We hosted the Mondo!Purdy Video Dance Party on Saturday night to help raise money for the Purdy A-frame Trust. Here are some pics from the event.

The prizes (including the broadsheet Lament for Bukowski, signed by Al Purdy and valued at $250).

The bar.

Live tweeting from the event.

Bookstore owner and head Chef, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes slow dancing

Andrea and Ariel paired off.

Dance circles were also a big thing.

The night ended with Kelly dancing up on a picture of Margaret Atwood.

Award-winning poets Catherine Hunter and Chandra Mayor, along with CBC personality Clare Lawlor (DNTO) do some nice ribbon work to ABBA’s Dancing Queen at the M!PVDP.

We’re throwing a massive fundraiser in support of the Purdy A-frame Trust (helping turn Purdy’s house into a writer’s retreat).

Fun begins at 8 and goes until it’s time to leave. There will be booze, social food, prizes and, yes, ABBA. $10 for grown ups, $5 for students.

Dave will be DJ-ing, meaning he set up a play list on iTunes (oh snap!!!).

Come and see if Poets know how to party!

Poet Al Purdy

Just a reminder that Mondo Purdy is in full swing with a Boxcar Chat tonight discussing the life and work of this great Canadian poet. It will be featuring poets David Arnason and Dennis Cooley, with critic Neil Besner and moderator Ron Robinson.

Charles Bukowski referring to Al Purdy.

Mondo Purdy is just two and a half weeks away!

We launched a new site, MondoPoetry.ca, which will promote our annual 5 day festival that will celebrate a Canadian poet.

This year will be Mondo Purdy which will celebrate and dive into the work and life of Al Purdy. There will be workshops, readings and a party on the last night to help raise money to turn his old house to a writers retreat.

- Poet Dennis Cooley (on being asked to participate in Mondo Purdy! 2009…. watch out for it)

Iconic Canadian poet Al Purdy’s widow, 84-year-old Eurithe Purdy, sweeping off the roof of the ramshackle cottage Al built.

This house, where Al would invite the likes of Michael Ondaatje, Tom Marshall and David Helwig (before any had even published a book) to discuss poetry, is now being turned into a writers retreat.

(look out for more Al Purdy based tumbles as Aqua gets ready to host Mondo Purdy)