Poetry News

****POETRYNEWS****
To receive Poetry News in your email write to
or check it out online at http://www.poetrynewscalendar.com/.

Here is your Poetry News for the week of August 18, 2008.
Spoken word events rumble like Summer thunder over the Pioneer Valley and beyond.

Please email if you would like to be added to the mailing
or are interested in featuring at Word in Westfield open mic on Tuesdays.
Peace through poetry - Lori


Spoken Word in Westfield:

Community Voices Poetry Open Mic
is CHANGING PLACE and DAY, and is now

WORD IN WESTFIELD
EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT 7PM
at Teapot Gallery
22 Elm Street (route 10/202)
in Westfield, MA
Hosted by Eli Baenziger and Lori Desrosiers

Sign up is at 6:30 and open mic starts at 7:00PM
followed by a guest feature.
All are welcome.

We are joining forces with Spoken Word Open Mic,
which is ongoing NOW
every Tuesday night at 7
Feature poets will resume September 9th (TUESDAY)

Features in September:
Sept. 9 - Crystal Senter-Brown
Sept. 16 - Donnie Darkhorse
Sept. 23 - TBA
Sept. 30 - Greg Scott

We are now booking features for October and November.
Please email if you haven't featured in at least 6 months
and would like to return, or if you would be interested in featuring for the first time.

Poetry, Prose,
Verse, Yarns

Come to listen, come to speak,
Your words, words for our times,
Immortal words, mortal words...

Call 562-6966 (Teapot) or 348-7218 (Eli B.)

for info and encouragement,
or email to feature.



Chicopee/Holyoke/Springfield Area Poetry


NEW OPEN MIC
Starving for Art Presents
open mic Mondays
@ Blue Fusion Bar and Grille
487 St. James Ave
Springfield, MA
doors open at 6pm for social hour.
Showtime is 7-9pm
All poets, musicians, singers, and visual artists are welcome.
This event is free
For more info visit http://www.brendaschild.com/


SPRINGFIELD LIBRARY POETRY

Spoken Word Saturdays!
The Springfield City Library's monthly open mic series
moves outside for the summer:

Poetry in the Park
August 16
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Quadrangle Tent, behind the library
(Community Room if weather is bad)
Springfield City Library
220 State Street


The Library Creative Writing Group will continue to meet
throughout the summer… although the times may change a bit!
No advance sign-ups needed,
but if you'd like more information, contact
Anna at .

Shariff's, Daisy's, and Maurice's
April 12th performances are on youtube -
http://www.youtube.com/user/springfieldlibrary ]

Readings at the monthly Open Mic series should be "family-friendly."
Questions? Or to sign up,
contact Anna at
or 263-6828 x426.
Free parking is available in the State Street lot across from the library,
or in the Elliot Street lot next to the Springfield Museums Welcome Center.

http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/poetry/poetrypage.html
Or contact Anna at
or 413.263.6828 x426.

Bookmark the Poetry Page
http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/poetry/poetrypage.html
for updated information, and to read the work of some of our poets
(anyone who's read at events here, send a poem to be posted!)


Word in the Valley and Beyond

Eddie Bartok-Baratta, Poems & Flute
Sunday, August 17, 2008, 7 p.m.
Friend's Meetinghouse
43 Center St.,
Northampton, MA
suggested donation $5
for more info: 413.584.8187

SUMMER POETRY SLAM II
Thursday, August 21, 2008
7-10pm
at The Yellow Sofa Cafe,
24 Main Street
Northampton, MA
for more info
contact Jamila at

CALL FOR NEW MEMBERS
SLATE ROOF PRESS
is currently accepting
poetry manuscripts from prospective members.
Deadline for submission:
Halloween, 2008.

Slate Roof, a member-run press which has up to now published
Franklin County poets, invites Western Mass poets to apply for
membership. To do so, submit three copies of a chapbook
manuscript (about 28 pages of poems), plus a brief bio. Include in the
bio any collective or group work you've been involved in, or special
skills you have related to publicity and/or publishing.

Membership requires a non-refundable $500 investment (payable
over time, if necessary), a three-year work commitment of
approximately 8-10 hours of work per month , and the
willingness to attend monthly meetings in Greenfield. Please visit our
website at
http://www.slateroofpress.com/ for more information and to see pictures
of our art-quality chapbooks featuring letterpress covers and local
artwork.

Manuscripts must be postmarked by Halloween, 2008. All
materials should be sent to Slate Roof, 15 Warwick Avenue, Northfield,
MA 01360-9638.


New Writing Group
Wednesdays at 2pm,
Windhorse Associates,
211 North St, Noho.
Chaya Grossberg and David Stark.
Lots of poetry, lots of humor.



FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY .
The Florence Poets Society celebrates it's 5th year of existence
with the next meeting of the new season on
Thursday August 14 at the Lilly Library in Florence.
Our new starting time is 6:30 pm so that Society business can
be conducted prior to the poetry portion of the meeting,
which will be from 7-9 pm. Regular meetings are held the second
Thursday of every month. An annual membership fee of $15 dollars
contributes to our programs and events, however it is not necessary
to be a member to participate.
All poets are welcome to attend and share original work.
We are always looking for new poets.
Discussion and critique is offered if desired.
Look for our new writing group coming soon.

For more information:
Email us at or check out our web
page at http://www.florencepoetssociety.org/


Florence Poets Society Readings:

Listen to "Twilite's Poetry Pub" now Weekly!
Enjoy the "Pub" with Carl and Tom every Wednesday from 9-10 am
on Valley Free Radio, WXOJ 103.3 fm, Northampton and now
with improved streaming at http://www.valleyfreeradio.org/ !!!
Poetry to the people!
WXOJ-FM LP 103.3 and streaming at www.valleyfreeradio.org.
Bringing to you a variety of interesting poetry and music!

-----------------------------
All events are free and open to the public except as noted
For more information, Call Tom at (413) 584-5914
or email at: [email protected]
or: [email protected] or visit:
www.florencepoetssociety.org
or visit: http://www.tommytwilite.com/


Poetry Nights in Northampton:

Writer's Group at Packard's in Northampton:
Northampton Writer's Group is an ongoing writer's group
for any kind of written word. We currently have several openings
for new members.
For information please contact Lori
It meets in the library room at Packard's restaurant/bar at
14 Masonic St. in Northampton.
Participants bring copies of their work to read and have
critiqued in a supportive, gentle, constructive environment.
The next dates -
Sunday August 17, 6-9pm
Sunday August 31, 6-9pm



POETRY A LA CARTE
on WMUA-Amherst 91.1 FM
Fridays 4:30-5:00pm
The program, hosted by Daisy Mathias,
includes reading aloud from past
and contemporary poets, and occasionally
features live interview and
poetry-reading with a local poet.


Greenfield/Shelbourne Falls and North


New Writers’ Monthly Open Microphone Features Poet Stephen Lindow
September 4 in Greenfield

An informal Greenfield community group has announced the first of a series of open microphone sessions for writers on Thursday, September 4, 7:00 P.M., at Bart’s Café of Greenfield, 286 Main St. Subsequent open microphone meetings will occur on the first Thursday of each month.

Sessions will consist of a sign up for participants at 6:45 P.M., a 7:00 presentation by a previously selected “Featured Reader” and five minute reading slots for participants.

Local poet Stephen Lindow will be the first “Featured Reader.” Stephen holds the MFA degree in English from UMass-Amherst, where he also taught Honors Composition, Business Communication and Creative Writing. Stephen interned at The Massachusetts Review, and toured with Poetry Alive!.

Dr. Larry Fader, one of the group’s organizers, described the series as “An opportunity to promote writing for people of varying degrees of accomplishment. We want everyone to feel at home reading their work,” he said. Sessions are free. For more information, contact Dr. Larry A. Fader, (413) 475-3321 or write him at .



Collected Poets Series
at Mocha Maya’s Coffee House,
47 Bridge Street,
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370,
413-625-6292.
Wheelchair accessible. Free.

The Series
August ~ No CPS ~
Sept.4 —Toi Derricotte and Regie O’Hare-Gibson
Oct. 2 — Carol Frost and Michael Waters
Nov. 6 — Wyn Cooper and Amy Dryansky
Dec. 4 — Dzvinia Orlowsky and Mary Clare Powell
Jan. 8 — Patrick Donnelly and special guest


Contact info: Lea Banks, 39 Green St., Apt. 2., Shelburne Falls, MA 01370, (H) 413.625.6702
Website: http://www.mochamayas.com/


Spoken Word Greenfield
Spoken Word Greenfield
Tuesday August 19th
At 9 Mill St in Greenfield
Doors open at 7:00
Open Mike at 7:30
Feature Readers Julie Payne Brintton and Greg Bechle
Will read from their works
Book signing and selling of local writers works will be available
Refreshments
Come up to read
Bring your chap books to sell
We will have tables at no cost
Open mic will be five minute slots

Directions
If you come up 91
Come into the center of Greenfield
At the lights of Federal and Main
Where the Common is
You take a Rt
Down the hill
Toyota will be on you left
You go under the railroad bridge
Come to a light
Take a RT
and you are there
That is Mill St
9 is on the conner
You can park in the Art Space next door
or on the street
If you are coming up 5 & 10 into Greenfield
When you come to the lights
Where you can either go left
Or Right under the Railroad bridge
You want to go Left
That is Mill St
9 is the first building



News from Mo and Ginger Cat Press

Equinox is still planning open mics for Charlemont, Northampton,
Orange and Pittsfield. These will be scheduled for July-August time frame.

The Equinox Literary Magazine NEWS:
This issue will be released, god willing and the creek dont rise,
on Sunday, Sept 21, 3-5 at Moca Maya's coffee house in Shelburne Falls
-- go ahead, put it on your calendar: in ink!

The web site can be accessed with this address:
http://www.thebooksmyth.com/
Maureen
Web site: http://www.thebooksmyth.com/ submission guidelines now available


SEPT
21 Shelburne: Sunday 3-5 at Mocha Maya 2008 issue Release Party
25 Amherst: Thursday, 7-9 at

The Equinox is available at http://www.thebooksmyth.com/



Word in the Berkshires


TAYLOR MALI HOSTS FIRST TRIPLEX POETRY SLAM
Thursday Aug. 28
9:00

Not Rated 1 Hr 15 Min. Spoken Word
What is a poetry slam? A slam is a poetry reading competition
judged by five randomly selected members of the audience
who are given score cards and told to judge each poet using
whatever criteria they want. Usually this criteria involves some
mixture of literary merit and performance skill.
The poems performed don't need to be memorized, but memorization
certainly helps your performance.All poems have to be original compositions.
You can quote/refer to/parody/signify or otherwise allude to another work,
but it's got to be your creation.
There is a three minute time limit, with a 10-second grace period.
Points start getting deducted after 3:10.00 (half a point for every
10 seconds over 3:10).
You can read excerpts of a longer work, but unless the excerpt
stands alone as a unit the audience isn't likely to get it.
There is only one round so you need just one poem.
Not this time. Perhaps in the future. But this time you just need one poem.
Want to Enter?
Competitors pay $10 (1/2 the normal admission price),
but the number of competitors is limited to 15.
We cannot "guarantee" a spot in the slam should there be more than 15.
If you would like to participate, show up at the Triplex Cinema at 8:30
pm on the night of August 28th .
At 8:45 pm we'll draw 15 names out of a hat.
Those not picked should take heart in what Walt Whitman said:
"To have great poetry there must be great audiences, too."
So buy a ticket and see how you measure up.
Don't want to perform but want to come?
Advance Tickets Recommended Tickets Available on line or at the box office.
All seats $20.
Triplex Cinemas are at 70 Railroad St. Great Barrington, MA

Lend Me Your Ears!
Open Mic for the Spoken Word,
Sunday, August 31, from 2 to 4p.m.
at Arrowhead, the home of Herman Melville,
780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, now a museum.

Sign ups begin at 1:30p.m.
The Open Mic is hosted by Equinox,
the locally published literary journal featuring writers, poets
and artists of Western Massachusetts and beyond.
Light refreshments and good fellowship.
Go to the museum site for directions: http://www.mobydick.org/


Lee Writers Group
(every 2nd Tuesday of the month)
at the Lee Library Conference Room.

Develop and hone writing skills through constructively critiquing
others as well as receiving helpful hints and suggestions.
This forum will host a variety of short stories, poetic compilations,
insightful and original essays, and other varieties of writing similarly
tangible in length. The purpose of this group is to embody character
and narrator through obsessive directive fervor with written and
spoken words.
The group will meet every second Tuesday sharing original works
via recitation and distribution and should be prepared to accept
constructive feedback and be able to, in return, deliver such
feedback in a respectable and deliberate manner.
Contact
or call 413 243-8116 for further information.


Stockbridge Booksellers Open Mic
Garfield Reed hosts our bi-monthly open mike poetry night
every other month on the third Thursday of the month.
...The Power of Words. P.O.W. is open to all poets,
writers and performance artists of all types.
We also welcome those less dramatic types who prefer
to watch from the audience. recently we have seen some
amazing young poets come out and wow their audience.
Don't miss out!!



Word Street
is a youth literacy project and creative writing center located at
163 North Street in downtown Pittsfield.
Since 2003, Word Street has offered homework help, tutoring,
MCAS and SAT test prep, creative writing instruction,
mini-magazine publishing, summer camps, and much more to
Berkshire County youth ages 7-18 absolutely free of charge.

"Poets are the theoretical physicists of language.
Rivers of literary magma are flowing just under the
surface all over Berkshire County.
This reading is a volcano."
--Steve Dew

For more information, please contact:
Steve Dew
Development Director
Word Street
163 North Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
( 413) 458-5171 home
(415) 407-3664 mobile
( 413) 997-3307 office
http://www.blogger.com/http://www.blogger.com/

Check out this website for information on
spoken word events in Pittsfield:
There are some great events so check it out.
http://www.wordstreet.org/



Word in Ware/Palmer:

Carpe Stylum! (Latin for Seize the pen!)
meets every Wednesday 6-8pm, usually at the Ware Library
but some meetings are held elsewhere.
This group includes poets, short story writers, novelists,
historians, political satirists, video game designer and others.
All are welcome.
Call LuWanda Cheney (413) 277-9676 for a schedule.



Word in Worcester:


The Poets' Asylum has a New Home!!!
The Poets' Asylum is super pleased to announce that we have a new venue...
Jumpin' Juice & Java (335 Chandler Street, Worcester).
The owners and management loved what they heard on Sunday night at
the NorthBeat Regional Slam. The organizers are psyched to have such a
great new space to call home and we look forward to restarting the weekly
reading the week after Nationals.

The first night for the Poets' Asylum weekly reading at Jumpin' Juice and Java will be Sunday, August 17th. In addition to a new venue we will also have a new start time - 6:00 p.m. We have an awesome feature already booked, Molly Meacham, to christen our new space.
So mark your calendars and plan on joining us on August 17th for the return of the Poets' Asylum weekly reading. We're looking forward to it and we hope you are too!

***
Shakti Women's Writing Pact
The Shakti Women's Writing Pact meets
every Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. at
the Java Hut (1073A Main Street, Worcester).
Shakti was created with the intention of enhancing women's
sense of belonging within the poetry community through the
an unmoderated writing circle.
For more information please contact Sou MacMillan at
.

Chris Fortin Tonight@ The Ship
This week The Spot, the weekly poetry reading at the Hotel Vernon (1 Kelly Square, Worcester), will hold an open mic and a feature by Chris Fortin. The reading starts at 8:00 p.m. with an open mic run by stunt host Tony Brown. No cover; bring a few bucks to throw in the captain's hat and to buy a $1 draft. 21+
Worcester Storyteller's Friday Night

Worcester Storytellers
meets on the second Friday of each month at the Village Arts Gallery (1 Ekman Street, Worcester). The reading starts at 8:00 p.m. There will be an extended open mic with the theme of The Dog Days of Summer. Worcester Storytellers never charges a cover. They ask you throw some money into the basket to support the artists who feature. For more info please contact .



THE ECLECTIC WORD, Radio Show
Poet and journalist Victor D. Infante hosts The Eclectic Word, an
Internet radio show that will delve into literature's fringe with poets,
satirists, alternative journalists and even (gasp!) bloggers. We'll be
stepping off the beaten path of literature, taking a close look at the odd,
the eccentric and the cutting-edge. Should be fun.

The show will run at 7 p.m. EST the first and third Friday of every month,
as part of The World Wide Word Radio Network. You can listen to the
shows live, or you can download it later for your listening convenience.
So give it a listen! It's going to be a blast!


CT POETRY
-------------------------------------------------------
Visit the CT Poet Online calendar,
updated weekly: http://www.poetz.com/connecticut

Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series
at Manchester Community College,
Manchester, Connecticut 06040

3rd Thursday of the month, 7-9 p.m.
Free and open to the public

For directions and more information, please visit:
www.mcc.commnet.edu/faculty/spoken.php

SEPTEMBER 18
Featured Poet: BESSY REYNA is an award-winning Latina poet. Her latest book, The Battlefield of Your Body, a bilingual poetry collection, was released in June of 2005 by the Hill-Stead Museum. Her first poetry collection in English, She Remembers, was published in 1997 by Andrew Mountain Press. Reyna's poems and stories are found in U.S. and Latin American literary magazines, including the Connecticut Review and online in the Global Media Journal, as well as in numerous anthologies. She is also a monthly opinion columnist for The Hartford Courant. A frequent lecturer and guest artist at colleges, libraries and museums, Reyna is also a Master Teaching Artist for the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. More information on her can be found at: http://www.bessyreyna.com/.

Featured Musician: JIM MERCIK, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter, has been performing for more than 20 years as both a soloist and as an accompanist with a multitude of artists, including Grammy Award winners Bonnie Raitt and Ramblin' Jack Elliot. His composition, "Is This Enough," is included in the Smithsonian's Permanent Collection of Folk Music in Washington, DC. A former student of the legendary performer, Dave Van Ronk, Jim’s many radio and lecture appearances have brought the news and blues of American roots music to listeners and students across the Northeast USA.

PLEASE NOTE: The Spoken Word Open Mic will now be a separate event sponsored by MCC’s Poets Club on the 1st Tuesday evening of each month, beginning on October 7. Writers who read for the Mishi-maya-gat Open Mic are encouraged to support this new venue. More information on the new Open Mic will be posted on the Mishi-maya-gat web site.



The Monday Night Windsor Poets
are still meeting for serious poets interested in critique
at 6:30 PM on the second and fourth Mondays
at the Windsor Library, Windsor CT
Call Alice Ahrens Williams at 860-668-6142
or Janet Henderson at 860-688-5770.
Alice and Janet are both on the staff of the Common Ground
Review, an international poetry magazine.



First Tuesday Poetry Series
at Broad Street Books in Middletown
starts at 7:00pm
with a featured poet followed by an open mic.
Broad Street Books
45 Broad Street
Middletown, CT
(860)685-7323



Poetry at Peaberry's Café Simsbury, CT
ArtSpeak
4th Saturday of every month.
This month's date, August 23rd
Because local artists are important, and should be celebrated.
Peaberry's Cafe
712 Hopmeadow St
Simsbury, CT
(860) 658-2930
Host Robert Dauphinais
Peaberry's, a great alternative to the local bar scene, is a cosy little
cafe that seeks to give local artists support, a voice, and a venue!
Help us keep this dream alive! Food is served all night and wine, beer,
and coffee cordials are served after 5:00.

The night will begin at 7:30 and go until 9:30, however,
if there is an abundance of artists, we will go until 10:00.
Our aim is to create an environment where poets of all ages
will feel welcome and wanted, as well as challenged.
We want this to be an atmosphere where artists can share
and network, and, most importantly, grow!

All ages are welcome and we ask that each artist be sensitive
to the audience and what may or may not be appropriate.
Beyond this request, we want to keep censorship to a minimum,
and we support freedom of speech and expression.

So come, bring your friends, students, parents, children, neighbors...
let's see if we can set the CT poetry scene on fire!

Please email Leanne at
with any questions or suggestions.

ELIZABETH THOMAS at Hill-Stead
Join Us for a Poetry Reading and Book Signing
Sunday, September 7, 3–5 pm
In honor of the publication of her new collection of poems,
From the Front of the Classroom, Hill-Stead is pleased to host
a reading and book signing with author, performer and educator
Elizabeth Thomas. Taking the reader through her childhood,
young adulthood and marriage to her passionate involvement
with teaching and poetry, this collection reveals the rich inner
life that has made Elizabeth Thomas such an inspiration.
"In a culture that expects results from its educators,
Elizabeth Thomas has found a way to make a unique
connection in her book, as in her classroom," comments
former student Alex Lopez. Jeff Ostroff, Principal at
Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, says the poems "resonate
with life so that the poet in all of us may sing."
A widely published poet and advocate of the arts,
Elizabeth Thomas has read her work throughout the
United States and has been a member of three Connecticut
National Poetry Slam teams. She devotes much of her
energy and time to designing and teaching writing programs
for schools and organizations across the country, promoting
literacy and the power of the written and spoken word.
As an outstanding advocate of youth in the arts, Elizabeth
is a coach and organizer with Brave New Voices: International
Youth Poetry Slam and Festival. She is also the founder of
UpWords Poetry (www.upwordspoetry.com), a company
dedicated to promoting programs for young writers and educators,
based on the belief that poetry is meant to be heard out loud and in person.

Come to the museum early on September 7 and take advantage of
First Sunday activities — tour the museum at your own pace starting
at 12 pm, hear a gallery talk at 1 pm on Accoutrements of the Toilette,
enjoy a guided estate walk at 2 pm, then relax and treat yourself to
a special poetry reading with Elizabeth Thomas at 3 pm in the Makeshift
Theater.
Book signing and refreshments to follow.
First Sunday activities are free to members or with museum admission;
the poetry reading is free to the public.
To learn more about the book or to order a copy, visit Antrim House at www.antrimhousebooks.com.
Browse www.hillstead.org for more information on this and other activities.



POETRY POTLUCK
at
The Sanctuary

Do you love poetry?

Would you like to be part of an ongoing poetry discussion group
offering food for the mind and the heart?

If so, come and join us on the this first Sunday of August (August 3)
from 4.30-6.00 PM at The Sanctuary in East Haddam, Connecticut,
to discuss poetry and build community.

This is not about sharing our own work but instead offers us a chance
to share the work of poets we love, so you don’t have to be a poet to be
part of this group. Just come and bring your love of poetry and a poem you would like to share.

Hosted by Greg Coleman, Suzy Lamson, and Edwina Trentham

For more information call 860-319-1134.


GUMBOLIVE
This is an open mic with a feature
and real Gumbo!
It is held on the 1st Thursday of the Month
at Vibz Uptown in Hartford, CT
3155 Main Street.
If people want to feature,
call James Lewis at 413-221-4768.




WEDNESDAY NIGHT POETRY SERIES
Every Wednesday 7:30
at: 102 Greenwood Ave,
Bethel CT
Open mike sign up begins at 7:30. The open mic begins at 8
open for people to read their work 3-5 minutes.
The first 8-10 poets will read before the feature
who will read for 30 minutes followed by a
Q & A. Open mic will continue till closing time.
WNPS represents a varied community of people with
a common interest and appreciation for poetry.
The open mic is open to poetry, stories and musician (5 minute time limit).

WNPS, going on 12 years has been the longest
CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING WEEKLY Poetry Open MIC
and featured poet reading series in Connecticut!
For more details and updates: http://www.wedpoetry.net/
Or http://www.wednesdaypoetry.com/
and http://www.wednesdaypoetry.org/


HARTFORD HAPPENINGS

LEMON ANDERSEN coming to THE BUSHNELL (tickets on sale in August)
On Monday evening, December 1, poet Lemon Andersen will bring his jarring coming of age memoir to life at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Literature to Life series, a creation of The American Place Theatre in New York. Lemon’s portrait of a modern “manchild” on a tumultuous journey of self-discovery is performed in his unique voice, weaving drama with urban poetry. His true story of finding passion and purpose in life, against all odds, exposes the human experience behind the most influential and prevalent cultural movement of our time, commonly referred to as hip-hop.

Lemon Andersen is a critically acclaimed poet best known for his Tony Award winning work in Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam on Broadway and HBO. Lemon’s memoir (working titles The Beautiful Struggle or County of Kings) is a work in progress and has not yet been published.

Date: Monday, December 1, 2008
Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., including pre-show lecture and post-show Q&A
Place: The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford CT 06106
Autorino Great Hall / open seating
The Literature to Life series (five shows) goes on sale July 24 ($130)
Single tickets ($30) go on sale in August.
To purchase, call the box office at 860-987-5900 or Audrey at 860-987-6052
or email her at < >
For information about the Literature to Life series, call Zita at 860-987-6092
or email her at



SOUL SESSIONS at Vibz Uptown
The creator of Love Jones brings you--
"Soul Sessions" every Wednesday night 9:00 PM - 11:00PM

Join us for live Jazz Jams & share your Poetry and Song
backed by a live band or just come and chill in the vibe
of Hartford’s Hottest Open Mic Event.
Hosted By Charmagne

For more info, call 860-874-8797
or email mailto:[email protected]

Vibz Uptown
3155 Main Street
Hartford, CT
(860) 246-7390


Freestyle Hip-Hop Open Mic
Tuesdays
in Hartford
Filthy Kleen host Sully’s Hip-Hop Open Mic night
every Tuesday in Hartford
Sully’s Pub
2071 Park St.Hartford, CT
860-231-8881
http://www.sullyspub.com/




Boston Area Poetry Info:



WEDNESDAYS
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Central Square's world-famous Cantab Lounge
presents weekly performances from local and national poets, as well as a
chance to present your own work in the open mic or poetry slam.
DJ Muse spins before the show and between poets.
Upcoming features include:

Wednesday, August 20-
Westchester, New York poet LAURA VOOKLES (LV) can claim
both a spot on the first Westchester Slam team and Pushcart Prize
nominations for poetry and prose. First semi-final slam in the 8x8 series:
Tai, Adam, James, McKendy.

Wednesday, August 27-
Local poet, musician, and sound engineer Erich Hagan has been
a perennial finalist at the Boston Poetry Slam since 2004.
This year, he earned the chance to represent the Cantab at the 2008
Individual World Poetry Slam in Charlotte, NC.
Special $5 cover charge tonight to help send Erich to IWPS.

Doors for the show open at 7:30. The open mic begins at 8:00,
the feature performs at approximately 10:00, and an open poetry slam follows.
The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3 unless otherwise noted.
Simone Beaubien, SlamMaster The Boston Poetry Slam at
The Cantab Lounge
738 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge, Mass. http://www.slamnews.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bostonpoetryslam


the Boston Poetry Slam @ the Cantab Lounge bringing contemporary
poetry to the community since 1991

_____
THURSDAYS
Lowell Poetry Slam and Open Mic Every FIRST Thursday at Brew'd
Awakening! Only poets can compete in the slam and win the prize...
but the mic is open to musical performers as well.
Whether you come to perform, compete or just enjoy some coffee
and great local talent, don't miss this event!
7:00pm - 9:30 pm
*Sign-up between 6:30-7:00*
The event is free and open to the public—so come on down for an evening
of good company and some terrific regional voices!
Brew'd Awakening Coffeehaus
61 Market Street
Lowell, MA 978-454-BREW
For more info, please email

* * *
the Poetry Session at O'Shea's
THE CAPE GETS ITS VOICE BACK
7 to 8:30PM Every Third Thursday!
The Poetry Session at O'Shea's is a free monthly all-ages open mic
for poets and lovers of poetry held in the Back Room
at O'Shea's Olde Inne. 348 Main Street,
Rte. 28 West Dennis, MA 02670 Free
Contact Info: Gregory Hischak

* * *
Returning to the Black Spot (formerly the Prodigal Son)
in Hyannis the last Thursday of the month! Cape Poets
Theatre Fourth Thursday Open Mic at The Black Spot.
Free
Mary Ellen Redmond and Jose Gouveia host at the old
Prodigal Son, under new name and ownership, now called
The Black Spot Cafe, 10 Ocean St., Hyannis.
We are the last Thursday of every month, 8PM,
(508) 771-4004

_____
FRIDAYS
_____
SATURDAYS

The Greater Brockton Society for Poetry and the Arts
Presents
Poetry Series: at the Brockton Library
304 Main Street. Map it! New website!! www.gbspa.org

Celebrating Poetry One Saturday Every Month

Sat., August 16th TimothyGagerhttp://gbspa.homestead.com/TimothyGager.html
Mike Amadohttp://gbspa.homestead.com/MikeAmado.html
Sean Theallhttp://gbspa.homestead.com/SeanTheall.html

Lauren Dupre (artist)http://gbspa.homestead.com/LaurenDupre.html
Keela Curran (artist)http://gbspa.homestead.com/KeelaCurran.html

This is a Free Event
with really comfortable chairs and divine refreshments

12:00 - 2:00 Workshop with Danielle Legros Georges
1:30 - 2:00 Sign up for Open-Mic Reading
2:15 - 3:15 Open-Mic Reading
3:30 - 4:30 Feature Poets

During Open-Mic Reading share your own poetry
or read from works of your favorite poets

Upcoming Features
Sat., Sept 20 - Dorinda Wegener http://gbspa.homestead.com/DorindaWegener.html
Robert Bagg http://gbspa.homestead.com/RobertBagg.html
Sat., Oct 18 - Glenn Sheldon http://gbspa.homestead.com/GlennSheldon.html
Gloria Mindock http://gbspa.homestead.com/GloriaMindock.html
Sat., Nov 15 -Marge Piercy http://gbspa.homestead.com/MargePiercy.html
Sat., Dec 20 - Nancy Brady Cunningham http://gbspa.homestead.com/NancyCunningham.html
Sheila Twyman http://gbspa.homestead.com/SheilaTwyman.html
Joanna Nealon http://gbspa.homestead.com/JoannaNealon.html
Sat.,Jan 17 – Elizabeth Quinlan
Martha Collinshttp://gbspa.homestead.com/MarthaCollins.html


POETRIBE
http://www.poetribe.org/
The Community Room East Bridgewater Public Library
32 Union Street East Bridgewater, MA
Hosted by David R. Surette and Victoria Bosch Murray
7:45 Open mic Sign-ups,
8:00 Open Mic,
9:00 Featured Poet
Future Features

Aug 16 Motorcycle Poets
Sept 13 STEPHEN DOBYNS
Sept 27 GABRIELLE CALVOCORESSI and SEAN SINGER

* * *
OPEN BARK
meets @ the Out Of The Blue Art Gallery,
106 PROSPECT ST. (the home of Stone Soup)
CENTRAL SQUARE, CAMBRIDGE.
SIGN-UP AT 8:00pm
OPEN MIC STARTS @ 8:15pm,
FEATURE @ 9:00pm
Come and perform or listen!

_____
SUNDAYS
Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam Sunday Night!
This week's feature will be Somerville poet
JADE SYLVAN
Cambridge Common
1667 Mass. Ave., Cambridge
$5 Cover Every Sunday
Poetry Slam: 8:00 pm,
Feature: 9:30 pm,
Open Mike: 10:30 pm
617-547-0759 http://poetryjam.org/

* * *
The Greater Brockton Society for Poetry and the Arts Presents
Poetry Series at the Brockton Library
304 Main Street.
New website!! http://www.gbspa.org/
Celebrating Poetry One Saturday Every Month
Sat., August 16th TIMOTHY GAGER
http://gbspa.homestead.com/TimothyGager.html

MIKE AMODO http://gbspa.homestead.com/MikeAmado.html
SEAN THEALL http://gbspa.homestead.com/SeanTheall.html
Lauren Dupre (artist) http://gbspa.homestead.com/LaurenDupre.html
Keela Curran (artist) http://gbspa.homestead.com/KeelaCurran.html
This is a Free Event with really comfortable chairs and divine refreshments
12:00 - 2:00 Workshop with Danielle Legros Georges
1:30 - 2:00 Sign up for Open-Mic Reading
2:15 - 3:15 Open-Mic Reading
3:30 - 4:30 Feature Poets
During Open-Mic Reading share your own poetry or read from
works of your favorite poets.

_____ MONDAYS
Stone Soup Poetry
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the
Out of The Blue Art Gallery (located on 106 Prospect Street in Cambridge)
with an open mike si gn-up at 7:30 p.m.
http://stonesouppoetry.blogspot.com/

_____ TUESDAYS
Newton Free Library Poetry Reading Series Winter Spring 2008.
The series meets the second Tuesday of every month open mic after features.
Starts 7PM For complete information go to
http://newtonfreelibrarypoetryseries.blogspot.com/
Director: Doug Holder http://authorsden.com/douglasholder

* * *
Cambridge Community Television
Tuesdays at 11:00 PM Saturdays at 10:30PM
Catch the latest from the Boston Poetry Slam I
NFO: [email protected]
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LETRA Poetry Nights
in LAWRENCE MASS
Every TUESDAY at
Julio's 99 Club
99 Essex Street Lawrence, MA
Doors open at 7pm open mic starts at 8pm
Admission $3.00
For more information or for directions please call
Michelle Richardson at 978-423-7045

Gypsypashn's Poetry Caravan
at Bestseller's Cafe
24 High Street
Medford, MA. 02155
Third Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM.
Free refreshments open mic.
The Poetry Man' hosts
The Main St. Cafe, North Easton MA.
August is Biker Poetry Month,
and celebrated at Besteller's on the 13th.
After this reading there'll be a 2nd annual BBQ at Gypsy's.
Come one come all, come and enjoy a night of poetic delight
in a cozy bookshop setting!

MASS POETRY FESTIVAL LOWELL, MA
OCTOBER 10-12, 2008

Details to come.
Meanwhile go to http://masspoetry.org/
for schedule and volunteer opportunities!










VERMONT POETRY

The Power of Words conference:
Liberation through the Spoken, Written and Sung Word
Sept. 12-15, 2008, Goddard College, Plainfield, VT.
Seek greater freedom and transformation for yourself and your community
through the power of words at this unique gathering of people who write,
tell stories, perform, and do other language arts. Make community with
others in the emerging field of Transformative Language Arts, and discover
ways to make a living doing what you love.
Keynotes: Walter Mosley, Bread and Puppet Theatre, Kelley Hunt,
Rick Jarow, Sherry Reiter, Lewis Mehl-Medrona plus 25 more presenters.
Organized by Goddard College’s Transformative Language Arts concentration,
this conference features hands-on workshops, performances, open readings &
celebrations at the peak of fall foliage.
Conference costs start at $210 for registration plus additional fees for
pre- and post-conference workshops.
Lodging and all meals on campus begin at $216/double or $276/single.
Some partial scholarships available including scholarships through the
Roxanne Florence Fund for people of color. Work-study positions available.
Professional and poetry therapy hours available.
Complete schedule and registration at www.goddard.edu/powerofwords
or call Denise at , 802/454-8311, x204.

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News for Poetry News must be received by
by Wednesday for Thursday or Friday publication. Lori Desrosiers - Publisher, Wearer of all Hats, even yours.