BY GREG ROBINSON, Lions’ Pride Online Editor
Dade City’s newest coffee house and cafe, Sufficient Grounds, was the site of an open-mic event on Thursday, Sept. 1. A multitude of Saint Leo students, faculty, and staff, as well as local Dade City residents, packed the small venue for a night of music, poetry, and performance pieces.
The event was arranged with the help of Dr. Kurt Wilt (Dean of English) and Senior English major Brittany Rathbone. Other writers presenting their work were Saint Leo English faculty Dr. Patrick Crerand, Brent Short, and Carol Ann Moon. IIn addition, the Director of Theater Dave McGinnis, accompanied by his talented vocalist wife Brook, entertained the crowd with music between poets.
The pieces presented ranged from conventional poetry to more experimental verse, even a poem about bullfighting that called for some impromptu musical backing. Published poet Gianna Russo read from one of her latest publications, while some of her books were on sale, such as Blue Slumber, by Yellow Jacket Press. Saint Leo English student Mathew Rodgers played a song on guitar inspired by the Arthur Miller play, Death of a Salesman, while yet another artist performed a moving spoken word piece about Jamaica.
Sufficient Grounds is a recent addition to downtown Dade City, but judging by the way patrons filled the venue, it is already a hit. The coffee house and cafe is located at 14249 7th Street, Dade City, FL. Rathbone was very excited about the event and the owner of Sufficient Grounds.
“The business is only recently established, but she’s [Sharon] doing a lovely job, and she loved having us there. I recommend the muffins, by the way.” Rathbone said in an e-mail interview with The Lions’ Pride.
Plans for an October open mic night are already underway. With any luck, the open mic nights will become a monthly feature for Sufficient Grounds.
“I was pleasantly (if not rather nervously) surprised to see so many people. Kids from the local high school made an appearance as well as writers from the area. We didn’t have enough seating for the entire crowd, but everyone was respectful of the performers, and we all had a great time.” Rathbone said.
