Auld Lang Verse

For the past three years, singer and “poetry diva” Sharon Eiker has thrown open the doors to the haunted stone mansion that houses the Writers Place (3607 Pennsylvania, 816-753-1090) to celebrate New Year’s Day with a noon-to-midnight reading. Today she does it again, wiring up an open-mic format. Anyone with original poetry or essays (or who wants to read someone else’s work) can sign up for five to seven minutes at the microphone. Eiker (pictured, right) used to go to New York City for the New Year’s poetry event in the Bowery, which attracts literary celebrities. “But I realized we have just as many great writers here in Kansas City,” Eiker says. This year, 15 minutes of each hour will be set aside for music, the other 45 for readings. For the hungry: chili and black-bean soup. A $5 donation is requested, but Eiker says no one will be turned away.

Thu., Jan. 1, noon-midnight, 2009