Norman Zelaya

Calling all poets, artists, and messengers! Sign up at bit.ly/NewMoonOpenMic or the link in our bio for our Luanda open mic, all levels of experience are welcome. Check out the people we can expect at our open mic this Friday! 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗚𝘂𝘇𝗺𝗮𝗻 is a Chicana poet, educator and organizer from Hayward, California. Served as 2025 Hayward Poet Laureate. She is a teaching artist at Youth Speaks, a Taco Bell enthusiast and her nephew’s favorite aunty. Leticia uses spoken word to empower her inner child, document her family’s history and share her story in hopes to uplift and empower others. 𝗗𝗲𝘆𝗰𝗶 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘇 is an abolitionist, immigrants rights advocate, and a poeta. With words, she’s reclaimed her power and magic. 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘇 is the author of the small poetry collections I Miss You, Delicate and Lovers of the Deep Fried Circle from Sibling Rivalry Press. His solo show won “Best Solo Comedy” at the New York City Fringe Festival in 2025. He is the creator of the online comic Tiny Baruch, and lives in San Francisco. If you are feeling inspired and called to share your work, sign up online or at the door on the day of the event. Remember, open mic is first come, first serve! Join us in person on April 17 at Galería Studio 24 to continue cultivating the spirit of new beginnings and rejuvenation. We hope to see you there! ⏰ Friday, April 17, 5pm 📍Galería de la Raza Studio 24 2779 Folsom St. Ste. A San Francisco, CA 94110

✨ Embrace the new moon. Celebrate creativity. Connect with community ✨ Helping us welcome the new moon this Friday are the sonic waves of Mic Angelo! Learn more of his work and don’t forget to join us April 17 starting at 5pm. Vendor line up coming soon! Want to participate in our open mic? Sign up at bit.ly/NewMoonOpenMic or through the link in our bio to get your name on the list. ⏰ Friday, April 17, 5 PM 📍Galería de la Raza Studio 24 2779 Folsom St. Ste. A San Francisco, CA 94110

In darkness, we begin again 🔁 For 25 years, Lunada has gathered under the full moon. Now, on our silver anniversary, we honor new intentions, energy, and creation. Join us in welcoming the second feature for the night: Diabbla! Swipe to learn more. Our celebration will take place on Friday, April 17th. We hope to see you soon! Want to participate in our open mic? Sign up at bit.ly/NewMoonOpenMic or through the link in our bio to get your name on the list. ⏰ Friday, April 17, 5 PM 📍Galería de la Raza Studio 24 2779 Folsom St. Ste. A San Francisco, CA 94110

We bring you a new virtual series called ✨ Moonlight ✨where we highlight literary artists and their work leading up to the Lunada Literary Lounge New Moon Fest. Listen to the words of Karina Gamez, one of the literary features sharing her work at the first Lunada New Moon Fest of the year! Join us in person on April 17 at Galería Studio 24 to continue cultivating the spirit of new beginnings and rejuvenation. We hope to see you there! Want to participate in our open mic? Sign up at bit.ly/NewMoonOpenMic or through the link in our bio to get your name on the list. ⏰ Friday, April 17, 5pm 📍Galería de la Raza Studio 24 2779 Folsom St. Ste. A San Francisco, CA 94110 #lunadaliterarylounge

In a week or so I’ll be talking Medicine for Nightmares talking with Norman Antonio Zelaya. He’s from San Francisco, CA. His writing is inspired by his Nicoya heritage and his lived experience as a SF native and Mission District homeboy. He’s the author of two collections of short fiction, Orlando & Other Stories (Pochino Press, 2017), and most recently, Gente, Folks (Black Freighter Press, 2022). His work has appeared in ZYZZYVA, Apogee Journal, NY Tyrant, 14 Hills, and Cipactli, among other journals. Mr. Zelaya has read and lectured throughout California, and across the country. Also, he’s appeared on stage, in film, and in the squared circle as the masked luchador, Super Pulga. He lives and works in San Francisco, where he’s completing a debut novel. If yall in the Bay Area pull up. This moment in GENTE, FOLKS hit: “She saw him in the crosswalk, scared, stricken as people moved around him. She stepped off the corner, but Osvaldo spotted her, remembered how angry he was and ran. Doña Lucero saw it coming. The black SUV was enormous, monstrously boxy alongside surging pedestrians. In a back seat, a woman cared for her baby. The seatbelt was across the young mother’s chest, the baby safely strapped in a carrier. She looked fondly into the little face, adjusted the blanket around the chubby cheeks. She was in her world with her baby, talking nonsense, cooing, as she touched the button nose. The joy filled her eyes. Her precious bundle. That was all she saw.”

✨ Embrace the new moon. Celebrate creativity. Connect with community ✨ For the past 25 years, Lunada Literary Lounge has gathered on the full moon to honor spoken word, poetry, música, and literatura. This year, on Lunada’s silver anniversary, we are giving it a little twist and invite you to experience something new: a gathering under the new moon, festival style. Though shrouded in darkness, the new moon symbolizes new beginnings, limitless possibilities, and rejuvenation. This lunar phase offers us a blank slate; an opportunity to set intentions and create space for ourselves and our community to re-energize through art, poetry, and connection. This season we will feature twice the features, music, vendors and a stacked open mic. Join us to kick off Lunada New Moon Fest 2026 season on Friday, April 17th. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Lunada New Moon Fest happening on Sunday, June 14th and Saturday, October 10th. Features and vendors to be announced very soon! 👀 Open mic sign ups for April 17 are starting now, visit the link in our bio or below to claim a spot in the line up. bit.ly/NewMoonOpenMic ⏰ Friday, April 17, Doors open at 5 PM 📍Galería de la Raza Studio 24 2779 Folsom St. Ste. A San Francisco, CA 94110

Your very own Mission icon, you know him, you’ve seen him, the one, the only… Does he need more of an introduction? Norman Antonio Zelaya is from San Francisco, CA. His writing is inspired by his Nicoya heritage and his lived experience as a SF native and Mission District homeboy. He’s the author of two collections of short fiction, Orlando & Other Stories (Pochino Press, 2017), and most recently, Gente, Folks (Black Freighter Press, 2022). His work has appeared in ZYZZYVA, Apogee Journal, NY Tyrant, 14 Hills, and Cipactli, among other journals. Mr. Zelaya has read and lectured throughout California, and across the country. Also, he’s appeared on stage, in film, and in the squared circle as the masked luchador, Super Pulga. He lives and works in San Francisco, where he’s completing a debut novel. This is a 21+ event. Get your $15 presale ticket at bit.ly/dragiartenorman or tickets at the door for $20. Please note, seating is limited. Seating priority will be given to early arrivals, elders, and people with disabilities. ⏰ Saturday, March 28, 7-10 PM 📍Galería de la Raza Studio 24 2779 Folsom St. Ste. A San Francisco, CA 94110

✨Get your hairspray, comb, and shag ready, it’s time for another edition of Dragiarte. ✨ Join Galería de la Raza and Chillonas on Saturday, March 28 to celebrate all things queer, Latine, and DRAG with hostesses Sally Limón and La Chucha Rude! Chillonas is a Latinx+ Queer nightlife event produced by La Chucha Rude and Sally Limón. Birthed in San Francisco, Chillonas fosters a space centering, but not exclusive to, Latinx music, drag, and other forms of art. This is a 21+ event. Get your $15 presale ticket at bit.ly/dragiartenorman or tickets at the door for $20. Please note, seating is limited. Seating priority will be given to early arrivals, elders, and people with disabilities. ⏰ Saturday, March 28, 7-10 PM 📍Galería de la Raza Studio 24 2779 Folsom St. Ste. A San Francisco, CA 94110

Back with the yutes

An Evening of Bilingual Poetry, Prose and Dance with Grupo Folklórico del Asocación Mayab, Susana Praver-Perez and Norman Zelaya Curated by Kimi Sugioka .At Cocina Mayah. Open Microphone to Follow. Link in bio for a free ticket. Grupo Folklórico del Asocación Mayab The resident company of Asocación Mayab are Bay Area based Mayan dancers and musicians. They perform traditional dances in the Jarana Yucateca style. Susana Praver-Perez Susana Praver-Pérez is a poet, visual artist, editor, and organizer of cultural events. Her debut collection of poetry Hurricanes, Love Affairs, and Other Disasters received the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award for Excellence in Literature (2022). Norman Zelaya Norman Antonio Zelaya is a native of San Francisco, California. His writing is inspired by his Nicoya heritage and his lived experience as a SF Mission District homeboy. He’s the author of two collections of short fiction, Orlando & Other Stories (Pochino Press, 2017), and most recently, Gente, Folks (Black Freighter Press, 2022). 📆March 7, 7:00pm 📍2909 16th St, SF, CA 94103 🎟️ FREE Reserve ticket- link in bio . . . . . #Performance #Poetry#CrossCultural #OpenMic #puertorico