Regular Events in Omaha:

• Monday
  • Naked Words Open Mike at the Benson Grind (6107 Maple Street, Omaha, 932-4040). Poetry, Frivolty, the Occasional Pop-Tart. Hosted by Heidi Hermanson, email prairie.sky@gmail.com for more information. (last Monday, 7-9pm)

• Tuesdays
  • Shoot Your Mouth Off II at Shea Riley's (320 S 72nd St, 504-4434). An evening of poetry, comedy and chaos the way it was meant to be seen: in a bar with 50 of your closest friends! See why our regulars think this is the best free show in Omaha. Bad Andy and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's SLAM scene and free drinks prizes await you. (Every Tuesday, 9pm)

• Wednesdays
  • The Champions' Club: an open mic followed by a four-person invitational slam at Mick's Music & Bar (5918 Maple Street, Omaha). This event is free. (1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 7-8:30pm)

  • 8pm, Say Word Wednesdays at Cheaters (3929 Farnam, Omaha, 402/346-9900). Hosted by Nabraska Poet, email nabraskapoet@hotmail.com for details. $5 cover. (2nd Wednesday)

• Thursday
  • "POETRY IN MOTION," a Spoken Word, Open Mic, Jazz Music, Spiritual experience at Love's Jazz & Art Center (2510 N. 24th St, Omaha), hosted by Michelle Troxclair. Free tickets are available to members. For membership info call 502-5315. (3rd Thursday, 6:30-8pm)

  • 5pm, Ink Slingers' Slam (a poetry slam for high school students only) at McFoster's Natural Kind Cafe (302 S 38th St, Omaha). Sign-up starts at 5:00 and the slam starts at 5:30 p.m. Two rounds, 3 minute time limit, must be your own original work! Hosted by Kayla Ostronic. If you have any questions, e-mail KaylaO410@aol.com. (3rd Thursday of every month)

  • 7-9pm, PROVOKE Poetry at The Benson Grind (6107 Maple Street, Omaha, 932-4040), an open mic hosted by Jack Hubbell; it's the poetic equivalent to that sharp pointy stick your mom always warned you about (Prissy poems of plump puppies passionately prancing with pink pom-poms will be highly frowned upon and dealt with severely). (2nd Thursday)

• Saturday
  • Mojo's Saturday Poetry Magazine at Mojo's Coffee House (4826 Dodge St, Omaha). Led by David "The Professor" Hufford, bring your new poems, seasonal poems, topical poems, summer poems, incidental poems, experimental poems, hot, sweaty poems, funny poems, academic poems, form poems, and other poems with "juice." For more information, email DavidPHufford@yahoo.com. (3rd Saturday, 1-3pm)

  • Family event at Love's Jazz & Arts Center (24th & Lake Streets). This one-of -a kind venue is geared around the needs of our seniors & children who have as much to contribute to the Spoken Word stage as any of us. Join us for "G" rated poems and Fun, Fun, and more profound inspiration from some of Omaha's legendary wordsmiths. For more information: Neville Murray, director of LJAC 402-502-5291 OR Empowerment Services for Youth, Director -Mrs. T. Nedds 402-612-0986. (2nd and 4th Saturday, 2-4pm)

  • The Omaha Healing Arts Center Poetry Slam (1216 Howard, Omaha). Open mic starts at 7:30, slam at 8:00. Bring 3 poems for the slam and compete for the coveted Golden Monkey. Hosted by Matt Mason. $5 suggested donation, check the Official Slam Website or call 345-5078 for more information. (2nd Saturday of every month, 7:30pm)

Regular Events in Lincoln:

• Monday
  • The Crescent Moon Reading Series at Crescent Moon Coffee (816 P St, Lincoln, 402/435-2828). There will be an open mic as well as featured readers TBA. If you need further info on Crescent Moon reading events, contact Jeff Martinson at jdm27@yahoo.com. (every Monday, 7pm)

• Tuesday
  • Tuesdays with Writers at The South Mill (4736 Prescott, just west of 48th and Prescott, Lincoln) with a featured reading by an excellent writer every month. For more information, contact Deborah McGinn at dmcginn@lps.org. (1st Tuesday, 7pm)

• Wednesday
  • Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday, 8pm-midnight)

• Thursday
  • The Star City Slam at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Offering excellent featured performers and a $30 prize for first place, it's a poetry slam where the winner can never use the same winning poems again to get that top prize in this winner takes all rhetoric throw down. (2nd Thursday, 7pm)

  • The John H. Ames Reading Series features readings by Nebraska authors, bringing in poets and even those other kinds of authors on the 3rd Thursday of the month in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors (Lincoln City Libraries 136 S. 14th Street, Lincoln). For more information, call (402)441-8500.

  • Poetry Slam at Jones Coffee (11th & G Streets, Lincoln). Tryst the Assassin and your friends at the Star City Slam present a second occasion every month to prove once and for all that you're better than your friends by getting better scores from strangers in a coffee shop who decide to skip Grey's Anatomy and suckered into being judges at a poetry slam. Come join us as we double the size awesomeness by slamming our faces off! (3rd Thursday, 7pm)

  • The Park Teen Center Underground Open Mike Coffeehouse Night. Open mic/slam poetry/hot cocoa/coffee/acoustic music for Grades 8 thru 12 at Park School (855 S 8th St (basement of the school), Lincoln). For more info, call 402/441-9471. $1 cover. (last Thursday of the month, 7-8:30pm)

• Friday
  • the no-name reading series is run by the graduate students in the english department of the university of nebraska-lincoln every other friday from 4 to 5 pm at sur tango (12th and p streets, lincoln). it aims to support the creative talent that comes out of the department by promoting that talent throughout the greater lincoln community. for more information on the no-name reading series, contact Hadara or Christine at 402.472.1882.

Back to the Poetry Menu

Last update: August 5, 2008