ROOM 220 PRESENTS: A Happy Hour Salon with Ed Skoog, Lydia Cutrer, Geoff Munsterman, Hallie Rundle, Blake W. Encalarde, Chanel Clarke, and Marlo Barrera

Room 220 is pleased to present a Happy Hour Salon featuring readings by poet Ed Skoog and a cadre of his former students from NOCCA: Marlo Barerra, Chanel Clarke, Lydia Cutrer, Geoff Munsterman, Hallie Rundle, and Blake W. Encalarde. The event will take place from 7 – 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, at the Press Street HQ (3718 St. Claude Ave.).

Skoog is a celebrated poet and former New Orleans denizen whose relationship with Press Street goes back to the organization’s very beginning in 2005—he was a contributor to the first Press Street publication, Intersection|New Orleans, among other things. He will be back in town for Jazz Fest and we have organized this event to celebrate the occasion.

Skoog is the author of two collections of poetry, Mister Skylight and Rough Day, and his poetry has appeared in the Paris Review, American Poetry Review, The New Republic, Poetry, Tin House, and other impressive places. He is a former teacher of creative writing at NOCCA and Tulane and currently runs the summer poetry festival at Idyllwild Arts Academy (basically the NOCCA of southern California, or something).

He will be joined by:

Marlo Barrera, a cook who makes things with her heart and hands outside of the kitchen.

Chanel Clarke, who received her MFA from the Michener Center for Writers in Austin, Texas. Her poems have recently appeared or are forthcoming in WomenArts Quarterly, Smoking Glue Gun, Flag and Void, and Hayden Ferry’s Review.

Lydia Cutrer, whose bio remains a mystery even to us, though we’re sure it’s impressive.

Geoff Munsterman, the author of Because the Stars Shine Through It. His poems have been featured in story|south, Poets for Living Waters, Steel Toe Review, The Raging Pelican, Poetry Quarterly, and Volume IV of The Southern Poetry Anthology.

Hallie Rundle, who is currently working on her second collection of poetry. She quit her retail job and is waiting until the last minute to find other employment.

Blake W. Encalarde, a poet and a teacher who lives across the street from the Fairgrounds.

As always, this event is free and open to the public. Complimentary libations will be on hand, though donations are strongly suggested.