Fans of the now-defunct, feature-oriented Philadelphia Independent newspaper crowded into the Kelly Writers House last night to witness a special reunion of some of their favorite writers.
As the kickoff event for this year's 215 Festival, seven former contributors to the Independent presented their most recent pieces to an audience of about 60.
The 215 Festival -- named after Philadelphia's area code -- is a local literary festival that has been held annually since 2001.
"One of the best things it does is raise awareness of how active and alive the Philadelphia literary scene is," said Kelly Writers House Director Jennifer Snead, who is also on the organizing and planning board for the festival.
The Independent was a monthly general-interest newspaper that ended its three-year run last February. Snead had wanted to invite the writers from the Independent to speak at the Kelly Writers House since the paper stopped publishing, she said, and the 215 Festival seemed the best way to do that.
The first reader, Maureen Tkacik, wrote about her experience "hanging out" at a hurricane evacuation center in Baton Rouge, La. She used lavish detail and voice impressions to describe the colorful "clients" she met there.
With most of the evacuees dressed in pajamas or slippers, "it looked like a high-school slumber party, except with military police," she said.
The second performer was Christine Smallwood, who read a humorous piece recounting her adventures on the Chinatown Bus. Thanks to passengers doing heroin and getting tattoos, the presence of Chinese gang members and the entertaining bootleg movies, the bus was always "a place of spontaneity and excitement."
Other readings involved the Halloween celebration at a strip club, a tribute to a late poet and the career of a freelance writer who wrote for Playboy. Former Independent columnist Lord Whimsy, dressed in a velvet suit and emerald tie, presented two pieces.
"Whimsy was particularly provocative," College freshman Brooke Palmieri said. "I came here for him and his dandy ways."
The final reader, Erik Bader, read an excerpt from a novel he is working on.
The readings were interspersed with live music by The Absinthe Drinkers, a band that selects poems and puts them to music. One of their pieces was based on a Hunter S. Thompson essay and was previously performed at a tribute for the late writer.
Classical Studies post-baccalaureate student Chelsea Jensen enjoyed the show. "I was really impressed by the range," she said.
"It was awesome," said Philadelphia resident Josh Nims. "I know a lot of these people from their work on the Independent, and I really enjoyed them."
215 Festival - Runs until Oct. 10 - Designed to celebrate 'writers and writing, both local and national' - Several events held each night both around Penn and throughout Philadelphia - Highlights include discussions with writers at local pubs, a slide show by cartoonist John Karpinski and a night of 'Bad Sex with [author] Neal Pollock' - Visit 215festival.com
