Poetry Out Loud

Yeah, so I guess I'm in this ... should be fun ... always up for poetry out loud!

Thursday: Pure Kona & Flowetic Rhythms

This Thursday you got your pick of events (Why does everything have to fall on the same day you say? I just don't know) But here's how it is:

This Thursday:

Ed Downey is featuring at Pure Kona Open Mic

Pure Kona is now the 2nd & 4th Thursdays at The Mez, 389 Gregory Street, beginning at 7:30PM.

Norm Davis and Rick Petrie are the evening's hosts.

Upcoming features include:

Mar 12 - Baby D
Mar 26 - Rigel Klingman
Apr 9 - Amos The Human
Apr 23 - Colleen Powderly


Also

Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month!

(See what I mean about everything going down at the same time around here?)

Experience an evening of "Flowetic Rhythms" where live music, poetry and art simultaneously flow in rhythm!

Hosted By:
Lucreations and Gallery One Fine Arts

When:
7:00 PM

Where:
Gallery One Fine Arts
36 W. Main St

Hope to see you here ... or there ... or somewhere ...

Community Dialogue

WHAT: Historic community dialogue / panel discussion regarding the role and responsibility of mass media in helping to address individual and institutionalized racism


WHO: Activists Against Racism Movement (in conjunction with more than 25 local community agencies and organizations).

Panelists include News Directors from Channels 8, 9, 10, & 13; representatives from T.V. One, Rochester Association of Black Journalists, About Time Magazine, Minority Reporter and Challenger newspapers, WXXI radio and Rochester Indymedia


WHEN: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM)...............Wednesday, February 25, 2009 (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM)


WHERE: James Monroe High School (164 Alexander Street, Rochester, NY)


WHY: For Activists Against Racism Movement and the general Rochester Community to begin developing a concrete, ongoing, working-relationship with representatives of mass-media in order to help:

1) produce solutions for outstanding socioeconomic, political, cultural issues and problems within our local, regional, and national communities;

2) create an atmosphere that de-emphasizes perpetuation of negative stereotypes concerning communities of color, especially as it relates to the African American Community;

3) bring more recognition and attention to positive efforts and achievements within communities of color;

4) critique, analyze, and educate regarding the functioning of racism in general, and the role of mass-media in perpetuating racism.

Contact: Mr. Dana Bratcher: dbratcher33@yahoo.com

Mr. Bratcher (Activists Against Racism Movement, Recruitment Committee Chairperson) was quoted as having said: "The recent, blatantly classic example (among many) of the NY Post being comfortable enough to mock the President of the United States of America, and liken him to a violent chimpanzee, and then have the audacity to initially attempt to defend their so-called journalistic practices as justified --- is a crystal clear indicator as to why initiation of dialogue regarding mainstream, mass-media's role in perpetuating individual an institutionalized racism, is in essence, only a baby step, a starting point relative to the hard, but necessary work ahead of us. With regard to the critical need to address the serious, deep-seated issue and problem of individual and institutionalized racism, AARM, along with its community partners, will demonstrate to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and others --- that not all of us in the nation are cowards. On February 25th, we will set a clear and important example for the nation, and will once again showcase Rochester, NY as a city of firsts."

Tonight - Poetry & Comedy

Just a quick note while I'm on my lunch break. I know I've been remiss lately. I'm trying to keep up. Hope all is well with all y'all!

Tonight:

Last Comic Sitting Competition

7:30 - 10pm?
The Comedy Club at Daisy Dukes
2235 Empire Blvd (Webster)
www.thecomedyclub.us

Rochester Poet’s Reading

7- 9pm
featuring David White
At Hughes Rotunda Room
Wilson Educational Building
St. John Fisher
followed by: Open Mic and refreshments


Tomorrow - Thursday, February 5

Free Speech Zone Open Mic

7:30- 11pm
The Mez
Featuring: guitarist/singer/songwriter Daniel James,
accompanied by Harlo Taddy
Followed by Open Mic

Next Thursday, February 12

Poets Against the War & Occupation
7-10:30 pm
Basil Hall, St. John Fisher College

“A Banquet of Words and…”

An interwoven, multi-disciplinary showcase of
spoken word/poetry (Reenah Golden, Justice Peace),
storytelling (Djed Snead),
dance (Fresh and Flii Crew, Melinda Phillips, Douglas McIntyre),
dramatic performance (David Jason Kyle and Marcy Savastan),
and gospel (Walla of Zambia)

Why: Fundraiser for the Empowered Girl Alliance
and the Maafa Celebration Committee (two organizations
working to improve the quality of life in our community)

When: Saturday, December 13, 2008 from 7:30pm-10:00pm

Where: 1441 East Avenue, Rochester, New York (The Rochester Medical Academy)

Cost: $18.00 in advance/$25.00 at the door
Group and family discounts available

Tickets and more information can be obtained at
Mood Makers Books, Village Gate (585-271-7010)
or by calling (585) 256-3221

Monday, December 1st: BADEA

BADEA

APPEARING AT:

The Lovin' Cup

R.I.T.'s Park Point

ROCHESTER, NY 14623

Monday, December 1, 2008, 7:00pm

(followed by Open Mic hosted by Frank Judge/260-9005)

CALL: Lovin' Cup/292-9940--BADEA/234-1641 for more info

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/BADEA1

Sunday: Remembering Faces Reading

Contributors to Remembering Faces, the third chapbook in the Women Celebrating Women series, will be reading and signing copies of the book this Sunday at 1:00 P.M. at Liftbridge Bookstore in Brockport. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at $10/each.

Two Great Events this Thursday

Thursday, November 20th brings the Free Speech Open Mic featuring Liana Gabel & if you haven't had the chance to see this girl, I recommend you do ... She's utterly fabulous! Amazing voice, amazing words, amazing spirit ... truly!

Also this Thursday, a couple guys who swung by Pure Kona last week, Dr. Will and Gianni Gambino of Etch-a-Sketch Comedy Corp., will be serving up some comedy at the Cafe Underground. These guys were pretty impressive ... and very respectful of everyone getting up and doing their own thing. (www.gambino.pranks.com)

So, that makes it:

Liana Gabel
Free Speech Open Mic
The Mez Cafe & Music Hall
396 Gregory Street
8pm - what is it now 11ish?

and

Dr. Will & Gianni Gambino
Cafe Underground
480 W Main Street
7pm - ?

Also, Friday, November 21 - Liana Gabel will be performing at Boulder Coffee - she told me when & of course, i don't rememeber ... I wrote it down somewhere safe, so I wouldn't lose it ... and I'm sure it's very safe in whatever notebook I was carrying around the last time I saw her ... Unfortunately, I have no clue which one it was ... so she's there ... sometime on Friday ... evening ... with friends ... check her out ... she's amazing ... did I mention that?

And Monday, November 24th is the Wide Open Mic at Writers & Books ... Verb Cafe at 7:30 pm ... I will be at a Zoning Board Meeting myself, but you should go ... really ... I would ... I will, if anyone wants to be the clerk for Zoning Board ... anyone? no, okay ... have fun ...

Getting punchy now ... must sleep ... Take care!

Friday, November 14th- The Mez

The Alaska Show:

Nora Kaminski
Liana Gabel
Dana Marzovilla
John Cragie

8pm - ?

Come check out these fabulous musicians!

More to come ...

Two Treats this Week: Martin Espada and Norm Davis

Martin Espada

November 6: Reading, 7 PM
Flynn Campus Center
Building 3
Monroe Community College
Rochester, NY
Contact: Marie Brandt
http://www.martinespada.net/

Two reasons I’ll be doing my best to check this one out:

First: Nick Hogan, who was kind enough to let me know about this reading, recommended him after seeing him at the Dodge Poetry Festival this year and says he is a tremendous poet.

Second: The first thing I saw when I Googled him was this - Sandra Cisneros says: “Martín Espada is the Pablo Neruda of North American authors.”

So how could we miss this? And for free! Nick says, “People should treat themselves and go.” So I’m letting folks know at his, and my own, request.

and

Norm Davis at Books, ETC
Sunday, November 9th at 4:00 PM
Norm Davis will read selection of his poetry. Norm Davis has been a mainstay on the Rochester Poetry scene for many years. He has been a great encouragement to Rochester poets through his development of the Pure Kona series of open mike readings. Come and share some great writing and discussion. This program is free and open to the public. We will meet at Books, ETC., 78 W Main St., Macedon. If you have any questions, please respond by email books_etc@yahoo.com or phone John at 585-464-9103.

Also this week:

Wednesday, November 5, 7-9 pm
Rochester Poets Reading
Featuring Peter Chapman
Hughes Rotunda room
St. John Fisher College

Thursday, November 6, 8 pm
Free Speech Zone Reading Series at The Mez
Featuring Karrah Teague followed by an open mic.

Friday, November 7, 8 pm
Michael Czarnecki reading at
The Peace Storefront.

Wednesday, November 12, 7-9 pm
Rochester Poetry Workshop
Panera Bread at 12 Corners

Saturday, November 15, 1:30-4 pm
Rochester Poets Workshop
The Center at High Falls Gallery.

Sunday, November 16, 4 pm
Peter Chapman reading at Books, Etc.
78 W. Main St., Macedon, NY, 474-4116

Love Parade

From Lindsay:

Time to remember The Love Parade prowls this Sunday!

Meet me at the foot of Charlotte Pier at 1pm

Rain or Shine

With lots of inspiration on your person and love in your hearts

and let's plant the seeds
for Rochester to raise out of it's sometimes slouching ruins........

Let's stir our hearts remembering what is most important.......

Nix you naysayers! It's time, Very Very much time....To create a world more silken with love.......


Forward March will be called at the magical 1:11pm


- your parade much devoted

Creating "a new holiday" for Rochester, in what is to be the inaugural Lake Ontario Love Parade. Celebrating the beauty of the Charlotte Pier and the lake before winter obscures it's treasures! Taking a temporary step away from society by walking the pier in the opposite direction of the city, in the purpose of love, and recognition that we'd like to lead improved, peaceful lives. Honoring the people and things that we love. Possibly making up with our enemies by inviting them to walk with us in the parade or honoring them quietly by parading their picture with warm thoughts. Using the parade as a pre-winter cleanse of the old. Giving our city an authentic and mysterious event like the archaic parades of Bali and Italy. Celebrating brought-props and fun costuming. Paper bell Making. Creating social events in underused, magical areas.

Tonight! Native Americans and Education-Community Dialogue Series

Hello all,

Sorry for the short notice on this, but I just found my Baobab Cultural Center Newsletter and wanted to send this out to let you know about these awesome events - one of which is Tonight! I'm hoping to make it up for this one tonight myself, so maybe I'll see you there!

EVENT

Community Dialogue Series: Native Americans and Education
October 18, 2008 at 6:30 pm

Can Native Americans be Educated and Remain "Native"? This dialogue will explore this question. Peter Jemison, Director of Ganondagan State Historic Site leads discussion.

Jemison will discuss the educational experiences of Native americans in the USA. His talk will include an overview of themes in his art works, and excerpts from a documentary titled House of Peace. Jemison will engage the audience in a dialogue on what schools should teach about the Native American culture and what can be done to enable meaningful matriculation and integration of Native Americans in secondary and post-secondary education.

Details on documentary:

House of Peace tells the story of Ganondagan, a seventeenth-century Seneca village, now a New York State Historic Site, and documents the construction of a traditional bark longhouse there.

(1999, 29 min. Documentary) US; Producer: G. Peter Jemison (Seneca); Director: Cathleen Ashworth; Produced by: Friends of Ganondagan

Check out http://www.thebaobab.org/ for more information

Also coming up at The Baobab:

EVENT

Guest Speaker Event: Adobe: Down to Earth.
October 23, 2008 at 7:00 pm

Guest speaker Paul Rayar is the Director of Arcilla Research. Mr. Rayar is the originator of a technology for producing environmentally-friendly materials from waste streams. An artist by training, Mr. Rayar was a master at creating enameled jewelry, murals, and stoneware ceramics. A native of Florida, he set up his permanent workshop in the Netherlands, where he was sought out to decorate municipal buildings with sculptural ceramic relief and create public statuary.

More information on Paul Rayar is available at http://www.thebaobab.org/

EVENT

Community Dialogue Series: Race Relations: Seminole Indians and Blacks
October 25, 2008 at 6:30 pm

This dialogue will focus on the film "Black Indians: An American Story" that brings to light a forgotten part of America's past - the cultural and racial fusion of Native and African Americans. Discussion facilitated by Roberta Davis.

Honoring the Muse at FLCC

From Curt Nehring Bliss (The man with the coolest last name ever!)



HONORING THE MUSE with poet T.R. Congdon on Wednesday, September 24th at 7pm in the Honors House

Please consider joining us as FLCC Honors Studies kicks off our new Honoring the Muse performance series this Wednesday, September 24th at 7pm in the Parlor Room of the Honors House. Our first featured performer will be Rochester musician/poet/activist T.R. Congdon. Following Congdon’s reading will be a spoken word open mic.

As a musician, T.R. Congdon has played all over the country, opening for big names such as Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, and Jerry Lee Lewis. As a poet, he is widely published though he refers to himself as “an unknown figure in contemporary literature.” As a student at Cornell, he studied creative writing with the late A.A. Ammons, and as an independent film maker he has worked with Pulitzer and National Book Award winners and poet laureates such as Donald Hall, Yusef Komunyakaa, Carolyn Forche' and Amiri Baraka. Congdon’s current project is a forthcoming film to benefit New Orleans’ Common Ground Relief organization and will feature numerous poets, Katrina survivors, and volunteers from Common Ground Relief.

A profile of TR. Congdon on the web at www.commongroundrelief.org/node/676
* * *

Honoring the Muse aims to engage, challenge, and surprise audiences with an eclectic mix of weekly Wednesday night readings and performances. Each evening will feature a guest performer followed by an open mic. The Honors House and the community it cultivates provide a generous venue for the presentation of original work. More information on the series can be found online at http://www.flcc.edu/honors and on Facebook (search “FLCC Honors House” and become a fan to stay connected).

The schedule for the 08-09 academic year is as follows:

First Wednesdays at 7pm: Songwriters Circle hosted by Curt Nehring Bliss

Second Wednesdays at 5pm: Composers Forum hosted by Dr. David McGuire

Third Wednesdays at 7pm: Go Bananas (comedy/improv) hosted by Noah Earl

Fourth Wednesdays at 7pm: Writers Bloc Party (spoken word) hosted by Jon Palzer

Poetry, Nonfiction, Discussions Galore

So many things are happening this week! So hard to choose ... I would love to make it to all these events, but I know I'll never pull it off. The one place I know I'll be is at Pure Kona Thursday night for Rich Forster's feature.


I never pass up a chance to hear him read, though I'm partial, since I'm convinced he talks like a tree and I've been known to be quite fond of trees. Intrigued? Come decide for yourself ... and bring something to read for the open mic ... add to the melee!


Tuesday, September 23:

Clea Koff,Author of “The Bone Woman” will speak at SUNY Brockport in the Tuttle North Gymat 8:30 pm. Koff will discuss her work asa UN forensic anthropologist working with families who lost loved ones togenocide.


25 And Under Reading will be hosted by: Sally Bittner Bonn in the VerbCafé at Writers & Books at 7:00 pm. Free toW&B members, $3 general public


Wednesday, September 24:

Francis Smith Foster, African American family life and Women’s Studiesscholar will be holding a discussion on “Freedom’s Journal and its Work,” atNewton Hall on the SUNY Geneseo campus at 5 pm.


Dinty W. Moore is the author of Between Panicand Desire; The Accidental Buddhist: Mindfulness, Enlightenment and SittingStill; Toothpick Men; and The Emperor’s Virtual Clothes. Reading held in The New York Room, CooperHall at SUNY Brockport at 8pm (free & open to the public)


KathAnderson, mentor and friend of poet Ruth Lunt, will be reading from AsQuarks Are to Cicadas, a selection of Ruth’s poemsselected and organized by Kath andrecently published byFoothills Publishing at 7pm. FREE


Thursday, Sept. 25:

Rich Forster will be the feature at The Pure Kona Open Mic, at The Mez, 389 Gregory Street at 7:30 pm. Followed by an Open Mic. FREE

Phil Memmer and Michael Jennings will be the Visiting Writers at Writers andBooks will host.

7 pm: $4 W&Bmembers, $6 general public.

For info on the writers, see http://www.wab.org/events/2008_09.shtml.

Tomorrow: David White

David White at Books, ETC

On Sunday, September 14th, at 4:00 PM, David White will read from his collection of poetry.

David is a philosopher with forty years of professional experience in Upstate New York. All his philosophical work focuses on Bishop Joseph Butler, author of The Analogy of Religion (1736). David balances philosophy with poetry in his dialectic, but the poems are not religious.

The poems, collected under the title Luck of the Welsh, take up the theme of life as a trial with a naturalized Deity as the Probation Officer. This program is free and open to the public. We will meet at Books, ETC., 78 W Main St., Macedon.

If you have any questions, please respond by email books_etc@yahoo.com or phone John at 585-464-9103.

Amy Bloom at Brockport

September 10: Amy Bloom will be featured at the Brockport Writers Forum at 8pm in the New York Room of Cooper Hall on the Brockport campus. This event is co-sponsored by the Women & Gender Studies Program at Brockport and is free and open to the public.

About Amy Bloom: Amy Bloom is the author of two novels, two collections of short stories, and a nominee for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her stories have appeared in Best American Short Stories, Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards, and numerous anthologies here and abroad. She has written for the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic Monthly, Vogue, Slate, and Salon, among many other publications, and has won a National Magazine Award. Her first book of nonfiction, Normal: Transsexual CEOs, Crossdressing Cops, and Hermaphrodites with Attitude, is an exploration of the varieties of gender. She lives in Connecticut and teaches at Yale University.

*About info taken from the flyer sent by Kathleen Gill Re: Brockport Writer’s Forum

For more information contact Writers Forum Co-Directors
Ralph Black and Anne Panning at (585) 395-5713
www.brockport.edu/wforum/

Pure Kona Open Mic

Here are the upcoming features for Pure Kona Open Mic.

Sept. 11 - Major Tony Nelson
Sept. 25 - Rich Forster
Oct. 9 - Patricia Roth Schwartz
Oct. 23 - Norm Davis
Oct. 30 - Lynn Cuthbertson
Nov. 13 - Mike Rae & John Francunas


We are alternating weeks with Free Speech Zone Open Mic, with Pure Kona occurring on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays. Readings take place at The Mez, 389 Gregory Street, beginning at 7:30PM. Norm Davis and Rick Petrie are the evening's hosts. Please email Rick at petrie95@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

Upcoming Features for Pure Kona

August 28 - Dr. Zaeus
Sept. 11 - Major Tony Nelson
Sept. 25 - Craig LaSalle


Pure Kona alternates weeks with Free Speech Zone Open Mic,
with Pure Kona on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays.

Readings take place at The Mez, 389 Gregory Street, beginning at 7:30PM.
Norm Davis and Rick Petrie are the evening's hosts.

Saturday: Collective Show at The Mez & Arianna's 13th Birthday

This Saturday, August 9th at The Mez
389 Gregory Street, Rochester

Doors Open at 7:30 pm
Show begins at 8 pm
Cost : $5

So, Shawnee Boyeee has pulled together an interesting amalgamation of people & poets, musicians & munchkins ... it'll certainly be magical and maybe a bit maniacal ... we shall see, we shall see ...

It also happens to be my daughter Arianna's 13th birthday, so we will be incorporating a birthday blow-out in amongst the poetic performances & musical merriments ...

Arianna will be starting us off with a little poetry and a song or two (with some extra added talent from her little brother Ayden) and then ... in some sort of unknown and malleable line-up, will be me, Chris Reynolds, Urknee & Bjurton, and Shawnee Boyeee!

Hope you can come out for poetry, music, mania, and a fond farewell to Arianna's pre-teen years and her entrance into the intense insanity of American Adolescence!

BADEA wins 1st Prize for "Do You Remember?"

A message from BADEA:

GREETINGS ALL!

BADEA is proud to announce that we were chosen as a first prize winner in the 2008 Blackdog Records Songwriting contest. We were put in the category of "World" and won for our composition, "Do You Remember?" Visit "www.blackdogmg.com" and you can listen to all 65 finalists.

The song is listed under Robert Snead as the writer, not BADEA but believe me, it was and will remain, a group effort.

Upcoming Performances:

2nd Annual Rochester A.B.O.V.E. festival at Genesee Valley Park August 2, 2008 at 2pm

Westside Farmers Market Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 4:30pm

The Sankofa Festival, Village Gate, Goodman Street, August 23, 2008 at 2pm