At least that’s the title for now, according to Danny Solis, the man behind the reason Tuesday is the new Thursday. The Big Poetry Show kicks off on Tuesday, July 15, at One Up Lounge (301 Central NW) at 8 p.m., but this isn’t your average slam. On top of the usual open mic and slam bouts, there’ll also be music by Cultura Fuerte, a featured performance by poet/roustabout Buddy Ray McNiece, crazy big prizes (Solis says bikes, grills and trips to Las Vegas have been discussed—no joke) and the first-ever "Sake Slam"—an event designed by Solis to challenge poets to create poetry on the spot with music, in haiku form and other brain-expanding ways. After July 15, The Big Poetry Show (or whatever it’s called in the future) will continue every Tuesday night at One Up, with a grand shindig once a month.
Music Man For The Cause
The Box Performance Space opened The Music Man Jr. last weekend, featuring 20 young actors in a Cardboard Playhouse production. On Thursday, July 10, the young performers and their director, Kristin Berg, are putting on a special show to benefit the National Disaster Relief Fund. The add-on performance starts at 7 p.m. and proceeds will go to support relief efforts in the Midwest via the Red Cross Mid-Rio Grande Chapter. For tickets and info, call 404-1578. Go and give those kids a standing ovation, they deserve it.
Folk Art Mart
The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market takes over Milner Plaza on Museum Hill this weekend, and I mean international . Artists from more than 40 nations including Rwanda, El Salvador, Afghanistan and Botswana will participate in this annual event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13. If droves of handcrafted artwork from all over the world aren’t enough of a fun factor, you can expect strolling mariachis, Japanese taiko drummers, Chinese dragon dancers and exotic food (including the ever-popular Cameroonian meat pie). Tickets are available in advance at folkartmarket.org or at the door for $15 on Saturday or $5 on Sunday.
