Adding another dimension to the written word
Store owners Bob and Beckie Untiedt are offering free ice cream and coffee during a special night at Graham's 318 in downtown Geneva about once a month. Yes, free -- except it will cost you a story, or a poem that's read in front of visitors.
The idea to hold these public readings came to Bob after observing the Thursday night special activities sponsored by the City of Geneva.
With both Bob and Beckie educated and trained in music -- they met while working together in a wedding cover band -- at first the Thursday evening event centered on music, featuring Jenny Snyder on acoustic guitar. But Jenny graduated from Geneva High School last spring and moved on to college in Boston. She left behind a difficult void to fill.
While visiting relatives in Iowa, Beckie and her sister, Bonnie Harm-Pechous, spontaneously began to read poetry from a book out loud, taking turns, and finding themselves filled with emotion. But it was Bob who, inspired by the news of these emotions, approached Bonnie about the idea of Thursday evening readings and free gelato and Lavazza.
During a recent reading night, people signed up with Bonnie, who was the stand-in emcee.
For this list, last names are not required. Readers can give a number, or a nom de plume if they wish, in order to help increase the comfort levels of some of the nervous signees, some of whom fidget with their pages and wipe at their brows. Beneath the stars, oversized umbrellas and soft lighting, Bonnie announces the first taker.
Don Bingle, a securities attorney and author of the novel "Forced Conversion," is the first to step before the soft spotlight, lectern, and microphone. He reads his story, "Protest Scene", to which the audience responds with laughter when it learns why it's always dangerous to associate with principled people.
Score that man a free scoop of ice cream.
And not just any ice cream. Bob Untiedt explains that he and Beckie had traveled to Italy a few years ago, and were struck by the Gelaterias, small cafés serving gelato. It is a special ice cream made with less air pumped into it and less butterfat, giving a smoother texture and more flavor since gelato can be served and eaten at warmer temperatures. It is homemade at Graham's 318. Or, if coffee is the choice, it's actually Lavazza, a special Italian blend.
Bonnie next calls Don Lindman to the microphone from her list of readers. By now, more than 20 people and two dogs have gathered to listen. Cars roll by on Third Street, sounding more like the whoosh of parting curtains.
Don reads a story about taking an elevator ride, "Down," he emphasizes, in a church, wondering what the button with the asterisk before the double-L's really stands for.
After the next participant, the crowd had swelled to more than 30, with passersby stopping and café patrons coming out to hear, gathering on garden walls, stairs, and sidewalks as if the Beatles had taken to the roof again.
As the next reader, Dean Lundell, talks about a medical condition infecting all men in the world, that is, the Y chromosome and the symptoms it creates, the courtyard and beyond is full and it's only the third time for this event.
Bob Untiedt is certain that while it's one thing to read a story or poem to yourself, it's quite another to read out loud. "The result is fabulous," he says. "People stop by, caught in the excitement of it, and the people who read have a large audience to read to, and it all adds another dimension to the written word, an added emotion. The stories and poems catch other people, who are not expecting this, causing them to stop, listen, and ponder."
Paul Cook reads next. He's a local novelist and retired actor who can be seen in the movies "The Omen" and "Somewhere In Time", albeit in small roles. His shirt reads, Careful Or I'll Put You In My Next Novel, and he reads an excerpt from his book "Sally! Sally! Sally! Sally!" about a lost love reignited, and how passion remains timeless. The crowd leans in, and it's an eclectic mix, from teenagers to the AARP crowd and beyond.
Roberta Stewart next takes the stage, reading her poem titled "Stones in the Dark" that leaves the crowd laughing and murmuring as if they've realized something new. She reads her next poem, titled, "Stopping at Starbucks", and apologizes for the title to the Graham's 318 crowd.
The types of designer coffee, Roberta demonstrates through examples, match the people who drink them. Virginia Kammerer follows with play-on-words poems, and then Nicole Manisco takes to the microphone, performing without the need for written words or notes, a poem, among others, that puts an adult twist on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Bonnie calls Ann Kelly to the microphone, who explains why writing is best at 3 a.m., and a poem she's titled "Monet's Window", gives a unique perspective on an artist's view of art.
"There's supposed to be a 5-minute time limit on each reading," Bob says, "especially since we're uncertain as to how many readers we'll get. It's more of a suggestion than a set rule, and we'll make exceptions if requested and time permits."
The last reader broke the rule mercilessly, but with permission from Bob and Beckie, and nobody leaves as eyes focus on a true story of his intense emotions over a lost love from high school, the proverbial one that got away. Interesting stuff, to be certain, made even more interesting by the fact that he lets the audience know that his wife is in attendance. Certainly there must have been permission given there as well.
By 9 p.m., the readings are over. "It was a perfect evening," Bob observed. "Geneva is the perfect town to do this in, and on Third Street, which is a reach back to how shops used to be, and a place where people are proud of their downtown community."
The next reading will be indoors, beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday. For information, call (630) 232-6655 and ask for Bonnie.