The Art Bar runs every Tuesday night at Clinton’s & is recognized as Canada’s longest running poetry-only, weekly reading series. Since 1991, it has featured both emerging and established poets from across Canada and occasionally from abroad. artbar.org
Authors at Harbourfront Centre
In the past thirty-four years, Authors at Harbourfront Centre has welcomed more than 5,000 writers from Canada and beyond, including 15 Nobel laureates and countless other award winners. The programme runs year-round from September to June, with events ranging from readings to panel discussions and memorials. http://www.readings.org
Host & producer Valentino Assenza keeps it clear & spoken on the east side: first Friday of the month at the Renaissance Café. toronto.coffeehouse.ca/coffeehou…
Draft Reading Series
Draft is a celebration of process. The readings take place every month during the winter season in the Leslieville area. Readers are invited to try something new … anything they’ve always wanted to try but have never had the opportunity. Draft includes both established and emerging writers. For every reading, we produce a numbered, limited edition booklet including notes, sketches, collages and drafts by the evening’s readers. For more information draftreadings@gmail.com.
A monthly reading series with a focus on new Canadian literary work. Beginning in January 2009, the series will expand to include poetry and fiction as well as plays. It still takes place on the first Monday of each month starting at The Cameron House 408 Queen St. W in the back room: www.cheshireunicorn.com
Creative James’ poetry & spoken word series @ the Black Swan Tavern (Broadview & Danforth) is held on the third Thursday of each month starting sharp at 8:10 PM but come early if you want to get a spot on the open mic. Always an engaging evening James features an eclectic selection of poets & spoken word perfomrers and every evening features a poetry theme challenge. hotsaucedwords.ca
International Festival of Authors
The International Festival of Authors (IFOA) was inaugurated in 1980 with a mandate to bring together the best writers of contemporary world literature. Like the weekly reading series, the IFOA includes readings, interviews, lectures and round table discussions as well as public book signings and a festival bookstore. http://www.readings.org
Pivot Readings at the Press Club (Dundas just west of Bathurst) every second Wednesday, programmed and hosted by Carey Toane! Pivot is the successor to the late and much-loved I.V. Lounge Reading series: pivotreadings.wordpress.com
The Plasticine Poetry Series is held on the 3rd Sunday of the month @ The Central, 603 Markham St. (1 block west of Bathurst subway) starting at 6 PM. The series welcomes a mix of new and established poets and has an open stage to close out each show. Ably hosted by Cathy Petch. new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2…
The Renaissance Cafe’, 1938 Danforth Ave. (One block West of the Woodbine Subway station) is held on the second Thursday of every month for a delightful one-two combination of spoken word/poetry readings and poetry workshopping. http://www.torontorenaissanceconspiracy.ca/
Rochdale Rhymes and Readings features local poets and spoken word artists on the first Sunday of the Month at the Regal Beagle on Bloor Street West at St. George, beside the Bata Shoe Museum Valentino Assenza and Phoebe Tsang this month. There is always an open mic and admission is pay what you can with all money going to the features. Hosted by Mike Lipsius.
Quality Poetry & Fiction at the Harbord House (nee Rowers Pub) at 7:30 PM on the first Monday of each month, from October to June. The series features poetry & fiction by established writers in a warm and comfortable resto-pub atmosphere. rowerspubreadingseries.com
Strong Words presents poetry & fiction at the Gladstone Hotel on the fourth Monday of the month. http://www.strong-words.ca
Toronto’s fabled summer fest of poetry & spoken word. thescream.ca
TERTULIA READING SERIES
The Tertulia Reading Series is a monthly themed event that’s one part party, one part reading, one part Q&A. We’re hoping for a salon sort of atmosphere that blurs the line between audience and performer.
The inaugural event will be September 25 at the Tranzac (Tiki Room), 292 Brunswick Ave. Doors at 7:30pm, event at 8pm. PWYC ($5 suggested – all funds collected will go to fund future instalments).
A bi-monthly event at the concord cafe, which brings art forms together to form an evening of creative expression and enjoyment of performance, poetry, music, visual art and dance. http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6614521380
The source for all things slam and slamming. torontopoetryslam.com/event-list…
Hosted by Yehuda Fisher, WordJam is a monthly spoken word & music series at the Free Times Cafe, 320 College Street - usually on the second Sunday of the month. It kicks off at 8:00 pm, with 7:30 Sign Up for the open mic. http://www.yehudafisher.com