It was a chilly November morning and I'd been looking forward to this day. It had been written on my calendar for a couple of weeks now: a road trip day with Angela! Angela is a dear friend of mine, and I try to make it to every event I can to hear her speak. (Angela's first poetry memoir was published this year! Find it here.) This event was particularly cool, because Angela had been asked to speak/read some of her poetry at Chop Suey Books in Richmond. I love downtown Richmond, in all its hipness, but Chop Suey is a gem of old. Check them out next time you're around town. They buy and sell used (and new) books! Plus they have a really chill cat named WonTon. He'll be there to greet you at the door.
But, I'm jumping ahead. Angela showed up to my place mid-afternoon and we took off to RVA a bit early to scope out the scene. On our car ride down, we laughed, cried and sang. I truly relish these moments with my girlfriends. You'll learn someone very quickly after a several-hour car ride! Traffic was light and we made it to RVA in great time, even after a pit stop. We found the last free parking space--SWEET! And I brought my camera and kiiiinda geeked out about the downtown there. I waited to break out my camera, until we walked over to the shop, met WonTon, dropped our things, then headed out to find some grub. Mellow Mushroom ended up being the selection for the evening and they did not disappoint! The food. was. delicious. After dinner, we walked around, admiring the local shop window displays and all the cool signage around town. After an hour or so, it was time to head back to set up for the reading. The atmosphere at Chop Suey Books is very cozy and inviting. It truly feels like you've walked into someone's home. The chairs were placed between book shelves and everything was just very relaxed.
The reading started around 6:30 and first up to read was Michael Trocchia, who read a selection of poems from his published book titled "The Fatherlands." Michael's readings painted such a vivid picture of place in time. (He even had an illustration to accompany his words.) Check out his book here. Next up to read was Angela. If you get the opportunity to be in an audience when this woman talks, you won't leave the same. Angela has a way of stirring your soul and mind. She gives light to the realness and reality of living, which at times is not always so pretty. When you're in Angela's presence, you can't help but feel humbled. The words that I frequently think are, "Finally, someone who understands." She is courageous, honest and funny. Angela read from her book titled "Memory Chose a Woman's Body." You can check out her book here. Next and last, Matthew Hamilton read some excerpts from his book titled "The Land of the Four Rivers." Matthew's experience in the Peace Corps served as a basis for quite a few of his poems. The poems were real, strong, gripping. You can check out his book here.
After the reading Angela did a meet-and-greet with the audience. I purchased a book, then we headed down to a local Thai diner, where we had dessert and coffee. Angela and I shared our table with a former professor of hers and her friend from college. It was so fun to meet these folks and hear stories of their past. Below are photos from our day of adventure to RVA!
The reading started around 6:30 and first up to read was Michael Trocchia, who read a selection of poems from his published book titled "The Fatherlands." Michael's readings painted such a vivid picture of place in time. (He even had an illustration to accompany his words.) Check out his book here. Next up to read was Angela. If you get the opportunity to be in an audience when this woman talks, you won't leave the same. Angela has a way of stirring your soul and mind. She gives light to the realness and reality of living, which at times is not always so pretty. When you're in Angela's presence, you can't help but feel humbled. The words that I frequently think are, "Finally, someone who understands." She is courageous, honest and funny. Angela read from her book titled "Memory Chose a Woman's Body." You can check out her book here. Next and last, Matthew Hamilton read some excerpts from his book titled "The Land of the Four Rivers." Matthew's experience in the Peace Corps served as a basis for quite a few of his poems. The poems were real, strong, gripping. You can check out his book here.
After the reading Angela did a meet-and-greet with the audience. I purchased a book, then we headed down to a local Thai diner, where we had dessert and coffee. Angela and I shared our table with a former professor of hers and her friend from college. It was so fun to meet these folks and hear stories of their past. Below are photos from our day of adventure to RVA!