Descant would like to recommend Pilot Pocket Book 7. The launch will take place at Toronto’s Tequila Bookworm, on Sunday Nov 7 at 6pm. There will be live performances, readings and an art auction. It’s set to be a great night for all!
By the way, Descant’s own Managing Editor Mark Laliberte has a project in Pilot 7, so don’t forget to pick up a copy.
If you want to know more about The Pilot Project then head over to their website by clicking here
Posted in Events, General, Industry News, Launches, New Releases
We are very excited to see that writer, Joseph Maviglia is releasing his new CD Angel in the Rain on Sunday, November 14th in Toronto! Joseph is both a musician and a poet, having published three books of poetry and criticism as well as releasing the album Memory to Steel in 1994. In 1992, his song “Father, It’s Time” was on the Juno Award-winning compilation album, The Gathering. He was also featured in Descant issues 78, 88 and the very special 100th issue.
Angel in the Rain was recorded at St. Anne’s Anglican Church in Toronto and mixes the musical styles of blues, rock and jazz. Musicians who joined Joseph to record the CD will be performing with him at the CD launch, including: Colleen Allen, Ernesto Cervini, Kathleen Gorman and Robert Hamlyn.
If you’d like to join Joseph in celebrating his new CD at this event, head over to Waterfalls Indian Tapas Bar and Grill (303 Augusta Ave.) on Sunday, November 14th from 2-5 pm. The cover charge for the event is $15, which includes a copy of the CD, a performance by the artist and a great party.
Last December, Joseph played some of his songs at the NHT! & Descant holiday party, and we’re super-excited to see him releasing this new CD! Make sure you come out and congratulate him on this latest achievement.
If you want to preview some of the tracks from this new album, head over to Joseph’s myspace page.
Posted in Descant News, Events, General, New Releases
Tomorrow night is Nuit Blanche!
On Saturday, October 2 from sunset until sunrise, downtown Toronto will be transformed by artists. Chart a course for yourself to take in contemporary art across the city — and be sure to include this as a stop on your list: False Kraftwerk, a multi-layered, experimental performance art piece courtesy of Descant‘s own Managing Editor, Mark Laliberte!
Click here for more details about False Kraftwerk!
To plan the rest of your night, you can visit the Nuit Blanche website.
WHAT: Hundreds of artists, more than a thousand works of art — one single Square Foot Show!
WHERE: AWOL Gallery, 100A Ossington Avenue, 2nd Floor
WHEN: Runs from Saturday August 21 to Sunday September 5
Starting this Saturday, AWOL Gallery brings you (almost) more art than you can handle! The Square Foot Show allows hundreds of artists to produce one or two or three works the size of a square foot. The result: The gallery walls are completely covered, and visitors are surrounded by a giant mosaic made up of over a thousand amazing pieces of art.
Make sure to take in this unique gallery experience while you can! And while you’re there, see if you can spot a few works by Descant’s own very talented Managing Editor, Mark Laliberte.
Want to celebrate the experience even further? On Friday, August 20 at 7 pm, AWOL Gallery will hold a special Preview Gala for the show. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from the AWOL’s website, with proceeds going to the Daily Bread Food Bank and Arts For Children and Youth. As well, on the day of the show’s debut — Saturday, August 21 — there will be a FREE Artist Opening Reception starting at 7 pm.
Posted in Events, General, Visual Art
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Free Times Cafe (320 College Street, west of Spadina)
Doors at 6:30PM; Readings at 7PM
FREE/ALL AGES
Featuring Readings by:
Devon CODE
Colin FRIZZELL
Paul VERMEERSCH
—————–
Following the outstanding success of HEAR/HEAR #7, we’re getting ready to do it all again!
On Wednesday, August 11, NOW HEAR THIS! will be hosting an evening of readings and late summer celebration at the Free Times Cafe (320 College street). Taking the stage this time will be Writers-in-Residence Devon Code and Colin Frizzell, along with NHT! alumnus Paul Vermeersch. To learn more about these talented writers, just click on their names!
The HEAR/HEAR Reading Series is our way of saying thank you to the amazing Writers-in-Residence who have worked so hard to promote literacy and creativity in Toronto schools — not to mention, it’s a great way for you to experience new, experimental, and downright fantastic writing! Be sure to come out and support the people who have made the S.W.A.T. Program such a success.
We hope to see you there! Readings start at 7 — show up a little earlier for dinner and drinks from the Free Times’ menu.
Posted in Events, General, NOW HEAR THIS! News, Readings
Get ready for this year’s The Scream Literary Festival — six exciting days of literary events across Toronto!
Now in its 18th year, The Scream is a tribute to all that is radical, provocative, and new in literature. Events of all kinds will be happening throughout next week, all leading up to the massive main attraction: The Scream in High Park, a super-sized poetry reading in the beautiful outdoors.
Find a list of this year’s happenings (with links to their respective Facebook event pages) below! And you can visit The Scream’s website for even more details.
Welcome to the Carnival: An Evening with Steve McCaffery and David Antin (Tuesday, July 6 @ 7 pm) The first event of the festival features readings by “two of literature’s greatest provocateurs” (in fact, one of them, Steve McCaffery, is a past DESCANT contributor!).
Choose Your Own Poetic Adventure: A Scream Pub Crawl (Wednesday, July 7 @ 7 pm) A huge, sprawling poetry-reading event — featuring past DESCANT contributors Gary Barwin, Michael Knox, Nathaniel G. Moore, Emily Schultz, Daniel Scott Tysdal — former Now Hear This! S.W.A.T writer and DESCANT blogger Zoe Whittall — and many, many more writers!
The Centre for Sleep & Dream Studies (Wednesday, July 7 @ 11 pm) Poetry, sound and dream diagnosis are combined in the work of Canadian poet and artist a.rawlings!
The Hand That Feeds (Thursday, July 8 @ 7 pm) A celebration of Canadian arts policy that features past DESCANT contributor RM Vaughan, as well as NOW HEAR THIS! S.W.A.T. writers Angela Szczepaniak and Natalie Walschots!
My Voice Says So: The 25th Anniversary of bpNichol’s Zygal (Thursday, July 8 @ 11 pm) A gathering to celebrate the work of bpNichol – the well-known Canadian poet who was featured in DESCANT’s second-ever issue in 1971 (and again in 1988)!
A Prairie of the Appetite: Margaret Christakos’ Excessive Love Prostheses (Friday, July 9 @ 7 pm) A book-length dinner reading inspired by the work of past DESCANT contributor Margaret Christakos.
Wax & Comb: The Scream’s Moustache Gala (Saturday, July 10 @ 7 pm) Featuring live music and contests for the most innovative and impressive facial hair — start growing ASAP!
YouthTube: User (Re)Generated Content (Sunday, July 11 @ 4 pm) A digital presentation of poetry that encourages participation and contribution from the audience.
Old School vs. New School (Sunday, July 11 @ 5:30 pm) A panel of experts on the written word debate the meaning — and the future — of “radical” literature.
The Scream in High Park (Monday, July 12 @ 7 pm) The main event — featuring past DESCANT contributor Michael Lista along with many other talented writers reading at the Dream Stage in High Park!
Posted in Events, General, Industry News, Poetry
WHAT: The launch of Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar by Myna Wallin
WHEN: Wednesday, June 23 at 8:00 pm
WHERE: Proof Vodka Bar, 220 Bloor Street West
This Wednesday, join Myna Wallin in celebrating the launch of her new book!
Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar is a boisterous collection of short stories that puts a hilarious, postmodern twist on our ideas of sex and relationships. It’s been called “frank, rollicking Sex and the City adventures told in prose that reads like a memoir” — and it’s definitely an entertaining work that is not to be missed!
When not working in prose, Myna is also an accomplished poet who achieved an honourable mention in Descant‘s 2009 Winston Collins Poetry Prize. The judges called Myna’s poem, “Death, Wildlife and Taxes,” “a poignant incantatory poem that draws together the speaker’s worries, weaving a spell around her fears.” The work will be appearing in Descant’s upcoming issue, D149: Summer and Smoke (click here to preview the issue now!).
The launch will be taking place this Wednesday, June 23 at 8:00 PM, at Proof Vodka Bar on 220 Bloor Street West. Come out for food, drink, excellent prose — and to hear jazz singer Fern Lindzon!
Posted in Authors, Events, General, Launches, New Releases
Toronto Small Press Book Fair
Saturday June 19, 11am-5pm
1087 Queen Street West (Directions: Queen Street West & Dovercourt Road. Some street parking. Public Transit: TTC Queen Streetcar).
Descant is inviting you to join us at this year’s Spring Toronto Small Press Book Fair. From 11am to 5pm on June 19, publishers, writers, fans and friends of Canada’s smaller presses/publishers/publications will gather at the Great Hall (please note the venue change as the Toronto Reference Library is under construction).
Small to medium-sized presses will offer all kinds of books for sale, including chapbooks, graphic novels, audio books, magazines and comics, arts & crafts that offer different perspectives and opportunities to enjoy alternative literary experiences. The Fair is also offering readings from some of Toronto’s better known and emerging writing talents. As well there will be door prizes to be won and every opportunity to mingle. The Toronto Small Press Book Fair offers family-friendly fare, too.
Descant will be offering a special gift to purchasers of 2 or more issues! (while quantities and supplies last)
Hope to see you there!
For more information on Toronto Small Press Book Fair and link to their website, click here.
Posted in Descant News, Events, General
THE (NOT SO) NICE ITALIAN GIRLS & FRIENDS
talk about our fascination with dolls
Thursday June 10th, 7pm
Lola’s Commissary, 634 Church Street
Featuring:
Diane Bracuk
Beatriz Hausner
Lian Medaglia
Giovanna Riccio
Michelle Alfano as emcee
and music by Tom Garrett
For more info: notsoniceitaliangirls.blogspot.com
Posted in Events, General, Michelle Alfano
HEAR/HEAR Reading Series
Wednesday, June 09 (doors at 6:30pm, readings at 7pm)
@ The Free Times Cafe (320 College St.)
Featured Readings by:
————————–
Elisabeth de Mariaffi
Angela Szczepaniak
Natalie Zina Walschots
Next week, join Descant and NOW HEAR THIS! for a celebration of literacy and fantastic writing!
This year’s second installment of the HEAR/HEAR Reading Series is happening on Wednesday, June 09 at the Free Times Cafe (320 College St). This FREE, ALL AGES event will showcase talented local authors who have been working to promote literacy and creativity to the youth of Toronto through their involvement with NOW HEAR THIS!
Featured readers at this event will be Elisabeth de Mariaffi, Angela Szczepaniak and Natalie Zina Walschots. All three of these talented writers served as Writers-in-Residence with NOW HEAR THIS!’s Students, Writers and Teaches (S.W.A.T.) program; you can learn more about them and their experiences with S.W.A.T. by clicking on their names!
These writers have worked hard to make S.W.A.T. a success — help us to support them back by coming out to hear them read from their fantastic new works! Show up early for dinner and drinks from the Free Times Cafe’s menu — and stay for a special door prize give-away sponsored by This Ain’t the Rosedale Library.
MORE INFO:
———————————
Posted in Authors, Events, General, NOW HEAR THIS! News, Readings
