Poetry Night at Bistro 33 Presents James Ragan

What: Bistro 33 Poetry Night to Feature James Ragan, International Statesman/
Los Angeles Screenwriter/Acclaimed Modern Poet

When: Wed evening, May 20th, 9-10 PM show. No cover. Open mic to follow10-11 PM.

Where: Bistro 33 Restaurant & Lounge, 226 F Street, Davis, CA, 530-756-4556

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contact: Brad Henderson, bhenderson@ucdavis.edu, cellular 530-864-1778
for additional info and/or to arrange interviews with Dr. Ragan

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Hosted by the popular Bistro 33 Poetry Night Series, internationally acclaimed poet, Dr. James Ragan, will appear in Davis for a one-night-only show, May 20th, Wednesday, from 9 to 10 PM, in the Bistro 33 events room. Poetry Nights at Bistro 33 represent a unique, 3-year-long-running community outreach project, co-sponsored by Sacramento restaurateur/business owner, Matt Haines, and two faculty members from UC Davis' University Writing Program (UWP), Andy Jones and Brad Henderson. The poetry night series has received positive press from Sunset magazine, the Sacramento Bee, and davismagazine.com.

Ragan will be promoting his 6th volume of poetry, Too Long a Solitude, as well as his famous outreach credo: "poetry used to move to minds of kings and queens and all the people in all the lands...and now is the time, once again, for poetry to reclaim lost ground...to be central in the song of mainstream life...."

Not only is the show a celebration of poetry in downtown Davis, but also it is a reunion of kindred spirits. Back in the late 1980s, over 20 years ago, Dr. Ragan mentored Poetry Night sponsor, Brad Henderson, while Brad earned his MFA in creative writing at the University of Southern California. Henderson is a third-generation faculty at UC Davis and a fifth-generation Davis resident. The protégé in role of his alter ego--the neo-cowboy poet and blues-rock drummer known as "beau hamel"--will open for his mentor as the warm-up act. Henderson/Hame's colleague, "Dr. Andy" Jones--author/award-winning educator/radio show host/"who's who" icon in Yolo County will emcee the show.

All ages are welcome. The event is free. However, Bistro 33 will serve its full menu of beverages and evening bar food items in the events room, before and during the performance. The main restaurant will also be available for full-menu dining before the show. Bistro 33 expects a packed house and recommends that attendees come early to ensure seating. Doors open to the events room at 8:30 PM. The main restaurant and lounge are open all-day long till 11 PM.

James Ragan has read his work before five heads of state and audiences at Carnegie Hall and the United Nations. In 1985 he was one of three Americans (with Robert Bly and Bob Dylan) invited to perform at the First International Poetry Festival in Moscow. In addition to his most recent book, Too Long a Solitude, Ragan's published collections of his award-winning poetry include In the Talking Hours, Womb-Weary, The Hunger Wall, Lusions, Selected Poems, and Shouldering the World. He is also an accomplished screenwriter whose credits include The Longest Yard, The Border, Matilda, and Oscar-winner, The Deerhunter. Dr. Ragan served for twenty-five years as Director of the Graduate Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California. He now writes full-time and travels/lectures extensively as one of the United States' most beloved ambassadors of modern poetry.