In 1972, Poetry Flash emerged as a calendar of local poetry readings complete with book notes and poems. The publication soon grew to become an indispensable literary archive, sounding board, and resource for the Bay Area and beyond. The journal has published thousands of poems and reviews of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction; maintains the longest running events calendar for the western US; runs a longtime reading series at Moe’s Books in Berkeley and Diesel, A Bookstore, in Oakland; produces the annual Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival; and each year also curates and produces the Northern California Book Awards. Helmed by editor Joyce Jenkins since 1978—with help from others such as Richard Silberg and Steve Abbott along the way—”The Flash” now celebrates a momentous 40 years of supporting the literary community and encouraging emerging writers.

Litquake is honored to present this year’s Barbary Coast Award to Poetry Flash and its editor, Joyce Jenkins. Join us for a stellar evening of testimonials, readings, and performances, with music from the Barry Finnerty Trio.

Readers slated to appear: Camille T. Dungy, Robin Ekiss, Robert Hass, Jane Hirshfield, Joyce Jenkins, Genny Lim, D. A. Powell, Richard Silberg, Matthew Zapruder, Al Young