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2015 Beatnik Shindig: Car Show, Poetry, Spoken Word & Jazz | Fort Mason

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Saturday, June 27, 2015 - All Day | Cost: FREE*
*Many events are free at Fort Mason. Most other sessions cost $5-$15.

Fort Mason Center | 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA

Event Details

2015 Beatnik Shindig: Car Show, Poetry, Spoken Word & Jazz | Fort Mason

The Beat Museum’s Beatnik Shindig to be held in North Beach and at Fort Mason Center is the largest Beat Generation Conference to be held in twenty years.The Shindig featuring over 36 sessions over 2 days.  The last big Beat event was organized by Allen Ginsberg himself in 1995 at NYU in New York City.

The Beats influenced everyone and are considered to be the true hipsters. Novices, experts, scholars and casual observers alike are welcome at the Shindig. There is a huge interest in The Beat Generation today, especially with younger people, likely because the themes of The Beats are timeless — travel, exploration, a search for self, sexual identity, saving the planet and a spiritual quest. Dig?

Beatnik Shindig: Car Show, Poetry, Spoken Word & Jazz
June 27-28, 2015
Free events take place in the Fleet Room, Building D and Readers Bookstore, Fort Mason, SF
(Ticketed events also take place in North Beach)

Most events are ticketed and some are free including the car show and two days of poetry at the Reader’s Bookstore at Fort Mason. Most other sessions cost $5-$15.

Be sure to bring your camera, because they’re going to have a caravan of Hudson Motor Cars picturesquely displayed along the seawall of Fort Mason, attractively arranged with Alcatraz as a backdrop.

Free events in the Fleet Room feature vendor tables, cash bar and center stage where you’ll be treated to some of San Francisco’s best jazz combos and poets (Poets for the Masses).

2015 Free Events:

Saturday, June 27

  • 10:30 am: Workshop: Self Publishing in 2015 with Joe Donohoe – Readers Bookstore, Bldg. C
    Are you thinking of self publishing but you don’t know where to turn? Creator and editor of counterculture magazine Specious Species, now in its 7th issue, provides valuable insight on topics from printing options to gathering quality content. (limited seating)
  • Noon: Attaboy, Daniel Yaryan – Fleet Room, Bldg. D
  • 1 pm: Charles Curtis Blackwell, Kim Shuck – Fleet Room, Bldg. D
  • 2 pm: Joan Gelfand, Richard Loranger – Fleet Room, Bldg. D
  • 2 pm: Poetry Writing Workshop Teaching Session with Neeli Cherkovski – Readers Bookstore, Bldg. C
    “Are you trying to sound like Allen Ginsberg but coming off like Scooby-Doo? Learn how you can ‘Howl’ like a Beat Poet with your own authentic voice.” Beginners are welcome.
  • 3 pm: Zack Rogow, Chokwadi – Fleet Room, Bldg. D
  • 4 pm: The Jazz Band – Fleet Room, Bldg. D
  • 4 pm: Young Scholars Discuss The Beats – Hilary Holladay Panel w/ students Alexandra Parker, Peter Mulcahy, Jr. & Logan Hill – Readers Bookstore, Bldg. C
    Beat Movement scholar Hilary Holladay presents three of her former students from James Madison University in a wide-ranging Beat Generation panel. Alexandra Parker examines the life and recently published writings of poet Elise Cowen; Peter Mulcahy, Jr. discusses the prose, themes, and motivations of Herbert Huncke; and Logan Hill focuses on Jack Kerouac’s Duluoz Legend and Essentials of Spontaneous Prose. (limited seating)
  • 5 pm: Jack & Adelle Foley, Mahnaz – Fleet Room, Bldg. D
  • 6 pm: The Jazz Band – Fleet Room, Bldg. D

Sunday, June 28

  • 9 am: Wake Up Yoga Beatnik Shindig Style. Exercise with Kay Taylor – Room C220, Bldg. C
    Start your day like Maynard G. Krebs and Zelda chasing Dobie Gillis. Taught by Kay Taylor from InnerStellar Pilates & Yoga.
  • Noon to 4 pm: Open Mic hosted by Charlie Getter. Sign-up begins at 11 am. Firehouse
  • Noon: William Taylor, Jr., Cassandra Dallett – Fleet Room, Bldg. D
  • Noon: The Politics of Poetry with Jack Hirschman – Readers Bookstore, Bldg. C
    Poetry is an art form that affects every day life. Poetry can inspire, poetry can soothe and poetry can make a political statement. Great poetry can do all three. (limited seating)
  • 1 pm: Kirk Lumpkin, Ed Coletti – Fleet Room, Bldg. D
  • 2 pm: Dan Barth, Poet Laureate of Ukiah – Fleet Room, Bldg. D
  • 2 pm: Delivery is Everything: Developing Your Authentic Reading Voice: Presentation by Agneta Falk – Readers Bookstore, Bldg. C
    We’ve all seen poets or writers whose work we admire, and yet when we hear them read we realize their work would be much more effective if it could be delivered in an authentic and effective way. Here’s your opportunity to learn about keeping an audience engaged with a powerful delivery that is true to who you are. (limited seating)
  • 3 pm: Camincha, The Peruvian Poetess – Fleet Room, Bldg. D

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE*
*Many events are free at Fort Mason. Most other sessions cost $5-$15.
Categories: **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Lectures & Workshops, Literature, Live Music, San Francisco
Address: 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA