Albany Poets Presents, Caffe Lena Poetry Open Mic, And More Poetry News

Albany Poets Presents

Tonight at Valentines (17 New Scotland Ave., Albany), Albany Poets Presents returns for our monthly open mic for poetry and spoken word. Since this is election day, be prepared for poems about politics and what is going on around us.

Sign up for the open mic starts at 7:00PM, poetry begins at 8:00PM.

Caffe Lena Poetry Open Mic

Tomorrow night in Saratoga, Rachael Ikins will be the featured reader at the Caffe Lena Poetry Open Mic at the historic Caffe Lena. Carol Graser is the host and she sent along the following information about the event:

the first Wednesday of every month Caffè Lena presents:

Caffè Lena Poetry Open Mic
Wednesday, November 3
7pm sign up, 7:30 readings start
Featured Poet: Rachael Ikins
$3
Hosted by Carol Graser
Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs
www.caffelena.org     583-0022

Rachael Ikins has published in numerous journals over the years and  won 8 poetry prizes among them first place National League of American Penwomen 2006 and 08. She will be reading from her chapbook "Slide-show in the Woods" (Foothills) which was published in August 2008. Also available for purchase and signing will be her broadside "The Dairy Farm" (BeNeVoLeNt BiRd Press) We hope to have some copies of her newest book release "TRANSPLANTED" (Finishing Line Press). Rachael has read her work through out the central and capitol district of New York State. Her artwork has appeared in galleries across the region. She is a member of MAD-art an artists' co-op in Hamilton NY, The Downtown Writers Center of Syracuse, National League of American Penwomen, the Cazenovia Writers and the Canastota Writers groups. Rachael has received several fellowships to Colgate's writer's conferences in Hamilton, NY and to the Downtown Writers Center Retreat through the YMCA writing program in Syracuse and has used her work to support humanitarian organizations such as the YWCA, SPCA, Golisano Children's Hospital and various animal rescues.

Two Upcoming Readings in the Hudson Valley

Our good friend Rebecca Schumejda sent in some information about two poetry readings that will be taking place this weekend in New Paltz and Kingston.

I just want to give you information on two upcoming readings:
*John Dorsey, Alex Strong and I will be reading at slash root, tech. cafe, 60 Main Street, New Paltz, NY on Friday, November 5th at 7pm.
then:

Five Poets to read at Half Moon Books in Kingston, 35 North Front Street, on Saturday November 6th at 6:30 pm. The event will be hosted by Rebecca Schumejda and the featured readers will be John Dorsey, Aleathia Drehmer, Roberta Gould, Robert Milby, and Dan Provost. For more information call 331-5439 or e-mail rschume@hotmail.com.

John Dorsey currently resides in Toledo, Ohio. He is the author of several collections of poetry, including Teaching the Dead to Sing: The Outlaw's Prayer (Rose of Sharon Press, 2006), and Sodomy is a City in New Jersey (American Mettle Books, 2010). He work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize

Aleathia Drehmer is the editor of the print micro-zine Durable Goods and the online flash fiction site In Between Altered States.  She has a shared book of poetry with Dan Provost from Rank Stranger Press called A Quiet Learning Curve and a forthcoming collection from Propaganda Press called You Find Me Everywhere.  She lives in upstate New York with her daughter and her cat, Carrot.

Roberta Gould work has appeared in many publications including HPN, New York Times, Catholic Worker, Chronogram, Socialism Today, Poetry Now, Green Mountain Review etc.   Her first chapbook Dream Yourself Flying, Four Zoas Press was followed by books including Writing Air, Written Water,  Only Rock, Not By Blood Alone.  Her 9th, Louder Than Seeds,   Foothills Press, followed In Houses With Ladders, and Pacing the Wind.  She has lived for 3 years in Mexico, published a book in Spanish, and studied for a year at the National University of Mexico. She published Light a Poetry Review and has edited several poetry magazines. For information and poems see website: robertagould.net  and a blog of current work  robertagould.wordpress.com.

Robert Milby, of Florida, NY currently hosts 3 Hudson Valley poetry series. He’s been reading his work in public since early 1995, throughout Hudson Valley and beyond, over 1000 times onstage. His first book is Ophelia’s Offspring(Foothills Publishing, 2007). 2nd book, Victorian House: Ghosts and Gothic Poems (Foothills Pub. in late 2010)

Dan Provost's poetry has been published throughout the small press for a number of years.  He is the author of seven books, his latest being "A Quiet Learning Curve"-- poems that also feature Aleathia Drehmer, published by Rank Stranger Press.  He lives in Worcester, Massachusetts.

For more information on these events and all of the poetry and spoken word events in the upstate New York area, go to www.albanypoets.com. If you would like to have your events listed or if you would like to be listed on the Albany Poets site, send us an email at info@albanypoets.com.

Poets Help Now! A Benefit Open Mic For Tess’ Lark Tavern

POETS HELP NOW!  A BENEFIT FOR TESS AND THE STAFF OF TESS' LARK TAVERN!

For over five years Tess' Lark Tavern has been the home of Poets Speak Loud.  What started out in January 2005 as a monthly open mic for poetry has become much more than that, it has become a family.   Through the support and generosity of Tess and the welcoming, warm hearted nature of her staff, the Lark Tavern has become a home not just to poets on the last Monday of the month, but the entire community. 

Over the years, the Poets Speak Loud open mic has featured local poets such as Emily Gonzalez, The Poet Essence, Cheryl A. Rice, Michael Eck, Mother Judge, Rich Tomasulo, Alan Catlin, A.C. Everson, Jil Hanifan, Nicole Peyrafitte, R.M. Engelhardt, Dain Brammage, Amanda Rose, Josh McIntyre, Philip Levine, Rachael Zitomer, Pierre Joris, Will Nixon, Don Levy, Robert Milby, John Weiler, Jason Crane, Carolee Sherwood, Carol Graser, and many, many more.   This time we are featuring the Lark Tavern!

Now is your chance to give back and be a part of the rebuilding of Tess' Lark Tavern.  On Monday, May 24, at Valentines (upstairs) POETS HELP NOW. 

This is an Open Mic Event.  Come on out, share your words, thoughts and experiences for Tess and her Staff!

Sign-up starts at 7:00pm.  We will begin the open mic at 8:00pm. Get there early as we are expecting a big crowd!

$5 Donation at the door and ALL proceeds are going to Tess and the staff of Tess' Lark Tavern to use for the rebirth of the Tavern.

This event is lovingly brought to you by Albany Poets.

Albany Poets Presents…BAD LYRIC NIGHT Tonight at Valentines

Albany Poets Presents, hosted by El Presidente Thom Francis returns to Valentines on the first Tuesday of each month starting at 8:00PM.

We are kicking National Poetry Month off with Albany Poets Presents...Bad Lyric Night!

This was a big hit the last time we did it a few years ago. Be sure to be at Valentines for recitation of some of the worst song lyrics of all time.

Of course, we will still have an open mic for poetry and spoken word.
We will have prizes for the Best Reading of the Worst Lyrics and other fun throughout the night.

Come over and join local poets and spoken word artists for an evening of conversation, cocktails, coffee, and, of course, poetry. The signup starts at 7:00PM for anyone who wants to take the stage and share their work.

ALBANY POETS PRESENTS takes place at Valentines Music Hall (17 New Scotland Ave.) on the first Tuesday of each and every month.