Scribbles Coffee in downtown Kent was host to a night of live poetry readings by Kent State University students Saturday.

“The whole point was to give friends and the Kent community a public forum for poetry,” said organizer and poet Michael Marefka. The event was the second in what will be a recurring monthly happening at the niche coffee bar.

While still in its infancy, Marefka said that the turnout for Saturday’s readings was completely unexpected and he plans on creating an official social network presence to facilitate future growth soon.

Caleb Gill, an intern at the Wick Poetry Center on campus, has attended both poetry readings thus far.

“It’s comforting that poetry can still bring that many people out,” Gill said. He and his wife Courtney, a junior exercise physiology major, both read some of their work to an engaged and attentive crowd.

Scribbles strives to maintain an art-friendly environment and serve as a hub for the creative community in Kent said Scott Budzar, husband of part-owner and barista Beth Budzar. The coffee bar has artists booked until next summer and new events are always popping up on the chalkboard calendar next to the sugar station.

Marefka said that the popularity of the readings are getting to the point where they’re going need an official web presence to maintain organization.

“There’s some very talented and creative people that come out of the woodwork,” said Rachel Godin in reference to the robust crowd at the most recent meeting.

Godin, who read a short story Saturday evening, said she plans on reading in the future.

The next reading is scheduled around Halloween in October, which Marefka hopes will have greater attendance.

Marefka said he encourages submissions from artists who are interested in participating. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Contact Andrew Keiper at [email protected].