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5 May

Seattle Area Open Poetry Mic Venues

Posted May 5, 2010 by mckfrock in Uncategorized.

This post provides a list of Seattle Open Mike venues compiled by my good friend and fellow writer David D. Horowitz of Rose Alley Press.
David honored some of the local organizers who have kept these machines running through their own elbow grease. David writes:
The key to endurance is twofold: having one or two strongly committed individuals
who see through the ups and downs of managing a reading venue/series and
having a venue proprietor genuinely committed to the literary arts
community. Hosts who have weathered the storms of many years include
J.Glenn and Barbara Evans, Esther Helfgott, Chris Jarmick, Dobbie Norris, Connie Walle, and Lana Ayers and Michael Dylan Welch.
We know this list is not complete! Please feel free to leave a comment if we have neglected a poetry open mic that should be noted here. For more information, David recommends visiting www.poetswest.com, clicking on “Live Poetry Venues,” and scrolling to near the bottom of the “page.” Beneath the long list of events is a list of performance venues around the Northwest.
Open Mic Venues in the Seattle Area
  • Seattle Poetry Slam, reBar
every Tuesday, 8pm sign-up, 8:30show
open mike, featured reader, poetry slam
3 min each
21+, $5
  • Richard Hugo House, “Works in Progress”
1634 11th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122
Every first Monday – 7:00pm – 9:00pm, cabaret
Show up between 6:30 and 7 to add your name to the lottery. We’ll keep drawing names as we go, until 9 p.m.
Reader slots are limited to five minutes. All genres welcome. admission is free. More information  Works in Progress page.
206-322-7030
  • Verbal Graffiti at Rainier Community Center

Poets, MCs, musicians and comedians welcome Friday evenings. amp, mic and turntables provided. All ages, free. 6:30-7 sign-up, show at 7pm.  4600 38th Ave. S, Seattle, 98118.


  • Poetry Night in Bellingham
anker café § 1424 cornwall ave, bellingham
every monday night at 8:00 pm
open mike & featured poet
host: Robert Huston
  • Bluebird Open Mike
Bluebird on Capitol Hill
1205 E pike Street.
Its all ages every Thursday night.
  • Green Lake Branch, Seattle Public Library

7364 East Greenlake Drive North, Seattle
1st, 2nd, & 3rd Saturdays monthly, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
three featured readers w/open mics
* usually five-minutes for each open mic performer
MC: J. Glenn Evans
J. Glenn & Barbara Evans, JGE@poetwest.com
Tel.: 206-682-1268

www.poetswest.com (click on “Live Poetry Venues” and scroll down for listings)
  • Barnes & Noble, Woodinville

18025 Garden Way NE, Woodinville (in shopping center)
3rd Wednesday monthly, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

three featured readers w/open mics
* usually open mic performers read one poem each twice per evening
MC: Nan Harty
J. Glenn & Barbara Evans, JGE@poetwest.com
Tel.: 206-682-1268
www.poetswest.com

  • Parkplace Books
348 Parkplace Center, Kirkland
2nd Wednesday monthly, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
two or three featured readers w/open mics
* open mic performers read once for about three to four minutes total
Tel.: 425-828-6546
MC: Chris Jarmick, emeraldchris@yahoo.com
  • Bookworm Exchange
4860 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle (in Columbia City)
3rd Friday monthly, 7:00 – 8:45 p.m.
three featured readers w/open mics
* open mic performers read one poem twice per evening
Tel.: 206-722-6633
MC: Chris Jarmick, emeraldchris@yahoo.com
  • It’s About Time Reading Series
Ballard Branch, Seattle Public Library
5614 22nd Avenue NW, Seattle
2nd Thursday, monthly, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
three featured readers; one speaker on writing; w/open mics
* open mic performers read once up to three minutes
Note: book sales not allowed on site
Tel: 206-684-4089
MC: Esther Helfgott, eahelfgott2@comcast.net
  • Conor Byrne Pub
5140 Ballard Avenue NW, Seattle
every Sunday, 8:00 p.m. – around 11:00 p.m.
“Open Mic w/Josiah,” sign-ups @ 7:30 p.m.
* Largely a music open mic (2 songs or about 5 to 10 minutes each; poetry acceptable, though)
Tel.: 206-784-3640
  • el Diablo Coffeehouse
1811 Queen Anne Avenue North, Seattle
2nd and 4th Tuesday monthly, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
* no featured reader; each open mic reader reads twice for about 8 to 10 minutes total
Margaret Roncone & Lainne Dexter, margaretroncone@yahoo.com
Tel: 206-285-0693

  • RASP (Redmond Association of Spoken Word) Reading Series
Auditorium of Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center
16600 NE 80th Street, Redmond
last Friday monthly, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
* one featured reader; each open mic reader reads once for about 5 minutes
Michael Dylan Welch and RASP committee; Richard Shank, shank1115@comcast.net
  • SoulFood Books
15748 Redmond Way, Redmond
Third Thursday monthly, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
* two featured readers (one primary gets to pick the co-feature); each open mic–about 3 – 5 minutes each
Lana Ayers & Michael Dylan Welch co-host (and do an excellent job)
Tel.: 425-881-5309
  • North End Forum
1st Monday monthly, Bai Pai Restaurant, 2361 NE 65th Street, Seattle
All other Mondays, Casa d’Italia, 2615 NE 65th Street, Seattle
every Monday, 8:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. (the most consistent open mic in Seattle)
* music, poetry performed w/o featured readers or open mic list; somehow, the loose structure works;
most read for about 5 minutes twice; some expectation of food purchase to help venue
Tel.: 206-527-4800 (Bai Pai); 206-525-7747 (Casa d’Italia)
Jed Myers hosts, medjyers@hotmail.com
  • Little Red Studio
sign up for newsletter/schedule
* focus on erotic arts and poetry; performances do often cost, so check first
There used to be a Sunday open mic–this seems to be changing. Check the LRS Web site for info.
400 Dexter Avenue North, Seattle
Tel.: 206-328-4758

  • Poulsbohemian Coffeehouse
19003 Front Street, Poulsbo
1st Saturday monthly, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
* three featured readers w/open mic
Tel: 360-779-9199
Marianna Mears, emmj@centurytel.net
  • Zippy’s Java Lounge
1804 Hewitt Avenue, Everett
every Thursday evening, 7:00 p.m. – 9 p.m.
* featured reader w/open mic
Garrett Rutledge, garrettrutledge@gmail.com
Tel: 425-258-4940
  • C & P Coffee
5612 California Avenue SW, Seattle
fourth Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m.
* featured reader w/open mic for poets and storytellers
“Poetry Bridge Presents Poems & Tales”
Tel: 206-933-3125
  • Red Sky Poetry Theater
Richard Hugo House
1634 11th Avenue, Seattle
usually Sunday evening, once every several months
* re-creation of Red Sky; at Hugo House Cabaret
206-322-7030
  • Wild Rose Tavern
1021 East Pike Street, Seattle
2nd Thursday monthly, 8 p.m.
“Seattle Spit: Queer Spoken Word,” w/open mic
Tel: 206-324-9210

  • King’s Books
218 Saint Helens Avenue, Tacoma
Distinguished Writer Series
second Friday monthly, 7 p.m.
* featured reader w/open mic
Tel: 253-272-8801
Connie Walle, cwalle@comcast.net
  • Seattle Bookfest
* first event occurred fourth weekend of 10/09; a 2010 fest is planned
included trailer for all-day poetry readings, including open mics
Other events/venues of note:
Starbucks Coffee, Madison Park
4000 East Madison Street, Seattle
occurring irregularly, but seemingly last Thursday monthly, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
* one featured reader, w/open mic; emphasis is on prose and fiction
Tel: 206-329-3736
Mary Ann Moorman (known affectionately as “Auntmama”), MAMoor@aol.com
  • North Seattle Community College
“After Long Silence”
occasional series w/three featured readers and open mic;
often occurs on Friday night, 7:30 p.m.; former Seattle Poet Populist
Pesha Gertler helped run this for a long time; I’m not sure about now;
seems irregularly scheduled and not terribly well promoted
  • Seattle Mobile Espresso
13000 Linden Avenue North, #106
“Third Tuesday Poets & Writers”
* five or six performers: usually one musician and four or five writers;
no open mic, though
Tel: 206-420-4719
  • Youth Speaks Seattle Open Mic
longest running youth poetry event in the city!
Cafe Allegro
1408 NE 42nd St (in alley between University Way & 15th ave)
Third Sundays of the month.
FREE! Sign up at 6:30p, show at 7
Featured poet & musician
Youth-focused, but performers of all ages and genres welcome.
Has been called “mini-BNV” by out of towners,
aka, “hella dope.”
info@youthspeaks.org
  • Bluebird
1205 E pike Street, Capitol Hill
every Thursday night.
all ages, free
(It used to be the Mr Spot’s Chai House open mic before moving.)
Organizer: Chase Evans

5 responses to this post.

  1. Posted by Chase on May 7, 2010 at 11:59 pm

    Just wanted to let people know about the Open mic happening every Thursday night at Bluebird on Capitol Hill at 1205 E pike Street. Its all ages every Thursday night. It used to be the Mr Spot’s Chai House open mic before moving. See the link for more info. http://blog.seattlepi.com/capitolhill/archives/203000.asp?from=blog_last3

    Reply

  2. Posted by Lama John on September 17, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    This would be great if it could be on a website and updated somewhere.

    Faire Cafe has a first Saturday of the month mc and open poetry mic that’s awsome. Much recovery and youth in recovery crowd there. Straight up poetry open mic opening last Monday of the month.

    Reply

  3. Posted by Tova Gardner on October 10, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    On Bainbridge Island at the Real Foods Market & Cafe every 3rd Thursday we will have a featured poet and then open mic. From 7pm till whenever. These evenings are hosted by the poetry editor of The Arava Review. Phone number is 206-842-3333 for questions.

    Reply

  4. Posted by Jerold Smith on October 14, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    Hello, – noticed qustions marks in the C&P Coffee Co. listing…here’s the scoop: Poetry Bridge presents Fourth Wednesday Poems & Tales at C&P Coffee, 5612 California Ave SW, West Seattle, from 7-9 pm. Featured readers each month followed by open mic for poets and storytellers. For additional details, visit http://www.poetrybridge.net.

    Reply

  5. Posted by katy keenan on October 30, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    Nice list! Also—worth checking out openmike.org and reviewing comments etc to determine viability of poetry, reading etc. Lots of music open mikes welcome spoken word. And I recommend that you always call and make sure the series is still afloat—open mikes can be mercurial…….

    Reply

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