Poet Allen Ginsberg To Attend Birth Of Seattle Salon/Bookstore

Just west of Pioneer Square's eager ebb and fractured flow on First Avenue is a large-windowed, granite-faced, seemingly abandoned storefront. Tuesday night it was mostly dark and quiet, a single stark light in a back room lending just enough illumination to show a space in transition.

The walls are painted a fresh unadorned white. Dark blue couches and empty book shelves are waiting to be filled. Bags and boxes of donated treasures - mostly books - rest against one another, waiting to be categorized, waiting to be read again.

The 1,800-square-foot space at 74 S. Washington St. is nearing completion and rebirth. After 2 1/2 years of work and struggle, writer Hamish Todd and a small army of like-minded comrades are about to realize a long desired dream: to have a sanctuary where men and women of words and letters can come together to read, write, fight, and further the creation and appreciation of the written word.

The Seattle Writers Guild Literary Salon and Bookstore is about to become reality.

"The idea started 2 1/2 years ago when I was at Seattle Community College," says Todd, an English-born and American-raised writer, editor, publisher, raconteur and bartender - best known in the latter capacity for his drink-slinging at Belltown's Crocodile Cafe.

"I was going through a divorce and needed something to do so my friend John Kruzan and I founded the guild. When we got out of school, I called some more college buddies and said, `Hey, you want to do this on the outside?' Basically, we just wanted to have a support group for writers, only on a larger scale."

Toward that end Todd is calling in as many favors as possible. He's managed to get legendary beat poet Allen Ginsberg to come to Seattle for a reading Saturday. Afterward, Ginsberg will be at the Crocodile for a book signing, along with local poets. And music by Sister Psychic, Fear the Cow and others.

It's a labor of love for Todd, who at one time supported himself as The Wordman, ghosting love letters, sonnets, apologies and the like for the correspondence-challenged. He first went public with the salon concept by starting Primarily Prose, a group of poets, tall-tale tellers, liars and occasional brawlers who met regularly at Belltown's Ditto Tavern for beers, coffee and readings.

"We eventually outgrew the Ditto and moved Primarily Prose to the Croc once a month," he said. Todd didn't limit the readings to poetry and prose. He brought in music and comedy. He initiated his version of the poetry "slam" - competitive readings for cash prizes. It prospered. He began a monthly newsletter, The Learned Reader.

But the salon and bookstore have remained his primary target.

"We're still waiting for completion (of the process to become a nonprofit organization) but that hasn't stopped the donations and participation."

Ackerley Communications donated billboard space on Aurora Avenue announcing the guild's salon. Tower Books has contributed. An open house April 18 will mark the salon's official opening.

Todd foresees a place with a computer and laser printer, research material and a video/audio library. "We're also working with a Youth Outreach counselor to do stuff with kids. We eventually want to set up scholarships."

His administrative duties have kept Todd more than busy. "I really haven't had any time to knock out any prose, although I have been able to put down some poetry here and there.

"I kind of had to. After all, I'll be reading with Allen Ginsberg come Saturday night."

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Allen Ginsberg reads Saturday at a benefit for Seattle Writers Guild, 7 p.m., A Contemporary Theatre, 100 W. Roy St. Tickets ($17.50) available at TicketMaster (628-0888). Afterward, he'll sign books at the Crocodile Cafe, 2200 Second Ave.

The opening of the guild's salon, 74 S. Washington St., will be noon to 7 p.m. April 18. For more information on Ginsberg or the guild, call 937-8747.