An Evening with San Francisco Poet Laureate Genny Lim
Mon, Apr 6 / 6:00 PM PDT Commonwealth Club 110 The Embarcadero San Francisco, CA
The star of the evening is Genny Lim, San Francisco’s current poet laureate—an acclaimed poet, playwright and performer whose work reflects the rhythms, struggles and resilience of the city we call home. Appointed poet laureate in 2024 by London Breed, Lim is the city’s first Chinese American poet laureate. Drawing inspiration from her upbringing in Chinatown and North Beach, her poetry invites us to listen more deeply—to one another and to San Francisco itself. The evening will also feature remarks from Commonwealth Club World Affairs Board Member Claudine Cheng, with a moderated conversation led by Dion Lim, former ABC7 news anchor.
Enjoy an intimate evening featuring: a live poetry experience with Genny Lim, accompanied by musicians Chris Trinidad Collective and Unpil Baek, a Bay Area-based pianist anchored in improvisation and cross-genre collaboration; reflections on poetry as connection, healing and civic voice; and time to mingle with fellow members over light refreshments. Come for the poetry. Stay for the conversation. Join us for an evening designed to inspire, connect and remind us why shared cultural experiences matter. No-host bar and lite bites.
OPENING RECEPTION Saturday, March 21, 6pm Public Atrium in Bldg 12 at Pier 70 1070 Maryland @ 22nd St
San Francisco’s current Poet Laureate Genny Lim will be featuring this Saturday, March 21 at 6pm for the Ferlinghetti event Kick-off in the public atrium of Bldg 12 at Pier 70, 1070 Maryland @ 22nd St. Presented by 3RD ST CREATIVE ARTERY, the event also features Mauro Aprile Zanetti, one of Ferlinghetti’s final collaborators, and a performance by long-time Ferlinghetti Day friends, The Conspiracy of Beards, a 30-member male choir that performs dynamic, original, a cappella arrangements of the poetic songs of Leonard Cohen.
The exhibit and reception are part of festivities related to Ferlinghetti Day, an annual literary walkabout on March 24th, in honor of Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s birthday.
The primary intention of 3RD ST CREATIVE ARTERY is to highlight and amplify the efforts and output of artists, makers, movers, and shakers who have a connection to San Francisco’s 3RD ST through engaging exhibits, curated events, and creative programming. A cornerstone of our offering will be exhibiting the visual artwork of Lawrence Ferlinghetti who has deep and long-standing ties to the area, as he maintained a light-filled art studio at Hunters Point Shipyard for almost 40 years. We’ll also feature books, objects, and artifacts from his personal library.
2025 Leonard Cohen Festival photo by Jon Bauer and Static & Blur
CONSPIRACY OF BEARDS, THE CRUX & SF Poet Laureate GENNY LIM
November 7, 2025, 7:30PM Blue Shield Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
The San Francisco Leonard Cohen Festival, founded in 2018, is an annual celebration dedicated to honoring the poetry, music, and spirit of the legendary songwriter, poet, and author. Presented each November by Conspiracy of Beards—San Francisco’s renowned 30-member male choir devoted to Cohen’s work—the festival has grown from its early beginnings into a multi-day, multi-venue event that draws poets, musicians, artists, and audiences from across the Bay Area and beyond.
The festival emphasizes fresh interpretations of Cohen’s work, encouraging artists to reshape his words and melodies through their own creative lenses. This open, inventive approach results in a diverse program of performances, readings, and collaborations that keep Cohen’s timeless themes of love, longing, humor, and spirituality alive for new generations.
Together, the festival and the choir invite audiences to conspire in celebration of one of the 20th century’s most enduring and influential voices. The result is a vibrant gathering that honors Cohen’s legacy with creativity, reverence, and joy.
San Francisco Poet Laureate Genny Lim will open the evening, accompanied by cellist Kathryn Bates.
San Francisco’s Conspiracy of Beards perform their new show, The Unified Heart of Leonard Cohen, celebrating Cohen’s words, music, and contemplations on “The Order of the Unified Heart,” the symbol of two hearts intertwined that appears on the cover of the 1984 poetry collection Book of Mercy. This book inspired the 1985 album Various Positions, which includes some of Cohen’s most iconic songs, including “If It Be Your Will,” “Dance Me to the End of Love,” and “Hallelujah.”
The Crux is a mad scientist’s music laboratory, where songs are presented as theatrical experiments with odd and beautiful intensity: lullabies to drink your morning coffee to, gospel songs for the faithless, pirate shanties for people who get seasick, and swing music for the graceless. The Crux has appeared as chain-rattling klezmer folk punks, an unhinged revival service, a theatrical film-noir jazz combo, and more. This band is a true North Bay institution with a revolving cast of musicians assembled and coaxed into action by regional impresario Josh Windmiller. The Crux will present Cohen’s New Skin for the Old Ceremony and other favorites.
2025 Leonard Cohen Festival photos by Jon Bauer and Static & Blur
Genny Lim is the ninth San Francisco Poet Laureate and recipient of two lifetime achievement awards from PEN Oakland and the city of Berkeley. She has also served as a former SF Arts Commissioner. Lim’s award-winning play, Paper Angels, the first Asian American play to air on PBS’s American Playhouse in 1985, has been performed throughout the U.S., Canada and China. She is author of five poetry collections, Winter Place, Child of War, Paper Gods and Rebels, KRA!, La Morte Del Tempo, and co-author and translator of Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, winner of the American Book Award. Lim has worked with past Jazz legends, such as Max Roach and long-time collaborators, Jon Jang, John Santos, Francis Wong and Del Sol Quartet. Their recent show, Facing the Moon: Songs of the Diaspora recently premiered at the Presidio Theater in San Francisco. This marks Genny’s second appearance at the Leonard Cohen Festival.
Cellist Kathryn Bates’ boundless energy for sharing musical experiences has shaped a career that continues to explore the intersections of tradition and innovation. Praised for her “beautifully rounded sound” by the New York Times, Kathryn’s performances are hailed as “electrifying” (Boston Globe), characterized by a dancer’s sense of rhythm and captivating theatricality. As the New Fromm cellist of the Tanglewood Music Center from 2008-2010, she was called the “revelation” (Sequenza 21) of the Elliott Carter 100th Birthday anniversary celebration. In 2010, Kathryn joined the renowned San Francisco-based Del Sol String Quartet.
SF Poet Laureate Genny Lim and cellist Kathryn Bates
Genny Lim reads her poem, “Facing the Moon,” along with Clara Hsu’s reading of her Cantonese translation of the poem.
Facing the Moon: Songs of the Diaspora, featuring poetry written by SF Poet Laureate Genny Lim, premieres on October 19, 2025at 2pm at the Presidio Theatre in San Francisco.
Voices of mothers and daughters, across continents and generations, anchor this multimedia performance with new music by Chinese-diaspora composers Theresa Wong, Vivian Fung and Meilina Tsui. Del Sol Quartet centers the collaboration, building on their transformative Angel Island Project, with a theatrical visual experience by Olivia Ting and Mark Hellar. The musicians’ own histories, gathered through Genny Lim’s interviews, build connections between the musical sounds and Lim’s poetry.
Genny Lim, Poet Laureate, accompanied by J. Raoul Brody
Fri., August 8, 2025, 7PM Mile High Theater 7024 Crable Street Frazier Park, CA 9322
Genny Lim accompanied by J. Raoul Brody. Genevieve (Genny) Lim is an American Poet, playwright, and performer. She is the ninth poet laureate of San Francisco.
Fringe of the Woods Festival features a diverse lineup of acts and performances every year, over the course of 3 days.
Feb. 11, 2025, 5–7 p.m. Koret Auditorium, SF Main Library, 100 Larkin St. San Francisco
An exciting, kinetic procession of Indian and West African dance and drums joined together with Chinese lion dancers kicks off an electrifying evening of music, dance and poetry with San Francisco’s new poet laureate Genny Lim and former poet laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin this Tuesday, February 11, at the Main Library. San Francisco Human Rights Commission and San Francisco Public Library, in partnership with Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, the API Heritage Foundation and Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, are thrilled to present the 3rd Annual Drumbeats, Heartbeats, Communities as One celebration of the Lunar New Year and Black History Month.
“The Joint Celebration of Lunar New Year and Black History Month is an amazing opportunity to bring to gather two of San Francisco’s integral communities to celebrate unique cultures and share experiences. In view of the movement to dismantle appreciation for diversity in the country, it is upon us to step up and amplify all the contributions of diverse communities to our City,” said Claudine Cheng, APA Heritage Foundation President. “The APA Heritage Foundation is proud to partner with the San Francisco Public Library, the Human Rights Commission and Booker T. Washington Community Center in hosting this annual celebration for the third year.”
“Drumbeats, Heartbeats is a testament to the power of unity and cultural exchange. At a time when division threatens to overshadow our shared humanity, this event brings together the African American and Asian communities to celebrate resilience, artistry and history. As the San Francisco Human Rights Commission marks its 61st anniversary, we are reminded of our ongoing mission to advance equity, inclusion and justice for all. The San Francisco Human Rights Commission is honored to stand with our community partners in fostering a city where diversity is not only acknowledged but uplifted as our greatest strength,” said Mawuli Tugbenyoh, Acting Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.
This year’s program highlights artists and performers representing the African American and Asian communities, and the event attendees will gather afterwards to enjoy a meal of mixed Asian and Black cuisines for all to share. Performers include Duniya Dance and Drum Company, LionDanceME, current SF poet laureate Lim, former poet laureate Eisen-Martin and the youth group Loco Bloco.
“We’re thrilled to bring back this exciting cultural celebration,” said Michael Lambert, City Librarian. “Our City is intentional about recognizing the beauty and unique contributions of our diverse Asian American diaspora and our African American community. And that is what makes the City and County of San Francisco so special; our diversity is our strength.”
This program is produced through a partnership of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, San Francisco Public Library, the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, APA Heritage Foundation and Booker T. Washington Community Center, as well as with the community support of the Japantown Community Benefit District, Nihonmachi Street Fair, Value Culture, East West Bank, Asians Are Strong, Chinese Culture Center and Dear Community.
Sunday, February 2, 2025 3:00pm – 5:00pm Koret Auditorium
San Francisco Main Library 100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102
An afternoon of poetry, youth performances and music to mark the inauguration of San Francisco’s 9th Poet Laureate, Genny Lim, at the San Francisco Main Library.
Hosted by City Librarian Michael Lambert, the event featured performances by youth poets from Youth Speaks, a youth chorus from Clarion Children’s Theater, past San Francisco poets laureates Kim Shuck, devorah major and Alejandro Murguía with live art by Adrian Arias, and a reading by writer Kevin Simmonds.
Genny Lim, Poet Laureate of San Francisco. Photo: Kit Castagne
Lim was appointed as the city’s poet laureate in September 2024 by then Mayor London Breed. As part of her required duties as laureate, she will host an inaugural event to celebrate her poetic vision for San Francisco.
Lim is the first Chinese American appointed to the city’s three-year poet laureate position. She was born and raised in San Francisco’s Chinatown and North Beach neighborhoods and is a graduate of San Francisco State University and Columbia University. Her writing has been widely awarded and published.
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM Grant Avenue (between Sacramento & Jackson, Ross Alley & Commercial Street) FREE and open to the public
San Francisco, the oldest Chinatown in the United States, celebrates with an evening of food, culture, and community at the Chinatown Night Market & Community Festival, held in honor of Daniel Lurie’s inauguration as the 46th mayor of San Francisco on Wednesday, January 8.
Web Gallery
2025 Mayoral Inauguration Celebration in Chinatown: Francis Wong and Genny Lim perform at Edge on the Square
2025 Mayoral Inauguration Celebration in Chinatown: Francis Wong and Genny Lim perform at Edge on the Square
2025 Mayoral Inauguration Celebration in Chinatown: Francis Wong and Genny Lim perform at Edge on the Square
Passing Through: An Evening of Poetry and Music Inspired by, Loved by, and Left Behind by Leonard Cohen November 8, 2024, 7:30PM Swedish American Hall
A November celebration of the words, music, and spirit of Leonard Cohen in San Francisco. Hosted by San Francisco’s Conspiracy of Beards, a choir of men that sing the songs of Leonard Cohen, the SF Leonard Cohen Festival is a multi-artist, multi-event celebration of the poetry, literature, and music of the late singer, songwriter, author, and poet.
The three-night festival began on November 8th with works inspired by, loved by, and left behind by Cohen and performed by the city’s poets, including 2024 Poet Laureate Genny Lim, Alejandro Murguía, Tess Taylor, and Gregory Pond, and local musicians Middle Harbor Songbirds, Ruby Lee Hill, Josh “Yosh” Warren, and the female choir, Conspiracy of Venus.
“What makes him so special, his songs are like journals of his life. And because they’re so deeply personal and intimate, they become universal, because everyone can identify with his struggles, his conflicts, his love affairs, his heartbreaks, his grappling with his spirituality, and his self-criticism as a human being.”
— GENNY LIM on LEONARD COHEN
Genny Lim at the 2024 San Francisco Leonard Cohen Festival. Photo by Jon Bauer
Genny was among the artists featured in this piece by PBS News Hour special correspondent Mike Cerre, who went to the annual Leonard Cohen Festival in San Francisco to hear why Leonard Cohen’s music and poetry is celebrated by older and younger generations.
Join us for an evening of beautiful music and cultural performances as we raise funds for the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund.
Today, the situation in Haiti could not be more dire. Government backed paramilitary groups continue to terrorize opposition neighborhoods. Six hundred thousand people have had to flee their homes in the wake of this violence. Food insecurity now threatens nearly 5 million people, including 2.4 million children, in a country of 12 million.
Donations to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund go directly to grassroots organizations in Haiti that are the hope for Haiti’s future. Your funds support internal refugees who have been driven from their homes as well as those fleeing Haiti. They help sustain grassroots women’s organizations, mobile health clinics and literacy programs in Haiti’s poorest communities. Your donations will help support the University of the Dr. Aristide Foundation (UNIFA), which has opened a new teaching hospital under the most challenging conditions. And your funds will aid the growth of independent community-based media, so critical in a society where the rich control almost all sources of information.
