoom/FB Live
Sunday, June 7, 2020, 1pm PDT
Reading with Tayve Neese and Michael Simms
Via Zoom/FB Live
Sunday, June 7, 2020, 9am PDT/12pm EDT
Via Skype
Saturday, June 6, 2020, 3pm PDT
San Mateo County Arts Commission presents “PRIDE & POETRY,” with readings by Dena Rod, Joe G. Mendoza & Jan Steckel, and music performances by Erinn Louise Washburn and members of our local West Bay Community Band, and Karen Bryant Shipp of the Oakhurst Choir in Georgia. This event will be hosted by Aileen Cassinetto & JP Mangalindan.
Via Facebook Live
Friday, June 5, 2020, 5pm PDT
The Arts & Music Think Tank presents First Fridays with Raymond Tyler
Via Zoom/FB Live
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Conversation with Philadelphia Poet Laureate Trapeta Mayson
via YouTube
Thursday, June 4, 2020, 6pm
Pistahan Focus Group Meeting
Via Zoom
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Opening of the San Mateo County Arts Commission Meeting
Via Zoom
Friday, May 29, 2020, 7pm
Via Zoom
Thursday, May 28, 2020, 6pm
“Poetry & Home in the Diaspora,” Reading & Conversation with Kai Coggin, Lee Herrick, Persis Karim & Antonio López
“If home in diaspora is about belonging, how do we shape this home?”
Please join us on Thursday, May 28, at 6pm PDT via Facebook Live for a reading and conversation on the theme, “Poetry & Home in Diaspora.”
Via Facebook Live
Wednesday, May 27, 2020, 6pm
La Honda Lit Night hosted by Terry Adams, Joe Cottonwood & Peter Chupity with the La Honda Fire Brigade
Via Zoom
Monday, May 25, 2020, 9am Pacific
Via FB Live
Saturday, May 23, 2020, 3pm
Register here!
To purchase works by the poets, visit http://www.asiabookcenter.com
Saturday, May 16, 2020, 1:30pm PDT
“A Feast of Filipino American Poets“
Featuring Luisa Igloria, Melinda Luisa de Jesus, Tony Robles and Vince Gotera.
Mango with a twist and more than adobo, four award-winning Filipino American poets will be reading poems on Filipino food via Facebook Live! This Saturday, May 16 at 1:30pm PDT / 4:30pm EDT.
Via FB Live/Zoom
Friday, May 15, 2020, 7pm
Poetry with Portola Valley students
Via Zoom
Saturday, May 9, 2020, 4pm EDT (CANCELLED)
Poetry with Tayve Neese, Aileen Cassinetto & Michael Simms
Friday, May 7, 2020, 6pm
HOME COULD BE HERE: AN ART, POETRY & MUSIC COMPETITION
Join the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County and San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto for an evening of song, art and poetry. The finalists from each category will present their work, and the grand prize winners will be announced by San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Warren Slocum.
*This virtual event is free to attend. Please register here. (You will receive the Zoom details upon registration. Individuals who register are automatically giving permission for their likeness to be shared and recorded.)
With thanks to Facebook and other donors for sponsoring the Housing Leadership Council’s Affordable Housing Month Events.
Saturday, May 2, 2020, 2pm
Reading with the San Francisco Bay Area Poets Laureate
Via Zoom
Friday, May 1, 2020, 7:15pm
#BreaktheStigma
Join our Mental Health Open Mic, organized by Menlo Park Library
***This is a FREE event but registration is required. Please register here.
Whether in poetry, spoken word, or music, let’s bring our voices together to break the silence surrounding suicide and mental illness. Share your own words, or listen to others. We’ll also be joined by trauma specialists from StarVista. For more information, please visit the library website.
Via Zoom
April-May 2020
Poets Laureate Reading for Hope
Poets Laureate Reading for Hope is a project brought to you by our local Poets Laureate and San Mateo County Libraries. The Poets Laureate are video recording themselves reading “poems of hope” while we shelter in place, both their own and those from the community.
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Poetry Class with Half Moon Bay High School Students
Via Zoom
Monday, April 27, 2020
Poetry Class with Portola Valley elementary school students
Via Zoom
Sunday, April 26, 2020, 4pm EST
Poetry Reading
Aileen Cassinetto, Tayve Neese and Michael Simms will host a Facebook Live event featuring Ivy Alvarez, Madeleine Barnes, Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Chard deNiord, Joe Osterhaus & Christopher X. Shade
Via Zoom
Friday, April 24, 2020, 12pm
Skyline College’s Human Library April 2020 Edition: Sharing Stories in Real Time
Via Zoom
Tuesday, April 21, 2020, 9am
San Mateo County Poet Laureate Opening of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Meeting
San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto will present the community poem, “Love in the Time of COVID-19: A Community Poem for Healthcare Workers and Other Frontliners, from San Mateo County” to the Board of Supervisors as part of the county’s National Poetry Month observance and in honor of all frontliners
Via Zoom
Tuesday, April 21, 2020, 7pm (CANCELLED)
California Fire & Water: A Climate Crisis Anthology (ed. Molly Fisk)
A Poetry & Dance event hosted by Claudia Monpere
Santa Clara University
The Music Recital Hall
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053
Monday, April 16, 2020
New Orleans Poetry Festival (Co)Video
Online
Thursday, April 9, 2020, 6:30pm
Via Zoom
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Genoa International Poetry Festival’s Poetry in sDreaming
Online
Friday, April 3, 2020, 6:45pm (CANCELLED)
California Fire & Water: A Climate Crisis Anthology (ed. Molly Fisk)
A Reading hosted by Caroline Goodwin, Lisa Rosenberg & Aileen Cassinetto
CuriOdyssey
1651 Coyote Point Dr.
San Mateo, CA 94401
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Poets on Sheltering curated by Aileen Cassinetto
Saturday, March 14, 2020, 3pm (CANCELLED)
Eastwind Books of Berkeley Celebrates Women’s History Month with Asian American Poets Laureate Maw Shein Win & Aileen Cassinetto
Eastwind Books of Berkeley
2066 University Avenue, Berkeley
Saturday, March 7, 2020, 10am (CANCELLED)
AWP20 Poets Laureate Gathering hosted by the Academy of American Poets
Henry B. González Convention Center
Cantilever Room (Room 220)
900 E. Market Street, San Antonio, Texas
Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 12pm (Reading & Reception)
Winners of Filoli’s First Winter Haiku Competition will read their winning poems at a ceremony at Noon on March 1, 2020.
Awards: Filoli Household Plus Membership and Gift Basket of hand-crafted Filoli products for first place, Filoli Individual Plus Membership for second place and a Filoli Household Membership for our under 18 winner.
Rights: Poems submitted will be used by Filoli for promotional materials, the winning poems will be displayed in the Visitor and Education Center, and the winning poems will be published on our social media and marketing channels.
Filoli
86 Cañada Road
Woodside, CA 94062
Saturday, February 15, 2020, 12pm (submission deadline)
The winter season at Filoli is one of beauty and reflection. Submit a haiku inspired by Filoli’s winter garden to our Haiku Poetry Competition by 2/15/2020.
Deadline: Entries should be submitted by February 15, 2020, 12:00 pm. The finalists will be announced on February 19 and invited to the event on March 1, where the winners will be announced.
Eligibility: The awards are open to the public. You may submit up to three original haikus that have not been previously published. Haikus must be in the 5-7-5 format and be inspired by Filoli’s winter garden.
Submissions: Entries can be submitted in person at the Filoli Visitor Center, via mail, or online. You may submit up to three haikus. If submitting in person, please place your haiku and contact details in a sealed envelope and put in the marked box at the Visitor Center.
Saturday, February 8, 2020, 11am to 3pm
You’re invited to check out a living, breathing book on February 8 at the Portola Valley Library Community Hall. On that day the library will be hosting a Human Library, where the “books” are people with diverse experiences and stories to share with you, the readers.
Portola Valley Library – Community Hall
765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA
Friday, February 7, 2020, 7pm
2nd Annual San Mateo County Poetry Out Loud Competition
Youth from several San Mateo County high schools perform for advancement to the state level in this nationwide competition. The evening features student and mentor performances, judging, and a reception with refreshments. Mentors and judges include former and current San Mateo County Poets Laureate Caroline Goodwin, Lisa Rosenberg, & Aileen Cassinetto, and East Palo Alto Poet Laureate Kalamu Chache.
Foster City Recreation Center, Mist Room
650 Shell Boulevard Foster City, CA, 94404
Tuesday, January 14, 2020, 7pm
Poetry Center San José‘s Well-RED series presents Aileen Cassinetto and Pushpa MacFarlane
Open mic will follow the performance.
Works/San José
365 South Market Street
in downtown San José
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Poet Laureate Opening of the Reorganization of the Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County
Hall of Justice
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
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
Is it a sigh or a form of haiku? In this workshop, with the aid of prompts and familiar poetic tools, we will try our hand at drafting new poems. We’ll write, read, critique, tweak, and talk about this deceptively simple verse form! Materials and light snacks will be provided.
This is a free event, but space is limited. Please email smcpoetlaureate@smcl.org with the subject, “WORKSHOP,” by April 7th to RSVP.
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
***UPDATE: This tour has been rescheduled. Details TBA. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Sunday, March 17, 2019, 2:00pm
PAW-ETRY
Poets Raising Awareness for Shelter Pets
Please join San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto on a tour of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. RSVP by March 10th: smcpoetlaureate@smcl.org.
Lantos Center for Compassion
1450 Rollins Rd.
Burlingame, CA 94010
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
