METROPOLARITY

THE SPECULATIVE ABYSS: A spec-fic reading with Elwin Cotman & Alex Smith
2014-01-08 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | A-Space Anarchist Community Center, 47th and Baltimore Avenues, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, United States
ELWIN COTMAN‘s work evokes the strangeness simmering underneath the floorboards of New Orleans speakeasys; the sort of melancholy soaked into the floorboards of a Carolina porch in misty May. Weaving through the murkier, funnier parts of American dreams, stopping right at the horizon of nightmare and flat-out hilarious, Cotman delivers a well needed shock to both the orthodoxy of African-American letters and to staid genre fiction at large. To say that A-Space and Laser Life are stoked beyond all hell for the opportunity to read with the brother is quite an understatement. We are prepared for the psycho-subconscious journey of this budding master mythmaker; gear up and join us.
http://www.lookmanoagent.blogspot.com/
ALEX SMITH is shedding his Laser Life sci-fi cocoon for an evening of lucidity. Or is he? Sure, bring your wine and cheese for this auspicious gala, served on your finest crystal; they won’t be broken and discarded, rent to shards and used as weapons against the establishment. Trust us, it’s not that kind of party. Reading from his long-awaited poetry chapbook (snicker) “Gang Stalk Oprah”, Smith promises a serene, intellectually tantalizing experience. Riiiighht.
http://theafterv3rse.tumblr.com/

Annie Mok debuts SCREENTESTS w/the crew
2014-01-17 19:00 - 23:00 | Vox Populi, 319 N. 11th St, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, United States
West Philly-based cartoonist Annie Mok reads from Screentests, her most fully-realized work to date. Annie’s comics are by turns quiet, raucous, funny, and sad, and always clear-eyed and nuanced.
“These stories, which could be incredibly heartbreaking with no relief, instead give the reader hope.” – Mey Rude, Autostraddle
She’s joined by the incredible creators Ras Mashramani (metropolarity.net), R.Phillips (AfroFuturistAffair.com), and Alex*Laser Life (theafterv3rse.tumblr.com), of the Philly-based queer sci-fi crew Metropolarity; O. Horvath (Spurt of Blood), “hysterical cartoonist / pvd”; and Khristina Acosta of the Philly/NJ-based PoC-only zine distro No Shame Distro (facebook.com/noshamedistro), reading from her zine The Birthday Party.
A Q&A and signing will follow the readings.
Annie’s work can be found at www.cargocollective.com/heyanniemok, http://heyanniemok.tumblr.com, and @HeyAnnieMok on twitter.
Please note that some stories read at the event may be triggering.

ArtHaus at The Black Box @ Underground Arts
2014-01-17 20:00 | Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States
This month’s art exhibition:
John Fitzpatrick [Cellar Door | http://theJOHNF.com/]
Steve Shorts [CoSM]
Brandon Spangler [Clouds For Sale | http://bibble.deviantart.com/]
Marc Tous [New JAAG | https://marctous.see.me/]
Live painting by Hekkate [http://hekkate.tumblr.com/]
Live body painting by Yenna Hill
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Live music at midnight from Philly’s own one-woman analogue synth-pop artist Void Vision [http://voidvision.bandcamp.com/]
Music of all kinds all night by DJ’s:
Lazerfeet [Psy.Fi]
Samwas [Psy.Fi | FML | https://soundcloud.com/allthatis]
John Morrison [https://soundcloud.com/john-the-liberator]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vendors:
Rockers Closet [http://www.rockerscloset.com/]
—————————————————————
$10 | 21+ w/ ID | 8:00 PM – 2 AM | 1200 Callowhill Street
Presented by Psy.Fi [http://psyfi-dimension.com/]
Check out footage of the previous ArtHaus: http://vimeo.com/79946895
[Videoraphy by Mangig Productions]

LASER LIFE: Queer Sci-Fi Reading Series
2014-01-31 19:00 - 21:00 | A-Space Anarchist Community Center, 47th and Baltimore Avenues, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, United States
Queer Sci-Fi Reading Series
From the files Baron Harkonen Solo-Margiela, District 98234.
CLASSIFIED>
For 100 years, LASER LIFE has provided the denizens of the hollowed out, Siberian dystopic husk formerly known as West Philly, with the one and secret voice. Fashioning antennaes from bones of dead CEOs and the rotting the planks of the Comcast building onto abandoned warehouses and hipster enclaves, it’s ever revolving cast of miscreants and saboteurs have been broadcasting the last zombie drenched signal of hope out into the universe. They are all just the strange fags and three-eyed queers caught stealing fruit and guns at the intergalactic bazaar, stowing away on the Millennium Falcon, and photo-bombing the white washed sardonic landscapes of even the most triumphant Capt. Kirks in victory pose. We’ve found them. This is their Santeria, this is their church.
LASER LIFE
known, dangerous throughout the galaxy:

Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela— the weaver
the curator for the still untitled literary salon, Johnson-Valenzuela has created stark, unflinching habitats where we all clatter and bang, brushing our empty tin cans against the rusting steel bars of life.
*powers and abilities: Dream weaving, mind control
Suzy Subways— the spark
west philly’s own urban cosmic enchantress, Subways weaves the cityscape– all burnt out husk and Orwellian encroachment– into shifting beautiful literary orbs
*powers and abilities: tactical firearms, laser cannon, silent weapons
and the Metropolarity crew…

Shane Jenkins— the anthropomorph
powers and abilities: Shape Shifting, Startocasting, astral projection
R.Phillips— the time traveler
powers and abilities: teleportation, quantum digitization, spell casting
Ras Mashramani — alien goddess
powers and abilities: flight, anti-gravition manipulation, light speed
Maggie Eighteen— the cyborg
powers and abilities: empathy, cybernetic link, machine/A.I. manipulation
Alex Smith— the vigilante
powers and abilities: ghosting, shadowtalking, boyfriend stealing

SASS & SMASH: Benefit for Sass and Laser Life Sci-Fi Anthology
2014-02-22 20:00 | LAVA zone, 4134 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, 19104, United States
“The earth owes me nothing. I owe the earth.”– Vinne Paz
To enhance your experience reading these blurbs, please read from the bottom and up to the top. Din da da.
SWARM
To fellow queer super-heroes, wanderers, listeners: when they danced, i held up my fist to attract lightning i was an antennae for god, just there, present. i couldn’t hear drums and voices, i made no notes in my moleskine, i didn’t strain for lyrics or “meaning”. I just was. There was just soul opening, movement, rage, honor, and meditation; my heart was a queer spire and every “-ism” and “-phobia” fell away, I was.
THE DAQUAN
Alien alert! Sci-Fi seamstress, weaving wild tales channeled from the divine ether, this wordsmith speaks to cosmic minutiae populating the other’d dimensions with pure verbal acrobatics over futurist beats ringing clear like breakbeats pounded out on Cybotronian lunch tables.
MOOR MOTHER GODDESS
What is EDM to the mother of Moors? What is a punk rocker to one who casts spells? A mere beat-maker to a shaman? Then an emcee to a Goddess? The good in all these things, the fire and the noise
GOODNIGHT STARS GOODNIGHT AIR
Like fireflies rising through cracks in cement, a tree birthed in ruins of a long forgotten warehouse, GSGA gives us blissed out drone pop, from pennsylvania’s industrial north.
EX BY V
Roiling chaotic drums, lascivious bass, strange experiments and, above all, complete frenzy, collude to bring us this meddlesome twosome. Wild, focused and free
MARLO REYNOLDS
Blue flame. When you see the blue flame, meditate on the blue flame. A fool in your life acting up? Blue flame: fool is gone.
SEE THROUGH GIRLS
Some how, after days of bashing and wailing, through a maze of broken string and apoplectic tantrum, this amalgam of pre-calculus homework, dizzy punk and robot rebellion is finally punk and ready to tear off heads.
TRIANGULLUM
sound, digital collage/video, textile, object design for a new future, diasporan design, and speculative fashion to create a container for mind-transformation, subversive de-colonization, and ancestry communication.
SHANE JENKINS
The anthropomorphic sprite of a 100,000 words of light, unveiling a sonic journey through the afterfuture.
DJ AURA
Kinetic Kemetic sound blender, the rare dj who’s mixes are as meticulous as they are boundary pushing, as tight as they are genre bending, and as freaking nasty/fun as they are curated!
hosts/readers: METROPOLARITY
http://metropolarity.net/
$10///no one turned away for lack of $//benefit for Sassquat, a community queer DIY house/movement responsible for many of the west philly undergrounds greatest moments, and for Laser Life (queer sci-fi reading series) upcoming anthology
**This is a safer space, bros fall back!**

NYC Feminist Zine Fest 2014
2014-03-01 13:00 - 18:00 | Barnard College, James Room, 4th Floor, Barnard Hall, 3009 Broadway, New York City, NY, 10027, United States
Do you like zines? How about feminism? Because the second annual NYC Feminist Zine Fest is coming up! Mark your calenders for March 1st, 2014 from 1-6pm. This time we will be at Barnard College in uptown Manhattan, 3009 Broadway in the James Room on the 4th floor of Barnard Hall. The space is handicap accessible, and the event is FREE and open to the public!
2014 Tablers: http://feministzinefestnyc.wordpress.com/who/
Schedule for zine readings and workshops: http://feministzinefestnyc.wordpress.com/schedule/
Please check out http://feministzinefestnyc.wordpress.com/ for zinester interviews published several times a week!

The Afrofuturist Affair Gala at Samek Art Museum
2014-03-20 20:00 | Samek Gallery, 3rd Floor, Elaine Langone Center, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, United States
This unique celebration of black Scifi with live music from composer and producer King Britt, as well as a host of other luminaries from the worlds of performance, music, fashion, and art is not to be missed! Join us for dancing and fun in the galleries.
The event is co-produced by Rasheedah Phillips and is part of the special exhibition, Afrotechtopia at the Samek Art Museum.
More on the artists and performers:
King Britt
Alex Smith
Jos Duncan
Moor Mother Goddess
The DaQuan
NorvisJr.
St. Skribbly LaCroix
75 Studios
Intuitive Expressions

Time Travel Convention | Pt. 1 - Preparation
2014-03-23 15:00 - 18:00 | Yell Gallery, 2111 East Susquehanna Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19125, United States
The Time Travel Convention is an exhibition that explores time travel as a practical activity – something that does not necessarily require a machine, an advanced degree, or any other privileges. Using afrofuturism and the speculative as lenses, the exhibition will feature time travel devices and objects from creators who use tools such as memory, dreams, imagination, manipulation of language and perception, light, and music to craft their temporal devices.
Pt. 1 will prepare travelers for the time machine activation event with
– Quantum Time Capsule Workshop
– Music & Memory Stations
– Time Machine Installation Building
– Dream Journal Project
– Other workshops and interactive activities with contributing artists
FREE w/ one small object or artifact to place into the time capsule
(Donations accepted for workshop materials)
Time Machines and Devices from:
MMGz — PsychoAcoustics & Memory
Black Shesus — The Pyramid of Shesus
R.Phillips — Recurrence Plot (RP)
Kameelah Janan Rasheed — No Instructions of Assembly, Activation II
Alisha Wormsley — black people in the future
Mourl Ferryman — The Shadow and the Substance 2014
Melissa Moore — An Infinitygram: Diasporan Object Design For A New Future
Time Travel Convention | Pt. 2 – Activation will take place at Yell Gallery on April 5, 2014 from 6 to 9pm. This opening reception for the exhibition will also be the book release for AfroFuturist Affair Creator Rasheedah Phillips’ experimental fiction novel, Recurrence Plot (and Other Time Travel Tales). See invite to Pt. 2 here https://www.facebook.com/events/1431545053750221/?previousaction=join&source=1
afrofuturistaffair@gmail.com for questions

Time Travel Convention | Pt. 2 - Activation * Recurrence Plot Book Release
2014-04-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Yell Gallery, 2111 East Susquehanna Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19125, United States
The Time Travel Convention is an exhibition that explores time travel as a practical activity – something that does not necessarily require a machine, an advanced degree, or any other privileges. Using afrofuturism and the speculative as lenses, the exhibition will feature time travel devices and objects from creators who use tools such as memory, dreams, imagination, manipulation of language and perception, light, and music to craft their temporal devices.
Time Travel Convention | Pt. 2 – Activation is an opening reception for the exhibition and book release for AfroFuturist Affair Creator Rasheedah Phillips’ experimental fiction novel, Recurrence Plot (and Other Time Travel Tales).
Featuring Time Machines and Devices from:
MMGz — PsychoAcoustics & Memory
Black Shesus — The Pyramid of Shesus
R.Phillips — Recurrence Plot (RP)
Kameelah Janan Rasheed — No Instructions of Assembly, Activation II
Alisha Wormsley — black people in the future
Mourl Ferryman — The Shadow and the Substance 2014
Melissa Moore — An Infinitygram: Diasporan Object Design For A New Future
Readings from:
Metropolarity
Warren The poet longmire
Michael Michael Joseph O’Hara
Rasheedah Phillips
+ Special Guests
FREE
Time Travel Convention | Pt. 1 – Preparation will take place at Yell Gallery on Sunday March 23, 2014 from 3 to 6:30pm. Pt. 1 will prepare travelers for the time machine activation event with workshops, music and memory stations, and other workshops and interactive activities with contributing artists. See invite to Pt. 1 here: https://www.facebook.com/events/201554873388538/?notif_t=plan_user_joined
afrofuturistaffair@gmail.com for questions

LASER LIFE queer SF reading series
2014-04-11 19:00 - 21:00 | A-Space Anarchist Community Center, 47th and Baltimore Avenues, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, United States
LASER LIFE
they shredded their anti-manifestos and their futurist-hate manuals and their tracts and lit them on fire. the ash rained down for days and days; the edicts spewed against them were heavy and voluminous. but they soon celebrated on the salt-like dust of their detractors words, stomping a mad ritual with leaden, though tattered, boot, soon returning speckling confetti of the Grand Nayser back to the earth.
they hooked up wires to their souls and downloaded spirits, uploaded ancient lwa, and disc-burned orishas into their retinas. “scan this”, they told them in their jack-boot and hazmat suits. they watched the thing of it all become the dance, the word become the deed, and launched themselves, defiantly, into deepest, darkest void, into space itself, piloting a starship through time.
their life was lived in laser
Your queer sci-fi reading, where members of the LGBT community express their visions, projections, wars, romances, speculations, fears, battles, and dreams in glorious, mystifying tales inspired by the griots of old, informing the future. It is called LASER LIFE.
featuring Imogen Binnie , critically acclaimed writer of the powerful, darkly comedic novel of trans discovery, “NEVADA”.
Pauline Darkstar of nervy and kinetic prog-punk band SGNLS, providing his strange wordscape.
as well as readings from the Laser Life founders:
Maggie Eighteen
Ras Mashramani
Rasheedah Phillips
Shane Jenkins
Alex Smith

FLY LIFE: HOUSE MUSIC JAMMY JAM!
2014-04-12 22:00 | Bear’s Lair, 5008 BEAUMONT AVE, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, United States
“Can we all come together? Can we ALL come together? Please…come. I’m calling on you to come and feel the power. Let it move you to come. COME. I want to feel the energy, the love, the passion, the energy, the soul. COME.”– Kevin Aviance
BAA!!
BAA!
baa
b a a . . .
Tonight, inside we have, providing a journey of eclectic sight and sound, the din da da, your own FLY LIFE DJs:
DJ ALEX
**calling up shango**
DUIJI 13
**the tribal elder, the soothsayer**
JOHN MORRISON
**the sprite, the mischief maker**
DJ AURA
**our earth, our mother**
hosted by ICON EBONY-FIERCE **two-spirit world walker**
HOUSE MUSIC ALL NIGHT LONG! ATTENTION: THIS IS NOT A KIKI!! FIERCE! ALL NIGHT LONG, SOUL, TRIBE, AND BLESSING! LET IT MOVE YOU TO COME, FEEL THE ENERGY, FEEL THE SOUL! HOUSE MUSIC!!
BEAR’S LAIR
5008 BEAUMONT AVE
$5

Xthetix: Pre-Sissy Hop DIY PREP SALON
2014-04-17 18:00 - 22:00 | HOUSE OF SPIRIT & TIME, 4823 Hazel Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, United States
WATS YR XTHETIK? NEED HELP ACCESSING YOUR COMPARTMENTALIZED SELVES?
VISIT XTHETIX, a recurring FUNDRAISING BENEFIT FOR THE SCI-FI TRACK OF THE ALLIED MEDIA CONFERENCE** ((this June 19~22 in Detroit!)
[info here: https://www.facebook.com/libtechamc
and here: http://liberationtechnologiesamc.tumblr.com/]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NAIL ART | STICK N POKES | SELF-CARE | MAKEUP CONSULTATIONS | SELFIES | SHAPEUPS | BRAIDING | TWISTS | SCALP MASSAGE/HAIR BRUSHING | TAROT
STICK N POKES by GENESIS
TAROT READINGS by CYREE
JUST IN!! POTIONS by Stitch Prism x Honey & Blackbone Tarot
EXCLUSIVE WEST PHILLY NAIL FLASH/STICK N POKE FLASH
SANGRIA CONCOCTIONS OH MY
[Stitch Prism jewelry for sale with 25% going to LibTech]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Clean dry hair, please. Feel free to bring own makeup and nails. Braiding includes cornrows. Message us for special requests or needs. BRING INSPIRATION.
HEY HOW MUCH?
Sliding scale for each station: $7-30
INQUIRE FOR ALL ACCESS PASS ::gasp ooooh::
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
♡ JUST IN TIME TO GET CUTE FOR THAT SISSY HOP ♡
≠ WEIRDOS FREMEN GLITCHES OANKALI CYBORGS FREAKS SPACERS ALIENS SHIP-OF-THE-IMAGINATION CREW MEMBERS LEY LINE WALKERS ALL ARE WELCOME ≠
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Want to help volunteer a service? Holler at one of the coordinators 〜☆
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
**What are we fundraising for exactly? As organizers for the sci-fi track of the AMC, it’s our responsibility to do as much fundraising as possible in order to provide financial assistance for presenters’ travel costs, room and board, and other expenses that they are unable to cover themselves. Providing financial assistance is key to bringing many of the amazing workshop & panel presenters that will make up the 9 sessions of our sci-fi oriented media empowerment track of programming at the AMC. This chumpie is trying to get transformative!
The Allied Media Conference is “a collaborative laboratory of media-based organizing strategies for transforming our world, held every summer in Detroit.” It’s organized entirely by a decentralized network of volunteers.
Want more info?? https://amc.alliedmedia.org/about/amc-mission

ROCKERS + SLASH EM UP PRESENTS race+ punk + identity in the new age DAY ONE
2014-04-18 20:00 | LAVA zone, 4134 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, 19104, United States
ROCKERS+ SLASH EM UP PRESENTS
race+ punk + identity in the new age
2 DAYS OF SHOWS/READINGS/ZINES DISTRO
ROCKERS! DAY ONE
FRIDAY APRIL 18th
Featuring::::::::::
THE BREATHING LIGHT (CHI)
AYE NAKO (NYC)
METROPOLARITY
2 MORE SPECIAL GUEST TBA
DJ MMGZ

$5
Hosted by Adrian Adonis
First Rockers of 2014
Don’t miss this.

ROCKERS + SLASH EM UP PRESENTS race+ punk + identity in the new age DAY TWO
2014-04-19 20:00 | The Great Indoors
ROCKERS+ SLASH EM UP PRESENTS
race+ punk + identity in the new age
2 DAYS OF SHOWS/READINGS/ZINES DISTRO
ROCKERS! DAY TWO
FRIDAY APRIL 19th
Featuring::::::::::
THE BREATHING LIGHT (CHI)
TROPHY WIFE
MIGHTY PARADOCS
ALEX SMITH
ATRUTH ANARCHOPUNK (NYC)
DJ HARAM

$5-7
First Rockers of 2014
Don’t miss this.
DAY 1 here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1423252754588602/

The Future Weird x The AfroFuturist Affair Movie Night
2014-05-10 16:00 - 22:00 | LAVA zone, 4134 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, 19104, United States
The Future Weird short film screening series out of Brooklyn joins The AfroFuturist Affair in Philly for an evening of sci-fi, experimental, speculative & weird short films by directors from Africa and the Global South, with live, thematic musical interludes from experimental/electronic artists Marlo Reynolds and Moor Mother Goddess.
Join us on Saturday, May 10 to screen two of The Future Weird’s curated tracks, VISIONS OF EXCESS and IN SEARCH OF A BLACK ATLANTIS.
VISIONS OF EXCESS features short films which document bodies produced by force. We study body movement which confounds the dichotomy between human and machine. But forget what you know about the sexy cyborg – we’re talking about discipline, ritual, secret societies run by women, the appetites of deep sea creatures, eroticized amputees, and militant bread bakers. Welcome to the black fantastic.
featuring a thematic performance by Moor Mother Goddess
In IN SEARCH OF A BLACK ATLANTIS, water is a cleansing force through which our bodies may be reborn, but it is also a site of memory where disappeared and suppressed things resurface, wash up, or return to us as detritus. Through myths that traverse the Black diaspora we meet a beautiful and dangerous sea goddess named mama wata. Following tourists and then refugees fleeing Europe, we consider stories concerning identity, slavery and commerce, high seas adventure, and the joint appeal and terror of being visited by ancestors or haunted by an unknown past.
featuring a thematic performance by Marlo Reynolds
When: Saturday, May 10, 2014
Where: LAVA Space, 4134 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Time: 4-9pm, with thematic musical interludes
Cost: $5 donation, no one turned away for lack of funds
Snacks
Sponsored by:
Philadelphia Printworks, GriotWorks, The Future Weird, and The AfroFuturist Affair

Visionary Literature
2014-05-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Wooden Shoe Books & Records, 704 South Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147, United States
We know the literary world is not immune to the racism and inequality all around us. And we know we can do better. This reading and panel discussion will explore how two small, independent presses in Philadelphia are exploring issues of race, gender, literature, and a better future.
Rasheedah Phillips of The AfroFuturist Affair /House of Future Sciences Books will present her book, Reccurence Plot (and Other Time Travel Tales), an independently-published novel set in Philly that uses time travel to explore issues of race, gender, trauma, and agency.
Author Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela of Thread Makes Blanket Press will be presenting Dismantle, a contemporary collection of work from the VONA/Voices Writing Workshop, a national workshop that nurtures writers of color. She will be joined by Andrea Walls, one of Dismantle’s editors, and Seve Torres, one of the writers included in the anthology.
Join us for a short reading and a discussion about new visions for literature today and into the future, and to celebrate the release of these two new books.
More information:
http://www.recurrenceplot.com/
www.threadmakesblanket.com
http://www.akpress.org/dismantle.html
Check out what Afropunk just said about Dismantle!

STREET THEORY: A Social Criticism Open Mic Night
2014-05-18 19:00 - 22:00 | The Cedar Works, 4919 Pentridge Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, United States
Metropolarity presents a night of community building and sharing. We seek social criticism from the community–performance art, blog rants, monologues, critical sci-fi, thesis excerpts, protest songs–whatever. As long as it explores and dissects the world we live in today. We want to find out what our community feels about social issues. We don’t want theories handed down to us from the ivory tower.
We want your real life STREET THEORY.
Special Guests to be announced.
TO CELEBRATE THE DEBUT OF THIS SERIES, A POTLUCK WILL BE HAD! FEEL FREE TO BRING TREATS TO SHARE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS. 😀
Zines will be sold and donations will be collected for this year’s Allied Media Conference’s Sci-fi Track, coordinated in part by Metropolarity.
Email metropolarity@gmail.com for information on how to participate, otherwise bring your own material to present [reasonable lengths please!].
NOTE: Any ableist, racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, or classist performances will be interrupted promptly.

XTHETIX DIY LOOK-FEEL G00D SALON // MEMORIAL WKND VERSION
2014-05-23 18:00 - 21:00 | Unnamed Venue, Philadelphia
WATS YR XTHETIK? NEED HELP ACCESSING YOUR COMPARTMENTALIZED SELVES?
VISIT XTHETIX, a recurring BEAUTY/WELLNESS SALON & FUNDRAISER** FOR THE Liberation Technologies SCI-FI TRACK OF THE ALLIED MEDIA CONFERENCE, this June 19~22 in Detroit!
♡　NAIL ART
☆　STICK N POKES by TBA
♡　SELF-CARE
☆　MAKEUP GLAMOUR CASTING
♡　SELFIESSSS
☆　SHAPEUPS
♡　BRAIDING
☆　TWISTS
♡　SCALP MASSAGE/HAIR BRUSHING
☆　TAROT by TBA
♡　WELLNESS POTIONS by Stitch Prism x Honey & Blackbone Tarot
EXCLUSIVE WEST PHILLY NAIL FLASH/STICK N POKE FLASH
☆　SPIRITED CONCOCTIONS IF U JUST WANNA LEAN　☆
JEWELRY + LITERATURE 4 SALE tambien!
Clean dry hair, please. Feel free to bring own makeup and nails. Braiding includes cornrows. Message us for special requests or needs. BRING INSPIRATION.
HEY HOW MUCH?
Sliding scale for each station: $7-30
INQUIRE FOR ALL ACCESS PASS ::gasp ooooh::
LOCATION:
PACE STUDIOS
4711 chester ave
1st floor, door on the left,
(but we will be on the porch too ^_~)
please note: this location has stairs :/ but holler at us cause we want you there.
♡ JUST IN TIME TO GET CUTE FOR ALL THOSE BBQS N BACKYARD PARTIES ♡
≠ WEIRDOS FREMEN GLITCHES OANKALI CYBORGS FREAKS SPACERS ALIENS SHIP-OF-THE-IMAGINATION CREW MEMBERS LEY LINE WALKERS ALL ARE WELCOME ≠
Want to volunteer or offer a service for donation or shared cut? MSG US!
**What are we fundraising for exactly? As organizers for the sci-fi track of the AMC, it’s our responsibility to do as much fundraising as possible in order to provide financial assistance for presenters’ travel costs, room and board, and other expenses that they are unable to cover themselves. Providing financial assistance is key to bringing many of the amazing workshop & panel presenters that will make up the 9 sessions of our sci-fi oriented media empowerment track of programming at the AMC. This chumpie is trying to get transformative!
The Allied Media Conference is “a collaborative laboratory of media-based organizing strategies for transforming our world, held every summer in Detroit.” It’s organized entirely by a decentralized network of volunteers.
Want more info?? https://amc.alliedmedia.org/about/amc-mission

Hot Tears :: Alex Smith :: Ex. By V. :: Little Waist :: Marlo Reynolds
2014-05-24 20:00 - 23:00 | Eris Temple Arts, 602 S 52nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, United States
you really don’t want to miss a show w/ a lineup like this….
Hot Tears (Olympia based)
http://hottears.bandcamp.com/
Little Waist (Brooklyn queercore / transcore )
http://littlewaist.bandcamp.com/
Alex Smith
Marlo Reynolds
http://marloreynolds.bandcamp.com/

Ex. By V.
http://exbyv.bandcamp.com/
space is right @ S. 52nd & Cedar in w. philly
doors @ 7:30 pm
show will start promptly at 8:00pm!
3 to 5$ sliding scale
no one turned away for lack of funds
all ages
see you soon!!

LIMINAL/TEMPORAL YARD SALE
2014-05-25 11:00 - 16:00 | CASTLE, 4800 Warrington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, United States
ANOTHER FUNDRAISER** FOR THE Liberation Technologies SCI-FI TRACK OF THE ALLIED MEDIA CONFERENCE, this June 19~22 in Detroit!
+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+
♡　WEARABLE ITEMS
☆　REFRESHING TEA DRINKS
♡　ONIGIRI RICE TRIANGLES
☆　METROPOLARITY SCI-FI ZINES 4 SALE
♡　OLD WEIRD STUFF (MUSIC/MOVIES/ELECTRONICS/WHAT)
☆　JEWELRY & DECORRR
♡　WELLNESS POTIONS by Stitch Prism x Honey & Blackbone Tarot
☆ AND OTHER ITEMS FOR REFRESHING/REORIENTING UR GENDER/MIND/MATTER STATE
+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+
☆　HAVE STUFF YOU WANT TO DONATE TO THE SALE?　☆
MESSAGE US AND WE CAN ARRANGE PICK-UP/DROP-OFF!
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**What are we fundraising for exactly? As organizers for the sci-fi track of the AMC, it’s our responsibility to do as much fundraising as possible in order to provide financial assistance for presenters’ travel costs, room and board, and other expenses that they are unable to cover themselves. Providing financial assistance is key to bringing many of the amazing workshop & panel presenters that will make up the 9 sessions of our sci-fi oriented media empowerment track of programming at the AMC. This chumpie is trying to get transformative!
The Allied Media Conference is “a collaborative laboratory of media-based organizing strategies for transforming our world, held every summer in Detroit.” It’s organized entirely by a decentralized network of volunteers.
Want more info?? https://amc.alliedmedia.org/about/amc-mission

FLEX GATE: RETURN OF THE HOUSE PARTY
2014-05-31 22:00 | HOUSE OF SPIRIT & TIME, 4823 Hazel Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, United States
／／／／／N　E　X　T 　L　E　V　E　L　！！！
Metropolarity﻿ and Liberation Technologies﻿ UNITE!
OUR MOST EXCELLENT GALAXY HIGH SPECULATIVE HOUSE PARTY CREWS RETURN FOR A WYLD TYME EXPEDITIONARY EXCURSION INTO OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE!
≠ BRING YOUR 11TH DIMENSIONAL BEACONS
≠ BRING YOUR OTHER SELVES
≠ BRING FIVE ($5) BUCKS ／／／C0Z DRINKS & GEAR WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURRRCHA$E
DJs ON DECK 4 SOUNDSCAPE::::::::
≈ PRECOLUMBIAN of CUTN PASTE n SELENA [queer global bass jawn]
≈ DJ JOHN MORRISON ΩΩΩ
≈ DJ ALEX SM1TH of FLY LIFE n LASER LIFE [queer sci-fi reading series]
≈ DJ AURA

2014 Philly Literary Family Reunion & Potluck
2014-06-08 13:00 - 17:00 | Clark Park, 4300 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
VIA OUR FRIENDS, APIARY MAGAZINE
Us Philly poets and writers are lucky to have a beautiful & eccentric extended literary family. Over the last 5 years, APIARY’s met many newfound brothers and sisters, weirdo cousins, inspiring aunties and uncles, adorable nieces and nephews, and wise grands. After a busy spring, it’s time to catch up with everyone!
So on June 8, we’re throwing the first annual Philly Literary Family Reunion in Clark Park. No planned readings, no speeches, no bios. Just a grill & music & any Philly poet, writer, and reader who considers themselves fam.
Bring food or drink (it’s a public park, and there will be folks of all ages, so booze just needs to be non-visible and lowkey … don’t want it to be THAT kind of family reunion…). If you like, one of your chapbooks, CDs, etc to swap. And bring your family, too!
See you soon. Love,
APIARY

2014 Trans Literary Salon
2014-06-12 19:30 - 22:00 | Leeway Foundation, 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 832, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, United States
In conjunction with the 2014 Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference, the Leeway Foundation presents their Second Trans Literary Salon highlighting the work of emerging literary artists from a diversity of genres including poetry, fiction, memoir, and spoken word. The salon will feature readings from Annie Mok, (ACG ’13), Darkmatter, Imogen Binnie, J Mase III (ACG ’07), and Kokumomedia Inc.. Audience members are invited to bring work to share. Hosted by J Mason III. Thursday, June 12 from 7:30pm – 9:00pm at the Leeway Foundation (1315 Walnut Street, Suite 832). Location is wheelchair accessible.
Co-sponsors:The Apiary Corp., Thread Makes Blanket, Trans Masculine Alliance Network, Topside Press, Sisterly Love, and William Way LGBT Community Center
RSVP HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2014-trans-literary-salon-tickets-11372283807
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Annie Mok
Annie Mok writes and draw comic books, both solo, and collaboratively with artists including Emily Carroll and Sophia Foster-Dimino. She recently illustrated and designed a zine edition of Casey Plett’s short story ‘Lizzy & Annie.’ Annie draws an ongoing diary comics strip for ‘Comics Workbook’ called ‘Bleed-Throughs.’ She sings in the pop band See-Through Girls. Find out more about Annie’s work here.
DarkMatter
DarkMatter is a trans/national queer South Asian activist creative hivemind that likes to think about alternative post/colonial cyborg digestive futures && spit expletives about prison abolition and heteropatriarchy. You can read more about their work @DarkMatterRage and/or darkmatterrage.com.
Imogen Binnie
Imogen Binnie writes the zines The Fact That It’s Funny Doesn’t Make It A Joke and Stereotype Threat. She also writes a monthly column for Maximum Rocknroll magazine, and her work has been featured in The Collection: Short Fiction from the Transgender Vanguard, as well as on prettyqueer.com, lambdaliterary.org and elsewhere. She writes about books at KeepYourBridgesBurning.com and her first novel, Nevada, was published in 2013. It is the recipient of a MOTHA Award and a finalist in the 26th Annual Lambda Literary Awards.
J Mase III
J Mase III is a black/trans/queer poet currently based in Brooklyn. The creator of the traveling performance event Cupid Ain’t @#$%!: An Anti-Valentine’s Day Poetry Movement, J Mase has shared his special brand of poetry on stages around the U.S. and UK. An organ donor, he is the author of If I Should Die Under the Knife, Tell My Kidney I Was the Fiercest Poet Around. In J Mase’s other life as an educator and activist, he has worked with thousands of community members and service providers across the country on the needs of LGBTQ youth and adults in spaces such as faith communities, elementary schools, domestic violence shelters, medical agencies, juvenile justice organizations, and foster care programs, among others. An advocate of really fierce scars and queering scripture, he currently spends his offstage time teaching poetry at various youth organizations. To find out more about J Mase III, feel free to stalk (follow) him on Twitter @jmaseiii, Facebook J Mase III, or track him on his website at jmaseiii.com.
KOKUMỌ
KOKUMỌ is the CEO/Founder of KOKUMOMEDIA INC., a Black transwoman run and operated multimedia production company that uses music, film, theatre, and literature to illuminate experiences of TGI people of color. For more information, please visit kokumedia.com.

2014 Allied Media Conference in Detroit
2014-06-19 - 2014-06-23 | PA
Join Metropolarity & network at this year’s The Allied Media Conference, a collaborative laboratory of media-based organizing strategies for transforming our world, held every Summer in Detroit!
DID U KNOW? METROPOLARITY PRESENTS A SCI-FI FOCUSED PROGRAMMING TRACK THIS YEAR!
Liberation Technologies: Sci-Fi for World Building & Survival
The post-apocalypse is here and real, where ancient and varied modes of survival and technology have been erased in the name of Empire and Progress. What do we do when access to memory/the past is standardized? This track explores how people at the margins can remix, rewire, and revive emancipatory technologies such as storytelling, world-building, magic, sci-fi and speculation to envision and conjure narratives of power and joy. Through engagement with tools like portals and time-travel, we will develop strategies to manifest new/ancient narratives into reality. We will envision a world that has happened, is happening, and will happen. We hope that travelers will walk away with the courage to embody the power of fiction and visioning in healing personal and historical trauma and disenfranchisement. We want to create and share multifaceted inclusive networks that emerge our bodies from isolation and oppressive paradigms to keep our souls alive.
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ABOUT THE AMC
CREATE
At the AMC, we understand media as any way in which we communicate with the world, from zines to breakdancing, to designing neighborhood-based communications infrastructure. We share and create media that exposes, investigates, heals, builds confidence and radical hope, incites dialogue and debate. We demystify technology, not only learning how to use it, but how to design and build our own. In doing so, we redefine technology’s role and impact in our lives. The AMC creates learning environments for all ages and skill levels, including hands-on workshops, strategy sessions, presentations and performances.
CONNECT
The AMC is a network of networks – social justice organizers, community technologists, transformative artists, educators, entrepreneurs, and many others — all using media in innovative ways. Some of these networks sprout from the conference, grow over the course of the year then reconvene in Detroit larger and healthier. Others use the AMC as an annual point of convergence and a space to forge new relationships. Through cycles of participatory investigation and experimentation, our networks continue to grow, generating new theories and practices of media-based organizing.
TRANSFORM
As our networks grow, so does our capacity to take collective actions to transform our world. At the AMC, we develop new leaders and new forms of leadership, design new methods of problem-solving, cultivate the visions of our communities and build our power to make those visions real.
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Browse the 2014 Tracks, Practice Spaces, and Network Gatherings that make up the AMC here!
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REGISTER TO ATTEND! ／／／　FIND HOUSING, RIDESHARES, CHILDCARE & ACCESSIBILITY HERE
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Allied Media Projects Network Principles
We are making an honest attempt to solve the most significant problems of our day.
We are building a network of people and organizations that are developing long-term solutions based on the immediate confrontation of our most pressing problems.
Wherever there is a problem, there are already people acting on the problem in some fashion. Understanding those actions is the starting point for developing effective strategies to resolve the problem, so we focus on the solutions, not the problems.
We emphasize our own power and legitimacy.
We presume our power, not our powerlessness.
We spend more time building than attacking.
We focus on strategies rather than issues.
The strongest solutions happen through the process, not in a moment at the end of the process.
The most effective strategies for us are the ones that work in situations of scarce resources and intersecting systems of oppression because those solutions tend to be the most holistic and sustainable.
Place is important. For the AMC, Detroit is important as a source of innovative, collaborative, low-resource solutions. Detroit gives the conference a sense of place, just as each of the conference participants bring their own sense of place with them to the conference.
We encourage people to engage with their whole selves, not just with one part of their identity.
We begin by listening.

Philly Feminist Zine Fest 2014
2014-06-28 13:00 - 18:00 | Neighborhood House CCNH, 20 North American Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19106, United States
Join Metropolarity crew at the PFZF 2014 as we set up shop for all your sci-fi print/audio/atmospheric needs.
Mark your calendars! Philly Feminist Zine Fest will be held on June 28-29, 2014. The fest is split up into two days this year for tabling and workshops. On June 28, from 1PM-5PM. On the 29th, various workshops, skill shares, and discussion groups will happen in cooperation with radical spaces and organizations in Philly. (More details on that as they become available.)
Registration for Philly Feminist Zine Fest will open on 4/28 and close on 5/17. Half tables (4′) will be $10. (You can request more than one half space, but we can’t guarantee it. Space will depend on registrants available.) As always, PFZF is a juried event to make sure that female identified folks, queer/trans/genderqueer people, POC, and people with disabilities have priority access.
It will be held at Christ Church’s Community House. The location is in old city and is super close to lots of cool stuff! Neighborhood House is wheelchair accessible. If you have other accommodation needs or requests, please don’t be shy about letting us know.

Rhode Island Independent Publishing Expo | RIPE 2014
2014-08-02 08:00 - 2014-08-03 17:00 | Providence Public Library, 150 Empire St, Providence, RI, 02903, United States
About
The Rhode Island Independent Publishing Expo (RIPExpo) is a summer weekend devoted to small-press and self-published comics, zines and books. Artists and writers from all over North America will join local creators to share work and generate discussion. RIPExpo is committed to giving voice to those underrepresented in mainstream media.
Date
August 2 & 3, 2014
Location
Providence Public Library
150 Empire St
Providence, RI
02903
Safer Spaces and Harassment Policy
more info coming soon!

TRAVELERS a speculative reading
2014-11-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Revolving Bookcase, 1236 S. 53rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, United States
an evening for speculative reading
with
elwin cotman
rasheedah phillips
oki sogumi
NOV 3rd, 7pm~
at revolving bookcase in southwest philly
1236 S. 53rd Street, 19143

Intro to Afrofuturism
2014-11-06 17:30 - 20:30 | The Weigley Room, 9th floor of Gladfelter Hall, Temple University, 1115 W Berks St, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, United States
Join the Organization of African American Studies Undergraduate Students (OAASUS) at Temple University’s Gladfelter Hall for an Introduction to Afrofuturism, featuring special guest speaker, Rasheedah Phillips.
Thursday, November 6th, 5:30 PM

The AfroFuturist Affair Presents: |BLACK HOLOGRAPHIC MEMORY| 4th Annual Charity & Costume Ball WEEKEND
2014-11-08 20:00 | Impact Hub, 1227 N 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, United States
This year, The AfroFuturist Affair Annual Charity & Costume Ball has expanded space-time from one evening to a month-long celebration of Afrofuturism. In addition to the 4th Annual Costume Ball on Saturday, November 8 2014, we will have events throughout November, including workshops, dance party, readings, book club, film screenings, art exhibit, and more, all exploring the theme of Black Holographic Memory.
NOV. 8 – Charity and Costume Ball – $10 donation
Please join us at Impact Hub Philly as we celebrate and bring awareness to Afrofuturism and Black SciFi culture with feature visual and performance artists, authors, and presenters whose creations use Afrofuturism and Black Sci-Fi as vehicles for expression and agency. Costumes and theme-wear strongly encouraged (check our past photos)!
Sounds Provided by:
Visibly Inflight (ATL)
Ganja Goons (SC)
Violet Marley
MMGZ and the BHM Band
Warren C. Longmire
Marlo Reynolds
Nyfolt
John Wesley Moon
DJ Willy Wino
Live Art with:
Omi Urban Gypsy
Month-long Afrofuturist Art Gallery featuring:
Dezz Archie
Nyfolt
Noni Red
Omi Urban Gypsy
+BQF Private art collection
Indigenous Techniques Afterparty at House of Future Sciences. Details TBA

Nov 13 – MultiMedia Night – $3-5 donation
Join us at Impact Hub for an evening of Afrofuturist, Black Scifi, and Horror documentary and films
Featuring:
Habesha Undefined by Selam Films: Prince of Nowhere
A Dangerous Cure: the Movie by Kevin Jarvis
Last Man Standing by Stan West
NOISEGATE by Donovan Vim Crony
Walk With Me by Art Punch Studio
+ other shorts
Nov. 15 – Workshops/Readings – $3-5 donation
Details TBA soon
Sponsored by
Philadelphia Printworks
Metropolarity
ROCKERS!
Fanbros.com
Lissa Alicia Independent Media and Marketing
All proceeds benefit The Futurist Fund Community Grant, which provides emergency assistance to low-income community members. More info atwww.afrofuturistaffair.com.

BLACK HOLOGRAPHIC MEMORY Indigenous Future House Party
2014-11-08 23:00 | House of Future Sciences, 3213 TURNER ST, Philadelphia, PA, 19121, United States
OFFICIAL BLACK HOLOGRAPHIC MEMORY AFTERPARTY
FREE ENTRY WITH COSTUME & CHARITY BALL TICKET STUB | $3 BEFORE MIDNIGHT
with
LIVE DRUMS
HARAM
PRECOLUMBIAN
NOLITA SELECTOR
