First Wednesday Reader Series

First Wednesday Reader Series presents poets Dianne Borsenik of Cleveland & Steven Concert of Harveys Lake, PA. Open mic to follow. Co-host David Simonelli. Wednesday, July 9 at 7:00pm at the Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave. This reading will be downstairs in the Trophy Room, accessible only by stairs. ASL Interpretation by Meagan Albani, with funding from the Raymond J. Wean Foundation. Many thanks to series sponsor POP! Art Books Culture.

In 2024, Dianne Borsenik produced “In the Company of Angels” at Speak of the Devil in Lorain, Ohio. At that time, SotD proclaimed her to be the bar’s Poet Laureate. In 2023, her collection Raga for What Comes Next was taught as part of Muskingum University’s Contemporary and Modern American Poetry course.

Steven Concert is a queer poet whose poetry appears at discretionarylove.com, oneartpoetry.com, and anthologies Agates, Common Threads, Fixed & Free Quarterly, Mad Poets Review, and Word Fountain. His work was shortlisted in NFSPS’ Stevens Poetry Book competition (2021). His collections include Steer into the Skid, No Mortar Required, and Standing in the Chaos.

Upcoming Readings at Westside Bowl

August 6 Ali Black & Dana Reeher co-host Deanne Buffalari
September 3 Mary Quade & Steve Skovensky co-host Terry Murcko
October 1 Mike Dittman & Shei Sanchez co-host Carrie Zapka
November 5 Jane Ann Fuller & Wendy McVicker co-host Kate Caraballo
December 3 Jason Harris & Mark Sebastian Jordan co-host David Wheeler