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Home » Reading » Page 2
Thursday Night Jazz: Paul Thompson Quintet’s Tribute to Pat Metheny

Thursday Night Jazz: Paul Thompson Quintet’s Tribute to Pat Metheny

Paul Thompson, Scott Boni, Dan Wilson, Glenn Zaleski, and David Throckmorton pay tribute to 20-time Grammy award–winning guitarist (and longtime inspiration) Pat Metheny ...
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World Literature: Carlos Manuel Álvarez's "False War" (with Translator Natasha Wimmer)

World Literature: Carlos Manuel Álvarez’s “False War” (with Translator Natasha Wimmer)

In the World Literature premiere of our fall programming season, novelist Carlos Manuel Álvaraz will join moderator Anderson Tepper and translator Natasha Wimmer in a reading and discussion of his thrilling new novel depicting the disintegration that comes from being ...
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Reel Q Presents: An International Queer Film Screening

Reel Q Presents: An International Queer Film Screening

We welcome back our partners at Reel Q this fall for an international film screening! ...
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Thursday Night Jazz: Dwayne Dolphin Fo'tet's "Let the Music Play" (Album Launch)

Thursday Night Jazz: Dwayne Dolphin Fo’tet’s “Let the Music Play” (Album Launch)

City of Asylum welcomes legendary bassist Dwayne Dolphin, along with Dr. James Moore, Scott Boni, Antonio Croes, and George Heid III, for the album launch of Dwayne’s latest work, a joyous album celebrating jazz as the music of the people ...
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On Topic: George Packer's "The Emergency" (Imperial Collapse & Humanity)

On Topic: George Packer’s “The Emergency” (Imperial Collapse & Humanity)

“The Atlantic” staff writer George Packer shares his new work of fiction, “The Emergency,” in conversation with writer, critic, and performance poet Adriana E. Ramírez ...
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Today
  • December 2024
  • Tue 10
    December 10, 2024 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EST

    Christopher Rivas Talks Being Brown & Making it in America with Betty Cruz

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free Livestream TicketsFree In-Person Tickets

    Author Christopher Rivas shares his debut book "Brown Enough" in this reading and conversation at City of Asylum.

    Sun 15
    December 15, 2024 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm EST

    World Literature: Joseph O’Neill Shares “Godwin”

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream TicketsBuy the Book

    Joseph O’Neill, acclaimed author of "Netherland," comes to City of Asylum to share his latest novel, Godwin.

  • January 2025
  • Sun 5
    January 5 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST

    International Poetry Forum Presents: Kimiko Hahn

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person Tickets

    City of Asylum welcomes Kimiko Hahn, winner of the 2023 Ruth Lilly Prize, for a reading and discussion of the influence haiku poet Matsuo Bashō has had on her work, particularly The Narrow Road to the Interior.

    Mon 20
    January 20 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST

    PGHwrites: Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    City of Asylum celebrates the 2025 cohort for the Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County

    Tue 21
    January 21 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EST

    World Literature: Pico Iyer (England) Shares “Aflame: Learning from Silence”

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream TicketsBuy the Book

    Author Pico Iyer visits City of Asylum all the way from England to discuss his new book with Anderson Tepper.

    Tue 28
    January 28 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST

    PGHwrites: Free Association Reading Series

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    The Free Association Reading series, founded by Pat Hart and Mark Nieson, showcases local writers sharing newly written work and works in progress. This month’s reading spotlights writers Oleksandr Frazé-Frazénko, Emily Kiernan, Mike Scalise, and Jessica Manack.

  • February 2025
  • Sun 2
    February 2 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST

    Drue Heinz Literature Prize Presents: Mubanga Kalimamukwento

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream TicketsBuy the Book

    Drue Heinz Literature Prize winner Mubanga Kalimamukwento shares her winning book, "Obligations to the Wounded."

    Sun 16
    February 16 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST

    PGHwrites: Doralee Brooks’ The Gulf Tower Forecasts Rain

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream TicketsBuy the Book

    After two years as the Poet Laureate of Allegheny County, Doralee Brooks has curated a reading with eight fellow poets to celebrate the launch of her anthology, "The Gulf Tower Forecasts Rain."

    Tue 18
    February 18 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST

    PGHwrites: Free Association Reading Series

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    The Free Association Reading series showcases local writers sharing newly written work and works in progress. This month’s reading spotlights Varun Ravindran, Sakena Jwan Washington, Karen Dwyer, and Scott Silsbe. 

    Tue 25
    February 25 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST

    World Literature: Caryl Phillips (Saint Kitts, England) “Another Man in the Street”

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream TicketsBuy the Book

    Acclaimed author Caryl Phillips returns to City of Asylum for a reading and discussion of his new book "Another Man in the Street."

  • March 2025
  • Sun 9
    March 9 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT

    Eulalia Press Presents: Edith Adams, Laura Cesarco Eglin & Lauren Shapiro (Triple Book Launch)

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    City of Asylum celebrates new works from Eulalia Books, with translators Edith Adams, Laura Cesarco Eglin, and Lauren Shapiro.

    Tue 18
    March 18 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EDT

    PGHwrites: Free Association Reading Series

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    The Free Association Reading series, founded by Pat Hart and Mark Nieson, showcases local writers sharing new writing and works in progress. This month’s reading spotlights writers Malcolm Culleton, Donna Wojnar Dzurilla, Catherine Gammon, and Camille Rankine. 

    Sun 23
    March 23 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT

    PROGRAM CANCELLED: World Literature: Yoko Tawada (Japan,Germany) “Suggested in the Stars”

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Buy the Book

    In this reading and discussion, Yoko Tawada lights up the Alphabet City stage and guides us through this second installment in her Scattered series.

    Sun 30
    March 30 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT

    World Literature: Marcia Douglas (UK, Jamaica), “The Jamaica Kollection of the Shante Dream Arkive”

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream TicketsBuy the Book

    Whiting Award-winner Marcia Douglas visits City of Asylum to discuss her forthcoming book "The Jamaica Kollection of the Shante Dream Arkive."

  • April 2025
  • Tue 8
    April 8 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EDT

    PGHwrites: Free Association Reading Series

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    The Free Association Reading series, founded by Pat Hart and Mark Nieson, showcases local writers sharing new writing and works in progress. This month’s reading spotlights writers Ally Bair, Elizabeth Hoover, Deena November, and Steffan Triplett. 

  • May 2025
  • Thu 1
    May 1 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EDT

    Jazz Poetry 2025: Thumbscrew, Mahogany L. Browne, Oleksandr Frazé-Frazénko, Camille Rankine

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    Opening night of Jazz Poetry 2025 features jazz trio Thumbscrew and poets Mahogany L. Browne, Camille Rankine, and Oleksandr Frazé-Frazénko.

    Wed 7
    May 7 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EDT

    Jazz Poetry 2025: Nicole Mitchell Quintet, Chen Chen, Cameron Lovejoy, Roya Marsh, Ajibola Tolase

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    City of Asylum welcomes jazz musician Nicole Mitchell and poets Chen Chen, Cameron Lovejoy and more for a collaborative, improvisational Jazz Poetry concert.

    Thu 8
    May 8 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EDT

    Jazz Poetry 2025: Stephanie Chou Quintet, Jan Beatty, Olena Boryshpolets, Mubanga Kalimamukwento

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    Jazz musician Stephanie Chou and poets Jan Beatty, Olena Boryshpolets, and Mubanga Kalimamukwento share the stage for a collaborative and improvisational Jazz Poetry performance.

    Thu 15
    May 15 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EDT

    Jazz Poetry 2025: House of Waters ft. Priya Darshini, Safia Elhillo, Haleh Liza Gafori, Rania Mamoun, Nathan Osorio

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    Grammy Nominated band House of Waters and poets Safia Elhillo, Haleh Liza Gafori, Nathan Osorio, and Rania Mamoun collaborate in this improvisational Jazz Poetry concert.

    Tue 20
    May 20 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm EDT

    TWIST: Building Empathy Through Literature with Colum McCann

    Foerster Student Service Center Auditorium 839 Ridge Ave SSC 360, Pittsburgh, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream TicketsBuy the Book

    Award-winning Irish novelist, Colum McCann discusses his nonprofit work and upcoming empathy-building novel 'Twist."

    Free
    Tue 20
    May 20 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm EDT

    Jazz Poetry 2025: Jerome Jennings & iLL Philosophy, Carly Inghram, Montaser Abdel Mawgoud, Bo Mima, Ethan Pullman

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    Jazz musician Jerome Jennings and his group iLL Philosophy perform in a signature jazz poetry collaborative, improvisational concert and reading.

    Wed 21
    May 21 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT

    Guantánamo: Mohamedou Ould Slahi & Larry Siems in Conversation with Adriana E. Ramirez

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    Mohamedou Ould Slahi, Larry Siems, and Adriana Ramirez discuss creativity, resistance, the ongoing dark legacy of the prison camp in Guantánamo, and our never-finished, collective journey to freedom.

    Wed 21
    bridges summit bassam and rami
    May 21 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm EDT

    An Interview with Bassam Aramin & Rami Elhanan, Co-Directors of the Parents Circle-Family Forum

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    Author Colum McCann discusses forgiveness and understanding with Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan, as well as their lives since the release of Colum's "Apeirogon" and the current climate in Israel and Palestine.

    Thu 22
    May 22 @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm EDT

    Arab Voices in Exile

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    Four City of Asylum and ICORN residents highlight their respective and collective journeys and resilience.

    Thu 22
    May 22 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm EDT

    Jazz Poetry 2025: James Brandon Lewis Quintet, ft. Chad Taylor, Doralee Brooks, Huang Xiang

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    Musician James Brandon Lewis and poets Huang Xiang, Doralee Brooks, and Haile Bizen present a jazz poetry concert of improvisational and collaborative performance.

  • June 2025
  • Thu 12
    June 12 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm EDT

    Cave Canem Presents: The 2025 Annual Faculty Reading at City of Asylum

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person + Livestream Tickets

    For over a decade, City of Asylum has hosted Cave Canem’s annual Faculty Reading each June, coinciding with their week-long retreat at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Pennsylvania. This year’s reading presents esteemed faculty and world-class poets A. Van Jordan, Matthew Shenoda, and Joy Priest.

    Mon 16
    June 16 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EDT

    Writer-in-Residence: Oleksandr Frazé-Frazénko, “Nothing is Under Control” (Book Launch)

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream TicketsBuy the Book

    A writer without a country. A city with no off switch. A memory that keeps looping back at the worst possible time. Don't miss this discussion of Oleksandr Frazé-Frazénko's "Nothing Is Under Control."

    Sun 22
    June 22 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT

    PGHwrites: Marcus Rediker, “Freedom Ship” (Book Launch)

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream TicketsBuy the Book

    From the award-winning author of 2007’s "The Slave Ship," we celebrate the book launch of Marcus Rediker’s latest work: "Freedom Ship: The Uncharted History of Escaping Slavery by Sea."

    Sun 29
    June 29 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT

    World Literature: Teju Cole, “Tremor”

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsBuy the Book

    Teju Cole shares "Tremor," a startling work of realism and invention that engages brilliantly with literature, music, race, and history as it examines the passage of time and how we mark it.

  • July 2025
  • Sun 6
    July 6 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT

    Center for African American Poetry & Poetics Presents: Nabila Lovelace

    Alphabet City 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
    Free In-Person TicketsFree Livestream Tickets

    This reading concludes Nabila’s two-week residency cohosted by City of Asylum and CAAPP. In this program, Nabila will share the newly composed work that came out of her residency, as well as insights into her writing process and her residency experience.

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About City of Asylum
City of Asylum builds a just community by protecting and celebrating freedom of creative expression.
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Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Phone: 412-435-1110
Email: contact@cityofasylumpittsburgh.org
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