About this Event
A holiday evening of poetry, live music, and community.
Put on something festive. Bring a friend.
Friday, December 11, 2026, beginning at 6:30 PM.
Emily’s Garden
327 SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
What to expect
- Live jazz by The G.G. Collective & Normeka Smith
- Featured Poet Oscar Fuentes, The Biscayne Poet
- A poetry open mic, with three to four minutes per reader
- Books available for purchase from featured and local poets
Reserve your place
Coming to read? Select Poet Performer when registering, then check in at the door when you arrive. Each reader has a maximum of four minutes. Original work is encouraged, and poets of all experience levels are welcome.
Coming to listen? Select Audience when registering. Listening is part of what makes this gathering possible.
All guests and poets must RSVP in advance so we can accommodate the space and coordinate the evening. If your plans change, please cancel your reservation promptly to make room for someone else.
Plan your evening
Start time: 6:30 PM. Arrive a little early to check in, order a drink, and settle into your seat.
Food and drinks: A one-drink minimum supports our venue. Nonalcoholic drinks are perfectly welcome, and food is available for purchase.
Parking: Paid street parking and paid parking in the back lot are available.
How we hold space
We ask everyone to help create an evening built on respect, attentive listening, and room for different experiences.
- Give each reader your attention and save side conversations for breaks.
- Honor the four-minute reading limit so every poet has time to share.
- Hate speech, slurs, and harassment will not be tolerated.
- This is a PG environment with a shared space with restaurant patrons.
- Snap, clap, and cheer generously.
Featured Poet: Oscar Fuentes, The Biscayne Poet
Born in Manhattan, New York to immigrant parents from Honduras, Oscar Fuentes, known as The Biscayne Poet, is a Miami-based multidisciplinary artist who has been a dedicated force in the arts for over 30 years.
Currently promoting his latest book, Geography of Light (2026), Oscar’s work captures the spirit of family and memory.
Oscar is the author of 13 books, including Relics of the Heart: Stories of my Family (2024), Poetry City (2025), and Biscayne Inferno and Other Stories (2025). His unique presence recently earned him a feature on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Miami, where he showcased his typewriter poetry performance.
Oscar also hosts a poet-in-residency program at the 1 Hotel South Beach, where he writes on his typewriter for the public every Saturday afternoon, bringing poetry to the community in a vibrant, interactive way. In recognition of his contributions to Miami’s literary community, he was awarded the inaugural Miami-Dade Mayoral Poetry Commendation by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Represented by Indie Earth Books and Jitney Books, Oscar brings a Miami-inspired style to his art, even down to his signature typewriter-tape mustache.
Explore his work at thebiscaynepoet.com
The G.G. Collective, Wild Bloom Society's Resident Musicians
Founded by trombonist Izzi Guzman and keyboardist Michael Gaspari, The G.G. Collective is a music ensemble dedicated to sharing the joy of music. We perform as a duo and larger group in South Florida and beyond, sharing our own spin of classic songs and our original music. As avid composers and teachers, we love sharing our music with the community and connecting people together through music.
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Featuring Normeka Smith
Normeka is a Texas-born singer and performer who values her faith, meaningful connections, and living authentically. Through her artistry and creativity, she strives to make a positive impact, inspire others, and bring beauty and purpose to every space she enters.
Follow her on Instagram
A note from your host
Hi, I’m Stella Amador. For most of my life, I was a secret poet.
Writing came easily. Sharing it took longer. Showing up at open mics helped me find the courage to read my work aloud and discover what happens when someone else recognizes themselves in your words.
I created Wild Bloom Society, where I bring people together through poetry, live music, and creative experiences rooted in the ethos that art belongs to everyone.
You can bring a poem, come for the music, or spend an evening listening. You don’t have to call yourself a poet to belong here.
Mic’s open. Hope to see you there,
Stella Amador
Poet • Author • Creative Producer
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About Emily’s Garden
Set on a historic garden estate in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Emily’s Garden brings together dining, drinks, and gathering spaces indoors and among the greenery. We’re grateful to call it home for Wild Bloom Poetry.
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Event venue & nearby stays
Emily's Garden, 327 Southwest 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.