Dr. Andy Jones and Davis Vice-Mayor Lucas Frerichs perform Christmas favorites as part of a holiday Yolo Food Bank fundraiser at the Natsoulas Gallery (521 1st Street in Davis) on December 16th at 7 PM.
The Poetry Night Reading Series proudly presents Davis Poet Laureate Emeritus Dr. Andy Jones and the Vice-Mayor of Davis, Lucas Frerichs, as they perform two holiday classics: “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas (1952) and “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (also known as “The Night Before Christmas”) by Clement Clarke Moore (1823).
Andy Jones is the poet laureate emeritus of Davis, California. He has taught writing, creative writing and literature classes at the University of California, Davis since 1990, and has hosted the fortnightly Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis since 2007. His books of poetry include Split Stock, Where’s Jukie?, and In the Almond Orchard: Coming Home from War. A radio talk show host, master of ceremonies, and storyteller, Dr. Andy has performed stories on four different occasions for Stories on Stage, Davis.
Lucas Frerichs has served on the Davis City Council since 2012, and currently serves as Vice Mayor. He is a leading regional voice for smart growth, multi-modal transportation, public safety, economic development and environmental sustainability.
With fifteen years of experience working in the halls of the State Capitol, Lucas currently works as Associate Director of State Policy for The Nature Conservancy, where he is responsible for advocating on behalf of the environment before the California State Legislature and numerous state agencies. It is said that Lucas keeps the holiday spirit in his heart all the year long.
“A Child’s Christmas in Wales” is a nostalgic and anecdotal first-person story about a favorite memory of the poet and playwright Dylan Thomas. “A Visit from St. Nicholas” is one of the most popular and memorable poems written in English, one that helped to establish the status of Santa Claus in the 19th-century. Children of all ages are encouraged to attend this special event.
This event will serve as a fundraiser for Yolo Food Bank, a favorite charity of Dr. Andy, who believes that all of us deserve to be well-nourished over the holidays and throughout the year. Following a dramatic escalation in service in response to the skyrocketing demand for food assistance throughout the pandemic, Yolo Food Bank now is engaging in initiatives and collaborations focusing upon greater food equity, inclusive of both more nutritious and culturally-appropriate foods that lead to improved health outcomes and an overall enhanced quality of life for all Yolo County residents. Yolo Food Bank Executive Director Michael Bisch will be on hand to share inspiring details. Please donate generously, either before, during, or after this special event.
This event will take place at the Natsoulas Gallery (521 1st Street) at 7 PM on Thursday, December 16th. There will be an open mic after the featured performers, and some of those performances may not be child-friendly. Open mic performances will be limited to four minutes or two items, whichever is shorter. If you play on your flute, you can read for five minutes, instead of four. Please mask your vaccinated selves before entering the Gallery.
The Poetry Night Reading Series, taking place on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 PM, is generously supported by the people and poets of the Sacramento Valley, and by John Natsoulas and the staff at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Your host will be Dr. Andy Jones, the poet laureate emeritus of the City of Davis. See Dr. Andy’s new (free) weekly newsletter at https://andyjones.substack.com – Please subscribe!
See you December 16th!
Dr. Andy
Find the Facebook page for this event at https://www.facebook.com/events/595585191730084
