The Mad Poets Blog

After a really *really* long run together, it appears that the Mad Poets Society and the Barnes & Noble in Bryn Mawr will be going our separate ways.  This summer, the Barnes & Noble on Lancaster Ave. will be closing in favor of a larger, albeit as-yet-unlocated space that can accomodate a music section, a cafe expansion, and more parking.  Strange to think that when this store opened 15 years ago, it was the first B&N super store in PA.  Now it’s dwarfed by the even superer stores in the further suburbs… you know, the ones that basically had whole shopping centers built around them.

Kathy, our delightful CRM, who’s been there since the beginning, promises that the Mad Poets are always welcome, whenever and whereever this B&N relocates.  It’s that whole whenever & whereever business that kind of leaves us hanging right now.  Ya see, B&N’s lease ends this summer–so our last event at the Bryn Mawr store will be the June 7th reading with WD Ehrhart & Jack Walters.  Unfortunately, since they don’t know where they’re going or when they’ll be reopening, we don’t yet know what will happen with the remainder of the series.  Eileen & I are working to find a new home, ideally in a space somewhere along Lancaster Ave., not far from the B&N store.  If you have any ideas, do let us know.

I’ve been hosting at B&N for, oh geeszh, something like 4 years now, and I’ve really enjoyed all of the wonderful poets I’ve gotten to meet — including our featured readers, our open mic regulars, and the strays poets who wandered in & out of the series once or twice.  I’ve got great memories of playing with the stuffed animals and other toys in the childrens section, being lead in poem and song by more than one daring poet, and declaring an impromptu anti-Santorum reading when we the misguided Senator happened to be scheduled for a book signing on our regular reading night.  I’m sure that whereever we end up, the good times will continue to roll.

’til then, keep an eye out for any good space that might take in a few stray poets.  We don’t take up much room or eat very much.  And we rarely bite, unless provoked.

Check it out. Over there on the right.

That little calendar is interactive: Click a date and it will show you what the Mad Poets are doing (of course, it won’t show you anything if we don’t have anything scheduled).

Then there’s that nifty list underneathe, which shows our next 5 events! Click on any of those listings for full details.

And if you’re looking for a full chronological list of our upcoming events (for about the next month or so), click the title “Upcoming Events” or sort by “Events” in the category menu further down in the sidebar.

If you’d like to see our schedules for the year, by venue, visit the Readings & Events page on the main site.

It’s been a long time coming, but we’re happy to release the Mad Poets Society’s blog — an internet hangout for Mad Poets and friends.

Better than just a comments page or visitors book, here we can talk about our events — what’s coming up, what we’ve recently been to, and how it was. We can also chat about what we’re reading or who we’re listening. We can rant about the creative process and maybe even gossip about the literary world. You’ll also find news about the local and national poetry communities, info about magazines and contests, as well as tips and advice for writers.

But most of all, just like any gathering of Mad Poets, this space is open & supportive. And we’re glad to have you be a part of it!