Michael Robbins is a fantastic, award-winning poet (read more on his fantasticalness* here) whose work I have long admired. I was over the moon when he reviewed SHOVEL READY for the Chicago Tribune. So when I had an opportunity to be involved in a new variety show at the excellent NYC bookstore McNally Jackson, I somewhat brazenly asked him if he'd join me. He somewhat insanely said yes.

We're going to discuss the potential artistic usefulness of ambient cultural ephemera (e.g. Taylor Swift), among other things, all in 15 minutes or less. Robbins has addressed this subject adroitly before, particularly in this highly recommended essay for Poetry. Everything else you need to know about him, at least for right now, you can learn from reading this poem of his that appeared in the New Yorker, which is one of my favorite poems ever.

Come on out — it's going to be great fun. We're one part of a larger night that also involves Michael Cunningham, Alex Mar, Rowan Ricardo Phillips and many others. I hope to see you there. 

*When I typed "fantasticness," my computer auto-corrected to "fantasticalness" NO WORD A LIE.