***POETRY NEWS***
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Some Highlights of This Week in Western MA (more below):
Sun. Dec. 7 – Paula Sayword reading at Leyden Town Hall, 4pm
Sun. Dec. 7 – Corrie Williamson and Carol Edelstein, Neilson Library, Smith, 4pm
Tue. Dec. 9 – Student Showcase, Smith Poetry Center, 4:15pm
Tue. Dec. 9 – Celebration and reading of poets who participated in Center for New Americans fundraiser, Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall, Smith College, 7pm
Tue. Dec. 9 – Slate Roof poets at Hinsdale Public Library, 7pm
POETRY IN THE VALLEY AND BEYOND
Perugia Press Prizewinners Reading
December 7, Sunday,
Neilson Library Browsing Room, Smith College
Two Perugia Press Prize winners will read together: local poet, Carol Edelstein, whose book, The Disappearing Letters, won in 2005, and the newest 2014 winner, Corrie Williamson, who will be coming from Montana to read from her book, Sweet Husk.
The December 7th reading, book signing, and reception is free, open to the public, and accessible. It is co-sponsored by Perugia Press, Gallery of Readers, and supported in part by a grant from the Northampton Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Slate Roof poets Dennis Pollock, Abbot Cutler, and Janet MacFadyen
will read from current and upcoming Slate Roof chapbooks on Tuesday, December 9th, at 7:00 PM at the Hinsdale Public Library, 58 Maple St. in Hinsdale. Slate Roof is a member-run press committed to publishing Massachusetts and regional poets. Designed by the poets themselves, Slate Roof chapbooks feature letterpress covers, special papers, and hand-sewn bindings. Come inquire about membership and learn about small press publishing and chapbook creation.
Hinsdale resident Dennis Pollock will read from his upcoming chapbook, Frozen Rope, set in 1804 in Hadam, a fictionalized 19th-century Hinsdale. His work has been anthologized in Holding True, edited by Barry Sternlieb, and in the First & Second Berkshire Anthologies. Other work has appeared in Appalachia, Blue Line, Potlatch I and II, Our Place, and October Mountain.
Abbot Cutler has published three collections including most recentlySay Dance, Say Night (Slate Roof 2013). His work has appeared in numerous publications, among which areOrion Magazine and Ploughshares, and has been anthologized by Naomi Shihab Nye.
Janet MacFadyen has been nominated for a Pushcart, and has published widely. She is the author of three poetry collections, includingIn the Provincelands (Slate Roof 2012). She has been a writing fellow at Cill Rialaig, Ireland, and the Fine Arts Work Center and Fowler and C-Scape dune shacks in Provincetown.
The event is free and open to the public. This program is supported in part by grants from the Local Cultural Councils of Hinsdale-Peru, Shutesbury, Bernardston, and Northfield, local agencies supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. We thank them all for their generosity.
Student Showcase
December 9, Tuesday, 4:15-5:30
Poetry Center, Wright Hall
Students in Joan Larkin’s advanced poetry workshop, joined by two poets completing independent studies in poetry, will give a celebratory end-of-semester reading on Tuesday December 9, 4:15-5:30, at the Poetry Center. There will be light refreshments.
The poets: Riley Boeth, Cara Cantwell, Elizabeth McCormack, Melanie Chitwood, Christine Mundell, Elli Palmer, Benjamin Roylance, Taylor Marks, Madeline Vogelsang, Sean Shearer.
Stone Walls II Launch Party
December 7, Sunday, 2-4pm
6 Williamsburg Road , Worthington MA
You are cordially invited to the launch party for Stone Walls II, a new journal of the arts, history and culture of our Hilltowns! The gathering will include a chance to meet some of the artists and Editorial Board members. Copies of the first issue of Stone Walls II will be available for purchase. Light fare & beverages will be offered. For more information or to order copies of the first issue, please email us at pat.kennedy@the-spa.com or write to Stone Walls II, P.O. Box 285, Worthington, MA 01098.
POETRY READING AND BOOK SIGNING
Sunday December 7th at 4pm
Leyden Town Hall
Paula Sayword is pleased to invite family, friends and neighbors to celebrate the publication of her full-length book of poems, Canticle of Light and Dark.
Poet Anne Love Woodhull writes: “Canticle of Light and Dark has sting and grace, cloak and bare skin; each poem chimes with passion and clarity. From the tender to unbearable loss, these poems shine into the dark of northeast woods, the mesas of the west and the rigors of human experience…Here is quiet bravery.”
So come join us for poetry and book signing. Refreshments will be served.
Canticle of Light and Dark was published by The Synthesis Center Press of Amherst, MA.
There will be an open mic on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at 7pm
at Workshop13, an Arts and cultural Learning center,
13 Church Street, Ware, MA Phone: 413.277.6072
Web: www.workshop13.org
It is free (donations accepted) and all are welcome.
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Join your friends and neighbors as they share their inspired poetry in this public reading. Local poets will share their work in this family-friendly, bilingual event (Spanish & English). Copies of the poets’ books and audio materials will be available for sale at the reading. Preregistration is required for all poets who would like to read. The emcee, award winning poet Maria Luisa Arroyo, will accept as many entries as can be accommodated in this two hour reading. Please pre-register by calling 413-263-6846, sign up online or let me know privately (mlarroyo67@hotmail.com). FREE raffle for a poetry-related book.
Weekly Poetry Open Mic at The Deuce
Every Tuesday Night 8pm – 10pm
Open Mic Signup starts at 7pm.
World War II Club, Conz St. Northampton,MA
Upcoming Featured Poets:
12/9 Cash Slam and Open Mic
12/16 David Keali’i and Open Mic
Please bring a 3-5 minute selection of your work to share
Fabulous website with featured poets http://www.northamptonpoetry.com/
Writers Night Out!
by Straw Dog Writers Guild.
Every first Tuesday of the month, 7-9 pm
The Basement, 21 Center St., Northampton.
Five minute open mike slots, then featured reader.
“Poetry Conversation”
Jones Library, 43 Amity Street, Amherst, MA;
in the Amherst Room, 2nd floor
1st Friday of each month — 2pm – 3:30pm
2nd Thursday of each month — 5:45pm – 7:15pm
All who are interested in sharing thoughts and ideas
in a group discussion based on selected poems/letters by Emily Dickinson are welcome.
The next business/sharing meeting is Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 6:30pm.
Please consider joining the Florence Poets Society.
Your $20 membership dues (Sept. – Aug.) support our annual journal, Silkworm,
as well as public readings and events.
We meet monthly at the Lilly Library in Florence on the 2nd Thurs. of each month,
and all are welcome.
Please visit our web site for more information: http://www.florencepoets.com
or contact us at info@florencepoets.com.
on WMUA-Amherst 91.1 FM Wednesdays at 5:00pm (Note change of day and time!)
WMUA is ably run by students, and the Programmer, who has the unenviable job of arranging a continuous, live, on-air series of shows, 24 hours a day, is hard-pressed to get coverage when the UMass students are on vacation. (DJs are usually about half students and half community members). Hence the change in schedule.
Streamed live at http://www.wmua.org/. 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.
Always the Third Tuesday
At 9 Mill St in Greenfield
Doors open at 7:00
Open Mike at 7:30
$1-5 sliding scale cover
10 open mike slots each will be five minute slots
You are invited to an evening of poetry at Northfield Coffee and Books.
Northfield Coffee and Books is at 105 Main St., Northfield, MA.
The series will take place on the third Thursday of every month,
and is hosted by Bernardston poet and track and field coach Jim Bell.
Arrive a little early to sign up.
The Parlor Cafe 303 Ashland St North Adams, MA
$2-5 Suggested Donation – Bartering Welcomed.
We are a 14 poet, 3 round slam, with cash and prizes awarded to
all poets who sign up.
Sign ups start at 7pm
Poets meeting at 7:45
Event starts promptly at 8pm
www.facebook.com/RAMBLINGPOETS
www.theparlorcafe.com
Pittsfield’s Monthly Performance Series and Open Mic – Outspoken!
hosted by Matt Mcfadden, is held the 3rd Thursday of every month.
– Micro Theater (311 North St. in Pittsfield, Greylock Bldg.
upstairs among the ArtOnNo studios – Up the block from Jae’s Spice –
Entrance to theater is around the corner on Union St. thru Orange door,
right next door to Mary’s Carrot Cake. –
8 pm ($5 suggested donation) –
Interested open mic performers can sign up for 5 minute slot
by e-mailing matt at mcfaddensrus@yahoo.com –
Those needing more information can e-mail the same address
Third Tuesdays 7pm to 8:30 pm
Hosted by Garfield Reed.
This is an open opportunity to share poetry, readings,
music and other spoken word.
Free and open to the public
at Berkshire South Regional Community Center
Crissey Rd.,Great Barrington, MA
Every third Tuesday of the month.
Please call Garfield at 528 4127 for more information.
In Housatonic, MA there is an open mic for poets and performers of all styles and ages.
1st Tuesday of each month
at the Deb Koffman Gallery
137 Front Street, Housatonic, MA 01236.
“In Words, Out Words.” is hosted by Francine Ciccarelli
and there is usually a $1-6 suggested donation for heat and electricity.
There are snacks there provided by whoever wants to bring them.
The open mic begins at 7 and the featured performer goes on for about 20 minutes.
It usually lasts until between 9 and 9:30.
Monday Poetry Nights
6 to10pm 648 North Street in Pittsfield
call Alan Nidle, the Director at (857) 991-8448 for details
ALBANY, NY POETRY
Go to http://www.albanypoets.com/ for schedules and events!
Every Thursday 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (sometimes later)
@ The Coffee Loft 406 Lincoln Street Marlborough, MA
508.251.1431
Poetry, verse, and short stories are are welcome
at this very friendly, informal open reading.
Now booking for features to start in March.
Please contact Jarad at CoffeeLoftBooking@gmail.com
for more info or to become a featured poet.
Every Thursday night at 7pm,
with an open mic preceding the feature.
It is free and all ages, and will be held at
The Strange Attractor,
97D Webster St, Worcester MA.
Hosted by “Cowboy” Matt Hopewell,
who also does the booking and can be reached
at themadcowboy@gmail.com or by phone at (508) 479 8311 .
More to follow as August and September dates are confirmed!
takes place at Assumption College (500 Salisbury Street, Worcester)
in the Emmanuel d’Alzon Library on the third Friday of each month during the academic year.
The format is an open mic for the first half-hour or so, a short break with refreshments and then 2 featured poets..
The reading starts at 7:00 p.m. and typically runs for 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
Readings run throughout the school year.
starting at 8:30 p.m. The reading is being held at
Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner (148 Grove Street, Worcester)
and is hosted by Rushelle Frazier.
There will be an open mic every week with a mix of poetry slams and featured poets.
No cover; donations accepted. 21+ Please join us at our new home
write to Dan Bouchard to get his poetry calendar in your email at bouchard@MIT.EDU
at The Fuller Craft Museum
455 Oak St. Brockton, MA
508-588-6000
Third Saturday each month
Poetry workshop at 12:00
Open mic 2:15
Our feature poets 3:00
New website up artsbrockton.org
has invited us to hold our monthly poetry readings in their beautiful facilities.
The Fuller is a highly regarded, internationally known museum with
a lovely reflection pool, kitchen, and of course, interesting monthly craft/art shows.
(fullercraft.org)
Every Wednesday Night at 8,
Featured Poet, Poetry Slam!
738 Mass Ave., Cambridge, MA
Doors for the show open at 7:15.
The open mic begins at 8:00 and the feature performs at approximately 10:00.
When indicated (most nights), an open poetry slam follows the feature.
The show is 18+ (ID required)
and the cover charge is $3 unless otherwise noted.
$5 Cover Every Sunday
Poetry Slam: 8:00 pm,
Feature: 9:30 pm,
Open Mike: 10:30 pm
617-547-0759 http://poetryjam.org/
meets from 8-10 pm. every Monday
at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery
at 106 Prospect Street in Cambridge
with an open mic sign-up at 7:30 p.m.
A featured poet follows the open mic.
For links to the feature’s work, information on future features and more,
visit the Stone Soup Web site: http://stonesouppoetry.blogspot.com
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 CIntern2@lowellma.gov
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 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
Tuesdays at 11:00 PM Saturdays at 10:30PM
Catch the latest from the Boston Poetry Slam
INFO: kentthompson@comcast.net
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
Every first and third Wednesday of the month.
First, Poetry Slam, then is an open mic
Equilibrium 14 Elm Street sign-up at 7:30 event is 8-10pm
www.facebook.com/BrattleboroPoetry
For info on Brattleboro poetry and Write Action visit their website – www.writeaction.org
Poetry News 