Local Storytelling "Swaps"
Drop by your local gathering of storytellers where they swap stories. Everyone is welcome to these informal open mics, whether you want to tell a story or just listen.
It's a good idea to call ahead to confirm that the group is meeting, and if you want to tell, it's good etiquette to ask about the standard time limit.
It's a good idea to call ahead to confirm that the group is meeting, and if you want to tell, it's good etiquette to ask about the standard time limit.
East Bay
*Alameda - Alameda Swap. 3rd Thursday of the month 7:00–9:00 p.m., Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St. @ Lincoln. Info: Cathy Dana, 510-523-6957; cathydana@gmail.com
*Antioch - Delta Wordweavers. 2nd Monday of the month, 7:00–8:30 p.m., Antioch Public Library, 501 W 18th St. Contact Marian Ferrante at (925) 437-1360 or deltawordweavers@att.net.
*Berkeley - Mixed Bag Storytellers of Berkeley-Oakland. First Thursday of the month, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Claremont Branch of Berkeley Public Library, 2940 Benvenue (at Ashby). Contact: Kate Frankel: 510-525-1533; kateline@earthlink.net.
*Danville - Tales and Tellers: An Advanced Toastmaster's Club, specializing in the art of storytelling. First Saturday of the month, 8:30–11:00 a.m., The Sycamore Homes Annex, 635 Old Orchard Dr. Contact: Marie Minder: 925-788-1257. talesandtellers.freetoasthost.net
*El Sobrante - Leftover Tales, Tellers and Ears Swap. Third Wednesday or Thursday, 7:00-9:00 pm, El Sobrante Library, 4191 Appian Way. Info: Michael Baefsky, 925-254-7950. mbaefsky@gmail.com
*Hayward - Hayward Storytellers meet 2nd Thursday of the month, 7:00–9:00 p.m., at Hayward Arts Council, 22654 Main St. Contact: Gina Rose, (510) 205-8606, ginarose@sbcglobal.net.
*Oakland - Laugh Lovers, a specialty Toastmasters club, dedicated to comedy, humor, and laughter. Third Sunday of the month. 6:00–8:00 p.m., St. Paul's Towers, 100 Bay Place (near Whole Foods). Contact: Craig Harrison, (510) 547-0664. www.laughlovers.us
*Oakland/Berkeley - Sing Say or Play. Third Saturday, 7:00 pm, at praivte homes in the eat bay. Bring your own piece to perform. Info:contact Ed Silberman: 510-655-7087. edsilberman@hotmail.com
*Orinda - Contra Costa Tale Spinners. 4th Thursday of the month, Gallery Room of the Orinda Public Library, 24 Orinda Way, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Walking distance from BART. Contact: Sally Holzman (925) 372-7036 or Bobbie Kinkead (510) 655-5608, bobbiekin@mindspring.com.
*Walnut Creek- Telling Time Center of Contra Costa County (TTCofCCCo) has a paid feature teller first Sunday of each month, 4:00–6:00 p.m., Shell Ridge Community Church, 200 La Casa Via, Rooms 3/4 (across from John Muir Hospital). Contact: Jim Eklund, Director, jimtells@yahoo.com (925) 381-2858. Refreshments. Swap 2nd hour. Admission: $5 per person, or family of three or more just $12. Walnut Creek BART pickup at 3:15pm & return. Call first to request ride.
Northern California
*Eureka - North Coast Storytellers. 3rd Thursday of the month, 7:00 p.m., at The Ink People Center for the Arts, 12th & E, Eureka. Call to verify: Dan O'Gara, 707-677-3840.
*Redding - Traveling Bohemians, Open Mic. 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7:00 p.m., at Sue's Java Cafe, 1712 Churn Creek Rd. Call to verify: Nadia Hava-Robbins, 530-229-7818, bohemian@snowcrest.net
North Bay
*Santa Rosa - Do Tell Story Swap. 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. Foster Story Studio, 1000 Humboldt St, Santa Rosa, CA. Contact: Elaine Stanley or Kenneth Foster: 707-540-0655 or 7070-539-3642. Email: dotellstoryswap@comcast.net.
Peninsula and South Bay
*Los Altos - Southbay Storytellers and Listeners. 2nd Sunday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Garden Room, United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena. Contact: Joy Swift, 650-494-1383, joy.swift@sbcglobal.net
San Francisco
*San Francisco - Open mic at Farley's. 3rd Tuesday of the month. Storytelling, spoken word, poetry, music, and song. 7:00–9:00 p.m. 1315 18th (at Texas). Contact: Susan Ford, (415) 474-5580, suford@earthlink.net
*San Francisco - San Francisco Story League, 2nd Thursday of the month. 10:00 a.m.–Noon, at Golden Gate Park Senior Center, 6101 Fulton St. Contact: Pat Langdell, President. Call to verify: (415) 564-8451.
*San Francisco - Storytelling at the Meetinghouse. First Sunday of the month, 6:30–8:30pm. All ages welcome. Quaker Center, 65 Ninth St, between Market and Mission Sts, San Francisco. Bring stories and cookies to share. Contact: Ruth Fraser, (415) 626-3757; mellowstory@juno.com
Santa Cruz & Monterey Counties
*Monterey - Monterey Bay Tale-spinners. First Monday of the month, 7:00–9:00 p.m. at Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St. Contact: Phil Hawthorne at (831) 655.1741, or Carol Collin at (831) 646.8584.
Sacramento & East
*Auburn - Foothills Storytelling Guild. Call for times and location. Contact: Joan Stockbridge, 530-823-9610, Linda Kennedy at 530-478-1604.
*Placerville - El Dorado Storytellers, 2nd Monday of the month at 1:00 pm at the home of one the members in Placerville. Contact: Brenda Miller, (530) 677-7673, or Leslie Rose, (530) 677-7693.
*Sacramento - Aesop's Fablers, a Toastmasters' storytelling club, 1st Thursday of the month, 7:00 p.m. at Sacramento County Administration Building, 700 H St., 3rd floor break room. Contact: Arne Sampe, (916) 362-9013, or Paul Idaho.
*Sacramento - Sacramento Storytellers Guild, 3rd Saturday of the month, 2:00–4:00 p.m., Eskaton Monroe Lodge (Senior Citizen's Residence), 3225 Freeport Blvd. Contact: Lawrence Crason, (916) 399-1999.
*Alameda - Alameda Swap. 3rd Thursday of the month 7:00–9:00 p.m., Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St. @ Lincoln. Info: Cathy Dana, 510-523-6957; cathydana@gmail.com
*Antioch - Delta Wordweavers. 2nd Monday of the month, 7:00–8:30 p.m., Antioch Public Library, 501 W 18th St. Contact Marian Ferrante at (925) 437-1360 or deltawordweavers@att.net.
*Berkeley - Mixed Bag Storytellers of Berkeley-Oakland. First Thursday of the month, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Claremont Branch of Berkeley Public Library, 2940 Benvenue (at Ashby). Contact: Kate Frankel: 510-525-1533; kateline@earthlink.net.
*Danville - Tales and Tellers: An Advanced Toastmaster's Club, specializing in the art of storytelling. First Saturday of the month, 8:30–11:00 a.m., The Sycamore Homes Annex, 635 Old Orchard Dr. Contact: Marie Minder: 925-788-1257. talesandtellers.freetoasthost.net
*El Sobrante - Leftover Tales, Tellers and Ears Swap. Third Wednesday or Thursday, 7:00-9:00 pm, El Sobrante Library, 4191 Appian Way. Info: Michael Baefsky, 925-254-7950. mbaefsky@gmail.com
*Hayward - Hayward Storytellers meet 2nd Thursday of the month, 7:00–9:00 p.m., at Hayward Arts Council, 22654 Main St. Contact: Gina Rose, (510) 205-8606, ginarose@sbcglobal.net.
*Oakland - Laugh Lovers, a specialty Toastmasters club, dedicated to comedy, humor, and laughter. Third Sunday of the month. 6:00–8:00 p.m., St. Paul's Towers, 100 Bay Place (near Whole Foods). Contact: Craig Harrison, (510) 547-0664. www.laughlovers.us
*Oakland/Berkeley - Sing Say or Play. Third Saturday, 7:00 pm, at praivte homes in the eat bay. Bring your own piece to perform. Info:contact Ed Silberman: 510-655-7087. edsilberman@hotmail.com
*Orinda - Contra Costa Tale Spinners. 4th Thursday of the month, Gallery Room of the Orinda Public Library, 24 Orinda Way, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Walking distance from BART. Contact: Sally Holzman (925) 372-7036 or Bobbie Kinkead (510) 655-5608, bobbiekin@mindspring.com.
*Walnut Creek- Telling Time Center of Contra Costa County (TTCofCCCo) has a paid feature teller first Sunday of each month, 4:00–6:00 p.m., Shell Ridge Community Church, 200 La Casa Via, Rooms 3/4 (across from John Muir Hospital). Contact: Jim Eklund, Director, jimtells@yahoo.com (925) 381-2858. Refreshments. Swap 2nd hour. Admission: $5 per person, or family of three or more just $12. Walnut Creek BART pickup at 3:15pm & return. Call first to request ride.
Northern California
*Eureka - North Coast Storytellers. 3rd Thursday of the month, 7:00 p.m., at The Ink People Center for the Arts, 12th & E, Eureka. Call to verify: Dan O'Gara, 707-677-3840.
*Redding - Traveling Bohemians, Open Mic. 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7:00 p.m., at Sue's Java Cafe, 1712 Churn Creek Rd. Call to verify: Nadia Hava-Robbins, 530-229-7818, bohemian@snowcrest.net
North Bay
*Santa Rosa - Do Tell Story Swap. 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. Foster Story Studio, 1000 Humboldt St, Santa Rosa, CA. Contact: Elaine Stanley or Kenneth Foster: 707-540-0655 or 7070-539-3642. Email: dotellstoryswap@comcast.net.
Peninsula and South Bay
*Los Altos - Southbay Storytellers and Listeners. 2nd Sunday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Garden Room, United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena. Contact: Joy Swift, 650-494-1383, joy.swift@sbcglobal.net
San Francisco
*San Francisco - Open mic at Farley's. 3rd Tuesday of the month. Storytelling, spoken word, poetry, music, and song. 7:00–9:00 p.m. 1315 18th (at Texas). Contact: Susan Ford, (415) 474-5580, suford@earthlink.net
*San Francisco - San Francisco Story League, 2nd Thursday of the month. 10:00 a.m.–Noon, at Golden Gate Park Senior Center, 6101 Fulton St. Contact: Pat Langdell, President. Call to verify: (415) 564-8451.
*San Francisco - Storytelling at the Meetinghouse. First Sunday of the month, 6:30–8:30pm. All ages welcome. Quaker Center, 65 Ninth St, between Market and Mission Sts, San Francisco. Bring stories and cookies to share. Contact: Ruth Fraser, (415) 626-3757; mellowstory@juno.com
Santa Cruz & Monterey Counties
*Monterey - Monterey Bay Tale-spinners. First Monday of the month, 7:00–9:00 p.m. at Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St. Contact: Phil Hawthorne at (831) 655.1741, or Carol Collin at (831) 646.8584.
Sacramento & East
*Auburn - Foothills Storytelling Guild. Call for times and location. Contact: Joan Stockbridge, 530-823-9610, Linda Kennedy at 530-478-1604.
*Placerville - El Dorado Storytellers, 2nd Monday of the month at 1:00 pm at the home of one the members in Placerville. Contact: Brenda Miller, (530) 677-7673, or Leslie Rose, (530) 677-7693.
*Sacramento - Aesop's Fablers, a Toastmasters' storytelling club, 1st Thursday of the month, 7:00 p.m. at Sacramento County Administration Building, 700 H St., 3rd floor break room. Contact: Arne Sampe, (916) 362-9013, or Paul Idaho.
*Sacramento - Sacramento Storytellers Guild, 3rd Saturday of the month, 2:00–4:00 p.m., Eskaton Monroe Lodge (Senior Citizen's Residence), 3225 Freeport Blvd. Contact: Lawrence Crason, (916) 399-1999.
