Got your own story to tell? Maybe even one that doesn't involve high school? Maybe even one that never happened but sounds good anyway? The Baltimore area offers a handful of places where storytellers and poets, both amateur and professional, specializing in fiction or nonfiction, can ply their craft. Here are four of the most popular:
510 Reading Series Begun in 2007, the 510 Readings Series "was really the first dedicated fiction reading series in the city," says Peggy Hoffman, co-owner of Minas Gallery, which serves as host for the free monthly gathering. Begun by local writers Michael Kimball and Jen Michalski, the series "has been so well-received, it's standing-room only every month," says Hoffman. Readers get up to 12 minutes to present their work.
As for the name, "I think they were just looking for something different," Hoffman says. "It's supposed to start at 5 o'clock, but in reality, it never starts until 5:10."
Meets at 5 p.m. the third Saturday of every month at Minas Gallery, 815 W. 36th St. in Hampden. Information: minasgalleryandboutique.com or 410-732-4258. You can also check out the series website at 510readings.blogspot.com.
!Speak Your Piece! Every Wednesday night, some of Baltimore's finest poets and poetry fans gather at Singer's Restaurant and Bar. Even though the evening is geared toward poetry, it's an open microphone, so pretty much anyone is welcome. "It's doing much better than I expected," says owner Ron Singer. "We have an open-mike comedy night, but the poetry's outdrawing the comedy, which is kind of surprising."
Begins at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Singer's Restaurant and Bar, 227 W. Chase St. Signup begins at 7 p.m. Information: singersofbaltimore.com or 410-539-4850. You can also check out the !Speak Your Piece page on Facebook.
Organic Soul Poetry, song, live music, hip-hop — just about anything is welcome Tuesday evenings at Eden's Lounge in Mount Vernon. Be sure to sign up by 7:30 p.m. if you want to get on the stage.
Begins at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Eden's Lounge, 15 W. Eager St. in Mount Vernon. Information: edenslounge.com or 410-244-0405.
New Mercury Reading Series Named in honor of H.L. Mencken's American Mercury magazine, this month-old series, sponsored by City Lit Project, features amateur and professional writers reading their nonfiction. "The idea was to get a range of people of all different types, working in all the many forms of nonfiction," says local writer Deborah Rudacille, who organizes the monthly series with writer John Barry.
This month's gathering, set for June 30, will include readings by professional writers Steve Luxenberg ("Annie's Ghost") and Charles Cohen and Towson University student Melissa Hale.
Meets at 7 p.m. the last Friday of the month at Jordan Faye Contemporary, 1401 Light St. in Federal Hill. Information: jordanfayecontemporary.com or 443-955-1547. You can also check out the series website at thenewmercuryreadings.com.
-- Chris Kaltenbach