Event Reviews

James Belfower

Third Thursday Poetry Night, November 15

On a night of many events, competing poetry readings, a jazz concert, etc. we still had a decent crowd of indecent poets for the open mic & for our featured poet, James Belflower. I invoked the Muse, “the old poet of the City” (as Lawrence Durrell…

Half Moon Books

Book Launch for Cadillac Men, poems by Rebecca Schumejda

Finally, the book of poems we have been hearing from for years at her readings is out from the great New York Quarterly Books. This reading was at Half Moon Bookstore on Front St. in Kingston, where Becky has hosted many readings over the past few yea…

Bob Sharkey

Pine Hollow Arboretum Reading, November 9

This was the last of the season’s readings here in Slingerlands, NY where we park on the lawn. Tonight’s featured poet was Bob Sharkey, whose new chapbook Surface at Sunrise has just been published by Benevolent Bird Press. The publisher, Alan Caslin…

Nitty Gritty Slam #29, October 30

A crowded night upstairs at Valentines for a rare 5th Tuesday slam & open mic. & a raucous night it was too with lots of sex poems, even some drug poems. Something in the water/beer?Mojavi was the host for the open mic & I went first, doi…

Jaqueline Ahl

Chronogram Open Word, October 20

This series had been on the 1st Saturday of each month, now scheduled for the 3rd Saturday, at venues at 314 Wall St., Kingston, NY, now “Outdated – an antique cafe.” Tonight’s featured poets, hosted by Phillip Levine, were Jacqueline Ahl & a last…

Anna Eyre

Third Thursday Poetry Night, October 18

In spite of another poetry reading going on at a local college on Western & Madison Avenues that shall remain nameless we had 11 open mic poets & some random non-reading audience here for our featured poet Anna Eyre, at the Social Justice Cente…

Poetry + Prose, September 9

or as we like to call it 2nd Sunday at 2, into our 3rd year! Me & Nancy Klepsch (your hosts) & the fine collection of writers who show up to read. Nancy started us off with a poem she had just written, “Welcome,” & what better plac…

Writers Institute

Writers Institute Summer Reading Series, July 17

With all the poetry events in Albany & environs I’m not often motivated to head up to Skidmore College & the NYS Writers Institute Summer Reading Series. In past years I’ve been begged to be a companion to local (woman) poet(s) to see Robert P…

Tim Verhaegen

Poetry + Prose Open Mic, June 10

The final gathering of the season, before we take a teacherly break during July & August, on a Summer-like day of 2 parades — Albany’s Gay Pride Parade & Troy’s Flag-Day Parade, you might say Albany knocked the “L” out of Troy’s parade.It was …

Poetry and Prose

Poetry + Prose Open Mic, May 13

Back on our regular day, the 2nd Sunday, at the Arts Center in Troy, me & Nancy Klepsch your hosts. It being Mothers’ Day there were some pieces on that theme, but in general a wide-ranging open mic like we are used to.No one signed up in the firs…

NGS #16 Winners

Albany WordFest Nitty Gritty Slam #16, April 17

A packed house with plenty of open mic-ers & more than enough for the Slam, “N-4-2” tonight.Carolee Sherwood began the open mic with a new poem from her Blog “On Varietals: Dressing for Dinner.”  A new poet here, Leo, followed with a long, lon…

Mary McCarthy

Poetry + Prose Open Mic, April 1

The confusion over when this was to be held wasn’t an “April Fools” joke: this open mic is (usually) held on the 2nd Sunday of each month at the Arts Center of the Capital Region, in Troy, NY. But this year Easter falls on the 2nd Sunday, so this was…