Team Nitty Gritty is back from Charlotte and ready to celebrate the end of the first year of the Nitty Gritty Slam on Tuesday night at Valentine’s. But that is not the only poetry event in town. We have a lot going on as always in the upstate New York region. Here’s is a look at the week ahead…
Monday, August 20
6:30pm – Ben & Jerry’s Open Mic
Ben & Jerry’s, 250 Lark Street, Albany, NY 12210
A new monthly open mic series for poetry, music, and spoken word at Ben & Jerry’s on Lark Street hosted by Laura Baboulis.
7:00pm – Front Parlor Series
Olde English Pub, 683 Broadway, Quackenbush Sq., Albany, NY
At Front Parlor, hosted by Abby Lublin., storytellers volunteer their names in a can, and the MC selects the order at random. (Bribes encouraged.) Tellers share 5-minute stories based on a common theme. Front Parlor also features “Flash Nonfiction”- 1-2 sentence, audience-submitted stories responding to a prompt based on the evening’s theme. Flash nonfiction is a relatively painless way to share your stories.
8:00pm – Saint Poem Reading Series
UAG Gallery, 247 Lark Street, Albany
Monthly open mic for poetry and spoken word on Lark Street hosted by local Albany poet R.M. Engelhardt.
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, August 21
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 – Colonie Tuesday Night Live Poets’ Corner
Colonie Town Library, Maxwell Rd, Colonie
Local poets and writers of all ages are invited to present six to ten minutes of their original work at this open reading forum. The public is encouraged to stop in and listen. Hosted by William Robert Foltin.
7:30pm – Nitty Gritty Slam #24 – Night of Champions
Valentines, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany
Albany Poets, Urban Guerilla Theatre, and The Frequency North Reading Series are bringing slam back to Albany with the NITTY GRITTY SLAM on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday’s of each month. If you’re not into slam, but want to get on stage and share your work, we have an open mic before the slam. Sign up begins at 7PM, open mic starts at 7:30, and the slam starts at 8PM. Admission is $5.00 ($3.00 with student ID).
Wednesday, August 22
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 Keith Spencer.
Thursday, August 23
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 12203
A weekly open Mic for music, poetry, and spoken word at one of Albany’s best new coffee shops.
8:00pm – The Safe Haven
The Book Club, 153 S. Pearl Street., Albany, NY
A positive poetry open mic series hosted by Poetyc Visionz with a new theme every week.
Saturday, August 25
5:00pm – Heyday Poetry Series
Half Moon Books, 35 North Front Street, Kingston, NY, 12401
The Heyday Poetry Series at Half-Moon Books is every 4th Saturday of each month, hosted by Chris Wood. Open mic follows featured poet, suggested donation of $3.00 to support the feature. Acoustic music is also welcome! Come and share something with us, or just enjoy the performances and refreshments.
8:00pm – Inquiring Minds Bookstore
Inquiring Minds Bookstore, 66 Partition St., Saugerties, NY
Open Mic with featured performance by Mike Jurkovic & Zero Gravity hosted by Laura Ludwig.
If we are missing anything on this list, check out the full events calendar. If you would like to have your poetry event listed on AlbanyPoets.com, send an email to albanypoets+events@gmail.com with the details.
