By R.D. Pohl

Wednesday, 9 p.m.: Poetry Night at Caffe Aroma, biweekly open mic reading series hosted by Ben Brindise and Justin Karcher. 957 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. Free and open to the public.

Thursday, 6 p.m.: Reading and book launch party for Trudy Stern’s new full-length collection of poems Warrior Soliloquies, published by Two Fine Crows Books. Joining Stern will be Buffalo-based poet and educator Irene Simon Sipos.

Trudy Stern was born and raised in Buffalo, N.Y. Author, artist, registered nurse practitioner, tea house owner and creative cook, she has never permitted herself to be pinned down to one profession at a time.

She is a contributor to numerous anthologies and poetry journals, and is the author of the chapbooks Taurus in Lake Erie (Saddle Road Press, 2013), Ghost Dreams (Local Color Press, 2013) and Tea Leaves (Local Color Editions). Since 2012, Trudy has been chairperson of the Annual Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival.

Friday, 6 p.m.: Fourth Friday Reading Series at Dog Ears Books. This month’s featured reader is poet Ruth Robson. Additional reading slots available. Dog Ears Bookstore and Cafe, 688 Abbott Road, 2nd floor, in Buffalo. Admission to the event is $5. Proceeds benefit the Dog Ears Bookstore, a 501 c (3) not-for-profit organization.

Sunday, 6 p.m.: Pure Ink Poetry Slam, a monthly, two-round spoken word and poetry slam competition series hosted by Brandon Williamson. Pure Ink Poetry Slam is always an open slam without specific themes or requirements other than the general rules of slam. Sign up is from 6-6:30 p.m. Open mic and slam starts at 6:30. $5 for slammers, $10 for spectators. Cash prize for the winner. Visit the website www.pureinkpoetry.com for more information. Lorna C. Hill Theater (Home of Ujima Theater Company, Inc.), 429 Plymouth Ave Suite #2, Buffalo, NY.