BARUCH COLLEGE, NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: Encounters Magazine held its Spring 2017 Release Party on Tuesday, May 16 in the multi-purpose room. (Photo by Rebecca Simon for Advanced Multimedia)
BARUCH COLLEGE, NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: The event featured an array of Italian food, which was quickly eaten by attendees. (Photo by Rebecca Simon for Advanced Multimedia)
BARUCH COLLEGE, NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: Encounters Editor-In-Chief Damian Miia Benskin took to the stage and opened the event with some remarks, then introduced the musical performers. (Photo by Rebecca Simon for Advanced Multimedia)
BARUCH COLLEGE, NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: Benskin addressed a crowd of roughly 50 people, many of whom submitted entries into the Harman Poetry Competition. (Photo by Rebecca Simon for Advanced Multimedia)
BARUCH COLLEGE, NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: The first musical performance featured two guitarists and a female lead singer who sung folk songs in a soft voice. (Photo by Rebecca Simon for Advanced Multimedia)
BARUCH COLLEGE, NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: The lead vocalist was then replaced by an improv singer, who switched up the sound of the performance and made up the lyrics as she went along, based on crowd suggestions. (Photo by Rebecca Simon for Advanced Multimedia)
BARUCH COLLEGE, NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: Benskin took the microphone again to introduce Gregory Guma, who read a series of haikus about love, which Encounters published in their most recent issue. (Photo by Rebecca Simon for Advanced Multimedia)
BARUCH COLLEGE, NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: Guma read his haikus methodically, adding a bongo solo between each one. (Photo by Rebecca Simon for Advanced Multimedia)
BARUCH COLLEGE, NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: After several more readings, Benskin announced the cutting of the famous red velvet cake, an Encounters tradition for all of its release parties. (Photo by Rebecca Simon for Advanced Multimedia)
BARUCH COLLEGE, NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: Attendee Angel Torres, 22, commented on the party saying, “I really enjoyed all of the performances tonight, but my favorite was the improv music group. The singer had an amazing voice and it was fun to hear her vibe with the crowd.” (Photo by Rebecca Simon for Advanced Multimedia)