REVIEW: Local poet Patrick Kanouse reviews Catherine Pierce's "Famous Last Words": http://gentlyread.wordpress.com/... (added July 4)

THE OTHER IPL: That's the nickname that the newly appointed Indiana Poet Laureate jokingly uses refer to himself. If you haven't yet met Norbert Krapf at one of his many readings and book-signings, you will have the opportunity beginning 5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 27, during a celebration at the American Cabaret Theatre, Michigan and Alabama streets, Indianapolis. Krapf and jazz musician Monika Herzig will perform, and details will be announced for a new series at ACT titled Together Again: Music & Poetry. The event is free and open to the public. (added July 2)

KAFE KUUMBA MOVES: The area's longest running weekly open mic series has a new home. As of the July 3 reading, Midtown Writers Association's Kafe Kuumba began meeting at Scott United Methodist Church, 2153 Dr. Andrew J. Brown Ave. (formerly Martindale Ave.), Indianapolis. The reading and drumming begins 7 p.m. every Thursday. For information, call James R. Depp Sr. at 317-895-4919. In a move related to MWA's association with The Way, the group's monthly fourth-Sunday series has also moved to Scott UMC. It's been named God's House of Poetry, Praise and the Spoken Word and organizers asks participants to share God-inspired poetry, prose and song. Next reading: July 27. For information, call Rev, James Anyike at 317-529-3768. (added July 2)

COLUMBUS READINGS: The poetry open mic and slam that had been scheduled for Yes Cinema in Columbus has been taking place at Zwanszig Pizza, 1038 Lafayette Ave., Columbus, on the first Monday of the month. (Next up, Monday, July 7). To experience the flavor of the readings, check out the photos and videos at http://www.myspace.com/yespoetry.... 812-376-0200. Thanks to Joseph Kerschbaum for the confirmation. (added July 1)

POETRY IN THE GALLERY: 7 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis. Local poets read work inspired by Robert Frank's photographsin a 1958 book called The Americans. Shot during a U.S. tour in the mid-'50s, Frank's photos caught Americans in all their cultural variety and mystery, from subway riders to politicians and cross-dressers. Scheduled readers include: John Clark, Mitchell L.H. Douglas, Ken Honeywell, JL Kato, Shauta Marsh, David Shumate, Betsy Shirley, Hannah Sullivan, Jim Walker, and Elizabeth Weber. Presented in part by Big Car Gallery. www.imamuseum.org/calendar/poetr.... (added June 30)

AN INTERVIEW WITH DAVID SHUMATE: One blogger discusses prose poetry with the Marian College professor: http://erc2008.wordpress.com/ (added June 28).

BEST BOOKS OF INDIANA UPDATE: According to the website for the Indiana Center for the Book, http://www.in.gov/library/2315.htm, finalists for the 2008 Best Books of Indiana Competition will receive notification by July 18, and non-finalists will receive notification shortly thereafter. An awards ceremony will be held at the Indiana State Library in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, Aug. 16. Information about the ceremony will be included with the finalists' notification. (added June 28)

IBJ ARTS BLOGGER: Lou Harry on new Indiana poet laureate Norbert Krapf: http://ae.ibj.com/blogshell.asp?... (added June 27)

PUSHCART PRIZE: Chris Forhan, assistant professor of English at Butler University, won a Pushcart Prize for his poem "Love, or Something." Forhan says he doesn't know who nominated him. but he's honored to be among Pushcart winners. To read Forhan's poem, go to www.pshares.org/issues/article.c... . (added June 24)