Beatnik Cafe is a monthly poetry series, hosted by Hanna Pachman at the tea cafe, Hey Hey (1555 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026). There are 1-2 featured readers followed by an open mic. The next event will feature the poets, Tongo Eisen-Martin and Brendan Constantine on February 26th at 4 pm. Please come 10 minutes early if you are interested in signing up for the poetry open mic.
Originally from San Francisco, Tongo Eisen-Martin is a poet, movement worker, and educator. His latest curriculum on extrajudicial killing of Black people, We Charge Genocide Again, has been used as an educational and organizing tool throughout the country. He is the author of “Someone’s Dead Already”, “Heaven Is All Goodbyes”, “Waiting Behind Tornados for Food”, and “Blood on the Fog”. In 2020, he co-founded Black Freighter Press to publish revolutionary works. He is San Francisco’s eighth poet laureate.
Brendan Constantine is a poet based in Los Angeles. His work has appeared in many of the nation’s standards, including Poetry, The Nation, Best American Poetry, and Tin House. A popular performer, Brendan has presented his work to audiences throughout the U.S. and Europe, also appearing on NPR’s All Things Considered, TED ED, numerous podcasts, and YouTube. He currently teaches at the Windward School.