Electric Color

Writing Knights Press published my Electric Company chapbook a little over a year ago.  This month, they issued a 2nd (limited) edition, slightly revised inside and featuring (for the first time) a color cover.  Here’s the image:

I took this photo as a self-portrait on Broad Street in downtown Elyria early last year. A black and white version of it appeared on the 1st edition of Electric Company.  Buy the early version for 3 bucks and the new version for a few dollars more (while they last) at http://writingknightspress.blogspot.com/2011/08/electric-company-by-john-burroughs_25.html

Bicycling Prohibited in Downtown Elyria?

Yesterday morning, Jamie’s car wouldn’t start, so I drove her to work in Oberlin.  On the way, I was surprised to see new signs posted in downtown Elyria notifying me that bicycling downtown is now prohibited.  I can certainly understand why they’d outlaw littering, kinda understand why they’d prohibit jaywalking, and even be willing to give serious consideration to their prohibition of skateboarding downtown.  But green, functional, healthy bicycling?!?…

And have you heard of the North Coast Inland Trail bicycling path?

So I took my video camera downtown today — and made the following two videos: one short and featuring music by the Beastie Boys, the other long and featuring a somewhat impromptu rambling rant by yours truly while I ran up and down the street.

UPDATE: The signs are new, but the ordinance is old — and it only applies to sidewalks, not streets. Too bad the signs say “No Bicycling” (period) and do not mention sidewalks.  They are thus misleading.

Here’s the actual ordinance: “No operator of a bicycle or skateboard shall be permitted to operate his or her bicycle or skateboard in the Ely Square area or on the sidewalks in the downtown business area from East Bridge Street to West Bridge Street on Broad Street, on Middle Avenue and Court Street from Broad Street to Third Street, East Avenue from Depot Street to Third Street, and West Avenue from Tremont Street to Third Street.” (Ord. 89-164. Passed 7-17-89.)

New downtown Elyria eye-ku

[I’m composing a series of almost haiku inspired by downtown Elyria, Ohio, and hope to have it published sometime in 2011.   Here’s a sample written yesterday and slightly improved today (see comments below for details).]

East Avenue white.
I stutter-step over it
to avoid snow fall.

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Pics from the 11/7 PoetryElyria launch at Jim’s Coffeehouse and Diner

Chuck Humel from the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram was at our inaugural PoetryElyria event featuring Eric Anderson and Stacie Leatherman (plus open mic) on Sunday November 7th at Jim’s Coffeehouse and Diner, 2 Kerstetter Way, in Elyria.  A fab photo he took (and blurb about the series) appeared prominently on the front of the Local & State section of yesterday’s paper.  Today, they posted it online.  Click here to see. 

I’m pleased at how the afternoon turned out.  I thoroughly enjoyed both features. It’s always a joy to hear/read Eric’s work — and Stacie, who I’d never heard before but booked because Eric called her “one of my favorite poets,” turned me into an instant fan eagerly awaiting her two books scheduled to be published in 2011.   A lot of good friends showed up, including some I hadn’t expected because I’ve been way behind on checking my email and blog comments — and the open mic featured some strong work as well.  I’m glad I got it all on video (highlights forthcoming, gawd knows when).  I’ve also uploaded my photos from the event to Facebook — as have a couple of friends.

Click here to view my photos.
Click here to view Dianne Borsenik’s photos
Click here to view Christina Brooks’ photos

For more Eric Anderson, check out Duo: Novellas, Volume 1
For more Stacie Leatherman, see http://stacieleatherman.com

Follow PoetryElyria on Twitter: http://twitter.com/elyriapoetry 

Check us out every Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Jim’s Coffeehouse and Diner.  Upcoming features include:

November 14th: J.E. Stanley and dan smith
November 21st: Sammy Greenspan & Trenchcoat Manifesto
November 28th: Elise Geither and Lady K Smith
December 5th: Lou Suarez and Claire McMahon
December 12th: Dianne Borsenik and Mary Turzillo
December 19th: Steven Smith and Courtenay Roberts
December 26th: post-Xmas open mic free for all
January 2nd 2011: Shelley Chernin and Anne McMillen
January 9th 2011: Andrew Rihn and to be announced

photo I took before the reading – 11/7/2010

 

New Sunday Afternoon Poetry Series Begins November 7th in Elyria

My old acquaintance Al Christian, who I hadn’t seen in nearly 20 years until this past week, recently reopened Jim’s Coffeehouse and Diner in downtown Elyria, Ohio, and has invited me to host a weekly poetry series there.  I’ve accepted.  The new series will begin November 7th, 2010, and occur every Sunday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m.  Each session will include readings/performances from one or two featured poets and/or musicians, plus an open mic session for anyone else interested in sharing his or her work.  Unlike our usual Lix and Kix events in Lakewood, we’ll probably begin with the open mic promptly at 1 p.m., followed by our features — and maybe we’ll conclude with a little more open mic if time permits.  After doing poetry events all over the Greater Cleveland area and even in Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia, I’m thrilled to finally bring it all back home, so to speak, to where I live in Elyria.

Jim’s Coffeehouse and Diner is located at 2 Kerstetter Way (formerly known as Lake Avenue) in downtown Elyria, just a few doors down from the East Falls River Walk, where you can catch a magnificent view of some of the Black River’s renowned waterfalls.  Maybe when the weather’s nice we’ll continue the poetry there when the coffee shop closes at 3.  If you’re interested in being a featured poet or performer, or just want more information, e-mail me at jc@crisischronicles.com.  Meanwhile, I hope to see you every Sunday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. at Jim’s Coffeehouse and Diner.

Peace and poetry,
John B.

I took these photos around Jim’s on 8/21/2010

Last Call

Last Call — 20 August 2010
for Jim’s Coffeehouse in Elyria, best shop of its kind in Lorain County and one of the first places I read poetry publicly

At Jim’s Coffeehouse,
downtown Elyria’s last
drop evaporates.

chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2010/08/20/jims-coffeehouse-closing-in-elyria

Three Dog Daze of April

Photos taken yesterday.  For more, check out my Facebook album.

self portrait in Mom’s back yard

Lady

Lucky

Leda with her grandma

my impromptu sidewalk eye-ku

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Obama Mid-Piss False Alarm in Elyria – 1/22/2010

This was the day President Obama drove by our house on Cleveland Street in Elyria — I missed catching him on video the first time, since he went by so fast, but was determined to catch him when he came back through.  Since I figured he’d be wherever he was going for at least fifteen minutes or so, I decided to run into the house, let the dogs out into the back yard kennel, grab another cup of coffee, and urinate (I’d been holding it for an hour).  While in the bathroom, mid-stream, my wife started excitedly pounding on the front of the house, trying to tell me Obama was back and I was gonna miss him.  I flew out to the street, unfinished, only to find it was a false alarm, inspired by the passing of a dozen or so police vehicles without the President.   I recorded this footage accidentally while bitching, unaware the camera was on.

Poetry Back in the Woods, grandchildren’s birthdays & Feed the Gays

Thanks to James and Dianne Borsenik for picking me up, treating me to dinner and taking me to the GLASA benefit on Saturday (since my car is presently sans alternator).  And thanks to the President of the United States (or an unreasonable fascimile thereof) for deeming Jada’s and Dorian’s joint birthday celebration a cause worthy of his attendance.  I’ve recently uploaded most of my photos from both occasions (and more) to Facebook:

3/23/2010 – Poetry Back in the Woods in Shaker Heights

3/27/2010 – Celebrating Jada’s and Dorian’s birthdays in Elyria

3/28/2010 – Feed the Gays 2 (GLASA benefit) in Cleveland

President Obama at My House in Elyria on 1/22/2010

First sitting U.S. President since Truman to visit Lorain County — first ever to eat at Smitty’s or drive past our home on Cleveland Street.  I took video with my right hand and snapped this photo with my left yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEt5P9JTik8