Mary Panza

Mary Panza has been a mainstay on the Albany Poetry scene since 1988. She has been witness to countless open mics, naked poets, fires, drunks, chapbooks, career changes, organizations (both coming and going), festivals and great poetry and spoken word. She hosted a long running open mic, POETS SPEAK LOUD from 2005-2020. She had her publishing heyday through out the 1990’s including collaborations with poet Gina Grega and Paul Weinman. She now writes an infrequent blog, Housewife Tuesday and continues to write poetry and perform. Her passion for poetry and performance has allowed her to feature the next generation of amazing poets through the Hudson Valley Writer Guild.
Mary Panza

Housewife Tuesday – That Kind of Girl

Believe it or not, I used to be easy. Call it low self esteem. Call it the 90’s. Call it not being able to pass up (what was supposed to be)

Mary Panza

Housewife Tuesday – Vacation

I am sitting here in a great house on the Cape. This is a tradition my family has carried on all my life. We take a week, pack up 20 or

Mary Panza

Housewife Tuesday – #uck It List

“Dying when you are not really sick is really sick. Really!” – Charles Dumar from the movie “Better off Dead” On Wed, May 23rd at 5:01pm I turned 44. No

Mary Panza at the 2012 Albany Word Fest Founders Reading

Housewife Tuesday – I Am Not Dateable

My Mother had her bowling league. My sister has her “coffee clutch”. I have supper club. Supper club consists of me and three of my girlfriends. We meet every six weeks

Mary Panza

Housewife Tuesday – Yard Working

“Tell him ‘nice job with the yard.” Seems like a compliment but it was the snotty text my ex sent me the other day. He believed that someone else had been

Mary Panza

Housewife Tuesday….The Cardiac Years

I have been the only girl in lots of situations. For years, I have preferred the friendships of men over women. It was just easier dealing with men. They are

Mary Panza

Panza’s Nitty Gritty Take on Slam

I was brought up in the Albany poetry scene on open mics. Slams were something completely out there to me. In many ways, they are still a vague concept to