Poetry News

****POETRYNEWS****
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Check out reviews of poetry events and books at http://www.westernmareviews.blogspot.com/
Here is your Poetry News for the week of July 23, 2007.
Spoken word events are shining like summer sun throughout the Pioneer Valley and beyond.
Please email [email protected] if you would like to be added to the mailing or are interested in featuring at Jester's. We need poets!
Peace through poetry - Lori

Word in Westfield:

Community Voices Poetry Open Mic
EVERY MONDAY NIGHT (except the next 2 weeks it will be at the library, see below)
at Jester's Cafe and Deli
124 Elm Street (route 10/202) in Westfield, MA
Sign up is at 7 and open mic starts at 7:30PM
followed by a guest feature.
All are welcome. This venue is PG 13 due to the kids' taking lessons
at the music store next door

Monday July 23 - open mic 6-8PM at the Westfield Athenaeum (Library)
Monday July 30 - open mic 6-8PM at the Westfield Athenaeum (Library)
The next two open mics will be held from 6-8PM at Westfield Athenaeum instead of at Jester's. (The coffee shop will be closed due to the owner's vacation): July 23, 30.

We're now booking features for November.
Please email [email protected] 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 at Jester's.

Poetry Workshops for Kids
Lori Desrosiers will be giving two FREE poetry workshops for children
at the Westfield Athenaeum
Monday, July 30 at 2PM for teens 10-15 yrs old.
Friday, August 17 at 11AM for kids 6-10 years old.
These will be fun, hands-on workshops.
Sign up at the Boys and Girls Library or call 413-568-7833

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Chicopee/Springfield Poetry

GUMBOLIVE
Open Mic poetry and music
3rd Friday of every Month
Days Inn, 450 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA
Doors open at 8:30- Showtime 9:30
$9 tickets at http://www.gumbolive.com/$13 at the door
Want to be their feature act?
Email

Springfield Library Poetry Events:
2007 Poetry in the Park series!
This summer's open mic series will be on 3 Wednesday evenings:
June 27, Juy 25, and August 22.
6:00 - 7:30ish.
Under The Tent - behind the the Central Library, 220 State Street.
Your gracious hostess will be Crystal Senter Brown
http://www.crystalsenterbrown.com/

POETRY IN THE PARK (tomorrow!)
Wednesday, July 25, 6:00pm
Central Library, 220 State St., Springfield MA
All ages and languages are encouraged, and readings should be family-friendly.
Free parking across the street from the library or in the Elliot St. Museum lot.
Accessible parking can be found by driving around to the right of the library,
and immediately to the north of the Smith Museum.
Advance sign-ups are not necessary, but are accepted!
For more info, call or email Anna
at or 413.263.6828 x426.

all ages - all languages - all forms of creative writing are encouraged

Bring some food to share, for a picnic potluck.
Plates, forks, napkins, and drinks will be provided.

Fore more information, e-mail , or call Anna at 263-6828 x426.
Advance sign-ups are welcome but not necessary.
http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/poetry/poetrypage.html

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

DARA WEIR at Dickinson Museum
Sunday, July 29, 2:00pm
Emily Dickinson Museum,
280 Main St., Amherst MA
Poet Dara Wier, author of Remnants of Hannah and Reverse Rapture,
named 2006 Book of the Year by Poetry Center and American Poetry
Archives, reads Emily Dickinson's poetry and from her own work.
For information about this reading and other events,
tours and summer hours at the Museum,
visit http://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/ .

Wrapped In The Woven Word,
Creative Writing Workshops for Young Girls (5th-8th grade)
There are stories and poems that belong to each of us alone.
This workshop is designed to create safe space to develop each
girl’s unique voice. The workshop focuses on creativity, not
grammar or spelling. It is well-suited to those who write often,
and those who are just beginning to explore creative writing.
The Amherst Writers & Artists method takes writers to both
unexpected and familiar places, while supporting them in
affirming space among their peers.
Workshop leader Lynn Bowmaster is a published poet who
leads workshops in her home, schools, and colleges.
2007 Sessions To Begin September 18 in Hadley, on Tuesdays, 4:00-6PM:
Call Lynn at 584-3373 or email:
to register or inquire.

The Blue Guitar Gallery
is open Sat/Sun 12 - 4, Mon. 9-1, and by appointment.
We invite you to come see the art work,
and if inspired, share something at the Catalyst Cabaret.
We will have Openings in conjunction with Art Walk Easthampton
(www.ArtWalkEasthampton.org)
every second Saturday of the month, 5 - 9 pm,
with a short performance at 7 pm.
Allowing two weeks for people to prepare something,
The Catalyst Cabaret
will take place every 4th Saturday, at 7 pm.
A donation of $5 - 10 is requested to keep our programs running.
For further information, please contact Christina Svane:
Christina Svane
[email protected]
The Blue Guitar Gallery
186 D Northampton St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
413-247-9454/413-348-5288
http://www.theblueguitar.org/


EVOLUTION OPEN MIC
The first Thursday of the month
August 2
Open poetry night at 7pm
at
Cafe Evolution
22 Chestnut Street
Florence Mass
phone 413.586.0200


FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY
The next meeting of Florence Poets Society is August 9, 2007
From 7-9PM at the Lilly Library
19 Meadow Street
Florence, MA

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"
on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Weds from 9-10 am on 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.
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.
Admission is free, and supper and drinks are available for purchase.
The next dates -
Sunday July 22, 6-9PM
Sunday August 5, 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.

Shelbourne Falls Poetry

Mocha Maya Open Mic
Open Mic at Mocha Maya's Coffee House
47 Bridge Street Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
August 2, 2007
First Thursdays 7:30 PM.
Bring Poetry or prose, your own or another's that you
fell in love with and wish to share with others.
All are welcome.

Open Mic at the Arms Library
The Third Friday Reading Series
at the Arms Library
welcomes you
Bridge and Main Streets,
Shelburne Falls, MA
7—9pm, 3rd Friday of each month
Open reading of poetry and prose.
Come early and sign up for a 5 minute reading.
When a writing group is featured,
the 2nd half of the evening will be an open reading.
Please plan to stay for the entire event.
Refreshments will be served.
(now in its twelfth year!)

For more information, please call Arms Library 625-0306
or Lisa Merrill 625-9765

News from Mo and Ginger Cat Press
102 Mechanic Street, Shelburne Falls (413 625 6728)
End of Month Comes 'Round Again
so please join the Equinox Staff for a
Sunday Salon
July 29 drop in as you can anytime between 1 and 4ish
bring some stories, poems, music or art to share
chili and chips await, you bring the chatter
warning: this home contains 2 dogs, 1 cat so unsafe for allegy-prone, so very sorry

it being July, let there be (belated) 4th of July theme
in addition to topics of your own, bring along as able a reading or artwork
that celebrates or comments on America's birth, this month 230 years ago

hope to see you sunday
mo, daisy, rufus

Ginger Cat Press has a new website: http://gingercatpress.com/


Pittsfield/Stockbridge/N. Adams Poetry

Stockbridge Booksellers
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!!

upstreet Number Three Reading
Friday, July 27, 2007 at 7:00 PM
Join authors from the latest edition of the Berkshires Literary magazine upstreet.
Hosted by Vivian Dorsel, publisher of upstreet.

John, Eve and Hannah
Stockbridge Booksellers
10 Elm Street
Stockbridge, MA 01262
http://www.stockbridgebooksellers.com/


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:

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:

***
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
[email protected].

POET'S ASYLUM
Join us at the Java Hut
(1073A Main Street, Worcester).
Open mic sign-up every Sunday night at 6:30 p.m.
with the reading starting somewhere around 7:00p.m.

The feature follows the open mic.
Please throw some money in the bucket when it comes your way;
everything collected goes to the feature.

Sunday July 22
Maze Forever has proven himself worthy of not only the title of Marine but that of a poet, as well. A member of Charlotte's 2004 5th ranked National Poetry slam team, he also is ranked as one of the top ten poets in the southeastern region. Besides being blessed with a talented tongue, he likes long walks in the park, the smell of rain on a Sunday afternoon, and late night re-runs of Married with Children. His turns off include mean people, Waffle House barflies and every soda machine that has ever eaten his money...

The Poets' Asylum -- in its fifteenth year of
bringing the best in Performance and Slam poetry
to Central Massachusetts and beyond.
http://poetsasylum.org/mailman/listinfo/


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


Windsor Workshop:
A workshop for serious poets interested in critique
at the Windsor Library, Windsor, CT
each second and fourth Monday at 6:30 PM.
For information call Alice Ahrens Williams 860-668-6142
or Janet Henderson 860-688-5770


HARTFORD HAPPENINGS

SOUL SESSIONS at The Art Space Gallery

The creator of the Monday Night Love Jones brings you--
"Soul Sessions" every Monday night at 8:00 PM

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

$5.00 donation. B.Y.O.B.
For more info, call 860-874-8797
or email mailto:[email protected]

The Art Space Gallery
555 Asylum Street
Downtown Hartford


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/


ARTS SERIES AT MANCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

“The Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series”
On the 2nd Thursday of Each Month from 6:00 - 8:30pm in MCC’s Fireside Commons.
Featuring Live Music, a Spoken Word Open Mic, and a Featured Poet/Writer for
each event.
Sign up for the Spoken Word Open Mic upon arrival.

Manchester Community College
Great Path
Manchester, CT
For more information, and for directions, please visit the Mishi-maya-gat web
page at:
www.mcc.commnet.edu/faculty/spoken.php


Boston Area Poetry Info:

POETRIBE
JOE TORRA
Saturday, July 21, 2007
7:30 Open Mic Sign Up
8:00 Open Mic
9:00 Feature Poet
The Community Room
East Bridgewater Public Library
32 Union Street
East Bridgewater, MA
http://www.poetribe.org/

Joseph Torra's books include KEEP WATCHING THE SKY,
AFTER THE CHINESE, GAS STATION, TONY LUONGO,
MY GROUND and THE BYSTANDER'S SCRAPBOOK.
He edited 'lift' magazine and serves on the editorial board at
Pressed Wafer Press. Torra lives in Somerville, MA.

FUTURE FEATURES
August 4 Nicole Terez Dutton
September 15 Daniel Tobin
September 29 Jeffrey Harrison

Hosted by David R. Surette and Victoria Bosch Murray
For info and bookings, contact

Directions to Poetribe
(from the East Bridgewater Public Library website) http://www.sailsinc.org/ebpl/ :
Take Route 24 to Exit 16A, Route 106 East towards West Bridgewater.
Follow Route 106 for about 4 miles to Route 18. Take a left onto
Route 18 North. At the 6-way intersection in East Bridgewater
center stay straight on Route 18. The red brick library building is
one block north on the left, at the corner of Union Street and Route 18.

CAMBRIDGE READINGS

Central Square’s world-famous Cantab Lounge
presents performances from local and national poets, as well as a
chance to present your own work in the open mic or poetry slam.

The Boston Poetry Slam
Downstairs at the Cantab Lounge
738 Massachusetts Ave,
Central Square, Cambridge, Mass
(617) 354-2685_
(mailto:) _
www.slamnews.com_ (http://www.slamnews.com/)

Wednesday, 8 pm open mike; 9:30 pm feature; 10:30 pm slam
Hosted by:
Slammaster Simone Beaubien,
Co-hosts: Dawn Gabriel, Ryk McIntyre,
J*me, Adam Stone.
$3 at the door
Please Note:*****18+ everyone must have a photo ID*****

• Wednesday, July 25
Maze, Maze Forever, or C.P. Maze: a Maze by any other name will still kick your patootie in a poetry slam. This nationally renowned performance poet has been ripping up the Carolina poetry scene since 2003 with his complex and darkly intense work. Known by his characteristic rasping vocalization and statuesque stage postures, Maze delivers powerful and passionate work in a way to make you shiver. This is a rare chance to see Maze on one of his very infrequent tours out of the South.

• Wednesday, August 1
Every April, the Cantab Lounge selects a slam team to send to the National Poetry Slam in August; the team spends the entire summer touring, working together, and rehearsing for the Big Show. Tonight is the last night to see the 2007 Cantab Slam Team before they head to this year’s Nationals in Austin, Texas! Local stars Simone Beaubien, Shira Erlichman, Brian Ellis, and Jme will bring out plenty of big slam hits, this year’s group pieces, and at least a few surprises in an extended feature. Special $5 cover tonight to raise money for our slam team’s trip to Austin.

• Wednesday, August 8 It’s the week of the National Poetry Slam, but does that mean that Boston can take a night off? Heck no! We’ll have remarkable local poet Frank Miller in for his first-ever Cantab feature. A co-coordinator of the Brockton Library reading, Frank has been published in numerous journals and his work is dense, articulate, and rich in metaphor. Fans of performance will find that his voice, too, is as rich and expressive.

Doors for the show open at 7:30. The open mic begins at 8:00, the feature performs at approximately 9:30, and an open poetry slam follows. The show is 18+ (ID required) and the cover charge is $3.

The Boston Poetry Slam at The Cantab Lounge
738 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Mass.

http://www.slamnews.com/ [email protected]




Legendary Boston Poet Jack Powers Celebrates 70th.
On Sept 15, 2007 at 5P.M
at the International Community Church in Allston (30 Gordon St.)
celebrated poet Jack Powers will celebrate his 70th birthday
with a potluck dinner and reading.
Jack Powers is the founder of Boston’s legendary “Stone Soup Poets.” Founded in 1971 at the Charles Meeting House on Beacon Hill in Boston, Powers has lead this venue of readings, activism and publishing for well over thirty years. Powers was also influential in establishing the Beacon Hill Free School in the 1970’s, which encouraged people to teach and participate in educational courses for no charge.
Stone Soup Poets is almost as well known for its publishing history. Powers has published over 80 titles , including Powers’ personal favorite “Jack of Hearts,” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Powers has also published such poets under the Stone Soup imprint as the award-winning Franny Lindsay, and the late Black Mountain School poet John Wieners.
Powers has jumpstarted the careers of many well-known poets including the small press doyenne Lyn Lifshin. Folks like Beat bad boy Gregory Corso, Allen Ginsberg and Robert Bly have passed through Stone Soup’s poetic portal.
Stone Soup Poets has been housed for the last several years at the Out of the Blue Art Gallery in Cambridge, Mass. It meets every Monday at 8PM, and carries on the proud tradition with the help of poet Chad Parenteau.
The well-known Boston street artist and activist Sidewalk Sam, as well as Doug Holder of the Ibbetson Street Press, Rev. Lorraine Cleaves Anderson of the International Community Church, and Margaret Nairn president of Collaborative Artworks Inc, are organizing the celebration.
The reading and potluck dinner will have music provided by Boston -area poet and singer/songwriter Jennifer Matthews, as well as Powers’ sons.
All friends and acquaintances, and anyone who has been touched by Jack in his long literary outreach are invited to come. Bring a poem, a dish for the potluck, and a friend!
* For more information contact: Doug Holder 617-628-2313


THE NEW ENGLAND POETRY CLUB
founded in 1915 by Amy Lowell, Robert Frost, and Conrad Aiken
*For more information, please call: 617-491-1955*
Unless otherwise stated, all events are free and open to the public
* The Summer 2007 Poetry Series
Presented By The New England Poetry Club and
Longfellow National Historic Site SUMMER NOTE
In JULY and AUGUST 2007 We return to The Longfellow House
East Lawn for our 4:00 o’clock p.m. readings :
July 8th and July 22nd August 5th and August 19th
September - annual Children’s Poetry Day (TBA).

Brockton Library Poetry Series,
Tom Chandler, Walter Howard
Saturday, July 21st
304 Main St.
(508) 580-7890 x 207
www.thinkworks.com/bps

Free Event with really comfortable chairs and cool refreshments

12:00 - 5:00 Art Exhibit
12:00 – 2:00 Writing Workshop. Danielle Legros Georges,
2:15 - 3:30 Open reading
3:45 - 4:45 Features Tom Chandler, Walter Howard

Upcoming Features:
July 21st Tom Chandler, Walter Howard
August 18th an Afternoon with painter, philosopher Arnie Danielson
September 15th Maxine Kumin, Carole Oles
October 20th Dr Jeffrey Thomson
November 17th Joanna Nealon, Maria Conley
December 15th Steven Cramer, James G.H. Moore


For park information, call 978-369-3254.

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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the Poetry Session at O’Shea’s
THE CAPE GETS ITS VOICE BACK
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 (Route 28) in the village of West Dennis.
Thursday, July 19 from 7 to 9 p.m.
and every third Thursday of the month thereafter.
for info call Gregory Hischak 508-398-5434

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. July 20 Sean Theall '
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!

Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam
Every Sunday 21+ $5 at door
1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA
617-547-0759 Website - http://poetryjam.com/
Blog - http://poetryjam.com/blog/poetryjam.html

Providence Poets

GOT POETRY LIVE
Every Tuesday starting at 7:30 PM
@ Reflections Cafe
8 Governor St, corner of Wickenden St
Providence, RI 02903-4429
(401) 273-7278

http://www.gotpoetry.com/ContactUs.html

Vermont Poetry

The Power of Words:
Liberation through the Spoken, Written and Sung Word
Sept. 28 – Oct. 1, 2007, 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.
Keynoters: David Abram, author of The Spell of the Sensuous;
Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, poet, writer, storyteller;
Nehassaiu deGannes presenting her one-woman multicultural show, Door of No Return, plus over 25 workshops and performances.
Organized by Transformative Language Arts at Goddard College , a 48-hour MA degree in social and personal transformation through the written and spoken word.
Conference costs start at $190 for registration plus additional fees for pre- and post-conference workshops.
Lodging and all meals on campus begin at $201/double or $261/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/academic/TLAconference.html,
call Denise at 802/454-8311, x204,
or contact .
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News for Poetry News must be received by [email protected] by Wednesday for Thursday or Friday publication Lori Desrosiers - Publisher, Wearer of all Hats, even yours.