My 1st Book Club and Author Visit: K. Frances Carson & Troublemaker at Northridge Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Kids Event
Come and share your love of reading early chapter books.
This month we will be reading Sir DoGoody Button & Fleabins the Great…Troublemaker by K. Frances Carson. We are very excited that the author will join us and talk about writing her book and sign your copy of the book. Copies are available at the circulation desk.
K. Frances Carson is an author of children’s books as well as a physician specializing in pathology. And most importantly I’m mom to my three wonderful young adult children.
We live in Los Angeles, in the same neighborhood where I grew up, I live in an old house filled with dogs, all rescues. Two of them are big, silly, ridiculous Afghan hounds, but they are not the first.
Where: Northridge Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Monday the 15th
Time: 4 pm
Address: 9051 Darby Ave., Northridge, CA 91325
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/my-1st-book-club-and-author-visit
The Canyon Readers Collective Book Club: at Small Things Like These at Topanga Library, LACL – Online Event
Join us for a discussion of Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, a winter tale set in 1980s Ireland, where a coal merchant’s quiet life leads to a moment of unexpected courage and compassion. For adults.
Copies are available to check out at the Circulation Desk.
Where: Topanga Library, LACL
Date: Monday the 15th
Time: 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Address: 122 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/15272535
Book Discussion: at Evvie Drake Starts Over at Sorensen Library, LACL – Online Event
Come read and discuss this debut novel set in a small New England town, Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes.
In a sleepy seaside town in Maine, recently widowed Eveleth “Evvie” Drake rarely leaves her large, painfully empty house nearly a year after her husband’s death in a car crash. Everyone in town, even her best friend, Andy, thinks grief keeps her locked inside, and Evvie doesn’t correct them.
Pick up a copy for checkout at the Customer Service Desk today.
Where: Sorensen Library, LACL
Date: Monday the 15th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Address: 6934 Broadway Ave., Whittier, CA 90606
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14758228
QTBIPOC Write Night – December at Chevalier’s Books – In-Person QTBIPOC Event
We are pleased to welcome you to the first of our recurring Write Night series, exclusive to those who identify as QTBIPOC (Queer, Transgender, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).
Safe spaces and safe places do not come into being on their own; they require nurturing, care, and constant growth. Chevalier’s Books is committed to offering a safer space for all our neighbors and community members, and we recognize the need to cultivate dedicated opportunities for historically marginalized writers to flourish, in life and creatively.
For queer and trans writers, for Black and Brown writers, and for writers who hold multiple, overlapping identities, a protected space is vital not just for creativity to flourish, but for true freedom of expression to blossom.
All Write Nights are donation based. QTBIPOC Write Nights require free advanced registration and, for the safety of all guests, will be facilitated by a QTBIPOC-identifying staff member.
As with all events, we do not tolerate bigotry or harassment in any form.
Where: Chevalier’s Books
Date: Monday the 15th
Time: 6:30 pm – 8 pm
Address: 133 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004
Website: https://chevaliersbooks.com/event/2025-12-15/qtbipoc-write-night-december
Baking Book Club: Milk Street Bakes at Village Well Books & Coffee – In-Person Event
Join us for Village Well’s Baking Club!
This September, we’re discussing Milk Street Bakes by Christopher Kimball. Bake your favorite recipe from the book and show up ready to eat and share!
To join the Baking Club mailing list, please email events@villagewell.com.
Where: Village Well Books & Coffee
Date: Monday the 15th
Time: 6:30 pm – 8 pm
Address: 9900 Culver Blvd, Suite 1B, Culver City, CA 90232
Website: https://shop.villagewell.com
Rupo Open Mic at Back to the Grind in Riverside – In-Person Event
RUPO Open Mic is every Monday Night at Back to the Grind in Riverside.
Every Monday from 7 pm to 9 pm. Sign-ups are at 6:30 pm and in person only, $4 cash admission. See you then!
NOTE: See site for link and details.
Where: Back to the Grind, Riverside
Date: Monday the 15th
Time: 7 pm – 9 pm
Address: 3575 University Ave. Riverside, CA 92501
Website: https://www.facebook.com
Monday Night Fiction Workshop via Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center – Online Zoom Event
This free Monday Night Community Writing Workshop led by Raquel Baker is a workshop in which participants are asked to bring copies of 2-3 pages of fiction to read, and to use for critique and discussion. Registration is required.
Raquel Baker earned a PhD in English Literary Studies from the University of Iowa and an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Postcolonial and Transnational Literatures at California State University Channel Islands, teaching courses on creative writing and contemporary African literatures. Raquel has published poetry in Africology and The Arrow; fiction in Enculturation, The Daily Palette, The Womanist, and Crux; and non-fiction in Little Village; and has done readings with the Ventura County Poetry project. Raquel is passionate about discussing everything related to the craft and social significance of literature!
Where: Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center
Date: Monday the 15th
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Address: Zoom Online Event (see site)
Website: https://www.beyondbaroque.org
Virtual Book Club: Atmosphere via La Crescenta Library, LACL – Online Event
Join us weekly on Zoom on Tuesday mornings at 11 am for the Virtual Book Club. In December we will be discussing Atmosphere by Tayor Jenkins Reid. For adults.
Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.
Please contact Marta Wiggins at mwiggins@library.lacounty.gov for your invite to join the Zoom discussion and other details about the Virtual Book Club. You can pick up your copy of Isola at the La Crescenta Library Customer Service Desk. Below is the breakdown for the weekly discussion.
Each week we read and discuss 1/4 of the book. Please see the weekly discussion breakdown below.
Week 2: December 16: Pages 80 – 161; Fall 1980 – December 29, 1984
Week 3: December 23: Pages 162 – 252; Fall 1980 – Fall 1983
Week 4: December 30: Pages 253 – End of book; Spring & Summer 1984 – December 29, 1984
Where: La Crescenta Library, LACL
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 11 am – 12 pm
Address: Online Zoom Event (see site)
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14869645
Bestsellers Book Club: Pineapple Street at Stevenson Ranch Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Join us and enjoy a lively discussion of Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson. For adults.
Darley, the eldest daughter in the well-connected, old money Stockton family, followed her heart, trading her job and her inheritance for motherhood but giving up far too much in the process; Sasha, a middle-class New England girl, has married into the Brooklyn Heights family, and finds herself cast as the arriviste outsider; and Georgiana, the baby of the family, has fallen in love with someone she can’t have and must decide what kind of person she wants to be.
Where: Stevenson Ranch Library, LACL
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 12 pm – 1 pm
Address: Online Zoom Event (see site)
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/15191285
Agoura Readers Book Club: My Friends at Agoura Hills Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Join us to discuss Fredrik Backman’s My Friends. For adults
Where: Agoura Hills Library, LACL
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 2 pm – 3 pm
Address: 29901 Ladyface Ct., Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14982142
The Naughty Novel Society eBook Club: Ice Planet Barbarians at Lawndale Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Explore the Romance genre and learn about all the digital resources the library has to offer with this unique book club. We will be primarily utilizing the free digital resources Libby and Hoopla with limited hard copies available. For adults.
December’s Pick: Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon. Available in Audiobook and eBook on Hoopla and a limited number of hard copies for attendees at the library.
Refreshments will be served. For adults. This program is generously sponsored by Lawndale Friends of the Library.
Where: Lawndale Library, LACL
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Address: 14615 Burin Ave., Lawndale, CA 90260
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14955484
Adult Book Club: Love and Saffron at Baldwin Park Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Join the Adult Book Club for a discussion of our latest selection Love and Saffron by Kim Fay. For Adults
When 27 year-old Joan sends a fan letter and a gift of saffron to 59 year-old Imogen, a friendship begins. As the women commune through their letters, they build a closeness that sustains. Love & Saffron is a reminder that food and friendship are the antidote to most heartaches and that human connection will always be worth creating.
If you would like a copy of the book, please drop by Baldwin Park Library to pick up a copy or check the catalog for a digital copy.
Attendance is limited, and advance registration is required. Please register every individual in your party. This will be used to save your spots in the program. We cannot guarantee availability for any unregistered attendees.
Where: Baldwin Park Library, LACL
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Address: 4181 Baldwin Park Blvd., Baldwin Park, CA 91706
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14938231
Book Club: Best Reads of 2025 at Pico Rivera Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Join the Pico Rivera Library Book Club as we share our favorite reads of 2025 and plan next year’s book club selections. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Pico Rivera Libraries. For adults.
Where: Pico Rivera Library, LACL
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Address: 9001 Mines Ave, Pico Rivera, CA 90660
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14117671
Tim Blake Nelson & SuperHero: A Novel at Book Soup – In-Person Event
Tim Blake Nelson will present and sign his new book SuperHero: A Novel.
A-list actor Peter Compton and producing partner Marci Levy exist in the rarefied air of Hollywood’s elite. Their status as a married power couple is unmatched, their presence in any room transformative and god-like. But as their private jet lands in Atlanta to begin production on a tentpole superhero movie, even their privileged position will come under threat by the massive pressures of such an undertaking.
Compton, a self-educated recovering addict, sees the role of Sparta comics superhero Major Machina as the opportunity to transcend his already stratospheric platform. As director Joel Slavkin, Oscar-winning DP Javier Benavidez, and a crew of hundreds arrive in Atlanta to begin shooting, it doesn’t take long for the production to be embroiled in the tension and egos that drive the film. But when video of Peter’s disastrous on-set behavior goes viral, Peter and Marci’s partnership will be challenged as it never has before. As the stakes grow ever higher, it may just take a superhero to save them.
With his signature wit and razor sharp dialog, Tim Blake Nelson invites the reader to walk alongside him as he enters the closely-guarded world of industrial strength cinema.
Tim Blake Nelson is a celebrated writer, director, actor, and producer. A veteran screen actor, Nelson has amassed over 100 screen credits, including O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Thin Red Line, Minority Report, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Lincoln, Nightmare Alley, Old Henry, Fantastic Four, Holes, The Incredible Hulk, HBO’s Watchmen and countless others. As a filmmaker, he has written and directed five features, with a sixth, The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd starring Amanda Seyfried, forthcoming; and as a playwright, his most recent NYC productions include And Then We Were No More at La MaMa and Socrates at The Public. Onscreen, he currently co-stars in the new FX series The Lowdown and will next co-star in Searchlight’s highly-anticipated The Testament of Ann Lee. He published his debut novel, City of Blows, in 2023 and his second novel, Superhero, will be released on December 2, 2025.
This is a book talk with the author followed by a signing.
Your ticket includes a copy of Superhero to be handed out at Check-In and signed at the program.
The author will not sign memorabilia. Please leave it at home.
We kindly remind all guests that the book signing will conclude at the scheduled end time. Out of respect for the author and venue, guests are not permitted to linger in the parking lot or surrounding areas to request additional signings or meetings. Anyone remaining on the property after the event will be asked to leave and may be prohibited from returning for future events. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Where: Book Soup
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Address: 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Website: https://booksoup.com/event/2025-12-16/ticketed-tim-blake-nelson
Classic Detectives Book Club: Golden Age Christmas Mysteries at Cellar Door Bookstore – In-Person Event
Join us to discuss Golden Age Christmas Mysteries, edited by Otto Penzler.
Christmas has served as a fertile background for mystery fiction for a very long time, perhaps because it has the appearance of a time of peace and love while being so at odds with violence, crime, and even murder.
This delightful seasonal anthology includes holiday tales from some of the greatest Golden Age mystery authors. It offers such giants of the genre as Ellery Queen, Mary Roberts Rinehart, John D. MacDonald, and John Dickson Carr while introducing lesser-known writers such as Norvell Page, Meredith Nicholson, and Pat Frank. With chronicles that range from truly chilling to heart-warming to hilarious to puzzling, this volume highlights a variety of subjects and styles as each author brings their own approach to the most wonderful time of the year.
Featuring fourteen outstanding stories of Yuletide mystery selected and introduced by Edgar-winning anthologist Otto Penzler, Golden Age Christmas Mysteries offers hours of cozy reading, best enjoyed on a cold, snowy night, in a comfortable chair near a blazing fire.
Otto Penzler, the creator of American Mystery Classics, is also the founder of The Mysterious Press (1975); MysteriousPress.com (2011), an electronic-book publishing company; and New York City’s Mysterious Bookshop (1979). He has won a Raven, the Ellery Queen Award, two Edgars (for the Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection, 1977, and The Lineup, 2010), and lifetime achievement awards from NoirCon and The Strand Magazine. He has edited more than 70 anthologies and written extensively about mystery fiction.
Where: Cellar Door Bookstore
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Address: 473 E. Alessandro Blvd., Suite B, Riverside, CA 92508
Local Authors Meet-up at Underdog Bookstore, Monrovia – In-Person Event
At Underdog Bookstore we love supporting local authors on the shelves and at our signings and panels, but sometimes you just want to turn off the book selling brain and enjoy each other’s company instead.
We hope that these meetups will provide an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and spend time in community. Whether you’re self-published and new to the industry, or have trade tales to share from your experience in indie or major publishing—all writers are welcome here.
Our space is food, drink, and pet friendly, so feel free to bring your favorite refreshments and animal companions!
NOTE: See website for details and guidelines. RSVP
Where: Underdog Bookstore
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
Address: 312 South Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia, CA, 91016
Author Event: Davids Weill, with Rabbi Ron Stern, & Tell Me I Belong at Zibby’s Bookstore – In-Person Event
Join us to hear author David Weill in conversation with Rabbi Ron Stern, discuss Tell Me I Belong: A Journey Across Faiths and Generations.
Where: Zibby’s Bookstore
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Where: 1113 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/author-event-david-weill-x-rabbi-ron-stern-tickets-1969888258810
Agoura Readers Book Club: My Friends via Agoura Hills Library, LACL – Online Event
Join us to discuss Fredrik Backman’s My Friends. For adults
Where: Agoura Hills Library, LACL
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Address: Online Event
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14982144
The 3rd Tuesday Book Club: The Family Upstairs at Playa Vista Branch Library, LAPL – Online Event
Join us for a discussion of The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. All are welcome!
Where: Playa Vista Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 6:30 pm
Address: 6400 Playa Vista Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90094
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/3rd-tuesday-book-club-15
Original Book Club: Giovanni’s Room at Village Well Books & Coffee – In-Person Event
Join us for our longest-running book club! We read mostly contemporary fiction with the occasional non-fiction thrown in.
This month’s pick is Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin.
About the book:
Giovanni’s Room is set in the Paris of the 1950s, where a young American expatriate finds himself caught between his repressed desires and conventional morality. David has just proposed marriage to his American girlfriend, but while she is away on a trip he becomes involved in a doomed affair with a bartender named Giovanni. With sharp, probing insight, James Baldwin’s classic narrative delves into the mystery of love and tells a deeply moving story that reveals the unspoken complexities of the human heart.
Where: Village Well Books & Coffee
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 6:30 pm – 8 pm
Address: 9900 Culver Blvd, Suite 1B, Culver City, CA 90232
Website: https://shop.villagewell.com
Open Mic Readings Every Tuesday at the Aftermath Bar, Sherman Oaks – In-Person Event
CALLING ALL WRITERS! Every Tuesday we’ll be having Open Mic Readings open to the public! Read your poems, fiction, and spoken word at our open mic reading EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT from 7 pm – 10 pm!
Read your poetry, fiction, spoken word, or lyrics.
Free event. 21+
Note: Please RSVP at site.
Where: The Aftermath Bar
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 7 pm – 10 pm
Address: 14537 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Website: https://www.instagram.com
Romance Book Club: Marc Maye & From Sports to Life at pages: a bookstore – In-Person Event
Join {pages} a bookstore for its new Kiss & Tell romance book club meets monthly to discuss a romance novel and generally takes place on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm. At each meeting we discuss and vote on the next month’s book club selection.
RSVP for more information.
Facilitated by Lisa Becker.
Where: pages: a bookstore
Date: Tuesday the16th
Time: 7 pm – 8 pm
Address: 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Website: https://pagesabookstore.com/kiss-tell-romance-book-club-rsvp
Mystery& Thriller Book Group: The Mysterious Affair of Styles via Main Library, SMPL – Online Event
This community-led, book discussion group typically meets virtually at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. This book discusses domestic and international titles in the mystery and thriller genres, chosen by the members. To register, email library@santamonica.gov.
December 2025: The Mysterious Affair of Styles by Agatha Christie
Where: Main Library, SMPL
Date: Tuesday the 16th
Time: 7 pm – 8 pm
Address: Online Event (see site)
Website: https://www.santamonica.gov/events
The Virtual Cobalt Series & Open Mic: Rick Lupert & Bill Gaines – Online Zoom Event
Cobalt Poets Reading & Open Mic and host Rick Lupert welcomes featured poet Bil Gaines.
Bil Gaines lives in the southwestern pocket of the Inland Empire, not far from a lake, but far from the first lake you thought of — down in unincorporated Riverside County, somewhere in between wineries, coyote dens, and the endless nighttime highway. Previous works have been published in Pith Magazine, the Farallon Review, and others. Bil also won the Best Screenplay Award at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival for a screenplay about mimes. Favorite ocean: Pacific.
Where: Cobalt Poets – Online Zoom Event
Date: Tuesday, the 16th
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Address: Online event (see site)
Website: https://www.poetrysuperhighway.com
Da Poetry Lounge: Open Mic Night at Ora Café in Leimert Park – In-Person Event
The nation’s largest weekly spoken word Open Mic event is 26 years strong. DPL is a community space for every poet to be heard. They provide a platform to celebrate poetry while using it as the foundation for creativity, innovation, and expression across an array of media outlets.
Annual PJ Jam: Slam Qualifier
$10 suggested donation. Pay what you can. Do NOT line up prior to 7:30 pm Free parking adjacent to the theater.
Masks are encouraged.
Where: Ora Café
Date: Tuesday, the 16th
Time: 9 pm – 11 pm
Address: 4331 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park, CA 90008
Website: https://www.instagram.com
Coffee Time Book Club at pages: a bookstore – In-Person Event
Join {pages} a bookstore for the Coffee Time Book Club. Meets monthly, generally on third Wednesday of each month at 10:00am
We tend to read new release literary fiction. At each meeting we discuss and vote on what we will read and discuss for the following month.
Contact store for further information & RSVP.
Where: pages: a bookstore
Date: Wednesday the17th
Time: 10 am – 11 am
Address: 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Website: https://pagesabookstore.com/event/2025-12-17/coffee-time-book-club
Poets Café via KPFK 90.7 FM – Live On-Air Event
Poets Café celebrates Poetry. This program is a weekly half-hour literary arts discussion and reading program featuring guest authors and their works.
Poetry From Around the World is a segment of this series offered monthly on the 2nd Monday of the month on KPFK Los Angeles 90.7 FM.
NOTE: See site for details.
Where: KPFK 90.7 FM
Date: Wednesday, the 17th
Time: 2 pm – 2:30 pm
Address: On-air Event
Website: https://www.kpfk.org/on-air/poets-cafe/
Book Club for Adults: The Frozen River at San Gabriel Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Join us for a discussion of The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. Copies of this title are available at the Information Desk. For ages 18 and up.
Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.
Where: San Gabriel Library, LACL
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 3 pm – 4 pm
Address: 500 S. Del Mar Ave., San Gabriel, CA 91776
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14837125
Autobiographical Comics Workshop for Kids at West Valley Regional Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Kids Event
Join us for a fun and imaginative Autobiographical Comics Workshop led by 826LA! In this session, young storytellers will learn how to turn moments from their own lives into engaging comic-style narratives. With guidance from 826LA’s team, students will explore character development, visual storytelling, and creative expression.
Designed for elementary school–aged children, but everyone is welcome.
Where: West Valley Regional Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 4 pm
Address: 19036 Vanowen St., Reseda, CA 91335
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/autobiographical-comics-workshop-kids
Sci-Fi Book Club:The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy at Van Nuys Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event
Join us for our Science Fiction Book Club where The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams will be discussed. Copies are available at the library.
Synopsis: Join Arthur Dent as he travels the universe.
Where: Van Nuys Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 5 pm – 6 pm
Address: 6250 Sylmar Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91401
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/sci-fi-book-club-hitchhikers-guide-galaxy-douglas-adams
Book Club for Adults: The Glass Castle at San Fernando Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Join us for a discussion of The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wells. Copies of the current title are available at the Information Desk. New members are always welcome! For adults.
From her first memory, to her last glimpse of her mother, picking through a New York City dumpster, Walls’s detached, direct, and unflinching account of her rags-to-riches life proves a troubling ride. Her parents, Rex Walls, from the poor mining town of Welch, West Virginia, and Rose Mary, a well-educated artist from Phoenix, love a good adventure and usually don’t take into account the care of the children, leaving them largely to fend for themselves. Eventually, the family makes a collective escape to New York City, where they all make good, even the parents, who are content to live homeless. Walls’s journalistic bare-bones style makes for a chilling, wrenching, incredible testimony of childhood neglect.
Where: San Fernando Library, LACL
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Address: 217 N. Maclay Ave., San Fernando, CA 91340
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14976982
Sci-Fi Book Club: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy at Van Nuys Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event
Join us for our Science Fiction Book Club where The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams will be discussed. Copies are available at the library.
Synopsis: Join Arthur Dent as he travels the universe.
Where: Van Nuys Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 5 pm – 6 pm
Address: 6250 Sylmar Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91401
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/sci-fi-book-club-hitchhikers-guide-galaxy-douglas-adams
Book Club for Adults: My Name Is Lucy Barton at Valley Plaza Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event
Join us for a lively literary discussion at our book club for adults! New members are always welcome. You may check out the book (or e-book) for free with your library card.
December 17: My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Where: Valley Plaza Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 6 pm – 7:15 pm
Address: 12311 Vanowen St., North Hollywood, CA 91605
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/book-club-adults-7
Quiet Write Night at Valley Plaza Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event
Bring your creative writing projects into the library’s tranquil Community Room. This is a great way to find peaceful support from other writers. Get focused and creative on your writing this winter.
Where: Lake View Terrace Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
Address: 12002 Osborne St., Lake View Terrace, CA 91342
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/quiet-write-night-4
Author Talk: Bobbito’s Book of B-Ball Bong Bong!: A Memoir of Sports, Style, and Soul via Central Library, LAPL – Online Event
Join us for a conversation with author Robert “Bobito” Garcia regarding his new memoir Bobbito’s Book of B-Ball Bong Bong!: A Memoir of Sports, Style, and Soul. Online, join the book’s author; renouned DJ, radio personality, sneaker historian and documentarian, for a wide ranging-discussion on all things streetball and hip-hop from the 70s to today! Joined in conversation by writer and archivist Peter Agoston.
RSVP:
To receive a Zoom link and to RSVP please visit https://bobbito.eventbrite.com
Don’t miss out – stream it live from anywhere!
Where: Central Library, LAPL
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Address: Online Event (see site)
Mystery & Thriller Book Club: How to Solve Your Own Murder at Studio City Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event
Join us on the last Wednesday of every month for our Mystery & Thriller book club!
December (12/17 – Special Meeting Date) How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
Where: Studio City Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 6:30 pm
Address: 12511 Moorpark St., Studio City, CA 91604
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/mystery-thriller-book-club-0
RECESS Open Mic at SIPA HQ, Palms Up Academy – In-Person Event
RECESS Open Mic is at SIPA HQ on Wednesdays.
Lady B returns with our annual Holiday Mic where attendees can expect to receive a special gift courtesy of PUA to get you through the oncoming holidays standard mic RSVP, rules and entry apply.
This dynamic open mic is the most accessible public program in the Palms Up Academy curriculum and manifests their mission statement in a physical (and digital) space.
NOTE: See site for RSVP, cost, guidelines, and details.
Where: SIPA HQ
Date: Wednesday, the 17th
Time: 7 pm – 9:30 pm (Doors at 6:30 pm; Open Mic at 8 pm)
Address: 3200 W. Temple St., Ste. 100, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Website: https://www.instagram.com
Banned Books Club at Underdog Bookstore, Monrovia – In-Person Event
Our Banned Books Club meets to discuss a new banned or challenged book every third Wednesday, in-store and online.
Our December pick is: Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
RSVP: bit.ly/readbannedbooks
You can pick up a copy in store or keep supporting Underdog by listening to the audiobook from our libro.fm or downloading the ebook from our bookshop.org.
Where: Underdog Bookstore
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 7 pm – 9 pm
Address: 312 South Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia, CA, 91016
Website: https://www.underdogbookstore.org/events/banned-books-club-85l6r-ldlt9-sjb8x
Zibby’s Bookshop December Book Club: I Am You at Zibby’s Bookstore – In-Person Event
Join us to discuss I Am You by author Victoria Redel.
Where: Zibby’s Bookstore
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 7 pm – 8 pm
Where: 1113 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zibbys-bookshop-december-book-club-tickets-1969878901823
Anansi Writers Workshop: Book Release Event: Hiram Charles Sims & Poems in Praise of Libraries at The World Stage – In-Person Event
The Anansi Writers Workshop was founded in 1990 by Kamau Daáood, Akilah Oliver, Nafis Nabawi and Anthony Lyons. In 1993, Michael Datcher initiated the development of a three-part format for the workshop. Our tradition of a community workshop began in the late 1960s at the Watts Writers’ Workshop, where World Stage co-founder Kamau Daáood started his writing career. Hosted by Jessica Gallion aka “Yellawoman.”
This World Stage Press Wednesday celebrates the publication of the anthology Poems in Praise of Libraries, featuring gathered poems from local poets and beyond to share their love and admiration for libraries. This collection celebrates the power and significance of libraries, and the wonderful librarians who safeguard these sacred community spaces. This anthology is part of a series of poetry anthologies from World Stage Press honoring a particular subject, place or group of people that should be uplifted up and celebrated.
- 7:30 pm – 10 pm — Special Book release event
- 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm — Hiram Sims & Poems in Praise of Libraries.
Suggested: $10.00 Donation via PayPal: The World Stage Gallery.
NOTE: See site for further details and any change in the schedule. Contact on Instagram @ _yellawoman.
Where: The World Stage (use left rear entrance)
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 7:30 pm – 10 pm
Address: 4321 Degnan Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008
Website: https://www.instagram.com
Story Salon at Art Parlor: Holiday Bite Back in Valley Village – In-Person & Virtual Hybrid Event
Los Angeles’s longest running storytelling venue is now a hybrid event!
An alternative to stand-up clubs + self-conscious performance spaces
Story Salon challenges you all to tell stories in 90 seconds! Can you do it? If you can, join us!
Tickets can be purchased early with the link in bio or at storysalon.com.
Theme: Holiday Bite Back.
Where: Art Parlor
Date: Wednesday the 17th
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm (Doors at 7 pm)
Address: 5302 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Valley Village, CA 91607
Website: https://www.instagram.com
Wednesday Night Poetry Workshop with Jose Hernandez Diaz via Beyond Baroque – Online Event
The West Coast’s longest-running free poetry workshop is offered by Beyond Baroque on Zoom and welcomes new and seasoned poets to share their work and provide feedback. Please be prepared to share one poem. This workshop will be hosted via the Zoom video-conferencing platform. Please be prepared to share one poem.
Please spend some time before the workshop learning how to share documents via Zoom. It will keep the session moving if you’re able to make your poem viewable quickly and easily. An instructive video is available on the site.
The workshop can sometimes reach high levels of attendance, which means not everyone will get a chance to read every session.
Jose Hernandaz Diaz is a 2017 NEA Fellow. He is the author of The Fire Eater (Texas Review Press, 2020) Bad Mexican, Bad American (Acre Books, 2024) The Parachutist (Sundress Publications, 2025) and Portrait of the Artist as a Brown Man (Red Hen Press, 2025). He has been published in Bennington Review, The Yale Review, The London Magazine, The Southern Review, Poetry Ireland Review, The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2011, and in The Best American Poetry 2025. He has taught creative writing at the University of California at Riverside. Currently, he is the Visiting Writer in Residence at the University of Tennessee.
NOTE: See site for further details, tickets, and information.
Where: Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center
Date: Wednesday, the 17th
Time: 8 pm – 10 pm
Address: Online event (see site)
Website: https://www.beyondbaroque.org
Poetry Reading & Open Mic by Two Idiots Peddling Poetry with Ben Trigg and Guest Jessica Saravia at The Ugly Mug – In-Person Event
Join host Ben Trigg and guest poet and author Jessica Saravia for a reading and open mic at this event held every Wednesday of the month.
Jessica Saravia (she/her/ella) is a Two-Spirit Xicana y Latina multimedia artist that writes about and is a student of spirituality, nature and death. She is a proud daughter of a single immigrant mother who initially sparked her love of writing and all things whimsical. She has recently released her first solo poetry collection Euthanasia through Daxson Publishing.
Her work has also been published in the first and second ILL Anthology through Curiosity Press, Synchronized Chaos online magazine, Fullerton College Magazine, Fuego Anthology by the Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble and the Homies Who Submit zine. She has upcoming features in the Engendering U.S. Central American Women & Womxn’s Testimonios anthology through the University of Arizona Press and, Those Who Think Differently: An Anthology of Stories of Indigenous Autistics from Turtle Island. She has also performed in theatrical productions at the 10 Minute Frida Kahlo Theater Festival, Costa Mesa Playhouse, and the No Square Theater in Laguna Beach. She has also performed poetry in the virtual “Staged Stories” series in Episode 6, and a wide variety of bookstores, festivals, lectures and theaters in Southern California.
This past year, she has had many blessings such as a co-facilitator for the Pride Poetry Night workshop “Casting Spells with the Power of the Word” through the Spirit Root Medicine People, serving as co-chair for the Bay Area American Indian Two Spirit powwow for the past three years, hosting a virtual workshop on writing and spirituality for the Circulo de Poetas & Writers Conference in August and many other in person and virtual events. She hopes to inspire writers of all ages, as someone who was first published in her community college’s anthology who now has her own book available to check out within several community college libraries.
When she is not writing, she is busy daydreaming, spending time with loved ones and organizing for her community.
To follow her adventures and where she will be performing next, follow her Instagram: @tzapotl_lit and for business inquiries or to purchase her book, please email: euthanasiathebook@gmail.com
$5 cover fee, cash only
Where: The Ugly Mug, Orange
Date: Wednesday, the 17th
Time: 8 pm – 10 pm
Address: 261 N. Glassell St., Orange, CA 92866
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events
“Saved by a Story” Seniors Writing Group at Westwood Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event
Come enjoy creativity and community in a nonjudgmental environment. Discover the bounty of stories that lie within!
Where: Westwood Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 1 pm – 2:30 pm
Address: 1246 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/saved-story-senior-writing-workshop-1
Book Discussion: Pigeon Pie at Sunand – Tujunga Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event
Join us for the community-led book discussion of Pigeon Pie by Nancy Mitford.
Where: Sunland – TujungaBranch Library, LAPL
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 1 pm
Address: 7771 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga, CA 91042
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/book-discussion-13
Mystery Book Discussion: The Book of Cold Cases at Palms – Rancho Park Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event
Join us for an engaging conversation about whodunnits, thrillers, and cri-fi. Copies available at reference and as e-books. Light refreshments provided by Friends of the Palms Rancho Park Library.
December 18: The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
Where: Palms – Rancho ParkBranch Library, LAPL
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Address: 2920 Overland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/mystery-book-discussion-0
Marina del Rey Book Club: Three Great Alone at Marina Del Rey Library, LACL – In-Person Event
This month, we’ll explore The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah. This historical fiction set in the frontier of Alaska follows the Allbright family. For adults 18+.
After coming home from the Vietnam war and loosing another job Ernt Allbright makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers thanks to the long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals making up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources. But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within.
This is the afternoon session.
For adults.
Where: Lloyd Taber-Marina del Rey Library, LACL
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 2 pm – 3 pm
Address: 4533 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/15148973
Eagle Rock Book Club: Three Holidays and a Wedding at Eagle Rock Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event
The Eagle Rock Book Club explores both acclaimed newer books and rediscovered classics of the past.
The selection for December is Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddinand Marissa Stapley, a multi-faith holiday rom-com. When Christmas, Eid, and Hanukkah occur at the same time, two strangers-turned-friends are snowbound in the charming town of Snow Falls―along with the cast and crew of a holiday romance movie, nosy family members, and their lifelong crushes.
The library will have copies to check out or check our e-media page for electronic access on Libby and hoopla.
Please bring book suggestions for future meetings.
Where: Eagle Rock Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 3 pm
Address: 5027 Caspar Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90041
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/eagle-rock-book-club-5
Book Club for Adults: James at Chet Holfield Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Whether you like historical fiction, sci-fi, romance, or memoirs, this book club reads it all. This month, join us for a discussion of James by Percival Everett. Pick up a copy of the book at the information desk today! For adults
Where: Chet Holfield Library, LACL
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 4 pm – 5 pm
Address: 1060 S. Greenwood Ave., Montebello, CA 90640
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/15110430
Marina del Rey Book Club: Three Great Alone at Marina Del Rey Library, LACL – In-Person Event
This month, we’ll explore The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah. This historical fiction set in the frontier of Alaska follows the Allbright family. For adults 18+.
After coming home from the Vietnam war and loosing another job Ernt Allbright makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers thanks to the long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals making up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources. But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within.
This is the evening session.
For adults.
Where: Lloyd Taber-Marina del Rey Library, LACL
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Address: 4533 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/15148972
Between the Lines Book Club: The Paris Novel at Castaic Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Join us as we stroll through The Paris Novel, by Ruth Reichl. For adults.
When her mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual inheritance: a one-way plane ticket and a note reading “Go to Paris.” When her boss encourages her to take time off, Stella resigns herself to honor her mother’s wishes, even if a spontaneous trip to Paris is the last thing she wants.
A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to what it means to live deliciously: to be authentic, to embrace adventure, and to find a home in the last place you might expect.
Copies are available at the Customer Service desk and newcomers are always welcome!
Where: Castaic Library, LACL
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Address: 27971 Sloan Canyon Rd., Castaic, CA 91384
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14890925
Cover to Cover Book Club: Long Island at Mid-Valley Regional Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person & Online Hybrid Event
Join us for a discussion of the monthly book selection.
December 18: Long Island by Colm Tóibín
Copies of each month’s selection should be available for check-out at the Reference Desk. New members are always welcome.
Where: Mid-Valley Regional Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Address: 16244 Nordhoff St., North Hills, CA 91343
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/cover-cover-book-club-1
Poetry Workshop with Martin Jago at Eagle Rock Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event
The Poetry Workshop invites new and seasoned poets to share new work and provide feedback, facilitated by British American poet Martin Jago.
Martin Jago is a British-American poet, nonfiction writer, and stage director who lives between Los Angeles and Great Britain and works internationally. His debut poetry collection is Photofit (Pindrop Press, 2023) and his forthcoming chapbook, Black Plastic Blues will be available in 2026 from Finishing Line Press. An active member of the Los Angeles poetry and theatre scenes, Martin has served as a Steering Committee member and Associate Producer at Directors Lab West, teaches far and wide—from guest workshops at University of Oxford to Shakespeare Masterclasses at the Malibu Playhouse—and is proudest of his ongoing community engagement through public poetry workshops at the Los Angeles Public Library.
This one and a half hour workshop is suitable for adults, and the group is limited to a maximum of 12 participants.
Attendees should bring their own poetry to share, a notebook, and a pen.
RSVP:
Email eaglrk@lapl.org to reserve a place in the class.
Where: Eagle Rock Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Address: 5027 Caspar Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90041
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/poetry-workshop-martin-jago-0
Writer’s Block: Creative Writing & Meaningful Connection at Octavia’s Bookshelf, Pasadena – In-Person Event
If you would like to connect with other writers and have dedicated time for creative writing (poetry, short stories, novels, songs, screenplays, etc.), this is for you! We are holding space for writers to free-write, share and receive positive feedback, and make meaningful connections. All levels are welcome. This space is offered freely!
Zahida Sherman is a proud Seattle native and poet who made her way to Southern California by way of everywhere. Her previous writing has centered on culture, belonging, and wellness for Bustle, Healthline, Well and Good, Afropunk, and Blavity, among others.
Where: Octavia’s Bookshelf
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 6 pm – 7 pm
Address: 1353 North Hill Ave., Pasadena, CA 91104
Website: https://www.octaviasbookshelf.com/events/
Cookies & Comics Graphic Novel Book Club at Westwood Branch Library, LAPL – Online Event
Do you love graphic novels? Then this is the club for you! DC’s iconic superheroes meet some of Hanna-Barbera’s best-loved characters in the most unexpected stories of the year, collected here in DC Meets Hanna-Barbera.
When Booster Gold tries to rescue future Earth from an alien invasion, he travels back in time to find help from Fred Flintstone! Green Lantern and Space Ghost join forces to help an alien race facing disaster! Adam Strange lands on an unfamiliar Earth, and only Jonny Quest can help him get home! All of this, plus even more unexpected takes. You can grab this title on hoopla with your library card.
The intended audience for this monthly Zoom event is teens aged 16+ and adults.
RSVP:
To request the link for the meeting and to be put on the monthly mailing list, email wwood@lapl.org
Where: Westwood Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Address: Online Event
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/cookies-comics-graphic-novel-book-club-17
All Women’s Open Mic Night at Village Well Books & Coffee – In-Person Event
Village Well is providing a platform for female poets, musicians, storytellers, and comedians. While all are welcome to attend, this is an event that aims to amplify women’s voices only.
Acts are limited to 3-5 minutes in length. Sign-ups begin at 6:30 pm and conclude at 7:00 pm
Also, please note that not all material may be considered “family-friendly” so please use discretion when deciding whether or not to bring children.
Reserve your seat at website!
Where: Village Well Books & Coffee
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 7 pm – 8 pm
Address: 9900 Culver Blvd. #1B, Culver City, CA 90232
Website: https://shop.villagewell.com
World Stage Poet Feature: N.AIYA at Vibes & Verse, Dirty Laundry – In-Person Event
N.AIYA, aka Aiyana Sha’niel-Da’Briel, live at Vibes & Verse, a one year anniversary celebration.
N.AIYA is a 20-year-old Black poet born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She has been writing for over seven years, beginning at Hamilton High School, where she wrote and performed on the school’s poetry team, Hamlit, and competed in Get-Lit competitions from 2017-2020.
$10 presale, $15 at the door
Where: Dirty Laundry
Date: Thursday the 18th
Time: 10 pm – 1:30 am
Address: 1725 N. Hudson Ave., Los Angeles, CA
Website: https://www.instagram.com/
Weekly Pajama Storytime at Once Upon a Time, Montrose – In-Person Kids & Family Event
Our most popular story time is ready to delight and dazzle! This is also the prime time to see Pippi Longstocking, our bookstore cat in action.
There is a large FREE parking lot off Florencita Dr. as well as metered parking along Honolulu Ave. and Montrose Ave.
Free to attend.
NOTE: Free to attend.
Where: Once Upon a Time
Date: Friday, the 19th
Time: 9:30 am
Address: 2207 Honolulu Ave., Montrose, CA 91020
Website: https://www.shoponceuponatime.com/event
Book Club: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year and The Book Club Hotel at La Mirada Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Read one or both books. Both books will be discussed at this meeting. For adults.
Where: La Mirada Library, LACL
Date: Friday the 19th
Time: 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Address: 13800 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada, CA 90638
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/15065003
Bilingual Storytime at Village Well Books & Coffee – In-Person Event
Bilingual Storytime! Exposing your children to multiple languages is highly beneficial for their learning and development, and what better way to do it than through this fun activity where we will read a wonderful story in both English and Spanish.
¡Hora de cuentos bilingüe! Exponer a tus hjijos a varios idiomas es de gran beneficio para su aprendizaje y desarrollo, y qué mejor que hacerlo en esta divertida actividad en donde leeremos un maravilloso cuento en inglés y en español.
Where: Village Well Books & Coffee
Date: Friday the 19th
Time: 11 am – 12 pm
Address: 9900 Culver Blvd. #1B, Culver City, CA 90232
Website: https://shop.villagewell.com
Writing Gets Lonely at Heavy Manners Library – In-Person Event
Writing Gets Lonely: Open Writing Studio (12/19)
Join host Katja Bartholmess for an open writing studio at Heavy Manners Library from 1-3! No frills, no prompts, just write!
Manuscripts, Screenplays, Articles … whatever you’re working on, let’s do it in each other’s company!
Drop in and stay a while.
Where: Heavy Manners Library
Date: Friday the 19th
Time: 1 pm – 3 pm
Address: 1200 N. Alvarado St. Unit D, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Website: https://heavymannerslibrary.com/events/writing-gets-lonely-open-writing-studio-12-19
Teen Book Club: Scythe at West Hollywood Library, LACL – In-Person Teen Event
Calling all teens! Join us for a book club discussion where we’ll talk about Neal Shusterman’s award winning YA novel, Scythe. For teens.
Please contact the library to get a print copy of the book prior to the event. No registration required.
Where: West Hollywood Library, LACL
Date: Friday the 19th
Time: 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Address: 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14945059
O Holy Night Gaza: A Christmas Immersive at Midnight Bookstore – In-Person Event
Experience traditional foods, music, and shop Palestinian goods.
Where: Midnight Bookstore
Date: Friday the 19th
Time: 6 pm – 10 pm
Address: 941 E 2nd St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Website: https://www.instagram.com
jimmy vega and Guests & Zirconium Ash at Community Arts Workspace – In-Person & Online YouTube Hybrid Event
jimmy vega is the child of Mexican immigrants, a Chicanx Los Angeles born and raised poet, writer, educator, artist, and curator. He will read and discuss his debut poetry collection, Zirconium Ash, published by What Books Press in 2025.
Guest readers:
Adam Stutz is a neurodivergent poet and the publisher of The Broken Lens Journal. He is the author of Transcript (Cooper Dillon Books, 2017), The Scales (White Stag Publishing, 2018), The Sham Tapestry (White Stag Publishing, 2024), and Compunctions + Thefts (White Stag Publishing, 2024). His work can also be found at https://stutzwrites.com.
Jose Hernandez Diaz is a 2017 NEA Poetry Fellow. He studied English and Creative Writing at Cerritos Community College, the University of California at Berkeley, and Antioch University, Los Angeles. He is the author of The Fire Eater (Texas Review Press, 2020) and Bad Mexican, Bad American (Acre Books, 2024), and The Parachutist (Sundress Publications, 2025).
Genesis Perez won the 2019 Oxnard High School Poetry Slam. Perez is a poet of social conscience, dealing with sexual harassment, sexuality, grief, and the struggles of immigrants. She was a featured reader in Mexican Schools at Beyond Baroque in Venice, Los Angeles, and the Elite Theatre Company in Oxnard.
Michaela Chairez is a Latina poet from the Inland Empire. She now holds an MFA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Her work can be found in California Quarterly, Transfer, The Ana, and Acentos Review.
Matthew Mejia is an American poet and an award-winning professor whose work and research explore trauma, fear, grief, epistemology, pedagogy, and the self. He is driven and inspired by his Japanese, Mexican, and Indigenous ancestry. Through art, he continues to heal generations of violence and abuse to unify his communities. In the classroom, he advocates for student success and truly believes that students are the foundation on which academia stands. Matthew began a 501c3 arts advocacy nonprofit, Nervous Ghost Press, with the fundamental idea that writing saves lives. All people deserve to experience the beauty and power of the arts, and illustrate that our voices carry power and strength.
Excited to be supporting @jimmyyvega along side the immensely talented @jose_hdz_dz, @panicversuseuphoria, @michaela.amarissa, and @mejiapoetry! Check out @nervousghostpress and register for the event at ghosts@nervousghostspress.org!
You can also stream the event on YT at https://youtube.com/@nervousghostpress?si=oiXQh3Xij-TjpIkF
Where: Community Arts Workspace
Date: Friday the 19th
Time: 6 pm – 10 pm
Address: 2715 Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90007
Website: https://www.instagram.com
Open Mic Night at Underdog Bookstore – In-Person Event
We host an Open Mic Night at Underdog Bookstore on the third Friday of every month to showcase and celebrate the creative talents of our local community, including poetry, music, and more!
While walk-in sign-ups are welcome on the night, if you’d like to be listed as a featured performer and guarantee your spot, you can apply here.
This month we also invite you to participate in our Poetry Gift Swap, by bringing new or gently loved poetry books to exchange. You can leave them unwrapped or gift someone a blind date with a poetry book!
All exchange books will be free to take during the Open Mic Night, and any left over after the event will be donated to Underdog Bookstore.
Where: Underdog Bookstore
Date: Friday the 19th
Time: 7 pm – 9 pm
Address: 312 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016
Website: https://www.underdogbookstore.org/events
SWAAM Spoken Word Art & Music Event at Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center – In-Person Event
SWAAM Spoken Word Art & Music is offered every 1st & 3rd Friday of the month and hosted by Loranzo Frank.
This frieday SWAAM features Cory “Besskepp” Cofer, a father, husband, educator, poet, and storyteller who blends his distinct voice and deep-rooted origins into his sought-after writings and performances. His debut collection of poetry, Dreaming Under Polka-Dot Stars, was published in January 2023 by World Stage Press. He is the co-founder and curator of A Mic & Dim Lights.
Tickets at Eventbrite.
NOTE: See site for details.
Where: Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center
Date: Friday, the 29th
Time: 8 pm – 12 am
Address: 4305 Degnan Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008
Website: https://www.depoet.info/swaam
First Fridays Rapp Saloon Reading Series & Open Mic with host Cynthia Alessandra Briano at Rapp Saloon, Santa Monica – In-Person & Online Hybrid Event
Frist Fridays at Rapp Saloon: Open Mic & Featured Readers, will be this week, and is offered every 1st Friday of the month.
First Friday: Cynthia Alessandra Briano
Second Friday: Russell Greene
Third Friday: Elena Secota
Fourth Friday: Jim Bolt
Fifth Friday: James Evert Jones
This is a hybrid event, live in-person while offering a Zoom option for our performers and guests.
Our featured guest poets and artists this month TBA.
NOTE: See site or flyer for details.
Where: Rapp Saloon at HISUA
Date: Friday, the 19th
Time: 8 pm – 11 pm
Address: 1436 2nd St., Santa Monica, CA 90402
Website: https://www.facebook.com/RappSaloonReading
Graphic Novel Book Club: This Was Our Pact via Bel Canto Books, Long Beach – In-Person Event
Join us for December’s virtual Graphic Novel Book Club Meeting.
Participants will discuss This Was Our Pact by author Ryan Andrews.
It’s the night of the annual Autumn Equinox Festival, when the town gathers to float paper lanterns down the river. Legend has it that after drifting out of sight, they’ll soar off to the Milky Way and turn into brilliant stars, but could that actually be true? This year, Ben and his classmates are determined to find out where those lanterns really go, and to ensure success in their mission, they’ve made a pact with two simple rules: No one turns for home. No one looks back.
The plan is to follow the river on their bikes for as long as it takes to learn the truth, but it isn’t long before the pact is broken by all except for Ben and (much to Ben’s disappointment) Nathaniel, the one kid who just doesn’t seem to fit in.
Together, Nathaniel and Ben will travel farther than anyone has ever gone, down a winding road full of magic, wonder, and unexpected friendship*.
*And a talking bear.
Where: Bel Canto Books, Long Beach
Date: Saturday the 20th
Time: 10 am
Address: Online Event
Website: https://belcantobooks.net/book-clubs
Sisters in Crime Los Angeles: Season’s Readings at Agoura Hills Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Looking for a fun mystery to cozy up with this winter? Join us for a book giveaway, graciously brought to us by Sisters in Crime Los Angeles! For ages 18 and up.
Stop by to browse the selection and take home a book for yourself and/or your loved ones, while supplies last!
Where: Agoura Hills Library, LACL
Date: Saturday the 20th
Time: 1 pm – 2 pm
Address: 29901 Ladyface Ct., Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/15029685
Holiday Poetry Hotline: Live Calls and Poem Prescriptions Workshop at West Hollywood Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Under the guidance of West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng, workshop participants will be answering phone calls live as operators to deliver “poem prescriptions” for callers. For adults.
We will practice the art of listening and choose a poem from our dispensary of curated poems. New operators will be paired with experienced operators.
Please note: attendance at the December 13 Writing Workshop is required to help answer calls at this workshop. Observers are welcome to attend and enjoy the poetic buzz of the poetry pharmacy. Operators need to arrive early to get oriented before the hotline goes live at 2 pm.
Light refreshments provided by the Friends of the West Hollywood Library.
Jen Cheng is the Fifth West Hollywood Poet Laureate, a Laureate Fellow with the Academy of American Poets, a California Arts Council Fellow, and a multidisciplinary storyteller who amplifies under-represented voices. Jen is the founder of Palabras Literary Salon, celebrating BIPOC poets and writers. Jen blends East-West cultural influences as Feng Shui Poetry. With stories for tween audiences, mystery detective fans, and queer love, Jen is a cross-pollinator. Find her on IG and Bluesky @JenCvoice or JenCvoice.com.
Attendance is limited and advance registration is required. Please register every individual in your party. This will be used to save your spots in the program. We cannot guarantee availability for any unregistered attendees.
Where: West Hollywood Library, LACL
Date: Saturday the 20th
Time: 2 pm – 5 pm
Address: 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/14875947
Weekend Book Club: Glorious Exploits at Carson Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Patrons can join a facilitated discussion of fiction and nonfiction titles. A limited number of titles are available for attendees to pick up at the library. December’s Book: Glorious Exploits: A Novel by Ferdia Lennon. For adults.
Where: Carson Library, LACL
Date: Saturday the 20th
Time: 2 pm – 3 pm
Address: 153 E. Carson St., Carson, CA 90745
Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/15149816
East of Western Closing Reception: L.A. Poets Read Charles Bukowski at Mike Kelley Gallery, Beyond Baroque – In-Person Event
Join us for a celebration of Charles Bukowski at Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center.
Join us for the closing reception of East of Western curated by Joan Ganny. In tandem with the exhibition’s closure, this intergenerational reading of Charles Bukowski’s poetry features several poets from across Los Angeles at The Wanda Coleman Theater.
The program highlights poets who worked closely with Bukowski in the 1970s and 1980s—editing, corresponding, and publishing anthologies—alongside a new generation shaped by one of L.A.’s most iconic and controversial literary figures.
The lineup includes:
Ingrid “Besskepp” Cofer is a poet, tarot reader, collagist & the editor-in-chief of resurrection magazine & resurrection press. She is the author of twenty-eight poetry books and lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, painter John Collins.
Rhiannon Cielos Chavez is a trans masculine Mexican poet born of LA, currently based in southern Oregon. Their pieces often delve into themes of fatherless-ness, trans-ness, and Mexican-ness. They enjoy watching deer and getting drunk at the same time. You can find their work in Angel Rust.
Michael C. Ford was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and moved with his parents to Pasadena, California toward the end of World War II. Between 1974 and 1977 he co-edited a prose/poetry journal called The Sunset Palms Hotel. He also edited two anthology projects The Mount Alverno (Peace Press, 1971) and Foreign Exchange (Biographies, 1979).
S.A. Griffin is an American poet, actor, performance artist, and publisher. He co-edited The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry. In the 1980s, Griffin began appearing in poetry anthologies, periodicals, and publishing poetry. His writing is influenced by the Beat Generation, Charles Bukowski, punk rock, and Dada, In 2015, the S.A. Griffin collection of underground poetry, Scott Wannberg, and The Carma Bums, circa 1950-2015 was archived at UCLA, becoming the first acquisition of UCLA’s Punk Archive
Bill Mohr is a professor in the Department of English at California State University, Long Beach. He has a Ph.D. in Literature from the University of California, San Diego, and has taught at CSU Long Beach since 2006. In addition to being an internationally recognized poet, Mohr has worked as an editor and publisher (Momentum Press, 1974-1988) and literary scholar and historian. His poems, prose poems and creative prose have appeared in dozens of magazines in the past 40 years. Mohr’s volumes of poetry include Hidden Proofs (1982); Penetralia (1984); Bittersweet Kaleidscope (2006); and a bilingual volume published in Mexico, Pruebas Ocultas (Bonobos Editores, 2015).
Iván Salinas is a Mexican writer & zinester based in the San Fernando Valley (unceded Tongva-Tativiam territory). He received a BA in English, Creative Writing, from Cal State Northridge. He is the co-founder of Drifter Zine and Paloma Press, highlighting artists of the 818 and beyond. His writings and translations have appeared in Revista Generación, The Acentos Review, Mobile Data Mag, Broken Lens Journal, The Ana, and elsewhere. Iván is Programs Manager at Beyond Baroque, the oldest literary arts center in Los Angeles.
Laura Sermeño born in Montebello, CA, raised & educated in Sur El Monte, UCLA matriculated. Her roots are indisputably Mexican. In 2012, she began to unfold her art of poetry. In 2023, she self-published her first collection of poetry entitled born to cry. Her 2025 collection of poetry, also self-published, is titled Loving You like a Mexican. Recently displaced by the Eaton fire, she now teaches & resides in Northeast Los Angeles.
Paul Vangelisti is an American poet, editor, translator, educator, and broadcaster. He moved to Los Angeles in 1968 to attend the University of Southern California, where he took several graduate level classes but never earned a degree. Vangelisti is the author of almost twenty collections of poetry, including Air (1973), Portfolio (1978), Another You (1980), Villa, Rime (1983), and Nemo (1995).
jimmy vega is the child of mexican immigrants, a chicano los angeles poet, educator, and interdisciplinary artist. vega is the author of zirconium ash (what books press, 2025). He holds a BA from UCLA in English and an MFA in creative writing from CalArts. vega’s poems have appeared or are forthcoming in diode, dunce codex, maintenant, and elsewhere. vega is currently the interim executive director of beyond baroque literary / arts center. he lives and works in Los Angeles. Follow @jimmyyvega or jimmy-vega.com.
Pam Ward is an LA native who released her poetry anthology, Between Good Men & No Men at All,fromWorld Stage Press in 2024. She is also the author of two novels, Want Some Get Some and Bad Girls Burn Slow, a UCLA graduate, California Arts Council Fellow, Pushcart Poetry Nominee and founding member of the Leimert Park Book Fair. Published in numerous publications, including Voices of Leimert Park, Renaissance Noir and the LA Times, Pam was honored by the LA Department of Cultural Affairs as a Trailblazer writer, 2025 and participated in the first literary Olympics in Paris, 2024. She’s been writer in residence, a board member of Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Foundation and The World Stage and conducted workshops for Black Women for Wellness, Art Center College of Design and runs her own community press, Short Dress Press.
Charles Harper Webb is an American poet, professor, psychotherapist and former singer and guitarist. His most recent poetry collection is Shadow Ball. His honors include a Whiting Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, The Kate Tufts Discovery Award, a Pushcart Prize and inclusion in The Best American Poetry 2006. His poems have appeared in literary journals and magazines including American Poetry Review, Paris Review, and Ploughshares.
and more TBA.
Where: Mike Kelley Gallery, Beyond Baroque
Date: Saturday the 20th
Time: 2 pm – 4 pm
Address: 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90201
Creative Writing Group at Central Library, LACL – In-Person Event
Calling all writers of fiction, screenplays, poetry, etc. Get feedback on your writing in a fun, supportive environment! The Central Library Creative Writing Group meets every other Saturday for fellowship, feedback, and snacks. Meetings start out with a short writing prompt exercise, then writers are invited to share up to five pages of their work for feedback from the group. Whether you are just starting out or well on your way to glory, join us and banish (at least temporarily) those Lonely Writer Blues!
RSVP:
Please RSVP by emailing fiction@lapl.org
Where: Central Library, LACL, Meeting Room B
Date: Saturday the 20th
Time: 3 pm – 5 pm
Address: 630 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90071
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/creative-writing-group
Saturday Afternoon Poetry: Readings by Radomir Vojtech Luza & Patricia Murphy – In-Person Event
Published readings by Radomir Vojtech Luza and Patricia Murphy + Poets published in Four Feathers Press SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BRANCHES.
See site for details.
Don Kingfisher Campbell hosts and curates these events.
Where: Lamanda Park Library, Pasadena
Date: Saturday, the 20th
Time: 3 pm – 4:30 pm
Address: 140 S. Altadena Dr., Pasadena CA
Website: https://saturdayafternoonpoetry.blogspot.com
Poems and Prose for Conor Proffitt at Village Well Books & Coffee – In-Person Event
Please join us on December 20th at 6 pm at Village Well to honor the memory of our friend Conor Proffitt.
We will talk about connection, community, grief, and loss. Please bring a poem or a short piece of text to share, and a flower.
Where: Village Well Books & Coffee
Date: Saturday the 20th
Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
Address: 9900 Culver Blvd. #1B, Culver City, CA 90232
Website: https://villagewell.com
Obsidian Tongues Readings & Open Mic at Lopez Urban Farm, Pomona – In-Person Event
Obsidian Tongues’ Ceasar K. Avelar is excited to feature a very special poet, Candice Margarita (@apocketfulofpoesies).
Candice Margarita is a queer Nuyorican/Boricua artist, performer, writer, and spoken word poet. Her poetry is created by her mental health struggles, her innate need to tell stories and her yearning for community, for a better society and a better world. She’s currently working on her first poetry and prose book, The Antidote, coming Spring 2026, with the goal of her poetic work to heal others as it has been doing for her. They are one half of the poetic comedy improv duo, The Poesers, and they host The Prototype Show & Open Mic—a monthly experimental poetry show with an open mic. The show happens every fourth Sunday at The Glendale Room in Glendale, with their first show of 2026 on January 25th. Follow her at @apocketfulofpoesies on Instagram.
Obsidian Tongues is hosted by Ceasar K. Avelar, former Poet Laureate of Pomona and author of God of the Air Hose.
NOTE: See site for details.
Where: Lopez Urban Farm
Date: Saturday, the 20th
Time: 7:30 pm – 9 pm
Address: 1034 W. Mission Blvd., Pomona, CA 91766
Website: https://www.instagram.com
Café Con Rolas with DJs La Caminante & Young Furiosa at LibroMobile, Santa Ana – In-Person Event
You asked & we listened! A Silent Book Reading event just for our comunidad. La Caminante & Young Furiosa present:
Curated vinyl selections paired with a good book y un cafecito! Join us for Silent Reading & DJ sessions!
RSVP
Where: LibroMobile, Santa Ana
Date: Sunday, the 21st
Time: 10 am – 12 pm
Address: 1150 S. Bristol St. A3, Santa Ana, CA 92704
Melrose Trading Post: L.A. Poet Society at Greenway Arts Alliance at Melrose Trading Post at Fairfax H.S. – In-Person Event
The Melrose Trading Post is a pioneering arts-based marketplace held every Sunday at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, CA with 275 local creative small business vendors, delicious food booths, and local live music.
MTP was founded in 1997 with a mission to champion small businesses, art, and community. The market funds Greenway Arts Alliance’s arts education programming and provides employment and leadership development opportunities for students at Fairfax High School.
JOIN us for Poetry on Demand in space R18 each Sunday, from 11 am – 5 pm.
All poems are donation-based, so you name your price.
NOTE: Check every Sunday for story time and reading events
Where: Melrose Trading Post, Greenway Main Stage at Fairfax HS
Date: Sunday, the 21st
Time: 10 am – 5 pm (market); 12 pm – 5 pm (poets on demand)
Address: 7850 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046
Website: https://www.instagram.com
Vroman’s and PJ Library Present Latkas, Latkes, Good to Eat: A Hanukah Story at Vroman’s – In-Person Kids & Family Event
Vroman’s is celebrating Hanukkah by partnering with PJ Library to present a very special Storytime featuring Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat: A Chanukah Story by Naomi Howland.
Sadie and her four little brothers are very poor and always hungry. On the first night of Chanukah, Sadie performs a generous act, and in turn receives a frying pan that cooks up sizzling hot, golden latkes on command. Sadie tells her brothers never to use the magic pan, but when she goes out one afternoon, the mischievous boys can’t resist. They remember the words to start the pan cooking…but what were the words to make it stop? This humorous tale of generosity and greed is accompanied by bright, cheerful illustrations depicting a traditional Russian village. An author’s note and a recipe for Sadie’s latkes are included.
PJ Library sends free high-quality Jewish children’s books to families every month. These stories spark conversations that inspire the whole family to explore and celebrate what they love about Jewish life.
The program was created by the nonprofit Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) in keeping with its mission to help people connect to Jewish values, traditions, and culture while building vibrant Jewish communities. The HGF partners with local Jewish organizations to fund PJ Library and make it available in their community.
Where: Vroman’s
Date: Sunday the 21st
Time: 11 am – 12 pm
Address: 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101
Brunch, Babes & Books at Café: Book Club Gathering at Café con Libros, Pomona – In-Person Event
A cozy Sunday with brunch + a book that hits right in the corazón? Yes please. ✨📖
This month we’re reading Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed. edited by Saraciea J. Fennell for our Brunch, Babes, & Books meetup.
Save your spot by texting Elizabeth and come hang with us at Café con Libros Press.
RSVP
Where: Café con Libros, Pomona
Date: Sunday the 21st
Time: 12 pm
Address: 280 W. 2nd St., Pomona, CA 91766
Website: https://www.instagram.com
Banned Books Reading Group at West Los Angeles Regional Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event
The banned books reading group reads and discusses materials that have been historically challenged or are on the American Library Association’s “Banned and Challenged Books” lists. For current titles, please contact the West LA library at westla@lapl.org or 310-575-8323.
Where: West Los Angeles Regional Branch Library, LAPL
Date: Sunday the 21st
Time: 2 pm – 4 pm
Address: 11360 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Website: https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/banned-books-reading-group-0
Baby Got Bacchus: Poetry Tasting with Mason Granger at Baby Battista at Nico’s, Glendale – In-Person Event
*Biggie Smalls voice* “And another one!” Come thru on Sunday 12/21 for a special Baby Got Bacchus poetry tasting with proceeds benefitting @childrenslitcouncilsocal.
Hosted by Mason Granger, Poet-in-Residence, USC Schwarzenegger Institute.
Special feature poets, vibes and imbibes, NA sips for those so inclined, come through to @nicos.wines.
$10 suggested donation.
Must RSVP
Where: Baby Battista atNico’s Bottle Shop (downstairs)
Date: Sunday the 21st
Time: 6 pm
Address: 3111 Glendale Blvd. #2, Glendale, CA 90039
Website: https://www.instagram.com
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club: The Memory Police at Village Well Books & Coffee – In-Person Event
The Village Well Book Club offshoot, the Sci-fi Fantasy Book Club! To the Tolkien nerds, SJM stans, and R.F. Kuang enjoyers, this group is for you! On the fourth Tuesday of every month, we will come together and discuss a story that falls within the realms of either science fiction or fantasy (or sometimes both!). To join our emailing list, reach out to events@villagewell.com.
This month’s pick for discussion is The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa.
About the book:
A haunting Orwellian novel about the terrors of state surveillance, from the acclaimed author of The Housekeeper and the Professor.
On an unnamed island, objects are disappearing: first hats, then ribbons, birds, roses, etc. Most of the inhabitants are oblivious to these changes, while those few able to recall the lost objects live in fear of the draconian Memory Police, who are committed to ensuring that what has disappeared remains forgotten. When a young writer discovers that her editor is in danger, she concocts a plan to hide him beneath her floorboards, and together they cling to her writing as the last way of preserving the past. Powerful and provocative, The Memory Police is a stunning novel about the trauma of loss.
Where: Village Well Books & Coffee
Date: Sunday the 21st
Time: 6:30 pm – 8 pm
Address: 9900 Culver Blvd. #1B, Culver City, CA 90232
Website: https://shop.villagewell.com
December 2025 Focus on Craft Book Club: Make the Season Bright at The Ripped Bodice – In-Person Event
December’s Focus on Craft Book Club is led by editor and teacher Jeanne De Vita. This group focuses on examining popular romance novels from a writer’s viewpoint.
Participants will discuss Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake.
Everyone is welcome.
Where: The Ripped Bodice
Date: Sunday the 14th
Time: 7:15 pm – 8:30 pm
Address: 3806 Main St., Culver City, CA 90232
Website: https://www.therippedbodice.com/events-and-tickets
Joy Frequencies: A Fun Poetry Show hosted by Derrick C. Brown & Linda Ravenswood at Bar Covell, Los Feliz – In-Person Event
December’s Joy Frequencies Poetry Show Features:
Walk through the secret bookshelf at @BarCovell (back by bathrooms) and enter Joy Frequencies Pajama Night, a hidden holiday oasis of poetry, music and comfort. Sip remarkable wine, enjoy the finest snacks and let Super Space Nation carry the room as our live house band.
Hosts Derrick C Brown and Linda Ravenswood welcome poets Barbara Fant, Matt Sedillo, Arumandhira Howard and Aubrey Mayne for an evening built to slow your pulse and stir your imagination. Stay wrapped in your pajamas, stay present, stay for the open mic and leave feeling restored, or tipsy on feels! Go to @joy.frequencies and get your TICKET quick cause it will sell out!!
Barbara Fant, originally from Youngstown, OH, is an award-winning poet, voice over talent, host and corporate & nonprofit storyteller who works at Beyond Baroque as their Poetry Coalition Fellow in Communications & Development.
Matt Sedillo has been described as the “best political poet in America” as well as “the poet laureate of the struggle.” Sedillo has spoken at Casa de las Americas in Havana, Cuba, at numerous conferences and forums and at over a hundred universities and colleges, including the University of Cambridge, among many others. Matt Sedillo is the author of Mowing Leaves of Grass (FlowerSong Press, 2019) and City on the Second Floor (FlowerSong Press, 2022), and Mexican Style (Flowersong Press, 2025). Sedillo is the current literary director of The Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles.
Arumandhira Howard is a queer Blasian poet, musician, and creative marketer from Jakarta, Indonesia, now based in Los Angeles, known for exploring history and identity in her work, supported by fellowships from Kundiman and Storyknife, with poems appearing in The Offing, Honey Literary, and The Boiler, as she carves out spaces of power and resistance through deeply personal narratives.
Aubrey Mayne is an L.A. poet and filmmaker who hosts the podcast Public Display of Connection, a show-and-tell style podcast about how poetry bridges the gaps of the human experience when shared.
RSVP
Where: BarCovell, Los Feliz
Date: Sunday the 21st
Time: 7:30 pm
Address: 4628 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Website: https://www.instagram.com
Los Angeles Literature 