March 25, 2007
Contact: Cheryl Crockett (301)
562-0967
POET-A-TETE Originator and
Director
poetatete@yahoo.com
www.poetatete.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
POET-A-TETE, WASHINGTON'S
FREE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY POETRY EVENT FEATURES DREW ANDERSON ON THE 4TH THURSDAY OF MARCH (THE 27TH) AT EBENEZERS NEAR UNION STATION IN N.E. WASHINGTON, D.C.
Poet-a-tete celebrates spring in the basement
of Ebenezers Coffee House. Poetry season is in full swing. Don't keep that poem in your pocket. Read it for all to hear. Check
out the menu and pick up something to bring downstairs. Ebenezers is located at 201 F Street, NE Washington, DC. (202)558-6900.
In March, we cross into Spring, (yes, I have
forgiven the groundhog) with its abundant poetic prompts. Run with it! Thursday is forecast to be a pleasant evening
regardless of the weather.
A special guest MC will announce
the Open-mic. Chris Choate's participation is a part of what makes Poet-a-tete so special since it restarted
at Ebenezers. He is excited about taking the open-mic this Thursday as Cheryl spends some additional time in
the background.
A repeat feature, Drew Anderson (a.k.a.: Droopy the Broke Baller), was with us in June last year. He is a former teacher and multiple slam champion with
the D.C. delegation to the National Slam Team. He has hosted more poetry nights than anyone has fingers to count and seems
to be able to write, memorize, rehearse and perform volumes of excellent material in the time it takes most people to
work out one line of iambic pentameter.
His Mocha Hut venue, on U Street, is a poetry
landmark in Washington, DC. He recently began working with a band, recording and performing his works. He is THAT entertaining.
Congratulations to the poets, teachers and
staff of Walter Johnson High School in Montgomery County on their poetry slam held at the Rockville Barnes & Noble
earlier this month. The talent was overwhelmingly awsome! The winners have been invited to feature in the near future at Poet-a-tete.
Poetess, Cheryl Crockett, Poêt-à-tête's director
and originator, a native of Washington, D.C., was inspired to create the successful family-friendly poetry event after
seeing the need for a poetry reading venue that the whole family can feel comfortable attending.
Unique in its name, Poêt-à-tête provides an encouraging
environment for poetry writers and shy ‘reciters’ to share their writings in a either the poetry open-mic
or slam (spoken poetry performance competition). The word Poêt-à-tête, coined by the originator,
is a composite of the word poetry and the French word tête-à-tête, which, in English, means head-to-head. Some
people like to say Poet-a-Tee-Tee when they read the name but the best pronunciation clue is this: the name rhymes with
"go get a pet".
There
is something for everyone at Poêt-à-tête. Some poets prefer not to compete; others
only want to enter the slam and compete to win a prize. Still others (i.e.: featured
poets) have products to sell or an entertaining story to tell. Admission is free. The host/coordinator distributes information about publication opportunities
and other bona fide contests to attendees during most events.
As
the highlight of most of the poetic evenings, the featured guest poet will perform original poetry preceded
by the open-mic. Poets should plan to arrive early to secure their spot on the open mic. Treat
yourself to an evening of excellent poetry in an edifying environment.
Sign-up begins at 7:15 p.m. and poets start reading at 7:30 p.m. The event is timed to end at 9:00 p.m.
Poetry for the open-mic does not have to be original. All participants must arrive prepared to read two original poems.
Marked
by vibrant diversity, Poêt-à-tête is a forum in which poets and audiences may share divergent views but all
agree to celebrate the art of poetry.
