This Week in Lit Events: March 20-26th

This week it’s VERSeFest, the outstanding Ottawa festival of words. Not in our nation’s capital? There’s more events in Toronto, St. John’s, and Vancouver this week to check out.Are you hosting an event featuring an author whose titles are available on All Lit Up? Send the event details, including author, book, date, time, and address to hello@alllitup.ca to be included in our listings.

Monday, March 20th

Toronto

Common Readings SeriesWhere: The Bell Jar Cafe, 2072 Dundas St W, Toronto, ONWhen: 8pmMore information: Adebe DeRango-Adem reads from Terra Incognita with other readers at Common Reading Series in Toronto.

Tuesday, March 21st

TorontoHot-Sauced WordsWhere: Supermarket Restaurant & Bar, 268 Augusta Ave Toronto, ONWhen: 7:30pmMore information: Brenda Clews (Tidal Fury) will be reading at the Hot-Sauced Words poetry event in Toronto.Ottawa

VERSeFest Opening ShowcaseWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 7pmMore information:  Zachary Richard, Carolyn Smart, and Steven Collis read at the opening of this year’s VERSeFest in Ottawa.

Wednesday, March 22nd

Montreal

Ilona Martonfi Author Reading: World Poetry DayWhere: Concordia University, H527 – 1455 De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal, QCWhen: 1:15pmMore information: Poet Ilona Martonfi reads from The Snow Kimono at a World Poetry Day event at Concordia University, Montreal.TorontoPivot Reading SeriesWhere: The Steady, 1051 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ONWhen: 8pmMore information: Pivot’s last show before the rush of spring publishing brings four writers at different points along the journey. We have visiting Newfoundlander and past GG winner Robert Chafe, Kingston’s Ashley-Elizabeth Best and a duo of local Toronto writers in Shari Kasman and Gwen Benaway. Will be good; you will like. PWYC (Suggested: $5).Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1741001582788965/OttawaTree Reading Series @ VERSeFestWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 7pmMore information: bill bissett, Madhur Anand, and Christian Milat read in a Tree Reading Series presentation at VERSeFest.VERSeFest ShowcaseWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 9pmMore information: VF showcase with Paisley Rekdal, Tereza Riedlbauchova, and Brandon Wint.

Thursday, March 23rd

TorontoKnife Fork Book ReadingsWhere: Knife Fork Book at Rick’s Cafe, 281 Augusta Avenue, Toronto, ONWhen: 6:30pmMore information: Steve Meagher and Stuart Ross read at Knife Fork Book in Kensington Market.OttawaVerse Voices @ VERSeFestWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 7pmMore information: Eva HD, Michel Côté, Michael Dennis, and Andre Narbonne are Verse Voices at this year’s VERSeFest.Blue Mondays and In/Words @ VERSeFestWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 9pmMore information: Kayla Czaga, Ali Blythe, Allesia de Cesare, and Dominique Langlois read at the VERSeFest Blue Mondays and In/Words event.

Friday, March 24th

OttawaPlan 99 @ VERSeFestWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 7pmMore information: Moez Surani, Greg Scofield, and Sharon McCartney read at the Plan 99 VERSeFest event.Vancouver

Arts & Entertainment/ Books & Literature (and sport!)Where: Hillcrest Community Centre Rink, 4575 Clancy Loranger Way, Vancouver, BCWhen: 9-11:15pmMore information: Come be a part of a collaborative, performative, and participatory skating event based on the book of poems about ice, serpentine loop by Elee Kraljii Gardiner (Anvil Press, 2016)Featuring demonstrations by professional skaters Elin Schran and Douglas Webster and the Canadian debut of the short performance “serpentine loop” skated by Elin Schran. Free admission. Email for more information: info at anvilpress dot com.

Saturday, March 25th

OttawaFactory Reading Series @ VERSeFestWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 1pmMore information: Factory Reading Series presents lectures by Marilyn Irwin and Faizal Deen.Translation Panel @ VERSeFestWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 3pmMore information: Translation Panel with Chus Pato, Patrick Friesen, Erin Mouré, Ulrikke Gernes, and Lisa Robertson.Railroad Reading Series @ VERSeFestWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 7pmMore information:  Railroad Reading Series with Alan Gillis, Leanne O’Sullivan, and Jordan Abel.Ottawa International Writers Showcase @ VERSeFestWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 9pmMore information: Ottawa International Writers Showcase with Ulrikke Gernes, Chus Pato, Erin Mouré, and Patrick Friesen.St. John’s

Moose’s Roof Book LaunchWhere: Chapters, 70 Kenmount Road, St. John’s, NLWhen: 1-3pmMore information: We will be launching Moose’s Roof from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at Chapters, 70 Kenmount Road. There will be special story time with Jennifer and treats for the kiddos. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Sunday, March 26th

Toronto

The Secret Handshake Poetry ReadingWhere: 120 Baldwin Street Toronto, ONWhen: 1:30pmMore information: Rocco de Giacomo will be performing a reading of Every Night of Our Lives at The Secret Handshake Poetry Reading in Toronto.OttawaNCR Showcase @ VERSeFestWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 1pmMore information: NCR showcase with Mark Frutkin, Sandra Ridley, Guy Jean, and Angele Bassole OueDraogo.Arc Poetry Magazine @ VERSeFestWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 3pmMore information: Arc Poetry Magazine at VERSeFest with Robyn Sarah, Jill Jorgenson, Phoebe Wang, and Lisa Robertson.Sawdust Reading Series @ VERSeFestWhere: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ONWhen: 9pmMore information: Sawdust Reading Series with Steven Heighton and Louis Bertholom.