Thu February 8, 2018
Babar in Exile #12: a revival of the Cafe Babar, Paradise Lounge and Club Chameleon reading series
SEE EVENT DETAILS
The Octopus Literary Salon is proud to present Babar in Exile, a quarterly commemoration and revival of the high energy San Francisco reading series of the 1990’s, Café Babar, Paradise Lounge, and Club Chameleon. We are excited to feature two former and very active participants of Babar and Paradise, Tarin Towers, who beyond being a touring poet has been a journalist, a forensic investigator, and a green belt in kung fu, and Margery Snyder, longtime partner and poetic and musical collaborator with Whitman McGowan, and who was with the original series from the very first night. As well we welcome “honorary Babarian” G Macias Gusman, who must be seen and heard to be believed, if you’re not too blown away to still believe anything.
So come on down to check out a slice of Bay Area poetry history, now and in the making, and make your way home with a bindle full of inspiration and a thimbleful more hope for the species.
Babar in Exile #12
a revival of the Cafe Babar, Paradise Lounge, and Club Chameleon reading series
featuring
Tarin Towers
Margery Snyder
and G Macias Gusman
Hosted by Paul Corman-Roberts and Richard Loranger
PERFORMER BIOS
Tarin Towers moved to San Francisco in 1995, where she was too late to attend Cafe Babar but right on time to work graveyard shift at the Denny’s in Japantown. In the intervening years, Tarin has performed her work at venues across California and the United States, including with Sister Spit; earned a certificate in Forensic Investigation from City College and a green belt in 8-Step Praying Mantis Kung Fu; and performed several acts of journalism on the topics of witchcraft, guns, and basketball. Her book on Manic D Press is called Sorry, We’re Close. Tarin's most recent publication, also on Manic D, is inclusion in the Kapow! poetry anthology. Twitter, IG, etc: @tarintowers
Margery Snyder is a poet & flute-player who pronounces her first name with a hard ‘g’. Margery began her writing life in short stories & was drawn into poetry by the influence of San Francisco’s community of performing poets after she moved there with her partner Whitman McGowan in 1985. The two of them were part of the very first Thursday night reading at Cafe Babar in 1986. There ensued nearly 30 years of word shenanigans, CDs & chapbooks, readings with props & music, collaborative performances with live musicians (often Whitman at the mike & Margery on the flute), tours up & down the West coast, across the US & all around Europe. Margery is currently at work on Grief Notes, a chapbook of poems mostly addressed to Whitman, who passed away in 2015.
Iowa-born Oakland poet G Macias Gusman sings Black Sabbath songs in the shower and has seen four ghosts, ten US Presidents give up on America, two UFOs, his work published, the birth of punk, disco, rap, and the death of Common Sense. He has learned public speaking on the fly and almost sold his soul to the devil, but ended up pawning it to god in exchange for becoming a poet. So, there are poems to write and read aloud. G says he still believes in the human spirit even if Humanity doesn't quite believe in him, yet. But we do. Everyone loves an underdog and a sad story and like Bigfoot, Free Love, and Planet X, G Macias is quickly becoming legend, myth, and innuendo. If you thought Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii via satellite was cool in ‘73, then check out G. Macias Gusman live from Oakland in 20-18 when he brings his “A” game for you to smile.
show less
So come on down to check out a slice of Bay Area poetry history, now and in the making, and make your way home with a bindle full of inspiration and a thimbleful more hope for the species.
Babar in Exile #12
a revival of the Cafe Babar, Paradise Lounge, and Club Chameleon reading series
featuring
Tarin Towers
Margery Snyder
and G Macias Gusman
Hosted by Paul Corman-Roberts and Richard Loranger
PERFORMER BIOS
Tarin Towers moved to San Francisco in 1995, where she was too late to attend Cafe Babar but right on time to work graveyard shift at the Denny’s in Japantown. In the intervening years, Tarin has performed her work at venues across California and the United States, including with Sister Spit; earned a certificate in Forensic Investigation from City College and a green belt in 8-Step Praying Mantis Kung Fu; and performed several acts of journalism on the topics of witchcraft, guns, and basketball. Her book on Manic D Press is called Sorry, We’re Close. Tarin's most recent publication, also on Manic D, is inclusion in the Kapow! poetry anthology. Twitter, IG, etc: @tarintowers
Margery Snyder is a poet & flute-player who pronounces her first name with a hard ‘g’. Margery began her writing life in short stories & was drawn into poetry by the influence of San Francisco’s community of performing poets after she moved there with her partner Whitman McGowan in 1985. The two of them were part of the very first Thursday night reading at Cafe Babar in 1986. There ensued nearly 30 years of word shenanigans, CDs & chapbooks, readings with props & music, collaborative performances with live musicians (often Whitman at the mike & Margery on the flute), tours up & down the West coast, across the US & all around Europe. Margery is currently at work on Grief Notes, a chapbook of poems mostly addressed to Whitman, who passed away in 2015.
Iowa-born Oakland poet G Macias Gusman sings Black Sabbath songs in the shower and has seen four ghosts, ten US Presidents give up on America, two UFOs, his work published, the birth of punk, disco, rap, and the death of Common Sense. He has learned public speaking on the fly and almost sold his soul to the devil, but ended up pawning it to god in exchange for becoming a poet. So, there are poems to write and read aloud. G says he still believes in the human spirit even if Humanity doesn't quite believe in him, yet. But we do. Everyone loves an underdog and a sad story and like Bigfoot, Free Love, and Planet X, G Macias is quickly becoming legend, myth, and innuendo. If you thought Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii via satellite was cool in ‘73, then check out G. Macias Gusman live from Oakland in 20-18 when he brings his “A” game for you to smile.
The Octopus Literary Salon is proud to present Babar in Exile, a quarterly commemoration and revival of the high energy San Francisco reading series of the 1990’s, Café Babar, Paradise Lounge, and Club Chameleon. We are excited to feature two former and very active participants of Babar and Paradise, Tarin Towers, who beyond being a touring poet has been a journalist, a forensic investigator, and a green belt in kung fu, and Margery Snyder, longtime partner and poetic and musical collaborator with Whitman McGowan, and who was with the original series from the very first night. As well we welcome “honorary Babarian” G Macias Gusman, who must be seen and heard to be believed, if you’re not too blown away to still believe anything.
So come on down to check out a slice of Bay Area poetry history, now and in the making, and make your way home with a bindle full of inspiration and a thimbleful more hope for the species.
Babar in Exile #12
a revival of the Cafe Babar, Paradise Lounge, and Club Chameleon reading series
featuring
Tarin Towers
Margery Snyder
and G Macias Gusman
Hosted by Paul Corman-Roberts and Richard Loranger
PERFORMER BIOS
Tarin Towers moved to San Francisco in 1995, where she was too late to attend Cafe Babar but right on time to work graveyard shift at the Denny’s in Japantown. In the intervening years, Tarin has performed her work at venues across California and the United States, including with Sister Spit; earned a certificate in Forensic Investigation from City College and a green belt in 8-Step Praying Mantis Kung Fu; and performed several acts of journalism on the topics of witchcraft, guns, and basketball. Her book on Manic D Press is called Sorry, We’re Close. Tarin's most recent publication, also on Manic D, is inclusion in the Kapow! poetry anthology. Twitter, IG, etc: @tarintowers
Margery Snyder is a poet & flute-player who pronounces her first name with a hard ‘g’. Margery began her writing life in short stories & was drawn into poetry by the influence of San Francisco’s community of performing poets after she moved there with her partner Whitman McGowan in 1985. The two of them were part of the very first Thursday night reading at Cafe Babar in 1986. There ensued nearly 30 years of word shenanigans, CDs & chapbooks, readings with props & music, collaborative performances with live musicians (often Whitman at the mike & Margery on the flute), tours up & down the West coast, across the US & all around Europe. Margery is currently at work on Grief Notes, a chapbook of poems mostly addressed to Whitman, who passed away in 2015.
Iowa-born Oakland poet G Macias Gusman sings Black Sabbath songs in the shower and has seen four ghosts, ten US Presidents give up on America, two UFOs, his work published, the birth of punk, disco, rap, and the death of Common Sense. He has learned public speaking on the fly and almost sold his soul to the devil, but ended up pawning it to god in exchange for becoming a poet. So, there are poems to write and read aloud. G says he still believes in the human spirit even if Humanity doesn't quite believe in him, yet. But we do. Everyone loves an underdog and a sad story and like Bigfoot, Free Love, and Planet X, G Macias is quickly becoming legend, myth, and innuendo. If you thought Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii via satellite was cool in ‘73, then check out G. Macias Gusman live from Oakland in 20-18 when he brings his “A” game for you to smile.
read more
So come on down to check out a slice of Bay Area poetry history, now and in the making, and make your way home with a bindle full of inspiration and a thimbleful more hope for the species.
Babar in Exile #12
a revival of the Cafe Babar, Paradise Lounge, and Club Chameleon reading series
featuring
Tarin Towers
Margery Snyder
and G Macias Gusman
Hosted by Paul Corman-Roberts and Richard Loranger
PERFORMER BIOS
Tarin Towers moved to San Francisco in 1995, where she was too late to attend Cafe Babar but right on time to work graveyard shift at the Denny’s in Japantown. In the intervening years, Tarin has performed her work at venues across California and the United States, including with Sister Spit; earned a certificate in Forensic Investigation from City College and a green belt in 8-Step Praying Mantis Kung Fu; and performed several acts of journalism on the topics of witchcraft, guns, and basketball. Her book on Manic D Press is called Sorry, We’re Close. Tarin's most recent publication, also on Manic D, is inclusion in the Kapow! poetry anthology. Twitter, IG, etc: @tarintowers
Margery Snyder is a poet & flute-player who pronounces her first name with a hard ‘g’. Margery began her writing life in short stories & was drawn into poetry by the influence of San Francisco’s community of performing poets after she moved there with her partner Whitman McGowan in 1985. The two of them were part of the very first Thursday night reading at Cafe Babar in 1986. There ensued nearly 30 years of word shenanigans, CDs & chapbooks, readings with props & music, collaborative performances with live musicians (often Whitman at the mike & Margery on the flute), tours up & down the West coast, across the US & all around Europe. Margery is currently at work on Grief Notes, a chapbook of poems mostly addressed to Whitman, who passed away in 2015.
Iowa-born Oakland poet G Macias Gusman sings Black Sabbath songs in the shower and has seen four ghosts, ten US Presidents give up on America, two UFOs, his work published, the birth of punk, disco, rap, and the death of Common Sense. He has learned public speaking on the fly and almost sold his soul to the devil, but ended up pawning it to god in exchange for becoming a poet. So, there are poems to write and read aloud. G says he still believes in the human spirit even if Humanity doesn't quite believe in him, yet. But we do. Everyone loves an underdog and a sad story and like Bigfoot, Free Love, and Planet X, G Macias is quickly becoming legend, myth, and innuendo. If you thought Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii via satellite was cool in ‘73, then check out G. Macias Gusman live from Oakland in 20-18 when he brings his “A” game for you to smile.
show less
Date/Times:
2101 Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94612
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