Reminder: Submit to Cæsura 2026!
The theme for this year’s Cæsura is LIFELINE.
What helps you feel grounded? How do you remember what you know? We live life with a constant sense of urgency and it is hard to filter through the chaos. What or who is your filter to calm, inspiration, and or radical joy?
We accept submissions of poetry, fiction and art from March 15th–June 1st 2026 for the general public, June 15th 2026 for Poetry Center San Jose Members.
Click here to read our complete submission guidelines.
We have a print and online edition. During the submission process, you will be asked if you want to be considered for print, online or both. Submissions may be published on one format or the other. We rarely print pieces in both editions.
Poetry Lounge Online Open Mic featuring Nils Peterson!
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
Sunday, April 5, 1:00 p.m. (PST) via Zoom
Poetry Lounge is held twice a month on the first and third Sunday.
Hosted by Lesa Medley! Contact Lesa Medley to receive your Zoom link: lcmedley016@gmail.com.
Special Guest: Nils Peterson! Open Mic to follow.
Nils Peterson is Professor Emeritus at San Jose State University where he taught in the English and Humanities Departments.
He has published poetry, science fiction, and articles on subjects as varyied as golf and Shakespeare, has had several chapbooks and three collections of poetry, the latest, All the Marvelous Stuff, 2020.
His memoir, Talk in the Reading Room published in 2014 by wordrunnerpress can be read at http://www.echapbook.com/memoir/peterson/. He also has a memoir about his friendship and work with Robert Bly, The Dear Time of our Talking, 2020. His latest, My Dinner with Nils, is just out and available from Amazon. It is a gathering of poems, memoir bits, essays, and Memorable Fancies.
In 2009, he was chosen to be the first Poet Laureate of Santa Clara County.
Poetry Center San José's mission is to nurture and promote diverse literary expression in our community as a means of exploring, defining, and enriching the human experience. We offer programs and services to stimulate passion for the literary arts and to inspire and support emerging and established writers.
San José Poetry Slam – Zoom Edition
Poetry Center San Jose presents The San Jose Poetry Slam Zoom Edition
We moved days
Come join us for Poetry from the comfort of your own home
Sunday, April 5.
Room opens at 6:30p.m. (PST)
Register here through Ticket Tailor
Sign up list will be open from 6:30 to 7:00p.m.
Slam starts at 7:00p.m.
We are on Pacific Standard time, that is 3 hours earlier than east coast time and 3 hours ahead of Hawaii.
This is a free event.
Your host and Emcee will be Scorpiana Xlent!
Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
If you have never been to a Poetry Slam before, a poetry slam is a competition, imagine spoken word poetry as an olympic sport.
The rules are simple:
Poets must use their own poems.
Poet must use only one poem per round.
No musical accompaniment.
No props.
Time limit of 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Going over that will result in a time penalty.
Poets must have video on while performing or there will be a 3-point penalty deduction.
This is a two-round slam, poets with the highest scores will move up to round two.
You can sign up to compete via the chat box in the zoom room.
If you're not competing, we could use judges.
Please remember to submit a quick audience survey to help us improve our logistics and content and report to our funders and sponsors. Here is the link to the survey: https://bit.ly/3M63VqH
Poetry Center San José promotes and supports the literary arts in San José. Over the past four decades, PCSJ has brought hundreds of exceptional writers from around the country to read from their works and, in many cases, to conduct workshops for local writers. PCSJ is a nonprofit organization established in 1978. Its base of operations is in the charming turn-of-the-century Victorian home where the renown poet Edwin Markham once lived, now located in San José History Park. Poetry Center San José is a member supported organization and is funded, in part, by grants from Applied Materials Foundation, the City of San José's Office of Cultural Affairs, Knight Foundation, Poets & Writers, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, SVCREATES, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council and also supported in part by a SVCreates National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan grant. We also thank Brandenburg Family Foundation and Anne & Mark's Art Party for their generous giving
Poetry Invitational 2026 at Triton Museum
Sponsored by Triton Museum of Art and Poetry Center San José
An evening of ekphrastic poetry and music as we wander around the exhibits inside the lovely Triton Museum.
An ekphrastic poem is a poem that describes or responds to a work of visual art, like a painting or sculpture, using vivid imagery and often exploring the emotions and themes evoked by the artwork.
Free admission.
Triton Museum
1505 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara
Participating Poets:
Arlene Biala – A Filipina American poet and educator whose work explores identity, migration, and memory. Arlene’s writing blends lyricism with sharp cultural insight and has been featured in numerous Bay Area literary spaces.
Cristal Gonzalez – Poet and performer whose work centers on Chicana identity, family histories, and working-class resilience. Her voice bridges storytelling and performance, bringing warmth and power to the stage.
Dr. Hortencia Jiménez – Author, scholar, and poet whose work reflects on migration, womanhood, and belonging. She weaves lived experience with critical insight, offering poetry that is both intimate and socially grounded.
Antonio López (San Mateo Poet Laureate) – The current San Mateo Poet Laureate, Antonio’s poetry uplifts community histories and everyday beauty. His work emphasizes civic engagement and the role of poetry in public life.
Songs by Alfredo Avila – Musician and songwriter whose work draws from traditional and contemporary influences. Alfredo’s music adds an emotional and cultural resonance that will beautifully complement the spoken word performances.
Markham House & Library Open Hours with Barry Endick
Looking for a cozy spot to read, write, or just unwind? Stop by Markham House from 11am to 4pm. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while you browse our library, chat with our friendly docent, and take in some dedicated poetry appreciation time.
Barry Endick will perfom a short reading of Edwin Markham's poems at 2:00 pm. He will have copies of other Markham poems that anyone who attends can get up and read.
📍Location: Markham House @ History Park • 635 Phelan Ave, San Jose, CA.
Free parking right outside of the main gate or in the lot at the end of Phelan Avenue (except during some History Park events.)
Once you walk into the park from Phelan Avenue, go straight until the road dead ends, then make a left. Markham House is then the second house on your left. There will be a flag over the steps that reads OPEN.
Writers’ Cafe at Markham House
The new PCSJ writing project where we all just drink hot bevs and write at Markham House!
You're invited to a gathering for those looking for a supportive writing community that focuses on the social aspects of being a writer and a space to discuss any and all disciplines of writing.
We welcome writers from all disciplines to hang out, work, then hang out some more.
This isn't a workshop, but a work time in a workspace with other writers.
This event is free and no registration necessary. Just show up with something to write.
We will meet at 11:30am for pastries, snacks, coffee and tea. Some will be provided, but more is welcome. If you do bring pastries, please only bring enough to share with one or two others.
Approximate Schedule
11:30am: Conversation over coffee and tea.
12:30: Quiet work. There are quite a few places to work quietly inside Markham House. Find your nook and write, or explore the books in our library upstairs, or continue your conversation outside, on the porch, or somewhere in History Park. We'll keep the coffee and kettle hot while you work.
2:45–3:15pm: Optional sharing and conversation. Writers are not expected to share what they’ve written, but if you’d like feedback, this would be the time for it.
Keep in mind, Markham House will be open to the public, so visitors will be coming in to peruse, but we will let them know that the house is infested with writers writing!
Admission: Free, but donations are welcome!
Parking: There is a parking strip on Phelan Avenue at the park gate. If there is no space available, there is a lot at the end of Phelan Ave.
Location: Once you walk into the park from Phelan Avenue, go straight until the road veers left with the firehouse on the right, then follow the left turn. Markham House is then the second house on your left. There should be an OPEN flag out on the porch.
Here is a map of History Park’s parking options:
Beautiful Black Books presents Tiny Room Poetry Series featuring Saul Williams, Derrick Sanderlin and Mona Webb
Tiny Room Poetry Series | Special Edition | Presented by Listen Different and Poetry Center San José
Join us for an intimate evening of poetry, music and community! This special edition offers a rare chance to connect with poets and musicians up close, meet fellow lovers of the art, and experience a vibrant local space in a fresh new way.
With performances by the legendary Saul Williams, San Francisco poetess Ramona Webb and local hero Derrick Sanderlin.
Reserve your seat here!
Choose a donation priced ticket or a free ticket—no one turned away for lack of funds. Any support you can offer helps us pay our guest performers. There are a limited number of free online tickets, but more are available at the door. We ask that those who claim a free ticket to wait for available seating at show time.
Saul Williams will also participate in a Q&A after the show.
Tiny Room Poetry Series is supported by SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Our performers:
Saul Williams
Saul Williams came to worldwide attention as a writer and performer with his debut film, SLAM (dir. Marc Levin) winning Sundance's Grand Jury Prize and Cannes Camera D'Or in 1998, introducing the world to the phenomenon of slam poetry competitions and Saul as a global ambassador of modern poetry. Saul holds a BA in Theater and Philosophy from Morehouse College and MFA in Acting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
As a musician, Saul's albums have featured genre-bending collaborations with producers, such as Rick Rubin and Trent Reznor, that helped usher in Brooklyn's Afro-Punk movement. Saul has also collaborated with “Contemporary Music” composers, writing the libretto for Ted Hearne's LA Philharmonic produced oratorio “PLACE” and two symphonies by the late Swiss composer, Thomas Kessler, based on two books of Saul's poetry, “,said the shotgun to the head.” and “The Dead Emcee Scrolls. Overall, Saul has released six studio albums and five books of poetry, translated into multiple languages. His latest album “Saul Williams meets Carlos Niño and Friends Live at Treepeople” was nominated for a Grammy for best Spoken Word Poetry Album and is out now on International Anthem Records.
In 2022, Saul wrote, composed the soundtrack/score, and co-directed the science-fiction musical Neptune Frost, alongside his co-director and creative partner, Anisia Uzeyman. Neptune Frost made its world debut as part of Cannes Film Festival's “Director's Fortnight” and was selected by NYT's film critic A.O. Scott as the #2 film of the year.
As an actor Saul has worked in theater, film and television. He was a series regular on the sitcom “Girlfriends.” He is the first African-American to win Best Actor in Africa's largest film festival FESPACO for his work in the Senegalese film TEY (“Aujourd'hui”) directed by Alain Gomis and his 2020 performance in “Akilla’s Escape” earned him a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Actor.
He was the lead in Broadway's first Hip Hop musical, “Holler If You Hear Me”, based on the lyrics of Tupac Shakur and directed by Kenny Leon. Saul also starred in the two final campaigns of Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton, appearing in “Peculiar Contrast, Perfect Light” (F/W 2021) and “Amen Break” (S/S 2022). Most recently, Saul appears as the preacher “Jedidiah Moore” in Ryan Coogler's “Sinners”.
As a performer, Saul has toured in over forty countries, lectured in hundreds of universities, and served as a guest professor of poetry and performance at Stanford University.
Derrick Sanderlin
Derrick Sanderlin is a musician, writer and organizer who lives, works and loves in the city of San Jose. They grew up in a diversity of sound, singing in convalescent homes, churches, and performing with local punk rock and metal bands. Derrick’s first EP Ghetto blends jazz, punk, folk, and R&B to communicate the complexity of family, love life, and identity as a young black kid in a dominant and oppressive culture. Derrick went on to open up sounds and conversations around toxic masculinity, mental health, the power of story, and the art of resilience through their project Sine Wave, a band borne out of an artist residency. While Derrick is not a native, he has experienced a deep love for San Jose, collaborating with local artists such as former poet laureate Mighty Mike McGee, singer/songwriter Noñameko, and rapper Latoya Fernandez.
Ramona (Mona) Laughing Brook Webb
Ramona (Mona) Laughing Brook Webb is an Afro-Creek Muscogee queer poet and performing artist whose intersectional work bridges art, healthcare, and equity. Mina’s the inaugural Poet-in-Residence at the University of California, San Francisco’s the National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health, The Black Womxn’s Health and Livelihood Initiative, and The Black Wellness Center.
In her role as Director of Wellness and Art Gallery Curator at the UCSF Black Wellness Center, Mona uses art integration into healthcare practices to tackle racial health disparities and promote cultural transformation. She also proudly serves as Poet Theologian and Coordinator of Arts & Liturgies Ministries at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. A conservatory-trained theater artist, Ramona specializes in docu-ritual-drama , a unique fusion of documentary storytelling, poetry, and ritual performance.
Your host:
Tshaka Campbell is the first black, Santa Clara County Poet Laureate and has authored four books of poetry entitled “TARMAN”, “MUTED WHISPERS”, “STUFF, I will write more”, “TUNNEL VISION'' and is latest book published by El Martilo press entitled “BLOOD AT THE ROOT. ” His words have been featured in Bridges Review, BBC UK, Content magazine, Speakeasy vol 1, Liminal Animals, Rigorous magazine, among others. A city of Milpitas and city of Sunnyvale commendation in the arts award recipient, Tshaka has also collaborated on projects with the World Health Organization (WHO), the De young museum in San Francisco, the NUMU and Triton museums, as well sits on the Board of Directors for Silicon Valley Creates arts council and Poetry Center San Jose. He has partnered with the Silicon Valley Transit Authority and community members to deliver youth programs centered around expanding poetry and literature. He has 4 spoken word albums entitled "ONE", “BLOODLINES”, "SKIN vol.1"; and his most recent release "NKISI" is currently available on all streaming platforms.
Well-RED features Open Mic Night celebrating Poetry Month!
Well-RED features Open Mic Night celebrating Poetry Month!
Tuesday, April 14th, 7:00 p.m. (PDT)
Co-sponsored by Works/San José art and performance center!
Address: 38 S. 2nd Street, San José.
Come share your own new or favorite works. Did you create something during a Poets@Play Creative Writing workshop or Writers' Cafe at Markham House? Come share it live in-person or via Zoom!
We will have appetizers and beverages available!
Register in advance for this event via Zoom.
Link: https://bit.ly/Well-RED_April2026
TO SUBMIT EVENT FEEDBACK, visit: https://bit.ly/4dBnxR2
Poetry Lounge Open Mic on Zoom
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
Sunday, April 19, 1:00 p.m. (PST)
via Zoom
Hosted by Lesa Medley!
Poetry Lounge is held twice a month on the first and third Sunday.
Contact Lesa Medley to receive your Zoom link: lcmedley016@gmail.com.
San José Poetry Slam – Live at Wheelhouse with Cadence McCracken
Poetry Center San José presents San José Poetry Slam – Live In Person!
Come join us for poetry and some of the most delicious pizza in San José at our new venue in Willow Glen:
Wheelhouse of Willow Glen
1173 Lincoln Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Doors open and the sign up list goes out at 6:30pm
The Poetry Slam starts at 7:00pm
Admission is $5–10 sliding scale; no one turned away for lack of funds.
Hosted by Scorpiana Xlent.
Our Featured Poet is Cadence McCracken!
Cadence McCracken a sweet and fierce trans woman, poet and artist surviving and thriving with grit and grace in San Francisco, CA. Her work grapples with themes of gender, mental health, radical politics, and recovery, interrogating and deifying the body, soul and collective unconscious simultaneously. She is a grand slam champion and four-time National Poetry Slam competitor. In 2014, Cadence and her team ranked 8th out of 72 teams at the National Poetry Slam. Cadence has been published in Ink & Marrow and Agapanthus. She is currently an MFA candidate at The Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers.
Poetry Slam Competition Info
Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
If you have never been to a Poetry Slam before, a poetry slam is a competition, imagine spoken word poetry as an olympic sport. The rules are simple:
1.) Poets must use their own poems.
2.) poet must use only one poem per round.
3.) no musical accompaniment.
4.) no props.
5.) there is a time limit of 3 minutes and 10 seconds. going over that will result in a time penalty.
This is a two-round slam, poets with the highest scores will move up to round two.
If you're not competing, we could use judges.
Please remember to submit a quick audience survey to help us improve our logistics and content and report to our funders and sponsors. Here is the link to the survey: https://bit.ly/3M63VqH
Poetry Center San José promotes and supports the literary arts in San José. Over the past four decades, PCSJ has brought hundreds of exceptional writers from around the country to read from their works and, in many cases, to conduct workshops for local writers. PCSJ is a nonprofit organization established in 1978. Its base of operations is in the charming turn-of-the-century Victorian home where the renown poet Edwin Markham once lived, now located in San José History Park. Poetry Center San José is a member supported organization and is funded, in part, by grants from Applied Materials Foundation, the City of San José's Office of Cultural Affairs, Knight Foundation, Poets & Writers, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, SVCREATES, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council and also supported in part by a SVCreates National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan grant. We also thank Brandenburg Family Foundation and Anne & Mark's Art Party for their generous giving.
Markham House & Library Open Hours with Barry Endick
Looking for a cozy spot to read, write, or just unwind? Stop by Markham House from 11am to 4pm. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while you browse our library, chat with our friendly docent, and take in some dedicated poetry appreciation time.
Barry Endick will perfom a short reading of Edwin Markham's poems at 2:00 pm. He will have copies of other Markham poems that anyone who attends can get up and read.
📍Location: Markham House @ History Park • 635 Phelan Ave, San Jose, CA.
Free parking right outside of the main gate or in the lot at the end of Phelan Avenue (except during some History Park events.)
Once you walk into the park from Phelan Avenue, go straight until the road dead ends, then make a left. Markham House is then the second house on your left. There will be a flag over the steps that reads OPEN.
PCSJ Board of Directors Meeting (via Zoom)
Public comment period will be available to begin the meeting, a chance for the public to share feedback on programming, suggestions, and constructive criticism to be considered by board members of PCSJ.
To join and participate in the public comment, please RSVP on Zoom here.
Between 6:30-6:35 is your time to notify that you wish to be heard. Provide your name in the chat to reserve your two minute time-slot.
Agenda and minutes will be provided.
Reminder: Submit to Cæsura 2026!
The theme for this year’s Cæsura is LIFELINE.
What helps you feel grounded? How do you remember what you know? We live life with a constant sense of urgency and it is hard to filter through the chaos. What or who is your filter to calm, inspiration, and or radical joy?
We accept submissions of poetry, fiction and art from March 15th–June 1st 2026 for the general public, June 15th 2026 for Poetry Center San Jose Members.
Click here to read our complete submission guidelines.
We have a print and online edition. During the submission process, you will be asked if you want to be considered for print, online or both. Submissions may be published on one format or the other. We rarely print pieces in both editions.
Reminder: Submit to Cæsura 2026!
The theme for this year’s Cæsura is LIFELINE.
What helps you feel grounded? How do you remember what you know? We live life with a constant sense of urgency and it is hard to filter through the chaos. What or who is your filter to calm, inspiration, and or radical joy?
We accept submissions of poetry, fiction and art from March 15th–June 1st 2026 for the general public, June 15th 2026 for Poetry Center San Jose Members.
Click here to read our complete submission guidelines.
We have a print and online edition. During the submission process, you will be asked if you want to be considered for print, online or both. Submissions may be published on one format or the other. We rarely print pieces in both editions.
PCSJ Board of Directors Meeting (via Zoom)
Public comment period will be available to begin the meeting, a chance for the public to share feedback on programming, suggestions, and constructive criticism to be considered by board members of PCSJ.
To join and participate in the public comment, please RSVP on Zoom here.
Between 6:30-6:35 is your time to notify that you wish to be heard. Provide your name in the chat to reserve your two minute time-slot.
Agenda and minutes will be provided.
San José Poetry Slam – Zoom Edition
Poetry Center San Jose presents The San Jose Poetry Slam Zoom Edition
We moved days
Come join us for Poetry from the comfort of your own home
Room opens at 6:30p.m. (PST)
Register here through Ticket Tailor
Sign up list will be open from 6:30 to 7:00p.m.
Slam starts at 7:00p.m.
We are on Pacific Standard time, that is 3 hours earlier than east coast time and 3 hours ahead of Hawaii.
This is a free event.
Your host and Emcee will be Scorpiana Xlent!
Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
If you have never been to a Poetry Slam before, a poetry slam is a competition, imagine spoken word poetry as an olympic sport.
The rules are simple:
Poets must use their own poems.
Poet must use only one poem per round.
No musical accompaniment.
No props.
Time limit of 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Going over that will result in a time penalty.
Poets must have video on while performing or there will be a 3-point penalty deduction.
This is a two-round slam, poets with the highest scores will move up to round two.
You can sign up to compete via the chat box in the zoom room.
If you're not competing, we could use judges.
Please remember to submit a quick audience survey to help us improve our logistics and content and report to our funders and sponsors. Here is the link to the survey: https://bit.ly/3M63VqH
Poetry Center San José promotes and supports the literary arts in San José. Over the past four decades, PCSJ has brought hundreds of exceptional writers from around the country to read from their works and, in many cases, to conduct workshops for local writers. PCSJ is a nonprofit organization established in 1978. Its base of operations is in the charming turn-of-the-century Victorian home where the renown poet Edwin Markham once lived, now located in San José History Park. Poetry Center San José is a member supported organization and is funded, in part, by grants from Applied Materials Foundation, the City of San José's Office of Cultural Affairs, Knight Foundation, Poets & Writers, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, SVCREATES, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council and also supported in part by a SVCreates National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan grant. We also thank Brandenburg Family Foundation and Anne & Mark's Art Party for their generous giving
San José Poetry Slam – Zoom Edition
Poetry Center San Jose presents The San Jose Poetry Slam Zoom Edition
We moved days
Come join us for Poetry from the comfort of your own home
Room opens at 6:30p.m. (PST)
Registration through Ticket Tailor coming soon!
Sign up list will be open from 6:30 to 7:00p.m.
Slam starts at 7:00p.m.
We are on Pacific Standard time, that is 3 hours earlier than east coast time and 3 hours ahead of Hawaii.
This is a free event.
Your host and Emcee will be Scorpiana Xlent!
Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
If you have never been to a Poetry Slam before, a poetry slam is a competition, imagine spoken word poetry as an olympic sport.
The rules are simple:
Poets must use their own poems.
Poet must use only one poem per round.
No musical accompaniment.
No props.
Time limit of 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Going over that will result in a time penalty.
Poets must have video on while performing or there will be a 3-point penalty deduction.
This is a two-round slam, poets with the highest scores will move up to round two.
You can sign up to compete via the chat box in the zoom room.
If you're not competing, we could use judges.
Please remember to submit a quick audience survey to help us improve our logistics and content and report to our funders and sponsors. Here is the link to the survey: https://bit.ly/3M63VqH
Poetry Center San José promotes and supports the literary arts in San José. Over the past four decades, PCSJ has brought hundreds of exceptional writers from around the country to read from their works and, in many cases, to conduct workshops for local writers. PCSJ is a nonprofit organization established in 1978. Its base of operations is in the charming turn-of-the-century Victorian home where the renown poet Edwin Markham once lived, now located in San José History Park. Poetry Center San José is a member supported organization and is funded, in part, by grants from Applied Materials Foundation, the City of San José's Office of Cultural Affairs, Knight Foundation, Poets & Writers, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, SVCREATES, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council and also supported in part by a SVCreates National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan grant. We also thank Brandenburg Family Foundation and Anne & Mark's Art Party for their generous giving
Writers’ Cafe at Markham House
The new PCSJ writing project where we all just drink hot bevs and write at Markham House!
You're invited to a gathering for those looking for a supportive writing community that focuses on the social aspects of being a writer and a space to discuss any and all disciplines of writing.
We welcome writers from all disciplines to hang out, work, then hang out some more.
This isn't a workshop, but a work time in a workspace with other writers.
This event is free and no registration necessary. Just show up with something to write.
We will meet at 11:30am for pastries, snacks, coffee and tea. Some will be provided, but more is welcome. If you do bring pastries, please only bring enough to share with one or two others.
Approximate Schedule
11:30am: Conversation over coffee and tea.
12:30: Quiet work. There are quite a few places to work quietly inside Markham House. Find your nook and write, or explore the books in our library upstairs, or continue your conversation outside, on the porch, or somewhere in History Park. We'll keep the coffee and kettle hot while you work.
2:45–3:15pm: Optional sharing and conversation. Writers are not expected to share what they’ve written, but if you’d like feedback, this would be the time for it.
Keep in mind, Markham House will be open to the public, so visitors will be coming in to peruse, but we will let them know that the house is infested with writers writing!
Admission: Free, but donations are welcome!
Parking: There is a parking strip on Phelan Avenue at the park gate. If there is no space available, there is a lot at the end of Phelan Ave.
Location: Once you walk into the park from Phelan Avenue, go straight until the road veers left with the firehouse on the right, then follow the left turn. Markham House is then the second house on your left. There should be an OPEN flag out on the porch.
Here is a map of History Park’s parking options:
PCSJ Board of Directors Meeting (via Zoom)
Public comment period will be available to begin the meeting, a chance for the public to share feedback on programming, suggestions, and constructive criticism to be considered by board members of PCSJ.
To join and participate in the public comment, please RSVP on Zoom here.
Between 6:30-6:35 is your time to notify that you wish to be heard. Provide your name in the chat to reserve your two minute time-slot.
Agenda and minutes will be provided.
Poets@Play Creative Writing Workshop with Darrell De La Cruz!
Poets@Play is a monthly creative writing workshop hosted by former Santa Clara County Poet Laureate David Perez. Each session features a different guest facilitator—or sometimes David himself—leading hands-on exercises to inspire creativity and new ideas.
Our Facilitator: Darrell Dela Cruz
Darrell Dela Cruz’s debut collection This is a Love Poem, Listen (Tourane Poetry Press) came out in 2024. His work has also appeared in Saw Palm, The Minetta Review, Crab Orchard Review, Studio One, Steam Ticket, and Cider Press Review. As an editor, he worked in Reed Magazine and Red Wheelbarrow. He was a VONA 2025 fellow. For more about him and his analysis of poems: ddcpoetry.blogspot.com.
Workshop Description: (Failed) Love Poems
After watching Heated Rivalry and seeing the outpour of love and support from people for a genuine and joyful queer love story, I looked back on my work and realized I never wrote a love poem that was just joyous.
In this generative workshop, we’re going to attempt to write joyous love poems – or at least try to. Some of the most effective poems in my life were about failing to write a love poem.
Using Elizabeth Bishop, Harold Norse, and Bill Knott as guides we’ll learn the ways they “failed” into successfully portraying humor, yearning, regret, but also recognizing the beauty and depth of their emotions within their lines.
No RSVP required. Just show up at 1:00pm
Admission: Free (donations welcome)
📍Location: Markham House @ History Park
635 Phelan Ave, San Jose, CA.
Free parking right outside of the main gate or in the lot at the end of Phelan Avenue (except during some History Park events.)
Once you walk into the park from Phelan Avenue, go straight until the road dead ends, then make a left. Markham House is then the second house on your left. There will be a flag over the steps that reads OPEN.
Well-RED presents World Poetry Day Festival 2026!
Well-RED presents World Poetry Day Festival 2026!
Poetry | Music | Dance | Appetizers & Drinks
Saturday, March 21st, 5:00 – 8:45pm
38 S. Second Street in downtown San José
Well-RED presents World Poetry Day Festival 2026!
Co-sponsored by Works/San José art & performance center.
Poetry | Music | Dance | Appetizers & Drinks
Saturday, March 21st, 5:00 – 8:45pm
38 S. Second Street in downtown San José
Featuring poetry in 12 different languages:
Lorenz Dumuk – English
Aparna Kar – Bengali
Sergio Herrera – Spanish
Larry Hollist – Japanese
Zainab Hussain – Arabic
Anshu S. Johri – Hindi
Ellie Celine Labampa – Tagalog
Brandon Luu – Vietnamese
Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo - Nahuatl
Robert Perry - Dutch
Ethan Stanton – French
Theatrical Performances:
*Umbelina Martinez & Marcial Valencia
*Bauchhaar's Elixir: Created by Anshu Johri, Shwetha Subraya, Chandreyee Mukherjee, Sparsh Johri. Poems by Anshu Johri, Music by Sparsh Johri
Music Performance:
**Prof. Eros, Ph.D, Afrobeat hand drummer representing Yoruba language
Drinks & appetizers from other countries
Thank you to Mr. Zenon Robles, owner of Jess's Place for providing fine Peruvian cuisine, 3088 Monterey Rd, San Jose, CA 95111. https://jesss-place.restaurants-world.com
TO SUBMIT EVENT FEEDBACK, visit: https://bit.ly/4kF3m9d
Markham House & Library Open Hours with Barry Endick
Looking for a cozy spot to read, write, or just unwind? Stop by Markham House from 11am to 4pm. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while you browse our library, chat with our friendly docent, and take in some dedicated poetry appreciation time.
Barry Endick will perfom a short reading of Edwin Markham's poems at 2:00 pm. He will have copies of other Markham poems that anyone who attends can get up and read.
📍Location: Markham House @ History Park • 635 Phelan Ave, San Jose, CA.
Free parking right outside of the main gate or in the lot at the end of Phelan Avenue (except during some History Park events.)
Once you walk into the park from Phelan Avenue, go straight until the road dead ends, then make a left. Markham House is then the second house on your left. There will be a flag over the steps that reads OPEN.
Red Wheelbarrow Literary Magazine 2025 Release Celebration!
Join us to celebrate the launch of the 2025 issue of Red Wheelbarrow Literary Magazine!
Due to size and nature of this issue, we will be hosting two launches, one in Zoom, one in-person.
ZOOM READING: Wednesday, March 18, 5:00-6:45 PM
Register for your link: https://bit.ly/RedWheelbarrow2025
Featuring prize winners, prize final judge Stephen Kuusisto, and other amazing poets from around the country!
IN-PERSON LAUNCH: Wednesday, March 18, 7:15-9:00 PM
De Anza College, Conference Room B
21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014
Featuring great local poets, books available for purchase, visual artists present, refreshments served!
San José Poetry Slam – Returns Live at Wheelhouse with Nazelah Jamison
Poetry Center San José presents San José Poetry Slam – Live In Person!
Come join us for poetry and some of the most delicious pizza in San José at our new venue in willow Glen:
Wheelhouse of Willow Glen
1173 Lincoln Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Doors open and the sign up list goes out at 6:30pm
The Poetry Slam starts at 7:00pm
Admission is $5–10 sliding scale; no one turned away for lack of funds.
Hosted by Scorpiana Xlent.
Our Featured Poet is Nazelah Jamison!
Nazelah Jamison is a poet, comedian, performer, and multidisciplinary artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the 2026 Janice Mirikitani Poet Theologian in Residence at Glide Memorial Church in SF, and a Lead Artist with Skywatchers, an SF Tenderloin-based arts organization, where she helps guide collaborative performance work exploring justice, memory, and collective care. She is the author of the chapbook Evolutionary Heart (Nomadic Press 2016) Her writing appears in The Racket Journal, Culture Counts Magazine, La Raiz Magazine, Better Ancestors, Sparkle + Blink, and The Town: An Anthology of Oakland Poets (Nomadic Press). Jamison’s work moves between poetry, comedy, theater, and film, often exploring survival, grief, humor, and the stories we carry in our bodies.
Poetry Slam Competition Info
Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
If you have never been to a Poetry Slam before, a poetry slam is a competition, imagine spoken word poetry as an olympic sport. The rules are simple:
1.) Poets must use their own poems.
2.) poet must use only one poem per round.
3.) no musical accompaniment.
4.) no props.
5.) there is a time limit of 3 minutes and 10 seconds. going over that will result in a time penalty.
This is a two-round slam, poets with the highest scores will move up to round two.
If you're not competing, we could use judges.
Please remember to submit a quick audience survey to help us improve our logistics and content and report to our funders and sponsors. Here is the link to the survey: https://bit.ly/3M63VqH
Poetry Center San José promotes and supports the literary arts in San José. Over the past four decades, PCSJ has brought hundreds of exceptional writers from around the country to read from their works and, in many cases, to conduct workshops for local writers. PCSJ is a nonprofit organization established in 1978. Its base of operations is in the charming turn-of-the-century Victorian home where the renown poet Edwin Markham once lived, now located in San José History Park. Poetry Center San José is a member supported organization and is funded, in part, by grants from Applied Materials Foundation, the City of San José's Office of Cultural Affairs, Knight Foundation, Poets & Writers, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, SVCREATES, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council and also supported in part by a SVCreates National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan grant. We also thank Brandenburg Family Foundation and Anne & Mark's Art Party for their generous giving.
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
Sunday, March 15, 1:00 p.m. (PST)
via Zoom
Hosted by Lesa Medley!
Poetry Lounge is held twice a month on the first and third Sunday.
Contact Lesa Medley to receive your Zoom link: lcmedley016@gmail.com.
Markham House & Library Open Hours with Barry Endick
Looking for a cozy spot to read, write, or just unwind? Stop by Markham House from 11am to 4pm. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while you browse our library, chat with our friendly docent, and take in some dedicated poetry appreciation time.
Barry Endick will perfom a short reading of Edwin Markham's poems at 2:00 pm. He will have copies of other Markham poems that anyone who attends can get up and read.
📍Location: Markham House @ History Park • 635 Phelan Ave, San Jose, CA.
Free parking right outside of the main gate or in the lot at the end of Phelan Avenue (except during some History Park events.)
Once you walk into the park from Phelan Avenue, go straight until the road dead ends, then make a left. Markham House is then the second house on your left. There will be a flag over the steps that reads OPEN.
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
Sunday, March 1, 1:00 p.m. (PST)
via Zoom
Hosted by Lesa Medley!
Poetry Lounge is held twice a month on the first and third Sunday.
Contact Lesa Medley to receive your Zoom link: lcmedley016@gmail.com.
Beautiful Black Books featuring Dr. Javon Johnson! Via Zoom
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BKuM86vLTEquaeAE_8Hwtg
PCSJ Board of Directors Meeting (via Zoom)
Public comment period will be available to begin the meeting, a chance for the public to share feedback on programming, suggestions, and constructive criticism to be considered by board members of PCSJ.
To join and participate in the public comment, please RSVP on Zoom here.
Between 6:30-6:35 is your time to notify that you wish to be heard. Provide your name in the chat to reserve your two minute time-slot.
Agenda and minutes will be provided.
San José Poetry Slam – Zoom Edition
Poetry Center San José presents San José Poetry Slam Zoom Edition
Come join us for Poetry from the comfort of your own home
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Room opens at 6:30p.m. (PST)
Sign up list will be open from 6:30 to 7:00p.m.
Slam starts at 7:00p.m.
This is a free event. Register through Ticket Tailor here.
Hosted by Scorpiana Xlent.
Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
If you have never been to a Poetry Slam before, a poetry slam is a competition, imagine spoken word poetry as an olympic sport. The rules are simple:
1.) Poets must use their own poems.
2.) poet must use only one poem per round.
3.) no musical accompaniment.
4.) no props.
5.) there is a time limit of 3 minutes and 10 seconds. going over that will result in a time penalty.
6.) poets must have video on while performing or there will be a 3-point penalty deduction.
This is a two-round slam, poets with the highest scores will move up to round two.
You can sign up to compete via the chat box in the zoom room. If you're not competing, we could use judges.
Please remember to submit a quick audience survey to help us improve our logistics and content and report to our funders and sponsors. Here is the link to the survey: https://bit.ly/3M63VqH
Poetry Center San José promotes and supports the literary arts in San José. Over the past four decades, PCSJ has brought hundreds of exceptional writers from around the country to read from their works and, in many cases, to conduct workshops for local writers. PCSJ is a nonprofit organization established in 1978. Its base of operations is in the charming turn-of-the-century Victorian home where the renown poet Edwin Markham once lived, now located in San José History Park. Poetry Center San José is a member supported organization and is funded, in part, by grants from Applied Materials Foundation, the City of San José's Office of Cultural Affairs, Knight Foundation, Poets & Writers, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, SVCREATES, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council and also supported in part by a SVCreates National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan grant. We also thank Brandenburg Family Foundation and Anne & Mark's Art Party for their generous giving.
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
Sunday, February 15, 1:00 p.m. (PST)
via Zoom
Hosted by Lesa Medley!
Poetry Lounge is held twice a month on the first and third Sunday.
Contact Lesa Medley to receive your Zoom link: lcmedley016@gmail.com.
Writers’ Cafe at Markham House
The new PCSJ writing project where we all just drink hot bevs and write at Markham House!
You're invited to a gathering for those looking for a supportive writing community that focuses on the social aspects of being a writer and a space to discuss any and all disciplines of writing.
We welcome writers from all disciplines to hang out, work, then hang out some more.
This isn't a workshop, but a work time in a workspace with other writers.
This event is free and no registration necessary. Just show up with something to write.
We will meet at 11:30am for pastries, snacks, coffee and tea. Some will be provided, but more is welcome. If you do bring pastries, please only bring enough to share with one or two others.
Approximate Schedule
11:30am: Conversation over coffee and tea.
12:30: Quiet work. There are quite a few places to work quietly inside Markham House. Find your nook and write, or explore the books in our library upstairs, or continue your conversation outside, on the porch, or somewhere in History Park. We'll keep the coffee and kettle hot while you work.
2:45–3:15pm: Optional sharing and conversation. Writers are not expected to share what they’ve written, but if you’d like feedback, this would be the time for it.
Keep in mind, Markham House will be open to the public, so visitors will be coming in to peruse, but we will let them know that the house is infested with writers writing!
Admission: Free, but donations are welcome!
Parking: There is a parking strip on Phelan Avenue at the park gate. If there is no space available, there is a lot at the end of Phelan Ave.
Location: Once you walk into the park from Phelan Avenue, go straight until the road veers left with the firehouse on the right, then follow the left turn. Markham House is then the second house on your left. There should be an OPEN flag out on the porch.
Here is a map of History Park’s parking options:
Well-RED featuring Joyce Lee!
Co-sponsored by Works/San José art and performance center!
38 South Second Street, downtown San José.
Open mic to start the show!
If you are unable to attend in person, we welcome you to join via Zoom! Register in advance for this event via Zoom.
Link: https://bit.ly/Well-RED_February2026
Joyce Lee is an Oakland native who has been writing since the age of 8 and performing since the age of 10. Joyce is the 2009 and 2010 Oakland grand Slam champion, a noted storyteller on NPRs Snap Judgment, a community college English professor in the East Bay as well as at Santa Rita County Jail. Joyce has also performed, curated open mics and taught internationally in places such as Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Trinidad, Canada, and Colombia. Joyce Lee is the CEO and Founder of JL Soul Camp, a 4-day all expenses paid retreat and affinity space for Black women, held annually in Sonoma County.
Downtown SJ provides free parking on the street after 6:00 p.m. Available street parking is difficult to find after 6:30 p.m.
If you are unable to find parking on the street, there are two parking garages of note:
1.) 25 S. 3rd Street PARKSJ Garage (located underground, under The Globe Apartments), about 300 meters from Works/San Jose;
2.) 2nd & San Carlos PARKSJ Garage (first 90 minutes are free). This is a 5-10 minute walk to Works/San Jose
TO SUBMIT EVENT FEEDBACK, visit: https://bit.ly/4dBnxR2
Poetry Center San José is a member supported organization and is funded, in part, by grants from Applied Materials Foundation, The Blackbaud Giving Fund, the City of San José's Office of Cultural Affairs, Literary Arts Emergency Fund, supported by the Mellon Foundation (@MellonFdn), Knight Foundation, The Poetry Foundation, Poets & Writers, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, SVCREATES, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council and also supported in part by a SVCreates National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan grant. We also thank Brandenburg Family Foundation and Anne & Mark's Art Party for their generous giving.
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
Sunday, February 1, 1:00 p.m. (PST)
via Zoom
Hosted by Lesa Medley!
Poetry Lounge is held twice a month on the first and third Sunday.
Contact Lesa Medley to receive your Zoom link: lcmedley016@gmail.com.
PCSJ Board of Directors Meeting (via Zoom)
Public comment period will be available to begin the meeting, a chance for the public to share feedback on programming, suggestions, and constructive criticism to be considered by board members of PCSJ.
To join and participate in the public comment, please RSVP on Zoom here.
Between 6:30-6:35 is your time to notify that you wish to be heard. Provide your name in the chat to reserve your two minute time-slot.
Agenda and minutes will be provided.
San José Poetry Slam – Zoom Edition
Poetry Center San José presents San José Poetry Slam Zoom Edition
Come join us for poetry from the comfort of your own home.
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Room opens at 6:30p.m. (PST)
Sign up list will be open from 6:30 to 7:00p.m.
Slam starts at 7:00p.m.
Admission is free! Get your ticket here.
Hosted by Scorpiana Xlent.
Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
If you have never been to a Poetry Slam before, a poetry slam is a competition, imagine spoken word poetry as an olympic sport. The rules are simple:
1.) Poets must use their own poems.
2.) poet must use only one poem per round.
3.) no musical accompaniment.
4.) no props.
5.) there is a time limit of 3 minutes and 10 seconds. going over that will result in a time penalty.
6.) poets must have video on while performing or there will be a 3-point penalty deduction.
This is a two-round slam, poets with the highest scores will move up to round two.
You can sign up to compete via the chat box in the zoom room.
If you're not competing, we could use judges.
Please remember to submit a quick audience survey to help us improve our logistics and content and report to our funders and sponsors. Here is the link to the survey: https://bit.ly/3M63VqH
Poetry Center San José promotes and supports the literary arts in San José. Over the past four decades, PCSJ has brought hundreds of exceptional writers from around the country to read from their works and, in many cases, to conduct workshops for local writers. PCSJ is a nonprofit organization established in 1978. Its base of operations is in the charming turn-of-the-century Victorian home where the renown poet Edwin Markham once lived, now located in San José History Park. Poetry Center San José is a member supported organization and is funded, in part, by grants from Applied Materials Foundation, the City of San José's Office of Cultural Affairs, Knight Foundation, Poets & Writers, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, SVCREATES, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council and also supported in part by a SVCreates National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan grant. We also thank Brandenburg Family Foundation and Anne & Mark's Art Party for their generous giving.
Writers’ Cafe at Markham House
The new PCSJ writing project where we all just drink hot bevs and write at Markham House!
You're invited to a gathering for those looking for a supportive writing community that focuses on the social aspects of being a writer and a space to discuss any and all disciplines of writing.
We welcome writers from all disciplines to hang out, work, then hang out some more.
This isn't a workshop, but a work time in a workspace with other writers.
This event is free and no registration necessary. Just show up with something to write.
We will meet at 11:30am for pastries, snacks, coffee and tea. Some will be provided, but more is welcome. If you do bring pastries, please only bring enough to share with one or two others.
Approximate Schedule
11:30am: Conversation over coffee and tea.
12:30: Quiet work. There are quite a few places to work quietly inside Markham House. Find your nook and write, or explore the books in our library upstairs, or continue your conversation outside, on the porch, or somewhere in History Park. We'll keep the coffee and kettle hot while you work.
2:45–3:15pm: Optional sharing and conversation. Writers are not expected to share what they’ve written, but if you’d like feedback, this would be the time for it.
Keep in mind, Markham House will be open to the public, so visitors will be coming in to peruse, but we will let them know that the house is infested with writers writing!
Admission: Free, but donations are welcome!
Parking: There is a parking strip on Phelan Avenue at the park gate. If there is no space available, there is a lot at the end of Phelan Ave.
Location: Once you walk into the park from Phelan Avenue, go straight until the road veers left with the firehouse on the right, then follow the left turn. Markham House is then the second house on your left. There should be an OPEN flag out on the porch.
Here is a map of History Park’s parking options:
Poets@Play Creative Writing Workshop with David Perez
Poets@Play is a monthly creative writing workshop hosted by former Santa Clara County Poet Laureate David Perez. Each session features a different guest facilitator—or sometimes David himself—leading hands-on exercises to inspire creativity and new ideas.
Our Facilitator: David Perez
David served as the 3rd Poet Laureate of Santa Clara County. He is a recipient of the Arts Council Silicon Valley Literary Art Fellowship and the National Association for Latino Arts and Culture Achievement Award. He has appeared on the NPR series, Snap Judgment and his book, "Love in a Time of Robot Apocalypse" is available from Write Bloody Publishing. He has taught literature and creative writing at San Jose State University and Ohlone College.
Workshop Description
Revision and Revelation
Beautiful things can happen when you embrace revision as an art unto itself. You notice things you didn’t see before. You can make images clearer and more impactful. With a sharp eye, this can often be achieved with just a few well-placed edits. In this workshop, David will focus on simple revision techniques that can help you realize your vision and possibly surprise yourself with insights you didn’t catch during the first draft.
It’s encouraged to bring a draft that you’d like to revise, but it’s not required.
No RSVP required. Just show up at 1:00pm
Admission: Free (donations welcome)
📍Location: Markham House @ History Park
635 Phelan Ave, San Jose, CA.
Free parking right outside of the main gate or in the lot at the end of Phelan Avenue (except during some History Park events.)
Once you walk into the park from Phelan Avenue, go straight until the road dead ends, then make a left. Markham House is then the second house on your left. There will be a flag over the steps that reads OPEN.
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
Sunday, January 18, 1:00 p.m. (PST)
via Zoom
Hosted by Lesa Medley!
Poetry Lounge is held twice a month on the first and third Sunday.
Contact Lesa Medley to receive your Zoom link: lcmedley016@gmail.com.
Well-RED featuring Arlene Biala & Rosanna Alvarez!
Co-sponsored by Works/San José art and performance center!
38 South Second Street, downtown San José.
Open mic to start the show!
If you are unable to attend in person, we welcome you to join via Zoom! Register in advance for this event.
Link: https://bit.ly/Well-RED_January2026
Arlene Biala
POET, AUTHOR, PERFORMANCE ARTIST
Arlene Biala is a Pinay writer from the San Francisco Bay Area who has been participating in poetry performances and workshops for over 30 years. She is a 2023-2026 Lucas Artist Residency Fellow in Literary Arts at the Montalvo Arts Center and was Poet Laureate of Santa Clara County for 2016 and 2017. She is the author of continental drift, one inch punch, and her beckoning hands, which won the 2015 American Book Award. Her latest book, a thousand voices whispering, (November 2025) from Sampaguita Press is available at bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and Arlene's tote bag.
Rosanna Alvarez
Rosanna Alvarez is a Chicana storyteller, educator, Aztec dancer, and visual artist whose work thrives at the intersection of cultura, creativity, and comunidad. A woman of many hats—literally and artistically—her practice spans poetry, performance, publishing, and handcrafted art that honors memory and movimiento. A silver medalist for the Juan Felipe Herrera Best Book of Poetry Award, she is the author of Braided [Un]Be-Longing, a collection that weaves poetry, testimonio, and ancestral echoes into a journey of healing and reclamation.
Her work has been anthologized and published across academic journals and community-rooted collections, including Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies, the MALCS Journal of Chicana/Latina Studies, Somos Xicanas, and Anger Is a Gift, among others.
Through every medium, Rosanna invites others to dream, heal, and dismantle fronteras as we co-create a future rooted in dignity, humanidad, and collective joy.
She is also the co-founder of Eastside Magazine, the founder of Ocote Libre Press, and an Ethnic Studies educator at West Valley College.
Downtown SJ provides free parking on the street after 6:00 p.m. Available street parking is difficult to find after 6:30 p.m.
If you are unable to find parking on the street, there are two parking garages of note:
1.) 25 S. 3rd Street PARKSJ Garage (located underground, under The Globe Apartments), about 300 meters from Works/San Jose;
2.) 2nd & San Carlos PARKSJ Garage (first 90 minutes are free). This is a 5-10 minute walk to Works/San Jose
TO SUBMIT EVENT FEEDBACK, visit: https://bit.ly/4dBnxR2
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
Join us for our very first open mic of 2026!
Poetry Lounge on Zoom!
FEATURING: FULL OPEN MIC!
Sunday, January 4, 1:00 p.m. (PST)
Hosted by Lesa Medley!
Poetry Lounge is held twice a month on the first and third Sunday.
Contact Lesa Medley to receive your Zoom link: lcmedley016@gmail.com
San José Poetry Slam – Zoom Edition
Poetry Center San José presents San José Poetry Slam Zoom Edition
Come join us for poetry from the comfort of your own home.
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Room opens at 6:30p.m. (PST)
Sign up list will be open from 6:30 to 7:00p.m.
Slam starts at 7:00p.m.
Admission is free! Get your ticket here.
Hosted by Scorpiana Xlent.
Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
If you have never been to a Poetry Slam before, a poetry slam is a competition, imagine spoken word poetry as an olympic sport. The rules are simple:
1.) Poets must use their own poems.
2.) poet must use only one poem per round.
3.) no musical accompaniment.
4.) no props.
5.) there is a time limit of 3 minutes and 10 seconds. going over that will result in a time penalty.
6.) poets must have video on while performing or there will be a 3-point penalty deduction.
This is a two-round slam, poets with the highest scores will move up to round two.
You can sign up to compete via the chat box in the zoom room.
If you're not competing, we could use judges.
Please remember to submit a quick audience survey to help us improve our logistics and content and report to our funders and sponsors. Here is the link to the survey: https://bit.ly/3M63VqH
Poetry Center San José promotes and supports the literary arts in San José. Over the past four decades, PCSJ has brought hundreds of exceptional writers from around the country to read from their works and, in many cases, to conduct workshops for local writers. PCSJ is a nonprofit organization established in 1978. Its base of operations is in the charming turn-of-the-century Victorian home where the renown poet Edwin Markham once lived, now located in San José History Park. Poetry Center San José is a member supported organization and is funded, in part, by grants from Applied Materials Foundation, the City of San José's Office of Cultural Affairs, Knight Foundation, Poets & Writers, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, SVCREATES, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council and also supported in part by a SVCreates National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan grant. We also thank Brandenburg Family Foundation and Anne & Mark's Art Party for their generous giving.
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
POETRY LOUNGE ONLINE OPEN MIC!
Sunday, December 21, 1:00 p.m. (PST)
via Zoom
Hosted by Lesa Medley!
Poetry Lounge is held twice a month on the first and third Sunday.
Contact Lesa Medley to receive your Zoom link: lcmedley016@gmail.com.
