The Best Events to Check Out at O, Miami Poetry Festival

Stop by the newly-opened Blue Bottle Coffee in the Miami Design District for a meet and greet with Miami poet, Yaddyra Peralta, in celebration of her poem, “Coffee.” Excerpts of the poet’s piece will be displayed on windows of the café in English, Spanish and Creole. Guests can also sample Blue Bottle’s New Orleans iced coffee. The event takes place on Tuesday, April 17 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The event is free to the public, but RSVP is required.

A tribute to the Hollywood actor, “I Know Why the Nick Cage Screams” will debut video clips, comedic performances, and burlesque shows at the Olympia Theater in Downtown. Cocktails, and a guided tour of the historic theater will be available for attendees. The free event will take place on Wednesday, April 18. Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 6:30 p.m.

Part poetry reading, part eulogy to the city of Miami, this event invites participants to create 100-word “goodbyes” to the places and experiences of the Magic City. The event is meant to expose the future consequences of climate change, and encourages all those attending to participate or just listen in. The free event takes place on Thursday, April 19 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Rock Plaza at the University of Miami’s Coral Gables Campus.

Enjoy a concert of music and poetry at the Nina Johnson Gallery. Our Own Voices will showcase musical performances by violinists Annaliese Kowert, Maya Cohon, Abby Swidler, violist Hanna Rose Nicholas, and cellist alexa Ciciretti. Event is free with RSVP, and takes place on Thursday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.

O, Miami and Refugee Assitance Alliance have joined forces to create A Taste of Syria Supper Club – a dinner featuring poetry readings by children of resettled Syrian families in South Florida. The event is a fundraiser hosted by the non-profit to help Syrian families resettle in the U.S. During the meal, made by Syrian hosts, guests will have the opportunity to chat with the Syrian families themselves. The community event is geared to promote building bridges instead of cultural divides. The event will take place on Friday, April 20 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at the Coral Gables Congregational Church. Admission is $50.

Make your taste buds tingle with a six-course, plant-based meal that explores the rice culture of South India. The Sangam Rice Dinner invites attendees to explore Indian cuisine, learning about the traditional and non-traditional forms of cooking, and also giving a lesson in ancient Indian Sangam Poetry dating back to 300 BC. Guests will receive an original Sangam Rice zine by Annam along with their meal. The event will take place on Saturday, April 21, 2018 from 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. at Miami Shores Community Church. Tickets are $85.

Buy and trade used books while enjoying an evening at the lanes. Presented by O, Miami and Bookleggers Library, the event costs $20, and includes bowling shoes, two hours of bowling, one baked good, one free poetry book and entrance into a raffle and bowling competition. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their best bowling garb for entrance into the contest! Food truck and pool tables are also available on site. (Anyone can attend the event without purchasing a ticket, but will only receive one free poetry book, other prizes not applicable.) The event will take place at Bird Bowl on April 23, 2018 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Catch a poetry reading featuring three of Ireland’s best contemporary poets; Colette Bryce, Julie Morrissy, and Paul Perry. The event will take place at The Besty Hotel on Friday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. RSVP is recommended.

O, Miami and the Miami Burning Man community present O, Love Burn, a one-of-a-kind event taking place at Virginia Key Beach. Attendees will participate in a writing workshop featuring an O, Miami poet, and an incantation by Cuci of Afrobeta. At the end all poems will be thrown into the burning fire as a symbol of transformation. Poems submissions are now being accepted under suggested themes of impermanence, letting go, transformation, creation, manifestation, and destruction. Free drinks will be available in exchange for a complaint at the Bitch-and-Tea Bar, and everyone is invited to bring their own drinks as well. Admission is $35 for adults, $10 for ages 13-17, and free for kids 12 and under. However, guests under 18 years old must be accompanied by their legal guardian. The event takes place on Saturday, April 28 from 7 p.m to Sunday, April 29 at 1 a.m.

The festival comes to a close on Monday, April 30 at the Nite Owl Theater which will be showing the film Dead Poets Society. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in the best prep school wardrobe. “That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” The event takes place at 7:30 p.m to 11 p.m.

Don’t forget to check out our book lover’s guide to Miami!