Bob Sharkey is the editor of the annual Stephen A DiBiase Poetry Contest. He’s a long-term board member of the Hudson Valley Writers Guild where he is now the membership person. Surface at Sunrise, his second chapbook, is currently available. Although his poems have been published in many journals, he prefers the immediate feedback from open mics and from opportunities to read as a feature. He started his writing career at St. Patrick’s grammar school in Portland Maine.
at the Social Justice Center, competing with a couple other poetry events in Academe the same night, we still had 5 poets in the open mic & a number of non-readers who came to hear the featured poet, Cara Benson. But first I invoked the Muse, the …
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…
Vodka Mary Panza was back as our host with that hot blue flame & during her pointedly personal introductions one spoke up at our peril. Thus, it was an energetic open mic, with the featured poet, L-Majesty quivering in the wings (if ther…
at the Social Justice Center, with the tour bus circling the block looking for a parking space, we had enough poets to begin & few enough to read 2 poems each (if you wanted to). Our muse for the night, in honor of our featured poet, George Wallac…
Saratoga Springs in August means mortal combat over parking spaces, crowded bars. But I was able to negotiate both to get myself & my guest Ken Hada to the reading on time, after a convivial time at the Parting Glass with the other featured poet, …
This series of relaxed readings in Slingerlands as been gradually attracting more attention in a rare Friday slot for poetry. Our host, Alan Casline, the director of Rootdrinker Institute (which along with the Delmar Writers Group is a co-sponsor) &am…
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 …
In the midst of the weekend of parades, Mall sales, & backyard cookouts poets showed up to read their work & listen to others & then … but I’ll leave that for the end. So Mike Burke served as MC then Edie Abrams took over introducing the…
A lovely evening, so nice that thousands of people were running through the streets of Albany in their underwear — actually, the annual Corporate Run. Our featured poet, Elizabeth Thomas, came all the way over from Connecticut, with another CT poet, …
Tonight at the recently refurbished Pride Center there were some folding chairs for the poets, but still no comfy couches — still better than sitting on the radiator, as some did last month.Waiting for the feature to arrive, our host Don Levy started …
The 2008 Albany Word Fest followed a similar format to the 2007 event, but without the midday performances on Saturday. We gathered at the UAG Gallery on a beautiful spring Friday night
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…
