The Mad Poets Blog

THURS., SEPTEMBER 6^TH, AT 7 PM

MAD POETS present A SMATTERING OF NEW VOICES, featuring ANNA MENDOZA, ADAM COBEN & ALLA VILNYANSKAYA (See bio notes below!) at MILK BOY COFFEE /ACOUSTIC CAFE, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., in the Bryn Mawr Film Institute (Bryn Mawr, PA 19010); Tel: 610-527-0690, hosted by AUTUMN KONOPKA! Check out our newest venue and find out what everyone is talking about! AND HANG AROUND AFTERWARDS! At 9 pm, there will be music at Milk Boy !! Our reading will run from 7-9 pm, then MUSIC. Stay tuned for other upcoming mad events, some mentioned below - For info, see www.madpoetssociety.com (Also, at the bottom - a little appeal from your “mad” editor.)

Anna Mendoza is a senior English-Creative Writing double major at Bryn Mawr College and a student of poetry and fiction. Growing up in Vancouver, Canada, she was awarded 1st prize in numerous writing contests for students in her province. In 2005-06 she appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Poets in the News series and in 2006 won 1st prize in FOUND Magazine’s writing competition for MFA students across the country. She would like to dedicate her first reading that isn’t an Open Mike reading, creative writing class reading, or college lit mag reading to the rest of Professor Karl Kirchwey’s muses-in-training.

Alla Vilnyanskaya was born in the Ukraine and moved to the states with her family in 1989. She has been writing since she was 16 years old. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in writing with a Poetry track. She currently works as an Admin Asst at the McNeil center at the University of Pennsylvania, and aspires to earn her MFA in poetry writing. She has been published in several online magazines including the Aurora Review, Scars, Lost Beat Poetry and Flutter. This is her first “Featured” reading.

Adam Coben began writing rap in 93′ while smoking blunts in the back seat of his Toyota Forerunner. He performed in countless ciphers until he was nineteen. Then he found Ginsberg. His work evolved to a surrealistic form of dynamic imagery, when he was given the opportunity to read at Northeastern’s radio station with Tony Trugillio and others. Luckily this is where he was also first published. He came back to Philly and began to read/perform at the Painted Bride, and Vincent’s Cafe. He decided to go the Jack Keroauc School of Disebodied Poetics to start a poetic revolution. He quickly became one of the most sought after performance poets at the school. He performed at the Fox Theater (the lone rep from the Kerouac school) as part of performance poetry night. He also was featured at the Left Hand Bookstore for his work as well as at Penny Lane Coffeehouse, where Ginsberg also performed many, many times. Returning back to Philly Adam became a ninth grade English teacher and continued to write; but with performance on hold for some time. Then he was given the opportunity to sing, perform and read his work at the Tin Angel. In the last year he has been featured at Robin’s bookstore, and Voices and Visions. He also started a reading/open mic in East Falls, which is quickly growing into a budding poetic community. (Email Adam Coben at adamreal2000@yahoo.com for details). He has been published in Spectrum Magazine, Besides Person, Young Jewish Voices, HiNge Online and N.U.T.S journal. Also he is currently starting his own on line journal called NakedHowl and a chapbook entitled The Red In Black on White.

GREENFEST * PHILLY - SUNDAY, SEPT. 9^TH -11 AM -6 PM – ON SOUTH STREET, between 7^th and 11^th – PHILLY’S ECO-FEST – “PARTY LIKE THERE IS A TOMORROW: SAVE THE PLANET/SAVE MONEY/SAVE THE DATE.” All day 100 exhibitions, see http://www.greenfestphilly.org/features/schedule.php. Check it out:

ECO POETRY PROJECT: During Greenfest Philly, 15 professional Philadelphia poets will read their own work about matters green. Thank you, Leonard Gontarek, for organizing the Eco Poetry Project at the Willie G. Williams Community Center at the corner of South 1016 South St. at Alden. Sunday, Sept. 9, 4-6 pm. Free. Poets include: OBIE HAZZARD, ELAINE TERRANOVA, JOANNE LEVA MOSEMANN, ALISON HICKS, CATHERINE STAPLES, DEBORAH FRIES, MARK WILHELM, LAMONT DIXON, CATHERINE BANCROFT, ANN DeFOREST, JENNIFER WILLIAMSON, KRISTINE GROW, HANOCK GUY and EILEEN D’ANGELO.

Sandy Crimmins Tribute Reading - Tuesday, September 11th, 6PM
Robin’s Bookstore, 108 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 * 215-737-9600
Featuring: Michelle Belluomini, Daniel Collins, Eileen D’Angelo, Denise Larrabee, Dan Maguire, Jim Mancinelli, stevenallenmay, Joyce Meyers, Dennis O’Donnell, Maria Raha, Joy E. Stocke and J.C. Todd.

Published Philadelphia poet, Sandy Crimmins, who passed away on July 2nd, 2007 was known to many in the local literary communities for her vitality, wit and poetic prowess. Her death was and still is a shock to those who knew her and read with her and heard her read. Whether you’ve heard her perform many times in the past or have never heard of her before, we invite you to come and to listen and say goodbye to a most wonderful poet and person. Sandy was the author of ‘String Theory’ (Plan B Press 2005) and recorded ‘Iowa Summer’ (CD 1998) with Richard Drueding and Stephe Ferraro. She was also a board member of Philadelphia Stories and participated in countless other endeavors throughout her time in the city. Her presence will be missed. Check out the “Photo Album” on the Mad Poets Society’s webpage for a wonderful photo of Sandy, at the podium, when she read in March at our Barnes & Noble series. We’ve all lost a very dear friend. www.madpoetssociety.com

ON FRI., SEPTEMBER 14TH AT 7 PM -

THE LAST WORD BOOKSHOP - features GREG DJANIKIAN, JAMES MANCINELLI + KATHY VOLK MILLER, hosted by LEONARD GONTAREK, who also hosted a fantastic series for Mad Poets at Kelly Writers House this past spring. Don’t miss the poetry of these three great local poets. The Last Word Bookshop is at 220 S. 40th St. (40th & Walnut Streets on the U of Penn campus), 215-386-7750.

ON SATURDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 15^TH , 7:00 pm, MAD POETS PRESENTS PETER KROK at OTHERWISE– POETRY AT CHURCHILL, at Churchill, Artisan Baker & Chocolatier, 137 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464 * 484-941-5100. Hosted by GLENN McLAUGHLIN, who is too much fun for words! OPEN MIC FOLLOWS - DON’T MISS THIS READING — these readings are held on 3rd Saturday nights at 7 pm.

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And I’ve copied this reading blurb from Arlene Bernstein’s “Friends of Poetry” site, join us on September 19^th: SEE: http://www.friendsofpoetry.com for details on this and other events:

Wednesday, September 19th, 7:00 – 10 P.M. Autumn Equinox
Belmont Hills Library – REFRESHMENTS FREE, OPEN MIC
120 Mary Watersford Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA
(off Rte 23, Conshohocken State Road) Google Map
Call (610) 664-8427 for directions and questions.

1. • Poets: Eileen D’Angelo, Director Mad Poets Society;
   • Autumn Konopka, Host of MPS First Thursdays at Milkboy Coffee;
   • Arlene Bernstein, Founder, Friends of Poetry;
   • Musicians: Joe Fanning & Annabella Wood

THE MAD POETS DELCO INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE SERIES packed ‘em in at the last reading before the summer hiatis, featuring the NY Poetry Forum - AND RESUMES ON SEPTEMBER 20TH - 7:30 PM - WITH THE NATIONAL BLACK ARTS SPOKEN WORD TOUR: MAURICE HENDERSON, DIR. Mark your calendars now ! I saw them at the Pen & Pencil Club - and it was an absolute INCREDIBLE performance, music/singing/poetry. So moving– They did a piece on Hurricane Katrina that had the audience in tears–You DO NOT want to miss them.

SATURDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 22nd is the Fall MAD POETS BONFIRE ! Come see what all the legends are talking about. This is the outdoor open mic for poets, songwriters, musicians, drummers, guitarists, you name it, it’s all good here. Held at RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK, You can camp overnight, we are at AREA #13, Organized Camping Area (Sadly, they didn’t have an AREA 51 available for rental). There are great directions on the website.

Then - the very next day (which makes it a little tight for me to pack up at Ridley Creek camp, & head over to Phoenixville..BUT can’t miss TIM GAGER + JENNIFER McPHERSON..)

ON SUN. SEPTEMBER 23rd, MAD POETS SERIES AT STEEL CITY COFFEEHOUSE features CAMBRIDGE POET TIM GAGER and Editor of the Comstock Review, JENNIFER MacPHERSON, hosted by NOAH CUTLER, who makes this series a great experience. Come early for lunch - you won’t be disappointed. They’ve got the best soups on the planet. Steel City Coffeehouse is loated at 203 Bridge St., Phoenixville, PA 19460; Store # 610-933-4043.

ALSO: THE GRYPHON CAFE SERIES, hosted by our own RICHARD MOYER, is on hiatis until September 26th at 7 pm. Gryphon is next to the Anthony Wayne Theatre, 105 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne, PA 19087. If you haven’t been there, be there or be square! We meet in a cozy little room upstairs & there are great munchies + every kind of coffee, latte and tea you can imagine, downstairs. This is a perfect open mic spot for someone who in intimidated to take a podium in front of an audience. It’s normally a small group of poets sharing their work, from all levels of accomplishment, from poets who are just beginning, to poets who have been writing for years.

MAD POETS AT LORI COSGROVE DESIGN will resume on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th at 7 pm, hosted by Arlene Bernstein, featuring DANIEL ABDALHAYY MOORE, and other poets to be announced. Cosgrove Design is at 643 Chester Pike, Prospect Park, (Right off Rt. 420). Stay tuned - an email will follow with the next 2 readings all “set in stone” with our talented featured poets + musicians.

MAD POETS AT WEST CHESTER LIBRARY will resume on SAT., SEPTEMBER 29th at 3 pm, with Nathaniel Smith + John Noakes at the helm, and as Nathaniel says: we increase this reading series by at least one poet every time we have it ! This September reading is a HAIKU WORKSHOP + READING. Wanna learn how to write HAIKU ? This is your big chance ! Don’t blow it! Mark your calendar now. The West Chester Public Library is located at 415 N. Church St. in West Chester, 19382. These readings are all open mic, theme readings. The November 10th one is a war/peace reading. (Sadly, I’ll miss this – but happily I’ll witness the marriage of two poets! ANTHONY PALMA and BROOKE RUTTER are getting married September 29^th !!! CONGRATULATIONS!)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7th, NOON TO FIVE - THE BIG ONE! The 20th ANNUAL MAD POETS FESTIVAL !!! If you are interested in reading, it is a first come, first served event, readings from noon to five, so get an email in to reserve your spot - as we are reserving a few spaces for some special folks who read at our very first Mad Poets Festival in 1987… It will be held as always, at the Media Borough Hall, 3rd and Jackson Streets in the Parlor. Refreshments will be served.

Don’t forget SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION MONDAYS at the Mad Poets Blog !!!! Find out what your friends are doing, where they are reading, where they are getting published and TELLUS ABOUT YOU !!!!

KATE NORTHROP is the JUDGE FOR THE MAD POETS COMPETITION! Stay tuned - winners will be announced in late September/early October !!!! !!!! Kate Northrop is Associate Professor of English/Creative Writing at West Chester University and a Contributing Editor at The American Poetry Review. Her first full length collection, Back Through Interruption, winner of the Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Award and published in 2002 by Kent State University Press, was also a runner up for the Great Lakes New Writers Award and the Kate Tufts Award. She has received an American Academy of Poets Prize, the Paumanok Poetry Award, a Walter E. Dakin fellowship from the Sewanee Writers Conference and three fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. New poems are forthcoming in Raritan, AGNI, and The American Poetry Review. A new chapbook, Through Which Footsteps, won the 2005 West Town Press poetry competition and is forthcoming in Spring 2006. Her new full-length collection, Things Are Disappearing Here, is forthcoming in Spring 2007 from Persea Books. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and The Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she lives in Philadelphia.(Note: the bio is outdated by one year! SORRY!! I couldn’t put my hand on the most recent one):

A LITTLE APPEAL FROM ME:

**Those of you who are wondering where the hard copy/10-12 pg MAD POETS NEWSLETTERS that the Mad Poets Society has circulated for 20 years have been – we had to temporarily suspend getting them out due to financial constraints.. & in an attempt to conserve funds for honorariums for feature poets & the upcoming issue of the magazine, until the new grant from the PA Council on the Arts/Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance / Five County Arts Fund check arrives. We have been notified recently that we will receive a grant for our 2007-2008 programs – but we probably have another 8 weeks before it actually arrives. The budget stalemate in Harrisburg didn’t help the delay, nor did the budget cuts in arts funding. I have half a newsletter written and in a “holding pattern.” My deepest thanks goes out to our members: You need to know that your dues money has been the main support for all of our programs ! Thank you! Database guru Amy Laub will be helping tune up the mailing list so we can send out reminders and membership cards to keep us all up to date in the near future.

Which brings me to another point that members say I don’t mention enough:

MAD POETS SOCIETY is a 501C3 Tax Exempt Publicly Supported Organization. Any contribution you make to the Mad Poets can be written off as a charitable contribution !!! We will be publishing the names of our financial supporters in the MAD POETS REVIEW which will be out this fall. Checks can be made payable to: Mad Poets Society”, at P.O. Box 1248, Media, PA 19063-8248. BE AN ARTS ANGEL and support the busiest poetry arts organization in the tri-state area. We do a TON of stuff on a shoestring ! HELP US OUT, if you can. And Thank goodness for the “lifesavers” in our organization who lend so much help, keep our many series and events going, lend their time and talents, keep the website running, & more. A HUGE thanks to all of them. (You know who you are!) Thanks, as always, to all of you for your support. Be well, Eileen

P.S. - HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY TO PETER KROK - Coordinator of the Manayunk Art Center’s poetry programs !!!

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Eileen M. D’Angelo, Mad Poets Society