Two Authors, Poet Constantine Contogenis and Spoken Word Artist Tracy Jones will share an evening of their work and of each other’s work. Contongenis will read from his recently published translations of the great Greek poet, Constantine Cavafy. Jones will perform work that made his name in Spoken Work circles. And IT’S FREE!
Tag Archives: Spoken Word
Word Up Recirculation: Fall Equinox Jam
Fall Equinox Jam
Art, Film, & Music
Hosted by Demetrius Daniel, stop by the Fall Equinox Jam to celebrate the beginning of fall with words, music, and dance.
This event is a $5 suggested donation ticket. Please register in advance.
Word Up: Emerging Poet Voices – Identity, Memory, and Digital Life
Join poets Rayne Alarcio, AJ DiBetta, Leelah Holmes, Colleen Bąk, and spencer jude perez for an evening of contemporary poetry exploring identity, intimacy, memory, digital culture, and coming-of-age in the twenty-first century. Through lyric, narrative, and spoken word traditions, these emerging writers offer work that reflects on relationships, belonging, self-discovery, and the stories we tell about ourselves. The event will feature readings from each poet, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.
This event is a $5 suggested donation ticket with a maximum of 30 attendees. Please register in advance.I
ABOUT THE POETS
Rayne Alarcio (they/he) is a Filipino American poet from Los Angeles. They are the author of the chapbook Starving the Wolf (Bottlecap Press), which is housed in the Poets House Permanent Collection. Their work appears or is forthcoming in Chicago Quarterly Review, Cimarron Review, failbetter, and elsewhere. They have served as a National Writing Juror for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Learn more at open_in_newwww.raynealarcio.com.
AJ DiBetta is a trans and queer multi-disciplinary creative and graphic designer. They have their BA in Psychology with a minor in Community Engagement. They are a graduate of Shillington School of Graphic Design.
Leelah Holmes (he/they) lives and writes in Brooklyn, generally getting up to no good. You can find his poems in new words {press}, Chariot Press, The Dewdrop, Beyond Words, Touchstone and elsewhere.
Colleen Bąk is a neurodivergent poet and mom of three, who loves exploring the mysteries and magic of family stories, poetry and Houdini. She spent twenty years living in NYC; where after attending NYU for six years, she began attending births, throughout the city’s boroughs (as a doula and a midwife’s assistant) and tending to Houdini’s grave, as one does when they have loved him since childhood. Colleen’s poetry can be found in various anthologies and her previous chapbook breadcrumbs (2022, Bottlecap Press.)
spencer jude perez is an astrologer & poet from The Bronx. spencer jude has served as the president and literary editor on the student-run magazine Cabbages & Kings and has been published in No, Dear.
Word Up Recirculation: Dance Yrself Clean Reading
“Dance Yrself Clean” The fourth year in a row – another year, another reading across literary genres and named after an LCD Soundsystem song. Come hear five exciting new voices work out their ideas and find an audience among friends. Featuring:
India Marin Stachyra (she/her) is an interdisciplinary theatre artist and arts administrator.
Josephine Sloyan is a writer living in New York. Her stories have appeared in the Penn Review, Identity Theory, and elsewhere. She is a graduate of the Hunter College MFA program.
Naomi Washer is a writer and psychoanalyst in formation in New York City. Her most recent book is Marginalia: an autobiography (Autofocus Books, 2025).
Memphis Washington is a Harlem-raised bookseller, facilitator, and writer based in Uptown NYC. Memphis has facilitated diverse programs and workshops for youth and adults,
Ran Schulte (he/him) is a graduate of Macaulay @ CUNY Hunter College. His poetry and fiction have appeared in The North, Oyez Review 51, Blood Orange, JAKE, and elsewhere
Word Up Recirculation: Performers for Palestine
Join us for an evening of community and original live performances — music, spoken word, stand-up, and DJing — as we raise money to help our Palestinian neighbors in Gaza. Entry to the event is a suggested $10-$25 donation going to Palestinian families connected with the community org.
In compliance with Word Up Community Safety guidelines, all attendees are encouraged to stay masked at all time.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Word Up Community Bookshop reserves the right to cancel events for any reason, including but not limited to safety concerns.
CODE OF CONDUCT: Please note Word Up has a zero tolerance policy for harassment or intimidation of any kind during any event, virtual or in-person. Please read our Safe Space Policy for more information. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from the event at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to events@wordupbooks.com immediately.
PHOTOS & RECORDING: Events may be recorded, and video and photos may be posted on our website, social media, and elsewhere. If you would prefer not to be visible, please let a Word Up team member know.
PRIVACY: Registrants will be added to the Word Up mailing list. Your contact information will never be shared or sold. You may unsubscribe or update your subscription at any time.