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What is the name of the series, and what is the significance or meaning of the series name?

Greenlight Poetry Salon

Who founded the series, and who runs it now?

Myself, Angel Nafis along with the support and guidance of the brilliant events coordinator and co-proprietor Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo

What genres or mediums does the series include?

Poetry, all kinds of it. All amazing and expansive and powerful.

What is the format of the series?

The standard format: Audience attendees arrive between 7pm-7:30pm, they mingle, chat, buy books, enjoy the complimentary wine and snacks. 7:35 to 7:40ish we start the evening by the host (myself) welcoming everyone to the bookstore and specifically to the reading series, we announce who the readers will be and what the audience can expect for the evening. Then I introduce the readers up each one by one and each one reads a set of electrifying poetry. The evening commences to raucous applause and an author signing where participants can meet the poets and buy books and get them signed and also finish off any snacks and wine still left.

Where does the series take place?

Always takes place at Greenlight Bookstore (686 Fulton Street Brooklyn, NY 11217)

When and how often is the series performed (and is it seasonal)?

The series is seasonal, quarterly to be exact. Though, we do make exceptions and add 1 or 2 extra installments in a year because there tends to be too many awesome new collections of poetry coming out to say no.

How long has the series been active?

Series has been active in some form since 2011.

Where can people find information about series on the web?

www.greenlightbookstore.com

Do you take submissions, solicit material, or a combination?

The series is run on an invitation-only basis, but you can contact the curation and booking at angel[at]greenlightbookstore.com for all possible future consideration!

Did you set out with specific goals when the series was launched and have they changed over time?

We wanted to bring fresh, vibrant, relevant, poetry to the bookstore community circuit. So often when you go to bookstores (even MANY too too many independent bookstores) the poetry sections read like a 12th grade AP class library. Old dead white men with a couple of bestsellers like Mary Oliver (who rules, but still) and Billy Collins peppered in. We wanted a reading series that would reflect our diverse, contemporary, powerful, ever-growing and changing poetry section in the bookstore. And we still want that. We want that forever.

What distinguishes the series from others?

I’ve heard time and time again that entering the Greenlight Poetry Salon is like entering a poetry church. Where you can listen to some of the best writers in the world reading from their newest collections, and interact with the work and hoop and holler and catch the book worm holy ghost. PLUS THERE’S FREE WINE AND CUPCAKES.