June 14, 2025 - James Lowell Hall Reading + Poetry Open-Mic
Saturday, June 14, 2025
4PM - 6PM
@ Wayfarer Theater Office
1850 Second Street, Highland Park.
Highland Park Poetry welcomes James Lowell Hall as our feature poet.
James Lowell Hall is a practicing physician in Chicago, Illinois. He is married with two children and has a quirky German Shepherd, Moli. He is the author of three books: Prairie Roots; Good Night, Sweetheart, Good Night: The Love Story of Ray Harrison Lillibridge and Marguerite Jenike Lillibridge; and Lillibridge Houses. Prairie Roots was received the 2024 Book of the Year Award by the Illinois State Poetry Society. He edits the poetry column “Poetic Ponderings” in Wilmette Living Magazine.
Open-mic follows the feature. Poets may bring up to 3 short poems to share, though HPP reserves the right to reduce the number read to ensure all participants have an opportunity. Come a few minutes early to sign up for the line-up.
*Location* Next door to movie theater. Recommend using Renaissance Place 3-hour free underground parking garage. Stairs in southeast end take you to Second Street or follow signs to movie theater.
There is no cover charge. We hope attendees will support the businesses that support us. Consider seeing a film at Wayfarer Theater before or after.
Upcoming Dates for Readings & Open-Mics at The Wayfarer Theater, 1850 Second Street, Highland Park, IL
July 12 - Sandra Marchetti & Jamie Wendt
August 9 - Virginia Bell
September 13 - Sheila Elliott, the 2025 Prairie State Poetry Prize Winner
October 11 - Caroline Johnson
November 8 - TBD
December 13 - Holiday Open-Mic
January 10 - TBD
February 14 - Donna Vorreyer
March 14 - TBD
If you are interested in becoming a featured poet, please reach out.
Sandra Marchetti, author of Diorama &
Jamie Wendt, author of Laughing in Yiddish
Event sponsored in part by Highland Park Poetry
Other Local Poetry Events & Opportunities
These events are not hosted by Highland Park Poetry but we are pleased to share this information with our friends and followers.
Photo by Jennifer Dotson. Click to download guidelines.
Volo Bog's Peatland Poetry Challenge
Celebrate International Bog Day on July 27, 2025 and write a poem in 1 of 3 categories. Deadline is 3 PM on July 1st. Click here to download .pdf guidelines.
2025 Helen Schaible International Sonnet Contest
Poets & Patrons of Chicago manages this esteemed annual sonnet contest. Go traditional and channel your inner Shakespeare and Petrarch. Or embrace the modern sonnet. Submission period is open now and ends July 15, 2025.
Click to download submission guidelines or visit www.poetsandpatrons.net
Daily Poems from May 2025
Here are the poems posted on Highland Park Poetry's Facebook page from May 2025.
Thank you to our contributors to this special section: Carol Alfus, Marie Asner, L.S. Bassen. Paul Buchheit, R.T. Castleberry , Srinjay Chakravarti, Jan Chronister, Daniel Cleary, Tina Cole, Jennifer Dotson, Mardelle Fortier, Judith Stern Friedman, Barbara Anna Gaiardoni, Ariel Jastromb, Richard V. Kaufman, Terry Loncaric, Lennart Lundh, Tim Mueller, Chad Norman, Carl "Papa" Palmer, Linette Rabsatt, Barbara Robinette, David J. Rogers, Miriam Sagan, Don Shearn, Terry Slaney, Deb Tillman, Peggy Trojan, Lynne Viti, Anthony Ward. and Christopher Woods. Please also enjoy our Muses' Gallery. Join us on Facebook and Instagram.
Highland Park Poetry seeks submissions of shorter poems for our Daily Poem posts. Collaborations are welcome as are poems in non-English languages when accompanied by an English translation.
Celebrate words and carry poetry in your heart!
Thank you to our contributors to this special section: Carol Alfus, Marie Asner, L.S. Bassen. Paul Buchheit, R.T. Castleberry , Srinjay Chakravarti, Jan Chronister, Daniel Cleary, Tina Cole, Jennifer Dotson, Mardelle Fortier, Judith Stern Friedman, Barbara Anna Gaiardoni, Ariel Jastromb, Richard V. Kaufman, Terry Loncaric, Lennart Lundh, Tim Mueller, Chad Norman, Carl "Papa" Palmer, Linette Rabsatt, Barbara Robinette, David J. Rogers, Miriam Sagan, Don Shearn, Terry Slaney, Deb Tillman, Peggy Trojan, Lynne Viti, Anthony Ward. and Christopher Woods. Please also enjoy our Muses' Gallery. Join us on Facebook and Instagram.
Highland Park Poetry seeks submissions of shorter poems for our Daily Poem posts. Collaborations are welcome as are poems in non-English languages when accompanied by an English translation.
Celebrate words and carry poetry in your heart!