West Philadelphians gather to celebrate poetry and literature

Second-year medical resident Joe Rencic wandered into the Kelly Writers House on Locust Walk seeking refuge from last night's stormy weather. Northeast Philadelphia resident Jen Escorcia trekked through the treacherous weather because she was interested in hearing new poetry. Undaunted by the first snowfall of the winter season, members of the University and greater Philadelphia area packed into the Kelly Writers House Thursday night for a warming celebration of the arts as part of the University City District's Go West! Third Thursday series. Following an opening acoustic performance by West Philadelphia musician Third Policeman, literary enthusiasts listened to readings from West Philadelphia poet Shawn Walker and Philadelphia Inquirer reporter and author Karen Quinones Miller. Walker read from her collection, The Purchase of a Day, which included a poem entitled "The woman with lips and a landscape." Afterwards, both Walker and Miller said they were pleased with the attentiveness of the audience. "I was very pleasantly surprised to see that [the reading] was well-received," Miller said of her newly self-published novel, Satin Doll. The evening gathering concluded with a team magnetic poetry contest and open-mic presentation sponsored by leaders of Speakeasy. The Third Thursday program, held on the appropriate day each month in a different location, encourages Philadelphia residents to travel to University City to learn more about the diverse resources the West Philadelphia area has to offer. Each month celebrates a different aspect of University City life. In the past, Third Thursday events have welcomed Philadelphia residents to gallery exhibitions at the University Museum of Art and Archeology and free admission to ice skate at the Class of 1923 rink. UCD Director Paul Steinke said last night's program held at the Writers House was an evening dedicated especially to the arts of literature and poetry. Steinke called the Writers House a "unique attraction" in University City, adding that "a cozy and literary thing would be a nice change of pace from [past] galleries and exhibits." "The room has an excellent feel to it," Steinke said. And attendees seemed to agree. "This was the first time that I ever came to the Writers House and it gave me a really good impression," College freshman Emily Quesada said. "You come to Penn and everything is so new and temporary... but here it feels more like a home with a fireplace and paintings," she said. UCD Marketing Director Allison Kelsey estimated that over 100 people turned up for the evening's events.