10 Anniversary Creative Genius Poetry Contest

Thank you to all our participants in this year’s Creative Genius Poetry Contest. We’re proud to announce the winners:

First Place: Mark Sharlow

The Philosopher Visits Literati Cafe

The philosopher took a seat
at one of the human-sized square tables
with a white mug filled with regular black coffee.
The contrast of round curve and square angle
condensed a random thought
of Euclid’s notorious geometry book —
a dose of strong, wakeful Greek logic.
At first sip, he marveled at how coffee
becomes cappucinos, lattes — a world of different essences.
“Like atoms for Democritus, God for Spinoza,” he mused.

Second Place: Michael Pagliarulo

MY LITERATI CAFÉ

Feed my head with delicious words
Sweet seduction stimulating senses
Savor the flavor, my cup of tea
Nourish the soul, mind, body, me.

Ingredients, organic and surrounding
The red heart of a writer’s spirit flows
Such energy perfect for my creativity
Breed romance, rumors, ingenuity.

Atmosphere intelligentsia parade
My love, my inspiration, my Literati Café.

Third Place 1/2: Billy Conn

Oh my dear sweet Literati
I’ve only known you for a short time.
But I wish I could own you,
so you could be mine.
The few times we’ve met
I was pleasantly pleased
Your cinnamon rolls satisfy
all of my needs.
So lucious, so gooey,
So perfectly sweet.
Brings me down to my knees.
Then back up on my feet.

Third Place 2/2: Malley Holmes

Ode to a Cafe

Imagination steaming from the simple white latte cup
An unadorned but kindred spirit of the Grecian urn.
Without lovers in perpetual delight,
And no comparison between the creator
and the created.
Still an object for conjecture.
Keats must have found his own Literati Cafe
where his imagination flourished
and distilled his brief moment in time,
his penned thoughts lasting forever.

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Poetry Contest Winners

Literati Cafe Poetry Contest

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 9th Anniversary Poetry Contest. We were overwhelmed and inspired by your creative poems about Literati Cafe.

You were invited to write a poem about Literati Cafe with 9 lines or less to celebrate the Cafe’s 9th year, and as true Creative Geniuses, you delivered! Thank you for sharing your writing. Bravo!

With so many amaznig submissions, our Judges, Patricia Kouba (Literati Cafe Owner and published writer) and Julie Corman (World Famous Producer and former Dean of the NYU School of Film), had a real challenge determining a winning poem. So Paty decided that in addition to the winners, all participants will receive a free organic coffee or tea just for playing along.

The winners of the Creative Genius Award are:

First Place: Eric Steineger

 Last Call at the Literati Café

 You regret having caught them. The icons, sure of 4am’s

lax surveillance, had decided to waltz. You were

just walking past and happened to peek inside.

In a chorus of shadows, there was Al Pacino dipping

Julie Christie. Even Robin Williams focused on the count

as Marilyn offered her smile. They were waltzing!

But you hovered too long. Ray Carver seized the lights

from behind the front door. His hard stare told you

this scene was private. Tables pushed to one side.

 

First Runner Up: Sebastian Davis

 Pick Me Up

 A boy walks into a café. He lost his girl, his love, today,

And vows to write of his dismay,

But first he orders a latte.

He smiles. For in his milk a heart is drawn.

Alarmed, his sadness is now gone,

His muse pranced off like a woodland fawn.

“I can’t write of heartbreak now!”

But the barista smiles, ‘cause she knows how:

“Just use your imagination, pal.” And so he writes.

 

Judges Award: Rita Huang

 Speak Easy

 Photographs of artists stare soulfully out at me.

Actually it’s the same celeb

Ray Bradbury.

Here at my favorite table.

 I call our spot my home away from home

But I only have it on a loan.

Oh, if these walls could speak,

They would say, We look good.

 Write on.

 

Judges Award: Edy Moran

 Literati Café

 Day after day the routine overwhelms me,

And just the scent of your café turns my soul on,

My hungry mind in you satisfied

And my heart beats with the taste of your mint.

 Nine Calendars have gone by,

Nine candles that have lit my inspiration,

Inspiration that dances at the rhythm of your sazon,

 I hope your café’s aroma continues to stick to my life,

Like the dew on the roses and the breeze to the sea.

 

Judges Award: Kristan LaViets

 Literati

 Song of the Laptops – tpip tpip tick tick tick

Things in frames, Etta James

“Saloon keeper, pour me another

lemonade. Obliged.”

 (Now I’ve been trying to remedy

a surplus of drama in my writing, but…)

If I am ever in a coma

I hope I dream the whole time

that I am here.

Writer’s Digest: Fall Edition

Poetry Contest

Submit a poem for the annual Creative Genius Award before October 15^th.

Topic: Literati Café          Maximum: 9 Lines            Prize: $100 Gift Card

Submit in the Café Comment Box with Name, Phone Number and Email.

Judges (Writer and Owner, Paty Kouba, and Producer, Julie Comran) will announce a winner on October 30^th.

Two Sides to Every Story

Literati Café = A Counter Service Coffee House and Full Service Bar & Grill.

In the Bar and Grill we have Monday Night Madness from 5 – 7pm with half priced hors d’ovres in the bar and specially priced draft beers.

Halloween Treats

Celebrate the spookiest day of the year with “Devilish” Desserts and seasonal coffee drinks at the Café

or dare to try our  “Dishes to Die For” and specialty cocktails at the Bar & Grill.

Open Thanksgiving

We’re Dressing up for Thanksgiving Dinner with two seatings at 3pm and 5pm

White linens, crystal and fine china will enhance your delicious farm fresh five course Thanksgiving feast with family or friends. Adults $49.95 each and Children  $16.95 each

Social Networks

Now you too can be a Fan on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for optional daily updates about menu specials, celebrity sightings, special events and inspirational quotes.

9th Anniversary Poetry Contest

Literati Cafe’s 9th Anniversary Poetry Contest

Topic: Literati Cafe

Maximum: 9 Lines

Deadline: September 30th

Submit in the Comment Box

Include Name, Email and Phone Number

All rights reserved by Literati Cafe for future publication

Grand Prize $100 Gift Certificate to Literati Cafe

Literati Cafe AT&T Commercial

Hi. Look out for the AT&T Commercial that was recently filmed at Literati Cafe! I don’t have a television so I’d love for someone to tape it for me.

So, the first person to post the AT&T Commercial on youtube will get at $25 gift certificate to Literati Cafe.

Literati Cafe Mug Shots

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

Mug Shots will be taken from 10am – 4pm
Searching for Literati’s Most Wanted

Winning photos will be used in a variety of media.

Literati LLC All Rights Reserved

We want to publish your creative expressions!

We want to publish your essays, poems, cartoons, and thoughts!

Write about Literati, Love, Los Angeles, Lattes, whatever you want,

and submit it to

LiteratiLady@gmail.com

300 words or less please.

And once you email it, you release it to be published on the Literati blog

and potentially in a Literati Cafe Cook Book too!