July 1: Meyer Lansky Tribute Poetry Reading feat. Poems about Crime @ Cornelia St. Cafe 6pm

Three Rooms Press presents:

Friday, July 1, 2011 - 6pm

Cornelia St Cafe

Son of a Pony

THE FIRST EVER

MEYER LANSKY

TRIBUTE

POETRY READING

with a focus on

Poems About Crime

Featured poets:

Stephen Caratzas

Peter Carlaftes

Michael Fiorito

Puma Perl

Thomas Pryor

PLUS NYC's

Sensational

Open POETRY Mike

on the same Topic

Hosted by Kat Georges

MEYER LANSKY (known as the "Mob's Accountant"), was a Polish-born American organized crime figure who, along with his associate Charles "Lucky" Luciano, was instrumental in the development of the National Crime Syndicate in the United States. For decades he was thought to be one of the most powerful people in the country. The character Hyman Roth in The Godfather Part II was largely based on Lansky. Although Forbes listed him as one of the 400 wealthiest people in America in September 1982, with a net worth of $100 million, when he died less than 4 months later, he left his heirs less than $37,000 in cash. Like many of today's white collar criminals, Lansky was never arrested.

Lansky represents a powerful aspect of America that operates in the shadows, a second-tier of players with criminal ties that shapes history largely out of the limelight. On the 109th anniversary of his date of birth, (July 4, 1902), Three Rooms Press presents the first ever Meyer Lansky Tribute Reading, with poems that explore crime and criminal activity.

Featured poets include Stephen Caratzas, Peter Carlaftes (author of Drunkyard Dog & A Year on Facebook), Michael Fiorito, Puma Perl (author of Knuckle Tattoos), and Thomas Pryor.

The featured reading follows the fabulous Son of a Pony open reading at the cafe. During the open reading, readers with poems about crime will share their work. Poet & mistress of ceremonies Kat Georges hosts. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.; the open reading begins at 6 p.m. Admission is $7, which includes a free drink.

Cornelia Street Cafe is at 29 Cornelia Street, between W. 4th Street & Bleecker, just around the corner from the W. 4th Street subway station. Phone: 212-989-9319. www.corneliastreetcafe.com