Open-mike events celebrate Poetry Month
April 4, 2012 4:24PM
Now and then, I get reacquainted with someone I interviewed years ago for the Post-Tribune.
In the past, I would encounter the person while in a public place or receive a handwritten note. It always pleases me to hear from these people and find out how well they are doing since appearing in a positive feature story.
Jana Hunt is one of those former subjects. Hunt, a 1996 West Side High School alumna, earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 2001 and a master’s in kinesiology, biomechanics and motor control from the University of Illinois.
Hunt is the founder of ASTRO Tutoring. She offers private tutoring and college admissions consulting for students from grade five through the senior year in college. ASTRO Tutoring is based in Gary, but she also covers Chicago and surrounding areas. Its website is www.astrotutoring.com.
How did Hunt become the subject of a feature story years ago? From 2005-07, in Palo Alto, Calif., Hunt designed, tested and developed spacecraft hardware still operating on the International Space Station and on Sirius and XM radio before they merged.
“It was Sirius FM 5 and XM 5, with XM having the higher power,” she said.
Hunt also has been a fitness and health consultant in Los Angeles. She worked as a mechanical engineer until 2010.
† April is National Poetry Month and, in Gary and Northwest Indiana, I have open-mike events for participation or to attend.
“Food for Thought” combines the spoken word and music. It debuted at Seasons Restaurant and Catering, 7219 Taft St., Merrillville, in the Strack & Van Til mini-mall. Created and hosted by “Unscripted,” it runs from 6:30 to 11 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays monthly. Admission is $5.
“Cultural Cool” is hosted by Elena Love at Hustle & Joe’s, 1700 Grant St., Gary, from 8 p.m. to midnight the first and third Tuesdays monthly until June 26.
Admission is $7 before 9 p.m. or $10 after 9. If you are performing, it’s $5 before 9 and $7 after.
And returning from 8 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, at the Link Bar, 752 Broadway, are Kelechukwu Brnfre and Karen K-Sims’ “Beautiful Soul Tuesdays.” Admission is $7 all night.
All three venues should be supported. There are plenty of poetry and music lovers around to share.
