When the page turned on poetry event

Dan Wilcox has an article in today’s Times Union where he looks back on the poetry and events that Tom Nattell started here in Albany in the 80’s.

“I returned to Albany in 1986 and found myself at the beginning of the poetry open mike scene that has put Albany on the nation's poetry map. At that time there were a few poets who read at the music open mike at the Eighth Step on Willett Street, but the energizing force was the annual Readings Against the End of the World, a fundraiser for the Albany Peace & Energy Council.”

When the page turned on poetry event -- Times Union

Third Thursday Poetry Night With Georganna Millman

Dan Wilcox sent the announcement for this months Third Thursday Poetry Night on August 20 at the Social Justice Center.

Third Thursday Poetry Night
at the Social Justice Center
33 Central Ave., Albany, NY
Thursday, August 20
7:00 sign up; 7:30 start
Featured Poet: Georganna Millman

Georganna Millman’s poetry has been published widely in poetry journals and her poetry chapbook, “Formulary” was published this year by Astounding Beauty Ruffian Press (Stuart, VA).

-- with an open mic for community poets before & after the feature: $3.00 donation, suggested; more if you got it, less if you can’t.

Your not-yet-tan host: Dan Wilcox.

Woodstock Festival 1969 « Julie Lomoe's Musings Mysterioso

This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of Woodstock and Julie Lamoe has a three-part series of posts about her experiences and her artwork.

“Yes, there was actually an art show!
Would you believe I won second prize in the art show at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in August, 1969? Would you believe that was the event’s official name, and that there was actually an art show? There was, and I was in it…”

Woodstock Festival 1969 « Julie Lomoe's Musings Mysterioso

Lark Fest 2009

All Over Albany has the announcement for this years Lark Fest (or LARKfest, LarkFEST, however it is being spelled this year) posted, but there is something missing...The Hometown Stage! Albany Poets will be performing at the Hometown Stage again this year bringing music, poetry, and spoken word to the people. Be sure to swing by and check out Murrow, Margot Malia Lynch, and Daniel Nester.

Lark Fest 2009: Moby: "

Moby (yep, that Moby) will be headlining the musical slate for LarkFest this year. Also on the bill: Bell X1, Matt & Kim and Company of Thieves.

There's also a great group of local bands lined for the second stage: Matthew Loiacono, We Are Jeneric, Scientific Maps, Barrons in the Attic, Beware! The Other Head of Science and Sgt. Dunbar & the Hobo Banned.

LarkFest is September 19.

Link

Live from the Living Room, August 12

Dan Wilcox has a new blog post where he writes about the latest Live From The Living Room open mic:

Live from the Living Room, August 12: "Our host, Don Levy, invited a prose writer (!) as the featured "poet" tonight, & there were a handful of open mic poets to read & comment.

I first heard Amy Halloran read back in April 1988 at the QE2 on Central Ave. in Albany. This was before the last Monday series had started (the black & white shot). Her first short, short story, fresh from the Port Townsend Writing Workshop, involved a worker releasing butterflies from a lab. The next, & longer, story was a conversation with the narrator's sister, talking about firewood, uneaten food, neighborhood thugs & implied sex, a wonderful, oblique narrative that elicited a round of comments. This is something that happens here in the intimate setting of the living room.

I read my recently revised 'Thru the Circle' (here on the Blog) then the very new 'Respect.' Bob Sharkey read 'Summer Styles' about the Woodstock wanna-beens (as we approach the 40th anniversary), and one about the suitcase project, written in 'The Yellow Notebook.'

Tim Verhaegan's first gay poem, 'It's an Omen I Tell You,' included copies of a picture of the van on the highway that inspired the poem -- the back of the van proclaimed,'Avoid Hell Trust Christ Repent Obey Bible.' 'Drive-By Stalker' was a poem of distant erotic longing. Joe Hollander began with James Dickey's 'Heaven of Animals,' then his own picture of a woman in a kitchen, 'Inspired Nape.' Don Levy ended the night with his nostalgic poem of the '80s, 'Hard at Work on the Tiger Beat' from his 2003 gathering of poems, Super Queer Poet Saves the Day!

A pleasant round of poems, poetic prose & comments, something you can find at the Gay & Lesbian Community Center, Albany, NY, on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, at 7:30PM.

Link