Adam put Craig’s comic up at Everyday Genius. Craig kept a sketchbook during our door. He assembled it into this short comic narrative. Awesome.

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a week touring the not-so-icy, relatively temperate northern Midwest with Adam Robinson, Joe Young, and our road companion Craig Griffin (who made a dope comic about the tour that hopefully will be up on the web soon). I took some pictures (not enough). Here are the highlights. Thanks to everybody who so kindly hosted us in their galleries, bookshops, bars, guest rooms, and living rooms. Great way to start the new year – like breakin’ out of a chrysalis.

It began in Chicago. A lot of that night is lost. Zach Dodson is a beautiful host. Kathryn Regina is a beautiful reader. She gave us one of her own poems and one from Chelsea Minnis.

DJ A-Rob popped in for a set at Green Gallery in Milwaukee.

Straight TITTERIN’ in Minneapolis.

The goods.

Woodland Pattern…

…pays the Publishing Genius Bills.

Not hard to eat well in Milwaukee.

As always, great to see MC Hyland. She’s made a real home for herself out west. Pocket Lab Series is for real. So is her new book – NEVERAGAINLAND. Got to read it straight through and once more again on the flight home.

We got kicked out of this joint – for wickedly mild manners.

Milwaukee – LUXXXXX – that’s a business hotel!

Adam confronts an audience of more than three in Madison, WI.

Joe scares them away talking about vampires.

Here’s where I do this charming and not slightly irritating thing where I apologize to the audience for what I’m about to read.

Portrait of the artist in repose:

This looked even better laden with Fred’s pizza and pancakes.

The cows are not mythical…

…nor is the snow. (Nor is the fact that Minnesotans spray their front yards with a garden hose to make home-made hockey rinks.)

I’ll remember so many things, but mostly I’ll remember this:

A video to make you want to get up in the morning from Joseph Young.

Go listen.

Really good to be back in the Charm City. Seems the same in a lot of ways – but better. It’s always had an active arts scene, but things are blowing up down there, especially in the words-on-paper world.

Here’s how it went (click pictures for details):

Went down Friday, and hit this place I used to call home. We talked to some of the current MFA students, who were very cool.

Then this guy seared us some amazing scallops for dinner.

These two friends dating back to my JHU days made it down from New England.

Our other dear friend from our writing group made the trip too.

Finally, met this guy who I’ve known over email for a long while.

He “paints” these images on his iPhone. With his fingers! (My phone died at the end of the weekend, and, inspired, I replaced it with an iPhone. I don’t think downloading a simple app will help me create things of such beauty.)

Met this excellent poet who uncovered the secret of free beer and food, and who also creates beautiful art.

Read with an old friend at the Baltimore Book Festival.

It rained the whole time, but our friends stuck out the whole reading (all eight readers).

The reading was hosted by these two generous human beings (and writers).

This is their series.

Also read with this guy, whose book (and presumably forthcoming book) can only be described as ‘important.’ This stuff has the power to change thinking (more on this later).

This guy published the other guy’s book, and a bunch of other amazing literature.

He invited us to see his band play. Awesome. He was good enough to take off his shirt (and join us for karaoke). This kid is tireless. Keep track of the things he touches.

Most of us finished the weekend at a Mexican buffet in the north of the city. Not as good as we remembered, but good enough. Hope all my readings are this much fun.