We have readings every doggone Thursday. Sometimes we have a two-hour open reading, generally with a break around eight. Other Thursdays we have a featured presentation, and, usually, an open reading (about an hour) precedes the featured reader.

Sometimes we have a special theme. Like this year on Valentine's Day, we're honoring the late Tom Bickman, oft referred to as the "Love Poet."

Poetry Thursdays is a weekly poetry series that began in a small coffehaus (Sweet Passions) on Third Street in Harrisburg even before the turn of the century, and went through many venues (and tribulations) before settling in for several peaceful & sedate years at an art museum in downtown Harrisburg.

Now we're at the Crimson Frog. It's located just off I-83 in the Cedar Cliff Mall. And, jeepers, it's a swell place, easily accessible, plenty of parking and-- wowsers!-- both a stage and a fine sound system. So the Cartel is energized for an exciting and positive new year, anxious to reach out to new writers and maybe stir up, as well as entertain, the mid-state poetry community.

Come out and see for yourself. In 2008 we'll have readings by Michael Lear-Olimpi, Jack Veasey, Barbara DeCesare, Gene Hosey, Michael Hoover, and Rebecca Gonzalez. That's entertainment! And that's just for starters.