Days 7 and 8: Kansas City and Iowa

Last night, we read at Mud Pie Vegan Bakery and Cafe in Kansas City, thanks to WICK (THANKS WICK!) and it was magical--our biggest turn-out yet! We just feel like we have so many shout-outs.

SHOUTOUTS

1. Wick!
2. Aunt Michelle, Uncle Kelly, Josh and Kayla
3. Megan and Sunny, for allowing Amy to pass out on their couch
4. John Paul and Brittany, for allowing Amy to pass out on their couch
5. Vea, for coming to Kansas City on the MegaBus (for real)
6. Courtney and Brett for having us at their house, here in Bettendorf, Iowa!

After the reading, we had some beers at The Union and celebrated. In the morning, we had to leave Kansas City and got on the road to Iowa City. We listened to some Janet/Michael Jackson, drank gas station coffee, snacked, talked, and then, at a Philip's 66 in Urbandale, Iowa, things got crazy. We all changed into shorts (get it, girl!) ate PB&J sandwiches out of the van for the 75th time, got into a water fight, and danced around in the parking lot with no shoes on. It was reminiscent of other great literary tours.

Anyway, we rolled into Iowa City (it's a cute one!) about an hour before we had to be at The Java House for our reading. We decided to check out Uptown Bill's (Vea had to pee and made Jakob stop somewhere) and we are just so excited to read there. We were introduced to Tom, Tom and Tom and were shown our reading space for tomorrow. It's a little raised stage with little black boxes (which they called "props") and there are snacks and tea and books everywhere. Gosh, it's going to be cute.

Vea went to the MegaBus station (bye, Vea! we miss you!!) and we went to The Java House and met Luke, the gracious events coordinator. They had their reading. It was small but we got to meet Debra afterwards, a playwright from the Iowa Writer's Workshop. Honestly, we aren't sure what people thought but we both gave good readings.

So, now we're at Courtney and Brett's. We made dinner (pasta with black beans, NOT peanut butter and jelly) and are feeling a little delirious. There's been a lot of laughing and laughing...and crying. There are two dogs here, and they are lovely. We have to go, now.

We probably won't get to update until we get home. Tomorrow we go home after our reading at Uptown Bill's!! We can't wait to see you. Unless we won't.
xoxoxoox

Days 5 and 6

It has been a minute. We write to you from Belton, Missouri where we are caught in some rain, but indoors at Jakob's Aunt Michelle's house.

We left off in Minneapolis, where we were preparing for our reading at the Walker Art Center's Open Field programming. Jakob, Katie and Amy decided to introduce the tour to whatever audience would assemble, and then read "Song of the Open Road" by Walt Whitman, which talks of traveling. Then, we'd ask questions about what it means to leave, be left, and stay, in order to encourage dialogue and inform our own writing of the road while on our tour. Our audience was wonderful. An inter-generational, responsive, generous crowd joined us at the picnic tables and we are really grateful to them and to Scott for having us and sharing stories. We ended by reading a few poems each. A big, big thanks to Minneapolis, to Katie and Adam and Freya and Sadie, to the folks at the Walker.

Jakob drove through the night to Missouri during numerous torrential downpours and really intense wind. Amy snacked and we talked about our feelings and told secrets. We reached Aunt Michelle and Uncle Kelly's house and fell asleep at around 2:30 AM. In the morning, we hung out on the porch with Michelle and cousin Kayla (hey girl!) and then set off for Kansas City! We ate, we walked around, we met up with John Paul and cousin Josh and had a muffiny time! Exclaim! O, Pioneers!
Kansas City was warm. Finally we got to wear around our short jean shorts, which is part of our reasoning for going on tour in the first place. Anyway . . .

We then went to the Brick for dinner, where there were delicious vegan and meaty options for everyone, including a reuben hot dog which might have been the best thing Jakob's ever eaten. We then got a call from Wick, Jakob's long time friend who has been working hard, unbeknowst to us, to get us a reading here for a while. Amy wants to say something about nobility here but can't get it together. You go Amy. So then Wick did get us a reading AND it's at Mud Pie, a vegan bakery and cafe! Tonight! At 7pm! Also, Jakob simultaneously got a phone call from his boyfriend Vea (see entry Day 4) who surprised him by buying a Mega Bus ticket to Kansas City! And now he's here! Triple whoa! We got to meet John Paul's lovely girlfriend, Brittany, and then we went to her place. She lives in an amazing loft that overlooks Kansas City and some lively skateboarders at the local parking garage. Thanks for having us, Brittany!!

To summarize: great reading in Minneapolis. Triumphing over wind and rain adversity. Reunions with some wonderful folks. Vegan bakery reading. Brittany's loft. Come to Kansas City.

Day 4: Minneapolis

Ok. Ok. This morning, Amy ate a bunch of oatmeal and hung out with Katie, who is so great. Jakob emerged at one point and then Frea (Katie and Adam's adorable daughter) woke up from her nap. She is in love with Jakob, along with the golden retriever, Sadie. Amy likes both Frea and Sadie. (EW! whatever. they love you too Amy don't play.) Jakob ate yogurt & granola from m. henrietta, which was great. Also, poetry stuff happened. Ideas for tomorrow's reading at the Walker were discussed and then Amy and Jakob left to go wander the streets of Minneapolis.

Amy really just wanted a vegan muffin.

Jakob drank too much coffee.

We found Minneapolis to be so cool!!! People were nice and places were cute and we walked and walked and bought one book each at Magers & Quinn (go there and spend too many hours grazing the poetry section). Then, we went back to Jean Claude. Amy sat in the street in a lawn chair and Jakob took a vague nap? Actually, he talked on the phone with his damn boyfriend when he should have been writing poems about road trips! Shocking!

We went to The Wedge food co-op and bought some stuff for dinner. We came back to Katie and Adam's and made food (chickpea piccata!) and drank beers and played a rousing game of "telephone pictionary," which DID NOT turn into some warped perverted thing. Jakob was amazed. No one else noticed. Then, Jakob regaled the rest of the group with his tales of partying on school buses and attending roller rink functions. Katie and Adam went to bed. Amy and Jakob wrote this post.

Love to everyone. We have our 3rd reading tomorrow!!

Day 3!

We left Chris and Milo around 10 AM today after eating some delicious rosemary bread for breakfast that Milo made the night before. We miss Chris and Milo, and we also miss the bread. A lot. We arrived in Madison at 11:30 and headed to the Fair Trade Cafe (?) and quickly realized that we were the weirdest thing in Madison. Jakob chain smoked out of nervousness, and Amy, of course, revised a poem with grace.  (I don't know about that. Wheee!)

Then, we decided to take in the local sights before the reading. For an hour, we roamed State Street in search of Post-Its and friends. Alas, the Sunday afternoon was saturated with unclear emotion and hippie shops. Drat. We arrived at Avol's Books (which is an absolutely fabulous bookstore. Go there.) and admired the incredible selection of new and rare books, stacked to the ceiling for room upon room. It was like a castle, or a church, or a mighty book fortress. The reading was attended by a few locals, who stuck around afterwards to talk to us. We sold one zine, even after a slight bout of dignified begging. We thanked Ron (Ron does Ron) for having us, and went outside where Jakob ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and tried to sell our wares, and Amy went to B Side to find some cheap tapes for Jean-Claude. She found no tapes. While on the bench we were informed by a concerned citizen that we could be fined $175 for panhandling. We quickly closed Jane Fonda, our hot pink merchandise suitcase, and departed from Madison to our next destination.

Four hours later, we arrived in Minneapolis. It's so nice here. We are staying with Jakob's friend Katie and her husband, Adam, and their dog and their baby. We ate dinner and talked and drank some beer that Adam made and now we are going to bed. We are aware of how early it is. We feel okay about it since Kansas City is going to be bananas. We love you. And you. (Thanks so much, Katie and Adam!!! Your house is lovely and so are you!)

(Special thanks to Ron and the folks at Avol's.)

Tour: Days one and two!

Oh, HI!

Jakob and I write to you from a lovely Polish flat in Riverwest, Milwaukee, where we are being shown enormous hospitality from our friends Chris and Milo. (Check out their baby, Queer Zine Archive Project.) We arrived in Milwaukee last night before our first reading at People's Books Cooperative, which was small but great. We read, an audience member read, we got to make some friends, and there were cookies! Please visit them if you're in town, and say hi to our girl, Fly.

After the reading, we ate dinner with Chris and Milo at Comet Cafe and man oh man. It was DELICIOUS. Jakob had a meatloaf sandwich that was covered in beer gravy and mashed potatoes -whoa! Amy had a vegan gyro. Typical. Then we came home and tried to watch TV but fell asleep with our clothes on. We were super tired.

This morning over coffee/tea, Chris and Milo suggested quintessential Riverwest spots. We opened the door and were delighted to find a rummage sale on Fratney Street. What?!! We walked in the wrong direction for a long time on our way to the local food co-op where we eventually purchased some snacks. Then, we were directed to the local park/giant hill, which we were told had the best view of Milwaukee. We swung on swings, engaged in conversation with 7 year-olds about sharks and vampires, petted dogs, and climbed to the top of the hill where we took some terrible cell phone pics. On our way out of the park, we ran into Jakob's friend, Eric, who came to RAWR one time and was working a table at Chicago Zine Fest this year! It was kind of magical.

THEN, we went to Woodland Pattern Book Center. That place has a ridiculous poetry/chap book section, and is gorgeous. GO THERE if you are in Milwaukee. About an hour later, we left. Now we are back at the house and tonight, we will see a klezmer inspired punk band. Our tour rules.

Tomorrow, we read in Madison! 2 PM at Avol's Used Books. Be there or be square.

xoxo

WE'RE LEAVING!

Today!

xoxoxoxooxoxoxoxox

ONE WEEK

Hello everyone!

We leave on our tour in one week! Our tour dates are listed to the right and please feel free to come to our readings or post on our blog while we are away. We will send post cards. Oh, yes.

We are also in the works of planning a homecoming reading in Chicago to share our experiences and new poems from the road.

In the meantime, please come out to our send-off party at The Sovereign (in Edgewater at Broadway and Granville) this Thursday, June 9 at 10 PM.

We'd love to see you there.

xoxooxxo

ALSO we are still looking for places to stay in Milwaukee, WI (June 10) and Madision, WI (June 11-12) and Iowa City (June 17-18). If anyone has contacts/ideas/couches, we'd love to hear about them!

Thank you, everyone.

Jakob and Amy

Look at this!

Hello, everyone. We're still trying to get readings in Lincoln, NE and in the Kansas City, MO area, but check this awesome thing out!

http://blogs.walkerart.org/openfield2011/event/“afoot-and-light-hearted”-poems-of-the-road/

it's the page for our event at the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis!

We're leaving for the tour in less than a month...

Chicago reading at Metropolis Cafe

We are so pleased to announce our kick-off poetry reading!

The wonderful people of Metropolis Cafe in Edgewater see us in their coffee shop every week. Every Friday afternoon for a few hours, we talk about poetry, drink their coffee, eat their treats, terrorize their customers, interact obnoxiously with their employees, and for some reason, they are still letting us read there. Thanks, guys!

The deets:

WHEN: Sunday, May 8th, 2011
WHERE: Metropolis Cafe, 1039 W. Granville, Chicago, 60660
WHO: Featured poets: Jakob VanLammeren and Amy Lipman of Rag and Bone Poetry
WHEN, PART 2: 6-7:30 PM
HOW MUCH: Free, but delicious treats and beverages will be available for purchase

Come on out! We'll be reading poems from our upcoming Chap Books. Suitable for families.

Hello, world!

First post of the blog. Hello, hello, hello. Here, you'll read about the origin of Rag and Bone Poetry, its members, its goals, its dreams and wishes. We'll also celebrate the moments of our lives. AND THE UPCOMING TOUR. 


First, this:

Rag and Bone Poetry Tour was born from the poetry workshop that Amy Lipman and Jakob VanLammeren started in the summer of 2010, both struggling to find communities of poets in Chicago, and longing for a consistent and energizing workshop structure. We happened to meet in a bar. We have been writing, revising, and laughing together ever since.

After numerous open mics, Jakob’s featured readings at Woman Made Gallery and the Rhino Reading Series in Chicago, and our amassed and numerous rejection letters, we decided to go on the road and meet, firsthand, the community that we’ve been seeking to know through submissions and applications. We want to challenge the competition and physical distance between our poetic contemporaries and ourselves. We look to other poetry tours for inspiration—the "drive-by readings" of The Dark Room Collective, a community of established and emerging African American writers founded in 1988 and led by Thomas Sayers-Ellis and Sharon Strange; The Poetry Bus Tour 2006, organized by Wave Books, visited 50 states in 50 days which included over 100 poets and a variety of venues including the Green Mill in Chicago and a number of bookstores, galleries, bars, and prisons. The energy and passion of these tours inspire and inform our vision for the Rag and Bone Tour.

Jakob VanLammeren

I have facilitated RAWR (Radical Awesome Writers Resisting), a creative writing group for homeless and/or street-based youth at a drop-in center for 3 years. For RAWR, writing and reading poetry is rooted in community, in resistance to the oppression that the youth struggle through, survive, and celebrate every day. Poetry has saved my life too, more than once, and writing for me is both a solitary task and a collaborative journey—I need writers and readers and thinkers and radical activists and dreamers involved in my writing process.

Amy Lipman

I am interested in stories. As a theatre student at the University of Illinois, I worked with young authors in the Urbana-Champaign community to turn their stories into plays, and as a graduate, I volunteered with students at Tree House Books in Philadelphia, facilitating creative writing activities in an after school program. Most days, it was very difficult to coax a story, an image, or even a sentence from the program’s young participants. I learned for what seemed to be the thousandth time that it is difficult to tell a story. Language is at once in our own hands, and out of our reach. Now, as an art teacher to children aged 18 months through 5 years, with various capacities for spoken language with which to explain their art, I ask about the origins of imagery, of scribbles and paint stains—but who can answer why we make what we make? Sharing one’s voice and stories with a community, for the young and for the old, is of utmost importance to me. I intend to share stories through my poems, to meet other writers, to listen.

We want to make connections with other Midwest poets, to exchange information, ideas, writing. To be reminded that writing and writing life is bigger than us, that other writers inform our work. Rag and Bone Tour is about using language to connect us as individuals to larger poetic communities in the Midwest. Often we forget that our Midwestern landscapes, our seasons and their extremes, the sheer rivers and roadways that both unite and divide our state lines, are shared. We want to celebrate our region and connect with fellow writers who we might otherwise never meet. We are committed to supporting local poets and their favorite coffee shops, bookstores and reading spaces. It is crucial that we reach out to the folks who know their poetry communities and to read with at least one local poet in each town or city.

We'll be traveling to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri. We can't wait to see you.