Fresh Start

Okay ... time for a fresh start. This page started off being a place for me to post photos I'd taken of local poets, performers, musicians, etc. so they could come check them out, use them, peruse them, whatever ... and it slowly morphed into a local event listing.

Now, I know this is my doing, I was, after all, the one who morphed it ... which means I am the only one who can morph it back. So that is what I am doing.

I will still be listing the events I'm sent on a new blog: http://in-fusion.blogspot.com/.

I am also setting up this space in hopes of providing a place for artists, writers, musicians, poets, dancers, and all other artistic/creative types to find ways to fuse, collaborate, concoct, create, integrate, or deviate from the rigid measures of our genres in any way we so chose.

If you are interested in this collaboration, come check it out, post, respond, create, relate, invigorate, join me in my fusion free-for-all! I am hoping it will propagate a magnificent mishmash of creativity and synthesis!

(Also you should be able to find even more listings of local events there once others join me in my posting frenzy!)

Viva La Fusion!

Marie

25 & Under - TONIGHT- Monica Wendel!

Hi folks!

Please join us tonight to hear Monica Wendel reading her poetry at 7 p.m. at Writers & Books.

Free for students & members. Suggested donation $3 for all others.

Monica is a new young poet in town. She graduated from SUNY Geneseo earlier this year with a joint degree is philosophy and creative writing. She also attended Bread Loaf this past summer.

I've heard her work and am quite sure you'll enjoy it. And don't forget to bring something to read in the open mic after!

Hope to see you tonight.
Sally

12 & Under Reading - December 18

A message from Sally Bittner Bonn
Curator, 25 & Under Reading Series

Hello folks—

I hope you can join us on December 18 at 7 p.m. at Writers & Books (740 University Ave.) for our 12 & Under reading.

If you know any writers who are in the 12 & Under age category who would like to read, please email Marie (serendipity3.marie@gmail.com) for the form to be filled out and return it to Writers & Books no later than December 11.

This has been such a successful and fun reading in the past. Please, take a break from holiday madness and join us for some delightful writing by young writers!

Thanks,
Sally

Maia Horvath’s Visual Wonderland

And now, an announcement from my good friend John, about an upcoming Art Show at his bookstore (Books, ETC.) in Macedon:

Visual Wonderland is the most recent collection of originally whimsical creations by local artist Maia Horvath now on exhibit at Books, ETC.

Maia’s eclectic style delightfully captures the imagination. Self-taught in a multitude of artistic mediums, these new experiences in polymer clay are certain to reflect her desire to offer a glimpse of God-The Ultimate Creator’s brightness, beauty and gift of humor.

Maia credits the joy in her journey to the tremendous support of her wonderful family. She lives in Fairport, New York with her husband Alex and their two children Cameron and Saige.

The community is cordially invited to an open reception for the new art exhibit on November 24, 2007 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Books, ETC., 78 W. Main St., Macedon NY 14502.

John & his sister have a lovely little bookstore in downtown Macedon and often have Art Shows, Musicians, Workshops, and other fun and essential events there. Hope you have a chance to swing by and support this worthy (& all-too-endangered) endeavor of the used bookstore (as well as supporting John, who is one of my all-time favorite people on this planet).

Just for future notice: MJ Iuppa (another one of my all time favorite people on this planet) and I will be doing a joint Art Show at Books, ETC. in July.

Word Explosion

Featuring: Dream Engine, Urknee & Bjurton, Reenah Golden Collier, Arts in Motion, and Me!

Plus: There will be an Open Mic ... So bring stuff and read it and share in the explosion!

When: This Thursday, November 15, 2007 in Wilson Formal lounge at St. John Fisher College, 8-11 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Rochester Ink

Don't forget about all the exciting Rochester Ink happenings going on this weekend & next week ... Check out RochesterInk.net for more info ...

A Note From Pure Kona Open Mic

Dear People,


Pure Kona has left Boulder Coffee and moved to House of Hamez (formerly Daily Perks, still 389 Gregory). We'll be alternating Thursdays w/ the Free Speech Zone Open Mic. Norm Davis and Rick Petrie continue to host. The next Pure Kona Open Mic Poetry readings will be Nov. 8, Nov. 29, Dec 13, Dec 27, Jan 10, and Jan. 24.

Our upcoming features are:

Nov. 8 - Gavin Spanagel
Nov. 29 - Tony Leuzzi
Dec. 13 - Ed Downey

Starting around 8PM.

Please contact me with any questions and I will provide you with semi-meaningful replies.

Semi-sincerely,
Rick Petrie

A Plethora of Poetry Events

Message from the Free Speech Zone Open Mic:

As most of you know, Daily Perks officially closed on August 31. But the open mics and weekend music events continued without interruption at 389 Gregory Street.

James Rowe, who'd been leasing DP since last fall, took over as proprietor in early August and changed the name to The House of Hamez as of September 1.

For more info on The House of Hamez, check out their website at http://houseofhamez.com

For all of you who've been regulars at the Thursday night Pure Kona series, the Thursday reading series is now called the Free Speech Zone open mic and is co-hosted by Ed Downey and Frank Judge.

Ed and Frank are resuming featured readers this week, October 4, with Leah Zazulyer.

The schedule for the rest of the month is:

Gary Lehmann (Oct 11)

Peter Chapman (Oct 18)

BADEA (Oct 25)

David Michael Nixon (Nov. 1).

If you're interested in being featured, know of someone who might be, or just want to join their mailing list, contact them at rochfreespeechzone@gmail.com or 260-9005.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

And don’t forget, Pure Kona is now held at Boulder Coffee, Monday nights from 8-10pm.

Their upcoming features are:

10/8 - Elaine Heveron

10/15 - Ed Downey

10/22 - Robert Ricks

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Also, there are monthly readings at the Peace Storefront

Reenah Golden this Friday, October 5;

Sal Parlato, Friday, November 2;

Patricia Roth Schwartz, Friday December 7.

The Storefront is at 658 Monroe Avenue (between Poster Art and Aaron's Alley).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

… and Rochester Poets is organizing a Young Poets (i.e. 21 and under) reading at Fisher on November 12, 7-11 pm.

If you know of any young poets who'd be interested in applying to be on the list of participants, please contact Frank Judge at sns1@msn.com

Pleasant poeting!

Art Walk Alive

Art Walk Alive tomorrow 12-4 pm.

This year’s spoken word artists are:

Marie Starr (12:15 at the Playground)
Larry Berger (12:45 at Writer’s & Books)
BADEA (1:00 pm at 822 Elton Street)
Reader's Theatre Club (1:15 at Starry Nights)
Michael Ketchek (1:30 at Craft Co. #6)
Writer's Block featuring 2007 Rochester Teen Slam Team (2:30 at the Playground)

There’s also dance, art, music, & the dedications of the bus shelters for this year’s art-ification project.

Check out http://www.rochesterartwalk.org/ for all the info, maps, & more …
Hope to see you there!

2nd Annual Canandaigua Poetry Festival

Hello all,
Here’s all the latest up-to-datest information on the Poetry Festival!


First there’s
Some Poetry:

12:00 – 12:30 Nick Hogan & Brendan Giusti
12:30 – 12:45 David White
12:45 – 1:00 John Roche
1:00 – 1:15 Vincent F. A. Golphin
1:15 – 1:30 Patricia Roth Schwartz
1:30 – 2:00 Kid’s Rain Dance Program
2:00 – 2:15 Arianna Barry
2:15 – 2:30 Merle Heath
2:30 – 2:45 Dwain Wilder
2:45 – 3:00 Frank Judge
3:00 – 3:30 Ethic & Jackson
3:30 – 3:45 MJ Iuppa
3:45 – 4:00 Maureen Owens
4:00 – 4:15 Sherry Gendreau
4:15 – 4:30 T.F. Rice
4:30 – 5:00 Urknee & Bjurton
5:00 – 5:15 Anita Augesen
5:15 – 5:30 Claudia Stanek
5:30 – 5:45 Colleen Powderly
5:45 – 6:00 Norm Davis
6:00 – 6:30 B.A.D.E.A.
6:30 – 6:45 Matt Shackelford
6:45 – 7:00 Justice Peace
7:00 – 7:15 Rick Petrie
7:15 – 7:30 Marie Starr


& then there’s
Some MUSIC:

7:30 – 8:00 Ed Downey
8:00 – 8:30 Shawnee Boyeee


& Maybe even
a little bit of
8:30—9:00 Open Mic


Ah, It’s going to be
a glorious day!



Let’s have A huge round of
applause for our sponsors:
(For Quick Links see side panel under Sponsors)





Finger Lakes Yoga
90 South Main Street
Canandaigua, NY 14424
Phone: 585-396-2291
http://www.yoga.downtowncanandaigua.com/

Revitalizing and relaxing, yoga reduces the effects of stress we experience in our society. Therapeutic in nature, yoga can help alleviate physical problems by ringing back balance to the whole system.

Wick-edly Sent Soap & Candle Co.
94 South Main Street
Canandaigua, NY
Phone: 394-5260
http://www.escentedcandle.com/

Soap and candle company with richly scented candles, exclusive products made here in Canandaigua. Also aromatherapy, home décor gifts, and an aromabar with over 100 scents to create your own custom scents for bath and body, massage oils and perfumes.

Adorn Jewelry and Accessories
24 Coy Street, Number 2
Canandaigua, NY
Phone: 585-393-1520
http://www.adornjewelryandaccessories.com/

Adorn is an unusual boutique that offers jewelry, handbags, scarves, sunglasses, and beads. Choose from Adorn's beautiful one-of-a-kind artisan jewelry created by owner Erica Koch.

Mac's Philly Steaks
76 S. Main St
Canandaigua, NY
Phone: 585-394-7080
Fax: 585-394-4304
http://www.macsphillysteaks.com/

Philly Cheese steaks, chicken cheese steaks, hoagies, subs, salads, soups, soft pretzels and more.Free Delivery for orders $10 or more. Hours: Open 7 days a week 11 AM - 10 pm

The Paperback Place
82 South Main Street
Canandaigua, NY
585-396-9872
http://www.paperbackplace.com/

The place for bookworms, selling new and used books. Visit our store for the latest bestsellers & check out our used books.

Pat Rini Rohrer Gallery
71 South Main Street
Canandaigua, NY
Phone: 394-0030
http://www.prrgallery.com/

Art gallery, art workshop, and working studio.

Unique Toy Shop
120 South Main
Canandaigua, NY
Phone: 394-2319
http://www.uniquetoyshop.com/

Children's toys, hobbies, and fun for kids of ALL ages!

Tip of the Needle Fashion Emporium
209 South Main Street
Canandaigua, NY
Phone: 393-1835

Fashion jewelry, jeans, T-shirts, footwear, accessories, and body piercing.


With Special thanks to:

The Canandaigua B.I.D. (for stage)
& Mobile Music (for Sound)

Bravo! Thank you! Gracias! Arigato!

Pure Kona Open Mic

Hey all, just wanted to remind you Pure Kona's new venue at Boulder Coffee starts tomorrow night (Monday, September 3rd) with Urknee & Bjurton Russell.

I also wanted to let you know, though Daily Perks is closing, James is keeping the space and changing it to House of Hameez. He plans to continue the Thursday night poetry readings, possibly with Ed Downey as MC. Not sure if they're planning on features or not, but I'll be sure to keep you up to date.

Talaam Acey: Thursday, September 6th

News from Sevin:

Taalam Acey
September 6th 8pm-whenever
Venu Restro Lounge (151 St. Paul)

To check out his work, go to:
www.myspace.com/officialtaalamacey
www.taalamacey.com

One Mic


True Lies


Market for Ni$$as


Living Come Alive


This man is an amazing spoken word/slam poet ... I will definitely be doing everything in my power to check this out.

Final Pure Kona at Daily Perks

Just a reminder: This Thursday will be the final Pure Kona at Daily Perks & I am honored to be able to step in and be their final feature.


Photo by Arianna

I’ve been working on some new stuff for this, so hopefully it will be a good time for all. Hope you can join us for this last night & bring some things to read, share, sing, hum or perform.


Don't forget: Pure Kona Open Mic will be moving to Mondays from 8 – 10pm at Boulder Coffee as of Monday, September 3rd.

Pure Kona Moves to Mondays at Boulder Coffee

***PURE KONA POETRY OPEN MIC IS MOVING TO BOULDER COFFEE***

Forward from Rick Petrie:

Dear People,

Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic will be moving to Boulder Coffee, at the corner of Alexander and Clinton in Rochester's South Wedge, as of LABOR DAY. The open mic will take place every MONDAY evening at 8PM beginning September 3rd.

These are the upcoming feature performers for Pure Kona:

9/3 - Erknee & Bjurton Russell

9/10 - John Roche

9/17 - Jan Wenk-Sedras

9/24 - Frank Judge

10/1 - Maureen Owens

10/8 - Elaine Heveron

10/15 - Ed Downey

10/22 - Robert Ricks

Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic weekly readings go back to 1993 at Java Joes.

That's over 700 readings and thousands of performers from Rochester and around the world. Norm Davis and Rick Petrie are the cohosts.

The featured performer starts at 8PM w/ the open mic following.

Please email or call me with any questions.

Thanks,
Rick Petrie

petrie95@hotmail.com
244-3485

2nd Annual Canandaigua Poetry Festival

The Canandaigua Poetry Festival is a marathon poetry festival we started last year as part of, or rather in extension of, the Blue Dahlia Open Mic & even though Blue Dahlia is no longer with us, the co-owners, who also own Wickedly-Sent Soap and Candle Company (Don & Scott: http://www.escentedcandle.com) are still interested in making this festival a yearly event. Yeah Don & Scott!

So, this will be our 2nd Annual Canandaigua Poetry Festival. To see the web page for last year, you can check out this link: http://www.poetryfestival.downtowncanandaigua.com

It was also included in the September/October Issue of Poets & writer’s Magazine as part of an article about Poetry Marathons, which you can read at: http://www.pw.org/mag/0609/newsmantzaris.htm

Last year we had poets reading from Noon – 6:30 pm. Single poets were allotted 15 minutes each and groups or duos - 30 minutes. It worked well to have the half-hour groupings spaced out throughout the day, so I think that’s what we’ll be working toward this year, as well. After that, we had musicians for a half-hour each (supposedly from 6:30 to 9 … but really I think we went more from @ 7 – 11).

We had great fun last year and I loved the fact that so many poets from so many separate circles got chances to hear each other’s work. The other thing I was very excited about was that every single performer showed up (on time) for their slots. With so many people participating and so many things that naturally go awry in life, this was more than I expected but I was delighted not to have to revert to a single “plan B” and so I say again, thank you to all the poets and musicians who made last years festival what it was!

Now onto this year, the festival will be held on Saturday, September 8 at The Commons on Main Street in Canandaigua. The Commons is an outdoor stage area that hosts musical acts every weekend throughout the summer. We are also looking into having All Things Art as a back up in case of rain.

That’s all I can think of for now. I’ll write again soon with a proposed schedule. Hope all is well!

Michael Brown this week at Kona

Just wanted to let you all know, this week at Pure Kona there will be an out-of-town poet on a traveling tour. I originally heard of this guy through Andy Doyle, who hosts the Ithaca Poetry Slam, the first Friday of the month at Juna's Cafe in Ithaca, which is where Michael will be performing Friday, August 3.

Michael was set up to come feature at the Blue Daily in July but, as you know, Blue Dahlia didn’t make it to July. Fortunately, you can still catch him this week at Pure Kona! I haven’t had the pleasure of hearing him before, but am looking forward to hearing him this week. I’ve included some information from his web-page and bio for your perusal, as well as the link to it if you are interested in knowing more.

Hope to see you there!

Teacher, Poet, and Traveling Man


or, as Die Welt put it, "ein Dichter und weltenbummler"

according to WBUR/NPR, "The Jerry Garcia of performance poetry."

as Paul Stokstad said, "rascal-artist-angel-wonder...at the same time"

Poets at 8, Fairfield, Iowa and MAP of Austin Poetry editor Stazja MacFayden queried, "Did you know you are radical, an extremist, and possibly a threat to the national security?"

and poet Jack McCarthy said, "He has the mind of Bertolt Brecht in the body of Grizzly Adams."

http://michael.brown.name/

Featuring at: Pure Kona Open Mic, 8-10pm
Daily Perk's Coffeehouse
369 Gregory Street, Rochester

Information on Michael R. Brown

Michael R. Brown has published his poetry, fiction, travel articles and columns in wide-ranging periodicals all over the world. His fourth book of poetry, The Confidence Man, was published by Ragged Sky in 2006. In May, 2007, Brown and his partner Valerie Lawson moved to Robbinston in Down East Maine, the easternmost point in the USA, where he is writing a book on American education and a novel about the 60's. As a correspondent for the local paper, The Quoddy Tides, his beat is the Passamaquoddy reservation at Pleasant Point.

Brown holds a Ph.D. in English and Education from the University of Michigan. His dissertation was a literary history of the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance directed by Robert Hayden. For 45 years he taught in high schools and universities from the South Side of Chicago to South Korea. In 1999, he won the first Ronald J. Lettieri Award for Teaching Excellence at Mount Ida College.

Brown was a finalist in the 1991 individual competition of the US National Poetry Slam. In 1991 he held the first poetry slam in Stockholm, Sweden, and lectured on African American Literature at Stockholm University. In 1992 he organized the US national slam, and he was on the Boston slam teams that won the US Championship in 1993 and finished third in 1995. In 1998 he won the 6th International Slam in Amsterdam. Brown won the open slam at the 2000 Provincetown Poetry Festival, and he was the hit of the 2001 Rockland (NY) Jazz and Blues Festival. He has performed his poems from Jerusalem to Taipeh and Vancouver to Key West. For 13 years he hosted the Boston slam at the Cantab Lounge, Cambridge.

Michael Brown was co-producer of The Culture of Peace, an international exhibit of art and poetry organized under the UN mandate for a decade of the Culture of Peace. This project has created an art and poetry exhibit and resulted in four exchanges of poets between Ireland and Massachusetts. He is general secretary of the Poetry Olympics, first held in Stockholm in 1998.

Brown's first published poem appeared in the first issue of Beyond Baroque (1969). His most recently published poems have appeared in The Asheville Poetry Review, Windsor Review, Sensations, 100 Poets Against the War, and Spoken Word Revolution.

Brown conducts workshops in writing and performance. He has several times performed his poem "Chorus" as part of Beat Cafe, an original ballet choreographed by former Joffrey dancer Anthony Williams. He appeared in the documentary film SlamNation. In the past five years he produced and directed shows by the Off-Broadway Poets and Dr. Brown’s Traveling Poetry Show, an ensemble who perform their own poetry in theaters. His full-length play, The Duchess of York, was a finalist in the Cape Cod Playwrights’ Competition. He wants to teach for another 15 years if anyone will have him.

Jeremy Fernaays: This Week at Pure Kona

Hello all! I have returned … and, it seems I have run out of my list of who’s featuring at Pure Kona, so I haven’t a clue who will be there tonight, but, fortunately, I received this announcement about next week’s feature and can, at least, let you know that Jeremy Fernaays will be the feature for next Thursday, July 26th.

And I even have a pic from one of the PAW events:

… & this is the only pic I have of him with his eyes open … I’ll have to get some more next Thursday!

I’ve only had the pleasure of hearing Jeremy read a few times but I have been impressed each time by his words and always look forward to seeing him again. I’m excited about hearing him feature for the first time (my first time hearing him, that is, not his first time featuring) & I hope to see you there!

Pure Kona Open Mic, 8-10 pm
Daily Perks Coffee House
369 Gregory Street, Rochester

While I'm Gone ... Check these out ..

All right, real quick-like … just a note to let you know Blood & Bone Orchestra will be performing at Daily Perks Coffee House tomorrow night, (Friday, June 30) with Urknee & Bjurton Russell as their Opening Act @ 8pm – More info @ http://www.dailyperkscoffeehouse.com

I’m unaware of the feature for Kona for the week I’m gone, so I can’t let you in on that one, but I know Sevin is gonna be on for Thursday the 12th … Also, I bumped into Sevin at the Juneteenth celebration and he is hosting an Open Mic at Julius’s on Friday nights, so I’m going to be trying to check that out sometime soon … well after I get back from Ireland that is ;)

Oh, and don't miss this! I wouldn't, if i were here:

Rock into Independence Day
July, 3 2007 at Water street Music Hall
Not Available , Rochester, New York
Cost : 10 in advance through ticket master/ 15 at the door

Indie Music's Best Musicians The line up include JoAnn Vaccaro, The Mesh Factor, Mary Shannon and her band, and Shawnee Boyeee

Hope you all have a wonderful week & a sparkling 4th of July! Now, I’ve got to go get myself packed … yes, procrastination is my middle name but I kind of like it that way (sometimes) … Bye, for now …

This week at Pure Kona: Greg Slater

Thursday, June 21st

Pure Kona Open Mic, 8- 10 pm
Daily Perks Coffee House
369 Gregory St, Rochester

I have no photos of this Greg Slater fellow, so this is what you get from me this week ... as I pack my bags to steal away to Ireland ... hehehe!

In case I am remiss in posting next week's Pure Kona events - there will be a double feature with our very own Colleen Powderly & surprise guest Emmett Mitchee (back in town for a limited engagement i would guess) ... and that will be June 28th ... same time, same place ...

I'm going to try to make it out for that one, though I have to put my daughter on a plane that afternoon for her own trip to North Carolina ... state of her birth ... and then I will be catching a plane the next day to, that's right, Ireland ... hehehe ... yes, I am very happy about this development in my life :)

So, if you are in desperate need of open mic info while I am abroad - check the Daily Perks webpage: www.dailyperkscoffeehouse.com or a quick glance at the City Newspaper might give you a few good ideas ... and there's always JayceLand (link to left ... aww, no it's right ... not quite as alliterative but what are you gonna do?)

It's 3 am and I should be sleeping ... oyasuminasaii ... which is the very hard word for good-night it took me forever to learn when i was in japan ... ah, yeah ... well ... g'night then ...

Some drawings ...