Arnie’s Poetry Cafe at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse was started by Arnie Reisman and continues in his honor. The journalist, playwright, poet, television and film producer, and raconteur died in 2021 but his legacy lives on in many corners of the Island, but especially at the Poetry Cafe.

This Wednesday, Jan. 18, fans get to hear and pay tribute to Mr. Reisman with a reading of Cages of Stages, his fourth book of poetry, published posthumously. The evening of Arnie poetry will be led by Fan Ogilvie and the Cleaveland House Poets. Mr. Reisman’s wife Paula Lyons is the special guest for the evening, but really all in attendance should consider themselves special guests. That is the way Mr. Reisman treated everyone he met, from the stranger to the longtime friend.

The event begins at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, 24 Church street, Vineyard Haven. For more information, contact the playhouse at mvplayhouse.org or 508-696-6300.