Snow to the Mac's - Where Poetry Warms the Bones
Jesus Crisis at Mac's Backs (14 January 2009) - photo by Dianne Borsenik
I wasn't going to let anything prevent me from being present for my 2nd ever featured reading this past Wednesday - but the weather certainly tested that resolution. The approximately 25-mile trek from our home in Elyria to Mac's Backs bookstore in Cleveland Heights (the site of the reading) took us nearly two hours. This is one time I was thankful for my wife's SUV, because my little car probably would not have made it. We stayed between 20 and 40 miles per hour the whole way down Interstate 90 (the speed limit is 60-65). We passed several accidents along the way. And traffic was at close to a complete standstill on Carnegie Avenue. But we'd left quite early and were still able to make it to Mac's with fifteen minutes to spare. I didn't expect too many other people to attend - but some brave souls surprised me. Of course Mac's Backs proprietor Suzanne DeGaetano was on hand. So were friends Dianne Borsenik, Jen Pezzo, Vertigo Xi'an Xavier, and a few others. We were especially happy to meet our online friend Sue Savickas for the first time in person there.
Jason Floyd Williams reads from Inheritance Tax - photo by Jesus Crisis
The other featured reader that night was Jason Floyd Williams, author of Inheritance Tax [Interior Noise Press]. He and I have been MySpace friends for a few months, and I'd heard a lot of good things about him and liked the little of his work I'd read and heard online. But this was the first time we'd actually met and heard each other read in person. We decided to go back and forth with our poems, a few at a time, and it ended up working out pretty well that way. Our different styles and the way we were able to feed/bounce off of each others' words and themes kept it interesting - and I was somewhat sad to see it end, although happy to experience the subsequent open mic, where Jen, Dianne, Suzanne, Peter Leon and a sign-language poet (whose name I wish I knew) shared a dynamic, interesting, inspiring mix of work. Mac's is always one of my favorite places for poetry readings, and Wednesday was another great experience, well worth braving the elements. The place has so much history (30 years as a literary bastion in the Cleveland area) - and I was a combination of thrilled, proud and humbled to have the opportunity to be a featured poet where many legends have read before. I'm a bit stunned that they're going to sell my Bloggerel chapbook there as well!
Suzanne DeGaetano of Mac's Backs - photo by Jesus Crisis
While I was at Mac's Backs, I redeemed my gift certificate and picked up Russell Salamon's Ascent from Cleveland: Wild Heart Steel Phoenix [Freedonia Press, 2008], a book I'd been longing to get my hands on since Steve Goldberg recommended it in a comment on my d.a.levy's grave blog in September. If I hadn't been relatively short on cash (despite the generous souls who bought my Bloggerel there - and thereby paid for my gas!), I would have bought Jason Floyd Williams' Inheritance Tax, too - but I'll do that soon. You can pick up a copy the next time you're at Mac's (or visit www.interiornoisepress.com). Finally, here are a few more photos from Wednesday's festivities:
Dianne Borsenik - photo by Jesus Crisis
The sign language poet and his interpreter - photo by Jesus Crisis
Suzanne Savickas - photo by Jesus Crisis
Peter Leon - photo by Jesus Crisis
Jesus Crisis - photo by Mrs. Crisis (Geri)
Dianne and Geri - photo by Jen Pezzo
Jason and his wife Trinity - photo by Jesus Crisis
Jen Pezzo, aka Kerowyn Rose - photo by Jesus Crisis
Vertigo Xi'an Xavier - photo by Jesus Crisis
Me, Geri (and Jason) ready to head home - photo by Sue Savickas.
Visit Mac's Backs at 1802 Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. They're open from 10 to 9 on Monday thru Thursday, from 10 to 10 on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 to 8 on Sunday. They hold poetry readings the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m., a poetry workshop every 3rd Friday at 7 p.m., and a host of other cool artistic events on various other days. February 11th, they will feature poet and actress Renee Matthews Jackson, who will be performing Women of Season (a poetic production with excerpts from the works of Ntozake Shange, Laini Mataka and other poets). For more information, check out their website at www.macsbacks.com or call them at 216-321-BOOK.
I heartily thank all who braved the bad weather to attend! And to those who couldn't make it, thank you for staying home. It was a horrible night for driving and I wouldn't have wanted folks to risk their lives for a poetry reading. Oscar Wilde may have said "to have ruined oneself for poetry is an honour," but I don't think he was referring to becoming a broken human icicle on Interstate 90.
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I had a great time. You and Jason were wonderful! I'm glad I went back for my camera.
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I'm glad you didn't mind me using your photo!
I very much appreciate you being there (and taking pictures), and I'm very happy you (and everyone else) made it home safely. Really liked your poems, too!...
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Ah...VX puts the rest of us to shame when he makes the trek up to Cleveland from Canton...Glad to hear it went well, despite all efforts by the weather to make it otherwise.
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Thanks, T.M.! Vertigo never ceases to amaze me. His dedication is an inspiration.
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Thank you both, but really, from Massillon, it's a straight shot up Rt. 21 to 77 to Cleveland. Without the weather factoring in, my trip to Tremont for Lix & Kix or the Lit Café is only 65 minutes. I made it home tonight from Insights in Brunswick (I visited to check out the Saturday night crowd before making the final decision on who to offer features to there on March 21, plug plug) in less than an hour. Outside of Massillon's Art Displaced events and Canton's First Friday happenings, there's not much to do down here. It's worth the trip.
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I had a similar kind of drive tonight to my reading... but it was worth it as well. Glad you had fun.... because from the photos you look like you did.
Are you sure this was only your 2nd feature read?? Really? I could of swore you had at least one more in there somewhere.. but maybe I'm wrong .. you would know of course.
Ok.. so you dropped a big red herring in your blog now you have to come up with the goods.
Who are some of the legends that have read there at Mac's Backs?? Come on.. we need to know. I want to know...
You can't just drop a comment like that in your blog and leave us all hanging.
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I'm glad you made it home safe tonight, Chris, and look I forward to hearing more about your reading (which I'm sure was very good). I guess this was my third featured reading, if you count the very first Lix and Kix - but I suppose I forgot about that (is it possible?). Anyway, maybe Lix doesn't really count since it was an event I co-created and co-hosted and to which I invited myself to read... lol. I mean, if I'm going to count inviting myself to read, I'll have to count reading to myself in the mirror at home alone, too.
There's no way I could give a comprehensive list of legends, especially in my current sleepy state, but the four from the Cleveland area who come to mind are Daniel Thompson, Russell Salamon, Alex Gildzen, and Steven B. Smith. Might sound crazy, but I could almost feel the ghost of Daniel Thompson lurking about the room.
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I though Charles Potts read there.. it sounded like it from something he'd said.
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He might've. You know he'll be reading in Cleveland again in May.
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You mean legends besides John "Jesus Crisis" Burroughs, and Dianne Borsenik, lol? Sorry, just had to go there, Chris! Seriously, it was super, and was well-attended by a small but very appreciative audience. There was a great dynamic to the reading, and the two features played well off each other. I, too, find it hard to believe this is only JC's 2nd featured read; of course, you know, JC, you had the first Lix and Kix show, too, so technically, it's your 3rd!
What's always so amazing for me is when you go "off paper" and perform your poems from memory. You're so animated and expressive! Thank you for another wonderful evening of poetry, and I can't wait to hear even more!
PS I'm rather curious about just who has read there, too; I want to say EVERYBODY, and will be looking in my Cleveland Poetry Scene book for the answer to that query. I know the Smiths have read there. Will get back to you on that one....
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LOL... I should have read your comment before I responded to Chris'. I wish I were a legend - ha! - but I greatly appreciate your kind words and support. I'm pretty certain almost everybody in the Cleveland Poetry Scenes book [Bottom Dog Press, 2008] has read at Mac's Backs (except of course d.a.levy, Langston Hughes and Hart Crane, who all died before there was a Mac's). There have been legends from out of town, too, I daresay. But I'm inclined to focus on the greater Cleveland area.
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thanks for all of this, john, & everyone. it was a fun reading. i'm glad i was a part of it.
jason
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Jason, your poems were great, and I'm thoroughly enjoying your book (and thank you for the wonderful artwork you drew for me when you signed the book!)-- I'm so pleased that I once again had the opportunity to hear you read your poetry (the first time was at the Tainted Cleveland/Now That's Class weekend event)-- and I look forward to hearing you read again!
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Thanks, Jason! It was a pleasure to meet you, hear your poetry and read with you!
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I wish you the three pees. Peace and Peaceful Poetry to all you Poets.
I hope the next reading occurs on better weather for driving.
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Thanks, Elena! I second those sentiments!
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mac's and suzanne are the first readings i remember attending back in the early 1980s. i read at her previous location just down the street. don't believe anyone else in town has hosted any where near as many events.
plus i REALLY like having my portrait on the wall over the cash register.
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