The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s reading series “Poems & Pints” will return this fall according to the council’s Web site. The series, stationed once again in the Nichols Room at the Frances Tavern in downtown Manhattan, will kick off on October 6 with a reading by Jill Bialosky and Susan Wheeler.

The series, featuring the always effervescent blend of poets and beer, attracted some real crowds last time around. Poets included Anna Rabinowitz, Rosanna Warren, Paul Muldoon, Mark Strand, Edward Field, Vijay Seshardri, Katy Lederer, D. Nurkse, Sophie Cabot Black and Sharon Olds. LMCC has made selected audio available here.

This fall’s lineup includes Peter Cole and Robert Polito on November 3 and Ron Padgett and Katha Pollitt on December 1.

I attended the February 3 Dana Goodyear/Matthew Zapruder reading. Goodyear read first and the place was completely packed, to the extent that many were left to listen outside of the closed doors. After Goodyear finished, there was an intermission where people refreshed their empty glasses and some among the huddled masses actually left, freeing up some space for those of us that were crammed and sweating. Some of us were lucky enough to snag seats and others leaned on the wall while Zapruder wowed the audience by reading mostly from his forthcoming book, Come On All You Ghosts.

LMCC works with artists by sponsoring workshops and awarding grants.

–Steven Karl