AROUND TOWN: Poetry Slam Turns 25, DePaul Hosts Writing Conference

Watching slam poetry is a bit like watching a lightning storm. You never know when or where a bolt will strike -- and, often, there's jaw-dropping beauty created by the atmospherics. Plus, there's the real danger that, every now and again, a bolt will strike out of nowhere and cause some severe damage. Performance poetry reminds us, then, of the elegance -- and capriciousness -- of life. Marc Kelly Smith (pictured here) is the founder of the Poetry Slam Movement, which celebrates its 25th anniversary on July 30 at Metro. Reserve your tickets for the hottest literary event of the summer here.

DePaul University's 2011 Summer Writing Conference is a blockbuster event, opening with July 15 keynoter Alex Kotlowitz and including an impressive line-up of writers and book people, including Tom Montgomery Fate, Miles Harvey and Jonathan Messinger. The conference encompasses poetry, fiction and non-fiction writing, as well as publishing in a mixed-media world.