SANDRA CISNEROS, author of "The House on Mango Street," a novella; "Woman Hollering Creek," a short story collection; and two poetry collections, "My Wicked Wicked Ways" and "Loose Woman," will read poetry Thursday, Feb. 3, 8 p.m., in Westminster College's Jewett Center for the Performing Arts, as part of the Anne Newman Sutton Weeks Poetry Series. For more information, call 832-2376. On Friday Feb. 4, 7-9 p.m., she will sign and read from her work at the Salt Lake City Main Library, 209 E. 500 South. Both events are free.
MIKE DENNISON, author of "Beyond the Edge: A Backpacking Trip Around the World," will sign copies of his book Friday, Feb. 4, 4-8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 5, 3-8 p.m., Borders Books, 50 S. Main.EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON, author of "The Crisis in Black and Black," will sign and discuss his book Friday, Feb. 4, 5-6 p.m., NAACP-sponsored reception to follow; Barnes & Noble, 612 E. 400 South, and Saturday, Feb. 5, 5-6 p.m., Borders Books, 50 S. Main.
ANN WALKA, poet, JAYNE LEE, dancer, and BILL BURKE, musician, will perform "Heart of a Far Country: Interpreting the Colorado Plateau through Poetry, Dance and Music," a free interactive piece celebrating the river's travel through Glen Canyon. The event will take place in the Museum of Northern Arizona, three miles north of downtown Flagstaff on Highway 180 on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2 p.m. For more information, call 520-774-5213.
LAURA BEST, editor for local magazines and a national book publishing company will address "Opportunities for Writers are Everywhere" on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., Holladay Library, 2150 E. 4800 South. For more information, call 942-4209 or 943-6571.
VICKI RUIZ, noted historian and chair of Chicana-Chicano Studies at Arizona State University and author of several books on gender, socio-economic and cultural studies, will give a free lecture on her book, "From Out of the Shadows: Mexican Women in 20th Century America" Thursday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m., Sun Valley Center for the Arts, 191 Fifth Street East, Ketchum, Idaho, as part of Western Issues Lecture Series, sponsored by the Idaho Humanities Council. For more information, call 208-726-9491.
BROWN BAG CONCERT SERIES, sponsored by the Salt Lake City Arts Council, will begin its 23rd season of free concerts, beginning Monday, June 12, continuing weekdays through Aug. 25. Artists in all disciplines of the performing arts wishing to participate may pick up an application at the city Arts Council, 54 Finch Lane, or call 596-5000 to request an application be mailed. Completed applications due in office of the Arts Council Friday, Feb. 18, by 4 p.m.
FREE POETRY CONTEST, sponsored by Celestial Arts, is open to everyone, and will award $250,000 in prizes, including a grand prize of $1,000. To enter, send ONE original poem, 21 lines or less, on any subject, using any style, to: Free Poetry Contest, 1257 Siskiyou Boulevard., Suite 4, Ashland, OR 97520, or enter online at (www.freecontest.com).
POETRY 2000 is a free contest offering 28 prizes, including $1,000 cash first prize. To enter, send a poem 21 lines or less to: New York poetry Alliance, Box 1588, New York, NY 10116-1588, or enter online at (www.freecontest.com). Deadline for entries is Feb. 25.
UTAH STATE POETRY SOCIETY CONTEST requires submissions by Feb. 1. For contest rules, send self-addressed, double-stamped business-size envelope to Theda Bassett, 475 E. 5600 South, No. 2, Murray, UT 84107. Cash prizes offered in 38 categories. Winners' poems will be read at annual award festival, April 28-29.
JUNIOR CREATIVE POETRY CONTEST requires submissions by Feb. 1. For youth contest rules, send self-addressed, business-size envelope to Sue Ranglack, 56 W. 5750 South, Murray, UT 84107. Winners' poems will be read at Utah State Poetry Society's Award Festival, April 28 and 29, Airport Holiday Inn.
RELIGIOUS POETRY CONTEST, sponsored by New Jersey Rainbow Poets, offers 28 prizes totaling $2,000, including a $1,000 grand prize. To enter, send one inspirational poem only of 21 lines or less to Free Poetry Contest, 103 N. Wood Ave., Suite 70, Linden, NJ 07036, or enter online (www.freecontest.com). Deadline is Feb. 18. Winners will be notified by the end of March 2000, and poem will be published. POETIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS, a new national contest, offers cash prizes totaling $1,000, including a $500 grand prize. To enter, send one poem, 20 lines or less, on any subject, in any style to Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum, Dept. L, 609 Main St., P.O. Box 193, Sistersville, WV 26175. Contest closes Feb. 29 and winners will be announced April 30.