Ours is a versifying burg, a town perfect for jingles and doggerel, elegies and epics. But what we’re really good at here is the art of poetry on the stage — that’s right, performance poetry, measure for the masses, lyrics meant to be experienced by butcher and baker and candlestick maker, not just stiff academics in their ivory towers.
Sure, there’s the Green Mill, the granddaddy of all performance poetry venues.
On any given Sunday night, the hyperkinetic Marc Smith holds court in Al Capone’s old hangout, leading the usually soldout room through a three-part program: the open mike, which usually showcases the worst of performance poetry; the slam, which tends to feature the best one-on-one versing competition, with each poet trying to outdo the other with dramatic and/or outrageous work; and a featured poet, who is often not a performance poet at all.
But the Green Mill’s hardly the only game in town. In fact, Chicago hosts poetry events every night of the week so that aspiring poets can practice their craft before live audiences no matter what their day job is.
Here’s a quick survey of the city’s daily poetry offerings.
– Fridays: A tough night for poetry if you’re looking for big venues and jammed clubs. But Friday offers poetry programs away from the North Side, with its ubiquitous coffeehouses. So check out the Grind & Brew, at 1920 W. Irving Park Rd. (773-348-7592). Hector Torres hosts in this cozy cafe just east of Damen Avenue. The action starts at 9 p.m. Or try the Mojava Coffee House, near the University of Chicago at 1617 E. 55th St. (773-324-5121). This is an early show, kicking off right after the rush hour at 6 p.m., so plan accordingly. Last, try the Sun Cafe, way west at 5259 W. Montrose Ave. (773-202-5866).
– Saturdays: There’s a little bit of everything at the open mike at Another Level, 1570 1/2 N. Damen. (773-235-0364). Music, standup, theater and poetry all share the stage. Starts at 7 p.m.
– Sundays: This is the big night, with the Mill in full swing. But it has competition these days, some of which dares to go toe to toe at 7 p.m.: Oba William King hosts “Ritual Rhythms” at Rituals, 537 S. Dearborn St. (312-922-3834), where collaboration between poets and musicians is encouraged, and Sheffield’s, at 3258 N. Sheffield Ave. (773-409-2876), presents “Magic Acts,” an open mike in which just about everything is welcome.
Kicking off a half hour later than the Mill at 7:30 p.m. are the program hosted by WGCI-FM’s Kweisi at the Africa West Bookstore, 15 S. Kedzie Ave. (773-722-2338), and Jim Redd’s show at Pontiac Produce and Cafe, 1531 N. Damen (773-252-7767).
At 8 p.m., Thax Douglas — late of Club Lower Links’ and Estelle’s “Thax After Dark” series” — hosts his usual array of the genius and banal at Myopic Books, 1726 W. Division St. (773-862-4882). The new showcase is called “Salon de Thax Myopique,” with all that implies.
– Mondays: This is probably one of the best nights of the week, with the wild and dangerous open mike at Weeds, 1555 N. Dayton St. (773-943-7815), in the shadow of the big Homemakers store. Hosted by Gregorio Gomez — part poet, part actor, part hustler, part shaman — the Weeds program is the most ruthless in town. People don’t just snap the bad stuff off the stage: They throw things, they yell, they make strange grunting noises about the poet’s mother and/or his or her body parts. Occasionally, musicians or comics try their hands here, too, but it’s no easier for them. The torture begins at 8 p.m.
For a smoother Monday poetry romp, try The Cotton Club’s open mike, hosted by Alex Ortiz. There’s a $5 charge, designed, we think, to keep out the riffraff. It’s also at 8 p.m. The Cotton Club is at 1710 S. Michigan Ave. (312-341-9787).
– Tuesdays: The Guild Complex offers one of its many programs on Tuesdays — from community forums to featured readers. Among the best are “Verbs & Vibes,” at 9:30 p.m., which features a musician, usually Winston Damon (these days using the unfortunate stage name of Stone Ulele, as if his heart wasn’t soulful enough that he needs to sound non-white), accompanying the poets at the mike. Also a good bet: “Young Chicago Voices,” at 6:30 p.m., in which emerging teen poets get a chance to present their original work. It’s all at the Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division (773-278-2210).
Also Tuesdays, “Word Night” with John Martinez at 8 p.m. at the 34th Street Cafe, 3400 S. Halsted St. (773-472-8602), and “The Shappening” at 10 p.m. emceed by Shappy at Estelle’s, 2013 W. North Ave. (773-486-8760).
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– Wednesdays: Kweisi hosts “Phood Pha da Soul” at Cubby Bear Lounge, 1059 W. Addison St. (773-327-1662). Also, “In One Ear,” at No Exit, 7001 N. Glenwood Ave. (773-743-3355), and art, comedy, music and verse hosted by Maria McCray at Izzo’s Artery, 1255 S. Michigan (312-663-0938). All of these begin at 8 p.m.
– Thursdays: Poetry night at one of the hidden gems of the Latino artists community in Pilsen, Calles y Suenos Art Center, 1900 S. Carpenter St. (312-243-4243). Calles y Suenos, which means “streets and dreams,” is that rarity: a real artists’ space. Run without any public or foundation funding, it’s a grassroots center where Latino artists work collectively to present and develop work. The poetry night, which starts at 8, is hosted by Qua’diction, and it comes in all languages and combos you can think of.