South Beach might be more palm tree than poetry, but – surprise, surprise - the local poetry scene is alive and kicking. Miami native and former Poet Laureate nominee Howard Camner is recognized as South Florida’s most widely published poet. Tonight he teams up with North One 10 chef Dewey LoSasso for an evening of beat poetry (some accompanied by guitar), themed dining and fine wines. We chatted with Camner about the local writers’ community, his career and tonight’s Poetry North Summer Arts Dinner.What’s it like to be a writer in South Florida in 2007?It’s strange. There are a few venues. Mitchell Kaplan at Books & Books has kind of created this little oasis in a desert –there was nothing here at all. Today it’s difficult, it seems like the real things are happening in other places, like NY & LA. To get anything done you’ve got to submit elsewhere. Miami itself doesn’t seem to hold as much as it could, it just doesn’t have the push it needs. In NY there was a lot of soul, here it seems phonier to me.So, what keeps you here?I’m here. I don’t know. I was born & raised in Miami. I’ve tired to leave many times, but I keep coming back for some reason. It’s still kind of home. There’s Plum TV so that certainly helps. The new oasis has sprung up in the middle of the desert and it’s a plum tree. Who knew?You’re recognized as Florida's most widely published poet…Yes, that happened. It’s a good feeling that I hit that little pinnacle, that little mark. I think one of the things that I’m proudest of is many, many years ago I found this book 100 Most Famous Libraries in the world. My goal was to get in all the libraries and I reached it a few years ago. Now I’m in all sorts of libraries - Buckingham Palace, the Vatican Library and others.Moving from Vatican City to North Miami, tell us about your event tonight. It’s going to be really great. I hooked up with Dewey [North One Ten chef] a few months ago. Anyone who owns a restaurant is great in my book. He backed me on guitar for a few pieces completely on a whim and we became friends, I did a show there last year, it was really successful. The Details: See Camner tonight at the Poetry North Summer Arts Dinner; North One 10, Miami; Tonight at 6:30 p.m.; $45; 305-893-4211; northoneten.com
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