Ah yes, summer.  The official day of blowing things up has past, and the
thermostat is on the rise.  This is the time to disappear behind closed
doors into air conditioned oasis, to poor yourself a tall glass of iced
tea (a mint julep doesn't sound half bad either), to wiggle your toes in
the carpet and to open a good book.

Prospero's is loaded with new arrivals:

Wanting to get a handle on the ever shifting chameleon, John McCain? We
have 4 bios all bringing their own perspective.

"Wicked" has been a smash musical on Broadway, but this quirky book is
even more fun.

Kids – school may be in recess, but Prospero's has added over 100 new
kid's titles and movies.


CALENDAR

Saturday 7/12  @ 10:30 pm    ALMOST SUNDAY MORNING - poetry & Music by:
Prometheus Unbound (Nick Baker, Thomas Nelson, Amory Bottorff, Timothy
Pettet) appearing in the Prospero's ring of the Circus of Tongues under
the direction of Ring Master Zero - 10:30 PM.

Also, tonight FOP Shawn Pavey will join Timothy Pettet at The Writers
Place starting at 8pm for a little poetry.

Hello lovers of all things literary,

Headed out to catch Tom Waits in St. Louis tomorrow (not that I'm gloating
or anything) and I wanted to fill you in on the skinny re upcoming
happenings at Prospero's.

NEW BOOKS –

John McCain – for those of you wanting to learn more about one of the
gents vying for POTUS, we have several pro & con titles just arrived.

CDs – several dozen new blues and rock CDs have wandered in over the last
few days

Gardening – tis the time of year.


Sat 6/26  The Sexy Accident (10:30 pm) – 1st time at the store, The Sexy
Accident is solid indy pop/rock (can you say Ben Folds, Guster…etc.)
preview a few tunes at http://www.myspace.com/sexyaccident.

July 4 weekend – we are taking the night off

Sat 7/12  - 10:30 pm Almost Sunday Morning – poetry & music by :
Prometheus Unbound (Thomas Nelson, Nick Baker, Amory Bottorff, Timothy
Pettet) under the direction of Ring Master Zero

Sun 7/27 – Lil-guy Graphic Novel Release  2pm

Hello everyone,

It's another busy week at Prospero's, and we hope you will pop in for some
of the happenings (and pick up a summer read while you are at it).


We've taken in two new collections:

1. Louis L'Amour - we've added 40 pocket paperback L'Amour titles ($3
each) and another 20 by western greats like Zane Grey, Max Brand and Luke
Short. Fun summer reading!

2. Occult, Wicca & Witchcraft - our shelves are loaded with like-new
books touching on a wide range of esoteric subjects.


CALENDAR

Fri 6/20 - Tonight 6pm-10pm 39th Street ART WALK featuring paintings by
Dave Paarmann. Special guest will be the "Lettuce Ladies" from P.E.T.A
(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Come sup on veggie dogs
dished up by the beautiful gals dressed in lettuce bikinis.

Sat 6/21 - Live Music: Angie Fights Crime. Brent Kinder (formerly
w/American Catastrophe) releases another CD of original tunes. The Show is
free (we pass the spittoon of love) and BYOB. Brent Promises to give away
CDs to all who attend. Starts at 10:30 pm.

Kansas City lost one of its finest poetic voices Thursday morning. Vic
Smith, they say, passed in his sleep.  Vic has been a long and stalwart
friend of myself, Prospero's and for many of you.  He will be sorely
missed. If i learn of funeral arangements, i'll pass them along.

The APB (All Prospero's Bulletin)


Summer's here and with it – Prospero's finds its shelves overflowing with
great summer reads be they escapist mystery, sci-fi or novels, or more
serious history, biography, current events. visit
www.prosperosbookstore.com to check out the complete calender of events...


Just a couple new book highlights:

1.      We just received an influx of drama (and not just the usual dog eared
copies of hamlet), and dramatic arts including: Stanislavsky, Sam
Shephard, Orton, Chekov...all just the a tip of the iceberg

2.      Our arts section is chalk full of some unique graphics:    rare Andy
Warhol Nudes;  Jock Sturges (yes, some of his work has been called kiddy
porn…); Remington; Noguchi and so much more

3.      A host of new arrival DVDs, CDs & LPs…



A little Prospero's TRIVIA
Prospero's has hosted:
650+ Live Music Performances
200 + Poetry & Literary performances
50+ Art Openings
released 37 books, chapbooks and zines of poetry, essays and memoirs…

and we're still goin'…


2008 Prospero's Summer CALENDAR

Saturday 5/31  - CHAD REX  (10:30 pm) – he's been compared to John Prine
and Paul Westerberg, and he has two very solid CDs (Songs to Fix Angels &
Gravity Works – Fire Burns) under his belt, not to mention a host of
eclectic self recorded singles, Chad  is a KC songwriting gem.    Rumor
has it he may be joined by the Nace Brothers T.J. Erhardt on some keys.
Chad played the 1st ever Prospero's up close and personal live music show.
 Visit  www.myspace.com/chadrex  to check out a tune or two.

Saturday 6/7 – MIKAL SHAPIRO (10:30) – Mikal, back for a short visit from
NYC, will be releasing her 3rd CD of original tunes: The Crow, The Lark &
The Loon.  I don't know how many times I can keep saying it, but after
listening to a pre release copy for the last 7 hours straight – it is a
smart, hip eclectic mix of tunes and her most self possessed to date.
This is Mikal without the distorting lens of being a part of a band
(though the disc does feature a whose-who lineup of KC talent)

Friday 6/20  Art Opening featuring paintings by DAVID PAARMANN 6 – 10 pm.

!*!*!  NOTE:  Seldom do I mention non-Prospero's events - but I just can't
help myself:

***One of the finest songwriters in KC is Barclay Martin.   Barclay is
releasing a new CD at 7:30 pm on Saturday June 7th at the KC Repertory
Theatre (on the UMKC Campus). Tickets are $12.   Just wrapping up a
year-long film/music project in the Philippines -  Barclay is releasing
his 4th CD of original music.  The man has a voice like a great cup of
coffee – smooth and rich – and he's backed up by one of the best musical
ensembles around (Mark Lowery – piano;  Erin Mc Grane -- vocals and
percussion;  Giuliano Mingucci -- drums and percussion and Rick Willoughby
-- bass and vocals).  The songs range from James Taylor to Ben Folds all
flavored through a smoky Cuban bar.  This will be a great show!  Don't
take my word for it, visit www.barclaymartin.com to check out a few
tunes…or purchase tickets!

***Finally, an invitation!
THE ERNEST HEMINGWAY FOUNDATION
invites you to help celebrate the
HEMINGWAY/PEN FIRST FICTION AWARD
Join us for a Hemingway-inspired dinner
prepared by Jennifer Maloney,
executive chef of Café Sebastienne.
7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, 4420 Warwick Blvd.,
Kansas City, MO
Past award honorees attending the dinner include
Marilynne Robinson (Housekeeping, Gilead),
Ben Fountain (Brief Encounters With Che Guevara) and
Christie Hodgen (A Jeweler's Eye for Flaw).
Dinner follows a reading at the Kansas City Public Library Plaza
branch (5:30-7 p.m.) held in conjunction with 13th international
Hemingway Conference and co-sponsored by the library
and the University of Kansas.
$175 per person. Table (of 8): $1,400.
Proceeds benefi t the Hemingway Foundation.
Please RSVP by May 21 by returning the enclosed card or
calling Steve Paul: 816-234-4762.
www.hemingwaysociety.org

Note: all Prospero's shows are FREE (we do pass a hat) and BYOB.


Thank you all for buying books and supporting local businesses -  the job
you save may be your own.

Peace

The Right Duke

Alright everyone - get out your day planners; scratch the date on the wall
by the fridge; get a tattoo...

FORREST WHITLOW will be releasing his 7th CD of original music (aptly
titled "7") this Saturday starting at 10:30 pm at Prospero's Books.  There
will be copies on sale.  you can also download tunes for your ipod at
www.myspace.com/forrestwhitlow

Forrest is a murky cross between Niel Young and the Velvet Underground
(with the fashion sense of the NY Dolls).  I'm telling you that KC has few
songwriters with the pathos of Forrest.   His lyrics have the capacity to
turn each of us brutally inward, and his melodies ring both of pastoral
Kentucky countrysides and litter-strewn NY alleyways.  There's energy, and
insight and ache (all the good stuff).

There's a coffee shop up the block and a liquor store across the street -
if you can buy it, you can bring it in.

The Right Duke Recommends this show - YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

We hope to see you tomorrow for KC's 2nd annual Lit Fest on the Country
Club Plaza from 10 am to 8 pm.  there will be 100 authors, great food and
the weather is shaping up to be spectacular.

many of your favorite Prospero's poets will be performing:

Poet's Stage from 12:30 - 3:30

Fred P. Otts - 4 - 6 pm (there's brews & burgers here, in out of the
weather).


Hope to see you there.

peace
the right duke

We hope to see you tomorrow for KC's 2nd annual Lit Fest on the Country
Club Plaza from 10 am to 8 pm.  there will be 100 authors, great food and
the weather is shaping up to be spectacular.

many of your favorite Prospero's poets will be performing:

Poet's Stage from 12:30 - 3:30

Fred P. Otts - 4 - 6 pm (there's brews & burgers here, in out of the
weather).


Hope to see you there.

peace
the right duke

The 2nd Kansas City Lit Festival (for more details visit:
www.kansascitylitfest.org) will take place this weekend.  Over 100
national and regional authors will appear on one of 4 stages (main stage,
poetry stage, kids stage and culinary stage).  For the last two weeks KC
has seen dozens of book and author events.

This year, we will have food, street performers, authors and (yes) BOOKS!
Last year 15,000 people joined us, as we shut down 4 square blocks in the
Country Club Plaza – you won't want to miss this day of great book events!

As director of the poetry stage – I want to especially invite you to drop
by and check out the wonderful poets who call this community home.

TAKE A BREAK & GET IN OUT OF THE WEATHER
In addition to all the action on the poet's stage, there will also be a
poetry reading at Fred P. Otts (KC's favorite watering hole) from 4 – 6pm.
 There will be cool, frosty beverages and a full menu of great food.  Some
of my favorite poets will be throwing down some mighty fine poetry.

So, be sure to join in the fun and join us to celebrate the Literary Arts
in Kansas City.


Peace,
The Right Duke