You know what drives me nuts (aside from train etiquette violators and fuse thieves)? People who are always doing stuff.
I know you know what I’m talking about – we’ve all seen the type. Really talented, brilliant ideas, unique vision, all combined with the worst traits of all: unparalleled initiative and mad organizational skills.
These are the people who make the rest of us look bad, as we sit around at coffee shops saying things like:
“Hey Natasha – we should learn how to make aromatherapy candles and sell them on the Internet!”
Or
“Wouldn’t it be great if we formed our own breakdance crew? We could do shows around town for kids and the elderly!”
Or
“I have such an awesome idea for a novel! It’s based on this box of old scarves I found at an estate sale. It will require a lot of historical research, but I’m totally going to do it!”
Well, for me, that person is my dear friend Jen Benka. Always with the original ideas, and the artistic eye, and the enviable planning skills. And now, she’s done it again. She and her friend and fellow poet, Veronica Wong, have organized what looks to be an amazing weeklong poetry event in New York City starting this Sunday, called “Finally With Women.”

“Finally With Women” is a reading series which will be held Sunday, August 6 through Thursday, August 10, from 6-8 p.m. Each night will be dedicated to one woman poet and consist of readings of her work:
Sunday, August 6 – Mina Loy
Monday, August 7 – Audre Lorde
Tuesday, August 8 – Barbara Guest
Wednesday, August 9 – Muriel Rukeyser
Thursday, August 10 – Gertrude Stein
Not enough information? Here’s the description from The Village Voice:
“One hundred acclaimed and emerging female writers will celebrate the life and work of influential poets Mina Loy, Audre Lorde, Barbara Guest, Muriel Rukeyser, and Gertrude Stein at this five-day readings series titled Finally With Women. Each day will be devoted to a different poet, with about 20 readers per day, including experimental poet Elaine Equi, transgender activist Kate Bornstein, National Book Critics Circle Award winner Marie Ponsot, spoken-word artist Tara Betts, and essayist Vivian Gornick.”
Still need more? For more details on all the performers, check out the official site at Finally With Women.
Congrats, Jen! Now you’ve inspired me to go find that box of old scarves…

Filed under: General on August 4th, 2006