Comments (0) Best Poetry Slam - 2001
"Second Sundays" at Justice League
"Second Sundays," the largest poetry slam in the city, is a beloved literary occasion for poets, poetry lovers, and anyone looking for a different way to spend a Sunday night. Huge crowds of hipsters, artists, and curious cats pack the Justice League in the Western Addition every second Sunday of the month for an energetic wordfest that's heavy on the positive vibes and low on the attitude. More a supportive gathering of artists than a competitive slam, performances are a mixed bag, with well-crafted verse presented by experienced, performance-oriented wordmongers juxtaposed against basic prose served up by nervous bookworms, but that's the beauty of open mike nights. On a recent Sunday, an inexperienced reader lost her place several times onstage, fumbling her words and staring mutely into the crowd, but instead of booing and hissing, the supportive audience erupted into applause, chanting her name and cheering her on. Performers vary in age from ripe twentysomethings to tried-and-true regulars in their 60s and 70s. Admission is $5.
