We are heading into Thanksgiving week and there are a lot of poetry and spoken word events going on in between the turkey and shopping as we kick off the holiday season. Everything actually starts this evening with the Yes! series at the Albany Center Gallery. Tonight Matthew Klane and the good folks at Yes! are featuring poets Ossian Foley and Shira Dentz and then “Building Cities Within Cities”, a film about the downtown plaza by Maureen Jolie Anderson. And if you are over in Troy D. Colin is hosting the last Between The Lines reading of the year with featured poet Rainmaker.
Sunday afternoon has two ways to support poetry with with Community of Writers reading in Schenectady with Carl Strock, Mary Cuffee Perez, Jan Tramontano, and Alan Casline. And over in Voorheesville, the great Sunday Four Poetry Open Mic is featuring Andy Fogle. And we are back at McGeary’s on Monday night for Poets Speak Loud with the our featured reader Annie Petrie Sauter. Mary Panza will be back as the host and ring leader of the monthly poetry open mic. There is so much going on the rest of the week, seven full nights in fact. Get out there and support your local poets and artists.
Here is what is coming up in Poetryland this week…
Sunday, November 24
2:00pm – The Schenectady Community of Writers 11th Annual Reading
Schenectady Public Library, 99 Clinton St., Schenectady, NY
11th annual reading, sponsored by the Hudson Valley Writers Guild featuring Carl Strock, former columnist for the Daily Gazette; Mary Cuffe Perez; Jan Tramontano and Alan Casline. Carol Graser will serve as moderator.
3:00pm – Sunday Four Poetry Open Mic
Old Songs Community Center, 37 South Main Street, Voorheesville, NY
Monthly open mic for poets and poetry with a featured poet hosted by Dennis Sullivan, Mike Burke, and Edie Abrams at the Old Songs Community Center in beautiful Voorheesville, NY. The featured poet this month is Andy Fogle.
Monday, November 25
7:30pm – Poets Speak Loud
McGeary’s, 4 Clinton Square, Albany, NY
Poets Speak Loud is Albany Poets’ monthly open mic for poetry and spoken word with a featured poet. This month the long-running open mic will be hosted by Mary Panza with the incredible featured poet Annie Petrie Sauter.
8:00pm – Club Harmony
Wok ‘N Roll Cafe, 52 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, NY
Weekly poetry open mic with featured reader hosted by Michael Platsky.
Tuesday, November 26
7:00pm – Club Helsinki Open Mic
Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street, Hudson, NY
A weekly open mic for music, performance, and poetry on the incredible Club Helsinki stage.
7:00pm – Emack and Bolio’s Open Mic Night
Emack & Bolio’s, Delaware Ave., Albany, NY
A weekly open mic for music and poetry
7:00pm – Open Mic Night at Stage 1
The Barn / Stage 1, 46 N. Swan Street, Albany, NY
A new monthly open mic event series hosted by Albany Poets and Albany Barn featuring music from DJ Al B and some of the freshest poetry and spoken word in Albany! Some light refreshments will be served, stop by to hear some poetry, music, and more! Admission is free, there is a $2 suggested donation at the door.
8:00pm – Northampton Poetry Open Mic
Hinge, 48 Main St., Northampton, MA
Northampton’s only weekly open mic poetry night offers some of the best, most creative voices in the county. Every Tuesday night at 8:00pm. Come down and listen. Come down and share your words. Academic or slam, spoken word or political: Your words are welcome.
8:00pm – WXW Tuesday Project – Story Slam
yBar, 391 North Street, Pittsfield, MA
The Story Slam is back at yBar with this month’s prompt: “Lost in Translation – Misadventures in Understanding”.
Wednesday, November 27
8:00pm – Pauly’s Hotel Open Mic Night
Pauly’s Hotel, 337 Central Ave., Albany, NY
Poetry, Music, Comedy and more take center stage at Pauly’s weekly Open Mic Night hosted by Brian LaPoint and Joshua Gruft.
Thursday, November 28
7:00pm – Rockhill Bakehouse Open Mic
Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, 19 Exchange Street, Glens Falls, NY
Weekly open mic for musicians and writers.
8:00pm – Starving Artist Thursdays
Hudson River Coffee House, 227 Quail Street, Albany, NY
A weekly open Mic for music, poetry, and spoken word at one of Albany’s best new coffee shops.
Friday, November 29
8:00pm – The Parlor Cafe Open Mic
The Parlor Cafe, 303 Ashland Street, North Adams, MA
A weekly open mic each and every Friday at the Parlor Cafe in North Adams for poets, musicians, and artists. Signup at the bar and get ready for the show, starting at 8:00pm.
Saturday, November 30
6:30pm – Inquiring Minds Bookstore
Inquiring Minds Bookstore, 65 Partition Street, Saugerties, NY
Monthly open mic with featured readers at the beautiful Inquiring Minds Bookstore in Saugerties created and hosted by author Laura Lonshein Ludwig.
For a full listing of all of the poetry and spoken word events in upstate New York, head over to the events calendar page. And if you live in the Western Massachusetts / Connecticut area, be sure to check out Lori Desrosiers‘ Poetry News Calendar.
If you would like to have your poetry event listed on AlbanyPoets.com, send an email to albanypoets+events@gmail.com with the date and details.
