InspiredWordNYC presents a celebration of grassroots literary arts in the New York City borough of Queens - the first annual Queens Lit Fest @ LIC Bar.

When: Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 2015

Time: 11am-5pm both days (open mic sign-up starts @ 11am)

Where: LIC Bar
45-58 Vernon Boulevard
Long Island City, Queens, NY 11101
http://www.licbar.com/

Age Limit: 21+ (must bring valid ID)

Admission: FREE

RSVP now! And please SHARE on social media with the hashtag #QueensNYCLitFest.

Queens Lit Fest Team: Mike Geffner, Megan & Lauren DiBello, Audrey Dimola, Marvin Mendlinger, Nichole Acosta, Valerie G. Keane.

This event is funded in part by Poets & Writers with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Mission: to bridge the gap and bring together the diverse Queens literary arts community in one wonderfully classic watering hole in the heart of the borough's booming section of Long Island City; to create a dynamic event that is unpretentious, all-inclusive, and filled with heart, soul, and love.

The Progamming (in 3 areas):

In a gorgeous private room with a real fireplace (not that we'll need it in August LOL), there will be a lengthy open mic of poetry, prose, and spoken word (slots will be filled on a first-come, first served basis and are 5 minutes apiece; you can only sign up ONCE over the two days), featured writers (such as longtime Queens Poet Laureate Paolo Javier and newly named QPL Maria Lisella), and showcased Queens-based reading series, groups, and organizations.

In the main bar section, with its antique-wood floors, brick walls, and tin ceiling, there will be plenty of choices of draft beer, single-malt scotch, and well-mixed drinks, as well as Queens-based musicians entertaining you during breaks with spirited acoustic sets.

And in the charming outdoor backyard garden, under the peacefulness of willow trees, there will be much schmoozing and people sharing wares at vendor tables.

Please support our efforts with any donation of $1 and up. It will be much appreciated. Anything $50 and up will be considered sponsorship. If you're a sponsor, we will place your name/business name on this page in the order of contribution (from highest to lowest), as well as share your generosity on our various social media channels (which reaches 50,000+).

100% of donations/sponsorship dollars will help defray costs and pay for featured artists.

*****

*Please note below is just a partial list. Things still developing.*

Hosts

Megan DiBello

Audrey Dimola

Featured Series/Groups

Poetry Teachers NYC (Megan DiBello, Dan Dissinger, and Aimee Herman) - https://www.poetryteachersnyc.com/

Oh, Bernice! (Jenna Telesca, Ann Podracky, John Rice, Brian Kim, John Reid Currie) - http://ohbernice.com/

Mystery Writers of America/Queens Edition (Megan Abbott - http://www.meganabbott.com/, Terrie Moran - http://terriefarleymoran.com/, Nancy Bilyeau - http://nancybilyeau.com/, Alex Segura - http://www.alexsegura.com/), Laura Joh Rowland - http://www.laurajohrowland.com/

Canvas of Words (Wendy, Angulo, Maria Rodriguez, Nia Andino, Annette Estevez) - https://www.facebook.com/canvasofwords/

First Tuesdays (KC Trommer, Norman Stock, Jay Chollick, Richard Jeffrey Newman) - http://richardjnewman.com/first-tuesdays-a-neighborhood-reading-series/

Nature of the Muse (Audrey Dimola, Michael Stahl, Sweta Vikram, M. Leona Godin, Crystal Rivera, Kevin Marquez) - http://audreydimola.com/tag/nature-of-the-muse/

Poetry & Coffee (Valerie G. Keane) - https://www.facebook.com/poetryandcoffee

Risk of Discovery (Micah Eaton Zevin) - https://www.facebook.com/RODReadingSeries

The Enchanted Goddess (Joan Becht Willette) - https://www.facebook.com/theliterarygoddess

The Grind (Safiel Vonay) - http://www.reformedtalent.com/

Ridgewood Writers (Amy Wilson)

LIC Reading Series -

https://www.facebook.com/LICReadingSeries

Featured Writers

Maria Lisella -Queens Poet Laureate - https://about.me/marialisella

Paolo Javier - Queens Poet Laureate (2010-2014)

Featured Singers/Songwriters/Musicians

Jessenia Vargas (Miss Queens) - https://instagram.com/MissQueens2015

Sylvana Joyce - http://www.sjandthemoment.com/

Samantha Leon - http://www.samanthaleonmusic.com/

Berry - http://www.browngirlbluegrass.com/

Billy Conahan - http://www.billyconahan.com/

Marc Monfleury - https://soundcloud.com/marcsmusic

Jessica Rowboat - https://jessicarowboat.bandcamp.com/

Tony Paterniti - https://www.facebook.com/tony.paterniti.songman

Vendors

Astoria Bookshop - http://www.astoriabookshop.com/

Fresh Meadows Poets - http://freshmeadowspoets.org/

Queens Book Festival - http://queensbookfestival.nyc/

Poetry Teachers NYC - https://www.poetryteachersnyc.com/

Wendy Angulo Productions - http://www.wendyanguloproductions.com/

great weather for MEDIA - http://greatweatherformedia.com/

Funkadelic Studios - http://funkadelicstudios.com/

The Mantle - http://www.mantlethought.org/

Sponsors

Astoria Bookshop - http://www.astoriabookshop.com/

Funkadelic Studios - http://funkadelicstudios.com/

Good Fortune Design Studio - http://www.goodfortunedesignstudio.com/

Robert Steven Koppelman

Joan Becht Willette - https://www.facebook.com/theliterarygoddess

Schedule:

Saturday, August 1

11AM – Doors Open, Open Mic Sign-up
11:30PM – Open Mic Begins
1PM – Risk of Discovery (Micah Eaton Zevin)
1:10PM – Poetry & Coffee (Valerie G. Keane)
1:20PM – The Enchanted Goddess (Joan Becht Willette)
1:30PM – Open Mic Resumes
2PM – Canvas of Words (Wendy, Angulo, Maria Rodriguez, Nia Andino, Annette Estevez)
2:30PM – Open Mic Resumes
3PM – Former Queens Poet Laureate Paolo Javier
3:30PM – Mystery Writers of America/Queens Edition (Laura Joh Rowland and Terri Moran)
4PM – Oh, Bernice! (Jenna Telesca, Ann Podracky, John Rice, Brian Kim, John Reid Currie)
4:30PM Poetry Teachers NYC (Megan DiBello, Aimee Herman, Dan Dissinger)
5PM – Day Ends

*****

Produced by InspiredWordNYC
http://InspiredWordNYC.com