News

Happy New Year from the Pig’s Eye Post!

Welcome to the first Pig’s Eye Post of 2012! This evening, Monday, January 9th, we are excited to present our first 2012 event, a Lowertown Reading Jam presented by writer, teacher, and performance poet Wendy Brown-Báez. The “Yours Truly” reading jam presents personal stories and collaborative poems, a reflection of what it means to be young, vibrant, determined, curious, and wise. Other Saint Paul events include the “Beaker & Brush” discussion series, Storyland at the Children’s Museum, and the return of A Prairie Home Companion. With new writing from the Almanac.

Jan 9, 2012: Wendy Brown-Báez presents “Yours Truly” at the Lowertown Reading Jam

The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce its first 2012 event—the third in its 2011–2012 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city. The “Yours Truly” Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Monday, January 9th, 2012 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. This presentation of the eclectic series, presented by Wendy Brown-Báez, features Mai Vang, Tyler Marie Arends, Angela Ken, Chaunesty Perkings, Michael Liljedahl, and English teacher Jennifer Plum.

Thank you from the Saint Paul Almanac!

The Saint Paul Almanac thanks you for your involvement in our commitment to sharing diverse stories about our wonderful city. Thank you for sending in your writing, attending readings, and financially supporting us. It’s because of you that we are thriving!

Dec 14: Join Tata Diego for a ride on the Almanac Train!

Come and hear some great advice and get hands-on help with finalizing your poetry, fiction and nonfiction writing for publication in the 2013 edition of the Saint Paul Almanac. Our deadline for submissions for the 2013 Almanac is December 15th, but if you come to our workshop, we’ll give you another two weeks to mop your vowels, iron your nouns, and polish your prepositions—before submitting your finished work to the Almanac by December 31st. The conductor of our Almanac Train (chuckle) is Almanac community editor Diego Vázquez.

Dec 12, 2011: Nimo Farah presents “Nomadic Expressions” at the Lowertown Reading Jam

The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the second of its 2011–2012 series of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, celebrating the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city. This “Nomadic Expressions” Jam from the eclectic series, curated by Nimo Farah, features readings by Louis Alemayehu, Nahid Khan, Jake Virden, IBé, Marisa Carr, Abdifatah Farah Ali, Adrienne Maiers, and Hersi.

Your story wanted for the 2013 Almanac — Deadline: December 15th, 2011

What is YOUR Saint Paul? The Saint Paul Almanac wants to know! The Saint Paul Almanac is a people’s meeting space for sharing the life of our city—a literary campfire around which our vibrant community gathers to share a unique mixture of stories, history, events and art. Come join our celebration of Saint Paul!

OCT 23: Our Sweet Potato Sister: Celebrating the life and writings of Deb Torraine

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23TH from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), SteppingStone Theater, 55 Victoria Street North, St. Paul, MN 55104. It’s a free *event. Spread the word to people you know who knew Deb! *Donations accepted for the Deb Torraine Scholarship Fund for young adults. Please join us to celebrate all things Deb! A colorful and entertaining mosaic of what speaks, sings, delights in all thing… Deb! An evening of short stories, poetry, and spiritual muse set to music, dance and visual reflections of all things… Deb! She would say… “People got to Eat.” So food and refreshments above all things… Deb! Dessert potluck follows the event! We’re making sweet potato pie and stuff. You make whatever you love. And bring it.

Nov 14th, 2011: Lowertown Reading Jam: J. Otis Powell! presents “Duende and the Sound of Soul”

The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the first of its 2011-2012 series of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, celebrating the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city. The November 14th presentation of the eclectic series, curated by J. Otis Powell, features readings by eight spoken word performers living in Minnesota—Louis Alemayehu, e.g. bailey, Andrea Jenkins, Tom Kanthak, Leah Nelson, Alexs Pate, Katherine Pehrson and J. Otis Powell. The “Duende and the Sound of Sound” Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Monday, November 14th, 2011 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. The Jams will continue on the second Monday of each month through July.

Saint Paul Almanac Readings, coming to a coffee bar near you…

The Saint Paul Almanac Readings series takes place from September to November, in coffee bars around the city, featuring writers who were published in the 2012 Saint Paul Almanac reading their poems and stories. Venues include Ginkgo Coffeehouse, Fresh Grounds, Polly’s Coffee Cove, Cahoots Coffee Bar, Common Good Books, Grumpy Steve’s, Mad Hatter Coffee Cafe and Teahouse, The EDGE Coffee House, Jerabek’s New Bohemian Coffeehouse and Bakery, Amore Coffee, and Groundswell Coffee.

2012 Almanac book release events in September: Fundraiser (8th) & Party (15th)

FUNDRAISER: Thursday, Sept. 8, 6:30-8 p.m., AZ Gallery, 308 Prince Street, Lowertown. Readers: Poet Laureate Carol Connolly, Nimo Farah, Kofi Bobby Hickman and Patrick Coleman. Free book, hors d’oeuvres, wine. Help build our literary campfire! Suggested contributions: Match $50, Log $100, Flame $250, Smore $500. BOOK RELEASE PARTY: Thursday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m. at Black Dog Cafe, Clouds in Water Zen Center, and AZ Gallery, 308 Prince Street, Lowertown. Free. Readers: Poet Laureate Carol Connolly, Kofi Bobby Hickman, Patrick Coleman with Molly Culligan, Michael Teffera, Saymoukda Vongsa, Sharon M. Day, and Louis Alemayehu.

2012 edition of Saint Paul Almanac to launch in September

This September will see the launch of the 2012 Saint Paul Almanac—the well-seasoned sixth edition of the indispensable guide book to Minnesota’s capital city and Saint Paul’s unique and eclectic community storytelling hub of record! This year, the 416-page, 180+ photo 2012 Saint Paul Almanac is available in full color for the first time and—another first—includes gorgeous, hand-drawn, poster-size, pull-out maps of Saint Paul! An experiment in democratic publishing, the 2012 Almanac brought together a multigenerational team of 18 volunteer community editors to blind select from 400 submissions the 129 stories, poems, and recipes chosen to appear in the coming edition.