A Few Words on Area Events

This may be National Poetry Month, but in Chicago there arepoetry-related events every week.

For example, the fifth national All Poetry Video Festival takesplace April 16-19 at the Kino-Eye Cinema at Chicago Filmmakers and atthe Chopin Theater, both at 1543 W. Division.

What follows is information on that event and otherpoetry-related entertainment:TODAY:; The 20th annual Loyola Poetry Festival starts at 7:30 p.m.at the Crown Center Auditorium, Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan.Featured poets will be Marianne Boruch and Richard Jones. Areception will follow the readings. Admission is free. Call (312)508-2240.THURSDAY; : The University of Chicago will celebrate NationalPoetry Month with a Phoenix Poets reading series. The event kicksoff at 7:30 p.m. at the Chicago Humanities Institute at theuniversity campus, 1100 E. 57th. The featured poet is Gail Mazur,author of The Common. For information call (312) 702-0376.SATURDAY; : A "Performathon" of poetry, music, dance andperformance art runs from 7-10 p.m. at Randolph Street Gallery, 756N. Milwaukee. A donation of $10 is suggested for adults; $5 forstudents and seniors. Proceeds will benefit Columbia College'sgraduate program in interdisciplinary arts. Call (312) 666-7737.APRIL 11: The University of Chicago's Phoenix Poets seriescontinues at 7 p.m. at 57th Street Books, 1301 E. 57th. The featuredpoet is Robert Polito, author of Doubles. Call (312) 702-0376.APRIL 13: Poets Fran Gilmore, Gabrielle Kaplan and Kathleen Kirkwill read from their works from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Books and BrewCoffee House at the Logan Square Public Library, 3255 W. Altgeld.There also will be an open mike. Admission and refreshments arefree. Call (312) 744-5295.APRIL 16: The Guild Complex's All Poetry Video Festival, which runsthrough April 19, opens with a screening of "Il Postino" (ThePostman). The film, which won an Academy Award for best score for adrama this year, was inspired by the life of Chilean poet anddiplomat Pablo Neruda. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. at theKino-Eye Cinema at Chicago Filmmakers, 1543 W. Division. Tickets:$7. Call (312) 907-2189 for information on this and other festevents.APRIL 17: The All Poetry Video Festival continues with a NationalPoetry Video Slam at 7:30 p.m. at the Chopin Theater, 1543 W.Division. Judges and the audiences will rate competing videos via anapplause meter. Tickets: $6.APRIL 18: Poet Susan Steward, author of The Forest, will read herworks at 7 p.m. at Chicago Humanities Institute at the University ofChicago campus. The event is part of the Phoenix Poets series.Admission is free.APRIL 18: The video festival hosts a National Screening at 7:30p.m. at the Kino-Eye Cinema at Chicago Filmmakers. The year'sselection of nationally submitted videos includes award winners fromHonolulu to Canada. Paying tribute to Native American Week, theevent also presents works by Anihinaabe; Ojibwe; Chippewa activistJim Northrup and Blackfoot; Sioux; French filmmaker Annie Frazier.Tickets: $6.