Local poet Carmen Tafolla was the first Poet Laureate of San Antonio. She gave a reading to the Sun Poet's Society at Barnes & Noble Bookstore soon after her inauguration in 2012. Photo by Rod Stryker.
Local poet Carmen Tafolla was the first Poet Laureate of San Antonio. She gave a reading to the Sun Poet's Society at Barnes & Noble Bookstore soon after her inauguration in 2012. Photo by Rod Stryker.

In 1995, Rod Stryker organized the first meeting of Sun Poet’s Society. Now, 20 years later, it has become the longest running weekly open mic poetry event in San Antonio. This weekend, the group is celebrating with an anniversary party.

The first few meetings of the Sun Poet’s Society were a spin-off from the folks who congregated in the King William area at Ed’s Poets Society, a play of words from the Robin Williams movie, “Dead Poets Society.”

Meetings were held initially at Cafe Gaia, then at Java Junction Coffee House, Coffee Gallery, and Cafe Maison. Sun Poets kept moving as businesses opened and closed. Uncommon Bookstore, Bridges Bookstore, Border’s Bookstore at the Quarry, and Cafe Soleil were other locations that hosted the Sun Poet’s Society. Barnes & Noble in the San Pedro Crossing was the meeting point for 14 years.

San Antonio native Beverly Monestier is also a citizen of Cyprus. "What The House Is Made Of," a collection of her poems, received the 2009 Edwin M. Eakin Memorial Book Publication Award. Here she reads for the Sun Poet's Society in 2004. Photo by Rod Stryker.
San Antonio native Beverly Monestier is also a citizen of Cyprus. “What The House Is Made Of,” a collection of her poems, received the 2009 Edwin M. Eakin Memorial Book Publication Award. Here she reads for the Sun Poet’s Society in 2004. Photo by Rod Stryker.

Sun Poet’s Society moved last year to their current home, Olmos Pharmacy Diner, where they meet every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. A magazine, “Sun Poetic Times,” published selected works by members and non-members from 1994 to 2005. The Sun Poets’ Society Writing Workshop still meets from 7 to 9 p.m. at Barnes & Noble at the San Pedro Crossing on the second Thursday of each month.

Rod Stryker was the founder of the Sun Poet's Society in 1995. He is the author of two books and is a promoter of the spoken word. Here he reads from his book, "Lucid Affairs." Photo by Rod Stryker.
Rod Stryker was the founder of the Sun Poet’s Society in 1995. He is the author of two books and is a promoter of the spoken word. Here he reads from his book, “Lucid Affairs.” Photo by Rod Stryker.

The popularity of the weekly meetings rests on the fact that it is truly an open mic. “We remain open to everyone no matter their orientation, their faith, or their level of education,” Rod said. “And we welcome poems of all types. We are a supportive organization.”

Many popular poets have frequented the podium at Sun Poet’s Society through the years. Visits by Tim Gibbard, Jeanne Marie Spicuzza, Juan Antonio Meza-Compean, Trinidad Sanchez Jr., and Mim Scharlack (with her drums) were a cause for enjoyment. Karla Morton, 2010 Texas Poet Laureate and author of nine poetry books, packed the house. Past appearances in 2013 and 2014 by the recent Poet Laureate of Oklahoma, Nathan Brown, were popular as well.

Memorials, such as the outpouring for AnaRose Marsden, known to her poetry friends as “Phoenix,” gathered a large crowd. Many wrote poems memorializing her outgoing character.

Perhaps the biggest group ever to grace the Sun Poet’s Society was because of a visit by Carmen Tafolla in 2012 after she was selected the first Poet Laureate of San Antonio. She is expected to make an appearance at Saturday’s event.

The public is invited to the 20th Anniversary Party on Saturday, March 14, 8 p.m. to midnight at the Olmos Pharmacy, 3902 McCullough Ave. Donation is $5 at the door. Bring your best friend, bring your favorite poems, bring a pen and paper; you will be inspired. Peace, love, and poetry.

All poets and friends of the spoken word are invited to the 20th anniversary party of the longest running weekly open mic poetry venue in San Antonio.
All poets and friends of the spoken word are invited to the 20th anniversary party of the longest running weekly open mic poetry venue in San Antonio.

*Featured/top image: Local poet Carmen Tafolla was the first Poet Laureate of San Antonio. She gave a reading to the Sun Poet’s Society at Barnes & Noble Bookstore soon after her inauguration in 2012. Photo by Rod Stryker.

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Don’s life revolves around the many poetry circles in San Antonio. His poems have been published in many anthologies and periodicals and broadcasted on local TV and national radio. In addition to poetry,...

5 replies on “Sun Poet’s Society Celebrates 20th Anniversary”

  1. Of all the poetry open mics that I’ve been to in Austin and San Anto, the Sun Poets Society is by far my favorite. All ages are welcome to read and listen. All levels of writing are welcome. It’s a fun, nonjudgmental group. Please join us as we celebrate 20 years of the spoken word. Good job, Don, in presenting the history of this persistent group.

  2. Co-Owner Carlos Padilla and I are proud to host the Sun Poets Society at our restaurant every Wednesday, from 6-8 pm. We hope to see lots of folks in attendance at the Sun Poets Society celebration this Saturday night. It should be a truly special event. Kudos to Rod Carlos Stryker and the group for making this such a vibrant element of our community.

    Please note, however, that the name, Olmos “Bharmacy” is no longer accurate. While that moniker (adopted by previous owners) was used for a short time, we are the Olmos Pharmacy Diner ~ Soda Fountain ~ Pub. We see no need to change the name that’s been up in lights above our doorway since 1944! That’s the red, white, and blue logo on the event announcement.

    We also hope everyone will come back to the Olmos Pharmacy to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week, with hand-crafted milkshakes, malts & sodas, frosty beverages on draft from many of our local brewers, and live music most evenings. This includes the Monday Night Jazz, Tuesday Night Open Mic, Celtic Music Thursday, and Bluegrass/Western Swing Sunday.

    The Olmos Pharmacy Diner ~ Soda Fountain ~ Pub, at the corner of Hildebrand and McCullough.

  3. Sorry I couldn’t make it. And Rod is a perpetual motion machine with words. (from a sometimes Sun Poet).

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