May 5, 2026 Cecilia Dougherty at the Parkside Lounge

317 E. Houston St., New York City, Tuesday, May 5, 7:30 PM, doors open at 7 PM.

Poster for a screening of works by Cecilia Dougherty at the Parkside Lounge. Curated by Ann Stephenson, with a Q&A after screening with Cecilia Dougherty and Lia Gangitano

Screening of my Writers Series of intimate video portraits. The works include Joe, 2018, with Joe Westmoreland; Kevin and Cedar, 2002, with Kevin Killian and Cedar Sigo; Eileen, 2000, with Eileen Myles; Lesie, 1998, with Leslie Scalapino; and Laurie, 1998, with Laurie Weeks. Total running time is about 45 minutes. I love these writers!

Joe Westmoreland
Kevin Killian and Cedar Sigo
Eileen Myles
Leslie Scalapino
Laurie Weeks

Afterwards, I’m discussing the videos with Lia Gangitano, excellent curator and gallerist at Participant Inc. in NYC, who has been showing my work since 1998, with a several-day screening event at Threadwaxing Space in lower Manhattan.

Lia Gangitano, photo by A. Steiner
Lia Gangitano, photo by A. Steiner

Ann Stephenson, who curates the Readings at Parkside series was generous enough to ask about the Writers Series. This is the first time they will have all been screen together. Thank you, Ann!

The Parkside Lounge is a neighborhood bar with music and events venue in the back room. It has a friendly neighborhood vibe. People of all ages and stripes enjoying a pint, enjoying each other’s company, attending readings by contemporary greats, and now, there’s a video screening! I look forward to seeing you there.

Cedar Sigo reads from Siren of Atlantis at the Parkside Lounge, NYC

Cedar Sigo at the Parkside Lounge, Reading on April 27, 2025 part of Ann Stephenson’s reading series, Readings at Parkside hosts West Coast poet Cedar Sigo

book cover, Siren of Atlantis, poems by Cedar Sigo, published 2025 by Wave Press
Siren of Atlantis, poems by Cedar Sigo, published 2025 by Wave Press

Last night at the Parkside Lounge on Houston Street in New York, West Coast poet Cedar Sigo gave a moving and beautiful reading of poems from his new book, Siren of Atlantis, published by Wave Books, Seattle. I haven’t seen Cedar since 2002, when he and Kevin Killian and I did a video shoot for my writer’s series and created the short video, Kevin and Cedar.

[my video page is here]

Cedar Sigo and Cecilia Dougherty at Cedar's reading from his new book, Sirens of Atlantis at Parkside Lounge in NYC
Cedar Sigo and Cecilia Dougherty at Cedar’s reading from his new book, Siren of Atlantis,
at Parkside Lounge in NYC

Cedar looks amazing, as you can plainly see. Siren of Atlantis is a book he wrote in part as a walking back into writing, “keeping a hand in,” after having experienced a stroke in 2022. A truly remarkable achievement. Yes. Energy, motivation, love, excitement. All are a part of this book, and of course, its author.

Ann Stephenson introduces Cedar Sigo, who is going to be reading from his new book, Siren of Atlantis. Parkside Lounge, NYC.
Ann Stephenson introduces Cedar Sigo, who is going to be reading from his new book,
Siren of Atlantis. Parkside Lounge, NYC.

I went to the reading alone and ran into the artist Elise Gardella, who lives nearby and who had not yet met Cedar. Eileen Myles was there and I spied Justin Vivian Bond at a table across the room. Enough gossip! Cedar Sigo is an accomplished poet, treadding carefully yet delightfully and appreciatively through the language. After the reading, Ann and Cedar talked about his life and his work.

After the reading, Ann and Cedar had a conversation about Cedar’s work, the efforts and joys of writing, and the uses and meaning of reading and writing poetry at this time of political oppression.

Cedar Sigo & Anne Stephenson at Parkside Lounge, NYC, having a discussion and Q&A after Cedar's reading.
Cedar Sigo & Anne Stephenson at Parkside Lounge, NYC, having a discussion and Q&A
after Cedar’s reading.