April Castalia

At April's Castalia, second-year poet Evan Klavon posed riddles and demonstrated the difference between countable and uncountable infinity; first-year prose writer Ben Wirth went behind the scenes in the business of funny business; second-year poet Elizabeth Cooperman conjured images of both film and dating from a collection of mini-essays; and special guests Sonya Chung and UW professor Shawn Wong read from their new novels.

April Castalia

Everything is coming up Castalia! April may have been dubbed the cruelest month, but we're here to curtail some of that old angst with fabulous readings from current MFA writers: Elizabeth Cooperman, Evan Klavon and Ben Wirth, UW alum: Sonya Chung, and UW professor: Shawn Wong.

We'll continue to have books for sale by current and former featured readers—so bring some cash! As always the Hugo House Cafe offers a bevy of beverages to keep you well hydrated throughout the evening.

Don't let this one pass you by!

When: Tuesday, March 2, 2010, 8pm

Where: Hugo House, 1634 11th Avenue

The reading is FREE and open to the public.

March Castalia

At this month's Castalia, second-year poet Katharine Ogle led us through a museum displaying the real life of childhood and the death of rats, among other exhibits; second-year prose writer Sarah Shotwell took us to China for plum rain season and to the streets of San Luis Obispo for a quick bake in the sun; second-year poet William Fox Camponovo invented the silent S and showed us a view of Miami from Buenos Aires; we stopped into Bolivia for dinner with UW alum Peter Mountford, reading from his forthcoming novel; and UW professor David Shields, with his new book Reality Hunger: A Manifesto, brought us home again for an inspection of fact, fiction, and our own nervous desire to know which is which. Enjoy the trip.

Wow. The March Castalia is going to be awesome—as the poster clearly indicates! Not much else to say, except, "BE THERE."

Sarah Shotwell. (Geez, she's cool). William Fox Camponovo. (Dude. He has an animal in his name). Katherine Ogle. (Her last name is a verb, people). Peter Mountford. (Classy and with a novel on the way from Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt). David Shields. (This guy is hot stuff and is reading from his highly acclaimed new book: "Reality Hunger: A Manifesto).

The line up says it all.

Remember, Hugo House has a fabulous little cafe with a variety of drinks to keep you content. We'll continue to have books for sale, so bring some cash.

When: Tuesday, March 2, 2010, 8pm

Where: Hugo House, 1634 11th Avenue

The reading is FREE and open to the public.

February Castalia

This month's Castalia considered the genesis of things, in a sense: Second-year poet Matthew Ian Kelsey breathed life into a Golem; second-year prose writer Anthony Manganaro sparked new ideas about the strange future of politics, the media, Libertarians, and literature in general; third-year poet/prosist Sarah Erickson and her friends brought the first Chorus (as far as we know) to Castalia's stage; special guest UW alum Rebecca Hoogs celebrated her birthday with odes to Rome and the (partial) cast of the boardgame Clue; and UW professor Richard Kenney reflected on the remarkable origins of human language--and of Anthony Manganaro. Enjoy.

February Castalia

February, the month of Groundhogs, Valentines and cherry blossoms, also brings another round of Castalia, sponsored in part by the lovely Hugo House. This month we're proud to feature current UW writers: Sarah Erickson, Matthew Ian Kelsey and Anthony Manganaro; Featured alumna: Rebecca Hoogs; and UW faculty poet: Richard Kenney.

Remember, Hugo House has a fabulous little cafe with a variety of drinks to keep you content. We'll continue to have books for sale, so bring some cash.

When: Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 8pm

Where: Hugo House, 1634 11th Avenue

The reading is FREE and open to the public.

A New Year's Castalia

For our first Castalia of 2010, second-year prose writer Jenny Dolan gave testimony as to why Tina Fey should be compared to her, first-year poet Zebulon Huset took us on a savage journey to the heart of Las Vegas, and UW alums Aaron Barrell and William Bernhard--former caretakers of our series--proved their curation skills are rivaled only by their talent for verse. Enjoy.