Slam Poets

The Dissident Salon is a weekly poetry and performance series created as an extension of the DISSIDENT Club’s mission to provide a home for dissenting voices, hosted by Alissa Leeds. Rooted in the tradition of the literary salon, it treats writing and performance as public acts that question power and challenge the systems that shape our lives. Each week features a curated performer, followed by open mic sessions open to all. Work may be presented in English, French, or other languages. Multilingual expression is central to the space and reflects the realities of exile, displacement, and exchange that define the DISSIDENT Club. The Salon is an ongoing forum for people who speak publicly and think critically through art. It exists to build community and support sustained creative work within the broader ecosystem of the DISSIDENT Club. **When:** Every Tuesday, starting January 6th, 2026 **Sign-ups:** 8:00 PM **Sets:** Three 45-minute sessions at 9:00 PM, 10:00 PM, and 11:00 PM **Where:** The DISSIDENT Club, 58 rue Richer, 75009 Bring work that confronts. We offer the microphone.

This group is for anyone interested in writing in English, whether it be prose or poetry or non-fiction. We get together once a week to listen, critique and support each other in our work. Attendees bring something they have written, six copies, printed out and no longer than seven pages, which they read aloud. They then receive feedback from the rest of the group. The size of the group is limited to 6, so that everyone is able to receive a full 30 minutes of constructive feedback including reading time. If you have nothing to read but would like to come and listen, you are most welcome too. We are an anglophone group and everything is conducted in English, in fact not everyone who comes can speak French. Please bear this in mind if you sign up.

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \(Français plus bas\) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- This is the 12th season of the Open Mic & Jam Around The Table ! Everybody's welcome to join us in a chill intimate atmosphere, sitting around the tables with pizzas and drinks. It's kinda like singing in your living room (or listening to live music there), but in a mic and surrounded by 30-40 people :) Everybody who wants to sing is welcome to perform one song on the first round, and 1 song on the second round depending on the time the first round finishes (usually first round ends at around 11.30 - 12). Sometimes, there's even a third round, but that's rare. No need to register before the event or even during, you're potentially registered at the moment you enter the room and can sing at the end of the round that you entered the circle. This is mostly an open mic and with some jamming around it, meaning that solo instruments can join in if the singer is comfortable with that (most of them are, but not always, so it's not guaranteed), so we often have some solo guitars, and more rarely some sax, cello, violin, etc. Percusions aren't allowed anymore unfortunately due to neighboors complaints. People can either perform by themselves or sing along with others, or meet some guitar players or singers who could play / sing with them. If you can only sing but not play, try coming with someone who can play for you as Im never sure who will come and what they can or want to play (guitar players are here for fun, it's not guaranted they'll want to play what you want to sing, or even know the song at all). You can also just take the time to meet some musicans there and ask them if they know the songs you'd like to play cuz it's also a perfect atmosphere for musical experiments without any pressure and to meet a whole community of live music lovers. Or you can also just improvise, which is usually the easiest thing to do actually. Of course, non musicians / singers can also just come and enjoy the atmosphere and music and meet the community. As I've been running those events for quite a while now and post them on Meetup and Couchsurfing, the crowd is a nice mix between expats, travellers and locals. So let's meet at Nul Bar ailleurs - 18 rue de Cotte, métro Ledru Rollin (lign 8) Happy hour until 9 PM with pints of beer for 3,5 euros cocktails for 5 (then 5 & 7 € after 9 PM) See you on tuesday(s) ! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- FRANCAIS \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- On se retrouve autour de la table du sous-sol du Nul Bar Ailleurs - 18 rue de Cotte, métro Ledru Rollin sur la ligne 8 -, avec des bonnes pizzas et des bons cocktails ! Le micro est ouvert à tous au premier tour pendant lequel celleux qui veulent / peuvent chanter en auront l'occasion et le reste de la nuit est un peu plus improvisé en fonction du monde et des gens qui sont là. Il peut y avoir un deuxième où il est possible de chanter 1 autre chanson en fonction du timing. L'idée est de se retrouver dans une ambiance intime et de créer une communauté d'amateurs de live music, qu'ils soient musiciens, chanteurs ou public. Au niveau des nationalités, c'est aussi un mélange de locaux, d'expats ou de voyageurs de passage. Il s'agit en priorité d'un open mic où l'on encourage certains instruments (guitares / sax / violon / violoncelle, etc) à faire des solos si le/la chanteur/se le veut, ce qui est le cas pour la grande majorité des gens. Les percussions sont par contre interdites à cause des plaintes des voisins. Happy hour jusqu'à 21h avec pintes de bière à 3,5 € et cocktails à 5 € (puis 5 € et 7 € après 21h) A mardi ! *** The host : Olivier Domengie has been organizing weekly open mics, jam sessions and monthly songwriting worskhops in Paris for over 5 years, along with tours all around Europe. He's also a singer-songwriter who goes by the name The Mind Traveller : www.themindtraveller.com or www.facebook.com/mindtravellerparis

### 🎤 Green Light in Paris - STANDUP COMEDY IN ENGLISH to discover the city of lights 💡 Green Light in Paris offers a **Unique Comedy Show every Tuesday** where the best comedians in Paris delve into **one theme** and fill you in on the Do's and Don'ts of **Parisian life** in the hip and trendy **11th arrondissement** (Near République & Canal-Saint Martin). **THE fun thing to do in Paris** in English! Whether it's a fun date, a night out with friends, or just a chance to meet new people, our standup comedy club has it all. **Since 2021**, Green Mic has featured comedians who have appeared on ***Netflix***\*, Comedy Central, Amazon Prime, BBC, Don't Tell Comedy, The Ringers with Bill Burr, **Fringe Festival,** and other big European festivals.\* **📅 Show Date**: Every Tuesday **at 8:00 PM** (Doors Open at 8:00 PM - Show starts at 8:30 PM) 📍 **Located at : Les Marquises -**[145 Rue Oberkampf](https://www.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x47e66defc8355daf:0xcc7f729bf8e010d8?sa=X&ved=1t:8290&ictx=111 "https://www.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x47e66defc8355daf:0xcc7f729bf8e010d8?sa=X&ved=1t:8290&ictx=111")**, 75011 Paris** [Short Preview of the show](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_uZbsNNQyl/) 🎤 **Who are the comedians?** We book **different comedians every show** and the best visiting comedians from **all around the world** (USA, Australia, Canada, Italy, Spain, UK, New Zealand, ... more than 50 countries) -- *We share clips of our comedians on Instagram @GreenMicComedy --* **🌟 What is the show?** A **traditional standup comedy** show with 3 acts, a first act, a middle act and a closing act. Three different comedians with different styles and enough time to experience comedy in a different setting. 🎫 Get your Tickets: [GreenLightParis.eventbrite.fr](https://GreenLightParis.eventbrite.fr "https://GreenLightParis.eventbrite.fr") \#\#\#\# 🎟️Book your tickets now and secure your spot for a night to remember\! 🎟️ #### ABOUT YOUR TICKET :🎫 * You can make a free reservation which is "**first come first served**" for entry, with a donation at the start of the show. RESERVING A FREE TICKET DOES NOT GUARANTEE ENTRY. Please be on time so we can find you a seat before the show starts. *\*\*This show is crowd-funded and our recommended price is 12euros and 7 euros for students.* Follow us on social media for updates and more information! \*\*[@GreenMicComedy ](https://www.instagram.com/greenmiccomedy/ "https://www.instagram.com/greenmiccomedy/")\*\*🎤

La Mèche te propose un spectacle totalement improvisé où tes idées prennent vie… Un maître de cérémonie a préparé des contraintes pour ses joueurs, auxquelles vont s’ajouter régulièrement vos souhaits, pour des aventures aussi enflammées qu’humoristiques. 😊 Organisateurs : La Mèche 💰 Tarif : une consommation obligatoire 🕒 Horaires : De 20h à 22h Les participant·es sont susceptibles d’être photographié·es ou filmé·es pendant l’événement.

🟡🟡🟡 FRANÇAIS 🟡🟡🟡 (⬇🟢🟢🟢 ENGLISH 🟢🟢🟢⬇) 😍 MEETUP BI-MENSUEL 😍 PiSCiNE OLYMPiQUE (50m) 📍 PARiS CENTRE 📍 ✅ PROGRAMMES de NATATION GRATUITS ✅ ☀ OUVERT A TOUS 20-39 ans ☀ 🏊 TARIF ENTRÉE PiSCiNE : 3,50€ à l'unité ou 2,80€ en prenant une carte de 10 entrées (valide 1 an, valable dans quasi toutes les piscines de Paris intra-muros, notre piscine incluse) 🔥 places limitées : 8 participants maximum 🔥 ▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼ Si tu veux AMÉLIORER TA FORME et faire de nouvelles RENCONTRES 💬, rejoins-nous ! 😊 Pendant 1h à 1h15 viens NAGER dans une piscine olympique dans le centre de Paris avec un groupe motivé ! 🏊🔥 Au choix : 😊 Tu peux nager à TON RYTHME, faire le nombre de longueurs que tu préfères, alterner les nages à volonté... ou ✅ Tu peux suivre un des PROGRAMMES proposés par l'animatrice Programmes complets concoctés par un coach sportif, au choix : * **niveau DÉBUTANT** (modulable en fonction de ton niveau et endurance) * **niveau INTERMÉDIAIRE** 😊 * **niveau AVANCÉ** (tu vas t'éclater ou souffrir 😂 mais à ce qu'il parait il le faut pour devenir belle/canon 😉 ready? 🔥) OBJECTIFS : * faire connaissance avec des participant(e)s motivé(e)s 💪🔥 pour NAGER, faire des exercices EN GROUPE et SE MOTIVER sur le LONG TERME 😊 * revenir régulièrement et constater des PROGRES et EVOLUTION 🎉 (santé, bien-être, mission summer body ou juste contrer les effets raclette sur ton jean 😅) **DÉROULÉ** **de notre séance :** 19h15-19h25 : 👋 GREET & MEET 😊 19h30-19h45 : ENTRÉE PISCINE + se changer 🏊 **19h50-21h : SÉANCE NATATION** 🏊 21h-21h15 : moment de relaxation / convivialité dans le bassin d'eau chaude 21h15-21h45 : douche / s'habiller (info : fermeture de la piscine à 22h, généralement ils nous mettent la pression à partir de 21h45) 😍 BIENFAITS de la natation : * **tonifier, muscler et affiner l'ensemble de son corps** * **améliorer sa posture** * **lutter contre la cellulite** * **brûler beaucoup de calories** (400cal/h à vitesse tranquille, jusqu'à 900cal/h en natation intense), ce qui rapidement permet d'**affiner sa silhouette** (en nageant régulièrement) * **faire un sport complet sans impact sur les articulations** * et grâce aux effets bénéfiques de ce sport cardio, par l'amélioration des performances du coeur et des capacités pulmonaires qui apportent sur le long terme un meilleur apport en oxygène aux muscles : **retrouver forme et énergie durablement** ! N'hésite pas à venir seul ou avec des amis. Toute personne intéressée par cette sortie est la bienvenue 😊 📍 RDV à 19h15 (nous attendrons 5-10 minutes avant d'entrer ensemble 😊) A très vite pour se dépenser ensemble et faire de nouvelles rencontres 😊 ▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼ 👉 RECOMMANDATIONS 👍 A mettre dans ton sac de sport : * **MAILLOT de BAIN** 1 pièce * **BONNET** (obligatoire) * **LUNETTES** de natation * TONGUES/CLAQUETTES de piscine propres * **SERVIETTE** + **gel douche/shampoo** + brosse à cheveux/crème visage Optionnel : \- MONTRE submersible \(si tu veux chronométrer tes temps\) \- PALMES Apporter au minimum une **BOUTEILLE D'EAU** (idéalement 1L) A très vite 😊 Si ce n'est pas cette fois, au plaisir de se rencontrer une prochaine fois 😊 ▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼ ▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼ 🟢🟢🟢 ENGLISH 🟢🟢🟢 😍 BI-MONTHLY MEETUP 😍 OLYMPIC POOL (50m) 📍 PARIS 📍 ✅ FREE SWIM PROGRAMS ✅ ☀ OPEN TO ALL 20-39 yo ☀ 🏊 POOL RATES : 3,50€/unit or 2,80€/admission with a 10-admissions card (valid 1 year, entrance possible in almost all pools of Paris, ours included) 🔥 limited spots : 8 participants maximum 🔥 ▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼ If you want to WORKOUT and MEET NEW PEOPLE 💬, join us! 😊 For 1 hour to 1¼ hour, come SWIM in an olympic pool in the center of Paris with a motivated group! 🏊🔥 😊 You can swim at your own pace or ✅ You can follow one of the animator’s SWIM programs, created by a sports coach : * **BEGINNER program** (adjustable according to your level and endurance) * **INTERMEDIATE program** * **ADVANCED program** **Schedule of our session:** 7:15 - 7:25 PM : 👋 GREET & MEET 😊 7:30 - 7:45 PM : POOL ENTRY + put on the swimsuit **🏊 7:50 PM - 9 PM : SWIMMING SESSION 🏊** 9 PM - 9:15 : friendly moment and relaxing in warmer pool 9:15 - 9:45 PM : shower / get dressed (info: the pool closes at 10 PM) Do not hesitate to come alone or with friends. Anyone interested in this outing is welcome :) 📍 Meeting at 7:15PM (we will wait 5-10 min before we enter together 😊) ▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼ 👉 RECOMMANDATIONS 👍 To put in your sports bag: * **SWIMSUIT** (1 piece) * **SWIM HAT** (mandatory) * **SWIMMING GOGGLES** * POOL FLIP-FLOPS * **TOWEL** + **shower gel/shampoo** + hairbrush/face cream Optional: \- submersible WATCH \(if you want to monitor your times\) \- SWIMMING FINS Bring at least a BOTTLE OF WATER (ideally 1L) I hope to meet you all soon 😊 If it is not this time, maybe it will be next time 😊

Paris Lit Up open mic (PLU) Every Thursday in English (other languages too – when in Rome, speak French) at the historic home of French Slam poetry, Culture Rapide (103 Rue Julien Lacroix, 75020). If you would like to read, dance, sing or otherwise express yourself, sign up is open and free to all, starting at 20.00-ish. We go until we drop or run out of performers! In any language. Or no language at all. No limits, just respect. Plus, each week featured performers from around the world are invited to strut their stuff before our rowdy but respectful audience. For this week's special guest, see: www.facebook.com/ParisLitUp Not in Paris? Join us online at "PLU Live on Zoom"! Every Wednesday from 9pm CET. Just like an open mic, but we chat a bit too. Always the same link, hosts rotate: http://tiny.cc/PLUopenmic

Diez Cuerdas est un duo ardent, composé d'une guitare flamenca et d'une basse fretless. De leurs quatre mains, ils ont tissé un répertoire original et des arrangements mêlant les rasgueados de la guitare flamenca aux harmonies de la basse fretless, pour mettre le cap sur la musique méditerranéenne. À l'occasion de ce concert, ils vous proposent une soirée musicale inoubliable, portée par les mots du poète dissident turc, Nâzım Hikmet. Avi Mizrahi - basse fretless Maxime Blanchard - guitare flamenca 🗓️ JEUDI 28 MAI de 19H à 21H 📍 58 rue Richer 75009 Paris 🔴 entrée gratuite + sans réservation + 5 € (minimum) de contribution aux musiciens sur votre premier verre (nous préférons l'argent liquide) + consommation obligatoire 🌐 visitez www.thedissidentclub.org pour plus d’informations

Venez rejoindre une conversation autour du mouvement de la nueva canción latino-américaine avec les auteurs Alejandro Madrid (Silvio Rodríguez's Días y flores: A Microhistory of the Album), Claudio Palomares Salas (New Mexican Song: Music, Politics, and Resistance) et Ericka Verba (Thanks to Life: A Biography of Violeta Parra). Alejandro L. Madrid est professeur de musique à l’Université de Harvard. Théoricien culturel du son et de la musique, il travail dans les domaines des études latino-américaines et latinx. Ses dix livres et une multitude d'articles remarquables l'ont situé comme l'un des musicologues les plus éminents de sa génération.Son prochain livre est consacré à "Días y flores", l’influent LP de Nueva Trova du chanteur-compositeur cubain Silvio Rodríguez. https://music.fas.harvard.edu/people/alejandro-l-madrid Originaire du Mexique, Claudio Palomares-Salas est professeur d'études latino-américaines à l'Université de Queens. Ses travaux, tant universitaires que créatifs, tissent des liens entre la littérature, la musique et les études culturelles en l'Amérique latine et sa diaspora. Claudio est également batteur professionnel qui a effectué des tournées et réalisé des enregistrements avec des artistes au Mexique, aux États-Unis, au Canada et ailleurs. [https://www.queensu.ca/llcu/people-search/claudio-palomares-salas](https://www.queensu.ca/llcu/people-search/claudio-palomares-salas) [https://global.oup.com/academic/product/mexican-canto-nuevo-9780197772706?cc=ca&lang=en&](https://global.oup.com/academic/product/mexican-canto-nuevo-9780197772706?cc=ca&lang=en&) Ericka Verba est professeure d'études latino-américaines à la California State University, Los Angeles. Ses domaines de recherche incluent la guerre froide culturelle et le rôle de la musique au sein des mouvements sociaux en Amérique latine au XXe siècle. Elle est une musicienne accomplie et fut membre fondatrice des groupes de « nouvelle chanson » Sabiá et Desborde, basés à Los Angeles. [https://erickaverba.com/](https://erickaverba.com/) 🗓️SAMEDI 30 MAI de 18H à 19H30 📍 58 rue Richer 75009 Paris 🔴 entrée = 1 boisson 🌐 visitez www.thedissidentclub.org pour plus d’informations

Le jazz et les musiques traditionnelles de Slovaquie et de Belgique se rencontrent dans ce projet porté par deux jeunes musiciens en quête d’harmonies et de sonorités, explorant et redécouvrant des territoires sonores. Ce projet est né de la rencontre entre les outils de la musique improvisée influencée par le jazz et la musique traditionnelle slovaque. Le terrain de jeu encore méconnu des chansons slovaques offre une magnifique opportunité d’explorer l’harmonie, le timbre et le rythme. La chanteuse Eva Miškovičová et le guitariste Damien Thonnard s’en emparent pour développer une musique aux couleurs nouvelles. Eva Sole (lead) - voix, guitare, kalimba Damien Thonnard - guitare 🗓️ VENDREDI 29 MAI de 21H45 à 00H30 📍 58 rue Richer 75009 Paris 🔴 entrée gratuite + sans réservation + 5 € (minimum) de contribution aux musiciens sur votre premier verre + consommation obligatoire 🌐 visitez www.thedissidentclub.org pour plus d’informations

**FRENCH :** *Vous devez charger votre ordinateur et télécharger un logiciel de musique, je vous recommande FL studio ou Ableton.* L'évènement est divisé en 3 parties évolutives * Un cours pour les débutants ou confirmés Il s'agit d'un échange de technique. **Le premier cours sera axé autour du SAMPLING** Après le cours nous allons partir sur une contrainte créative. * La contrainte sera un sample, et de réaliser un son en 50min max. Les contraintes permettent d'éviter les paralysie artistiques. * La 3e partie est libre : écoute des compositions, débats, rigolades ! à la fin de chaques sessions les artistes présents peuvent sélectionner des compositions sur lesquelles is devront **ENGLISH :** *You need a charged computer and you should also download a music software . I recommend FL studio or Ableton* The event is in 3 parts * a cours for beginner or confirmed **around SAMPLING** then we will explore some creative contraint * with a sample you will have to create a song in 50min alone or with someone. * you decide what the 3rd part is : it can be cocktail,listening, debates it should only be good vibes! At the end of each session we will listen to your creations !

🎶 Salah Khaili Cool Jazz Édition – Trio Avec Alvar Benhamou (piano) & Manu Falla (contrebasse) Le batteur Salah Khaili propose ici une version intime et élégante de son univers avec sa Cool Jazz Édition. En trio, il s’entoure du pianiste Alvar Benhamou et du contrebassiste Manu Falla. Ensemble, ils explorent un répertoire feutré mêlant standards revisités, compositions originales et influences West Coast. Le piano dessine des harmonies délicates, la rythmique reste souple, et la musique respire à chaque instant. Un moment suspendu, tout en finesse et en complicité — idéal pour les lieux intimistes et les ambiances élégantes. Salah Khaïli - batterie Alvar Benhamou - piano Manu Falla - contrebasse 🗓️JEUDI 28 MAI de 21H15 à 00H15 📍 58 rue Richer 75009 Paris 🔴 entrée gratuite + sans réservation + 5 € (minimum) de contribution aux musiciens sur votre premier verre (nous préférons l'argent liquide) + consommation obligatoire 🌐 visitez www.thedissidentclub.org pour plus d’informations

## Details Hello writers, we are happy to meet you in our new permanent home: Bohème Coworking, located at 21 rue Sedaine in the 11th arrondissement. When you arrive, just tell the friendly folks at La Boheme reception that you are with the writing group. They will give you a little wooden knick-knack with the wifi codes and a number that they use to determine the cost based on time spent (it's 3,80 € per hour, paid at the end). ***Now, about Ready-Set-Write! ..*.** Ready Set Write! is a regular meeting of motivated writers who grab a beverage, then shut up and write. ***What it is:*** An opportunity for writers to get together and do short, intense bursts of writing. We write for 45-ish minutes, take a 15 minute break, rinse & repeat. ***What it is NOT:*** neither a forum for critiquing each other's work, nor shameless self-promoting your projects or groups. You pay for the time you spend, and have access to coffee, tea, and wifi. **AND FINALLY ...** * Register in advance, and only if you will join us in-person. * Update your RSVP if you cannot make it. * Please be respectful and considerate with our writing colleagues. ***Stay tuned for location updates!***

Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 7:00pm on Wednesday, February 11 at Streetlight Guild. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. **SCHEDULE:** 6:45ish - Quick introductions 7:00 - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 8:00 - The End **OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING** happens before and after the writing hour. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. **BEING LATE IS OKAY:** just show up and get settled! If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing & I look forward to seeing you at Streetlight Guild! **WHAT SHOULD I BRING?** Whatever you need to be able to write! You're welcome to bring earplugs/headphones if noise will bother you! **OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:** * **RSVP:** Please RSVP by 6:00pm the evening of the meeting. This helps me know how many to expect, and if we'll need additional space! * **COVID:** While masks are not required, please be mindful of the other writers around you and their comfort levels. * **WIFI/OUTLETS:** Outlets are limited, so please ensure your devices are charged when you come! But Streetlight Guild does have free WiFi! Yay! * **PARKING:** There is free public parking at Streetlight Guild.

[Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3351321) Location: The Goat River South 219 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215 Street parking is free on Sundays [Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf) Book summary: On a hot day in Bethlehem, a twelve-year-old Palestinian-American girl is yelled at by a group of men outside the Church of the Nativity. She has exposed her legs in a biblical city, an act they deem forbidden, and their judgement will echo on through her adolescence. When our narrator finally admits to her mother that she is queer, her mother's response only intensifies a sense of shame: 'You exist too much,' she tells her daughter. Told in vignettes that flash between the U.S. and the Middle East--from New York to Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine--Zaina Arafat's debut novel traces her protagonist's progress from blushing teen to sought-after DJ and aspiring writer.

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington. The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo. Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine. We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you. The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly. Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome. The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit. Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times. Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have. Happy writing!