The Poetry Brothel

The Poetry Brothel is a unique and immersive poetry event that takes poetry outside classrooms and lecture halls and places it in the lush interiors of a bordello. The Poetry Brothel presents a rotating cast of both male and female poets as “whores,” each operating within a carefully crafted character, who impart their work in public readings, spontaneous eruptions of poetry, and most distinctly, as purveyors of private poetry readings on beds, chaise lounges and in private rooms. For a small fee, all of the “poetry whores” are available for these sequestered readings at any time during the event. Of course, any true brothel need a good cover; The Poetry Brothel’s is an immersive cabaret, offering a full bar, musicians, burlesque dancers, painters, actors, and fortune-tellers, with newly integrated themes, performances and installations at each event.

San Francisco has quite the poetic and red-lit history: City Lights bookstore, the Barbary Coast, and now, The Poetry Brothel: San Francisco! On October 18th, The Madame and Tennessee Pink plan to reawaken the bohemian spirit of the city with equal doses elegance, obscenity, and the Sublime. This San Francisco edition of The Poetry Brothel will featured New York Poetry Brothel favorites Mr. Charley and Cosette Chapiteau, along with a slew of local talent including esteemed poet, Kim Addonizio; musical guest, The Sour Mash Hug Band, burlesque kittens, Kitty Chow and Harvest Moon, and belly dancing beauty, ​Aradia Sunseri. Watch the moon rise with us, lovelies!