The Mad Poets Blog

Thursday’s reading at Milkboy was another great one. Poets Katherine Bode-Lang and Cliff Lynn along with essayist Krista Eastman brought diverse and complementary styles that highlighted the surprising connections that arise from individuality.

Even more surprising was the dynamic open mic — which included a whopping 19 readers with talent a-plenty!!! And for the 3rd month in a row, the game has changed, and we have new leader in the open mic contest. The real shocker is that May’s winner — and now contest leader — actually made his Milkboy debut just this month. What’s still more mind blowing, he’s a high school student! That’s right, with just one poem, newcomer Elliot Levy, of Harrison High School, over took both Steve Delia & Howard Lieberman, to regulars who have been mounting votes for the past three months! But I wouldn’t count either of them out so quickly, since they’re still holding firm in 2nd & 3rd. It’s also important to note that there are alot of other regulars who keep on accumulating. Sure, it’s a cliche, but it’s still anybody’s game.

*Open Mic Contest Rankings*
as of May 13, 2010

1.  Elliot Levy (total votes: 9)
2.  Stephen Delia (7)
3.  Howard Lieberman (6)
3.  Betti Kahn (6)
4.  Linda Fischer (5)
4.  Jess Bouchard (5)
5.  Karen Stern (4)

The way this thing is going, I can’t wait to see what happens next month!!!

Last month, we celebrated National Poetry Month at Milkboy Acoustic Cafe with great readings by John Yamrus and Minna Duchovnay, and a small but satisfying open mic. Those who participated may have been wondering who won, hitting refresh on the blog and wondering if I lied when I said I’d post the results. Well…

I apologize for the delay. As a poet and Aries in a family of Aries, April is a busy month — between trying to write lots of poems and celebrate lots of birthdays!! But as they say, better late…

After two months of open mic competition, here’s how things stand:

1. Stephen Delia leads the pack with 6 total votes.
2. Howard Lieberman runs a close second with 5 votes.
3. And newcomer Karen Stern holds the third place spot with 4 total votes.

With so many more readings, that featured reading slot in November is still anyone’s to nab! So come out this Thursday, 7pm, to Milkboy Acoustic Cafe for a great mixed-genre reading — featuring poets Katherine Bode-Lang and Cliff Lynn and creative nonfiction writer Krista Eastman — and bring your own work to take a shot in the contest.

Snow — boooo!!!

Looks like the Delaware Valley is going to be deluged with snow – again. Twice in one week. Thrice in one winter. This is some historic stuff here, people. Unfortunately, this historic stuff is forcing us to cancel the MPS Critique Circle at the Coffee Club in Media, planned for tomorrow, Wednesday 2/10 @ 7 pm.

As for Thursday’s reading at Milkboy in Bryn Mawr, we’re playing it by ear. Check the blog & website for updates. And of course, we’ll be tweeting our updates as well, so follow us if you aren’t.

p.s. Considering the sheer volume of snow, not to mention its aforementioned historic nature, we expect inches and inches of snow poems whenever we meet again.

There’s some wet weather in the forecast, but the Mad Poets Bonfire this weekend is definitely on!

The Bonfire event officially starts Saturday afternoon/evening, lets say dusk-ish, though there will be folks out there as early as 3 p.m. setting up and picnicing.

You may have heard that a few Mad Poets were planning to head out Friday night for some pre-bonfire camping action… unfortunately, that’s OFF!  With the weather people calling for thunderstorms tonight, we’re not setting up camp until tomorrow afternoon.  But we will definitely be there, with drums & treats & fire & poems, poems, poems. You can go to the Bonfire page on the website for more info & directions.

We hope you’ll come out and play!

It’s one thing to talk about starving artists… but there are some way too many people who are seriously starving.  So, this weekend, the Mad Poets are asking anyone reading or dropping by our Annual Festival to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to CityTeam Ministries.

The Festival is scheduled for this Sunday, from 12p-5p, in the Mansion Parlor at the Media Borough Hall, at 3rd & Jackson Streets in Media, Pa. (Get directions)

The Festival features about 40 locally & nationally known poets reading their original work. Some of the featured poets include Alison Hicks, Leonard Gontarek, Amy Laub, Steve Delia, Missy Grotz, and Ed Krizek, among many other talented writers.

The Mad Poets Festival is held in conjunction with the Media Food & Crafts Festival, which takes place on State Street. It is a great opportunity to hear a multiplicity of eclectic poetic voices in a casual, friendly environment. Grab some great snacks on State Street, come hear some poetry, go back for more grub, come back for more poems. Or just hang out, nosh on our light refreshments, listen to the amazing poetry, and chat with the local poets.

Admission is free, but this year, we’re asking all the poets and attendees to bring a canned or non-perishable item to be donated to CityTeam Ministries.  Based in Chester, Pa., CityTeam helps the poor and disadvantaged throughout the Delaware Valley by providing hot meals, safe shelter, decent clothing, and recovery programs.  In addition to the food drive, a representative from CityTeam will be dishing up warm & delicious chicken chili for a $1.00/cup donation.

It’s going to be a great afternoon with of good food and “food for thought.”

Check it out:

Our own Steve Delia is featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer today, in an article about the upcoming Philadelphia Writers Conference. Click here for the article.

Yay Steve!!

In case you missed the Mad Poets’ appearance on LIVE at the Kelly Writers House (either at the Writers House on March 31st or on WXPN on April 14th), click here to listen to the full program, featuring Eileen D’Angelo, Steve Delia, Missy Grotz, Dan Maguire, and Autumn Konopka (yours truly). Go now — What are you waiting for?!

From Eileen D’Angelo

THURSDAY, MARCH 27^TH  at 7:00 p.m.

MAD POETS OPEN STAGE AT TAYLOR’S AT THE OLDE MILL (200 W. Marshall St., Norristown, PA 19401; 610-272-2011)   -   Featuring YOU and a ton of other talented poets and musicians!  Hosted by Eileen D’Angelo.   This restaurant is a four story historic grist mill (circa 1880) This exciting new series will be held on 4th Thursdays through 2008, and offers an entertaining open forum for musicians poets, singer-songwriters– and anyone who enjoys listening to poetry and music is welcome.  Come early and have dinner (or you can also come, on time, at 7 pm, and order dinner during the event.)  The owners offered to make this event a mini-Mad Poets FUNDRAISER, by donating 10% of all dinners ordered that evening to Mad Poets.) See: http://www.taylorsoldemill.com/, you’ll find us on the events page, you can check out the menu, and you’ll get to see this stunning building. The readings will be on the 1^st Floor, (not the 4^th, as previously publicized.) And there is VALET PARKING– no need to drive around trying to find a spot.  

SATURDAY, MARCH 29th at 2:00 pm-

The THREE SISTERS CAFE READING SERIES, hosted by G. Emil Reutter, will present poets LOUIS McKEE and EILEEN D’ANGELO at Three Sisters Cafe, 7950 Oxford ave., (Corner of Loney & Barnes) in Philly, 19111. Phone: 215-725-6848.  An open mike follows.  Come out and join us !!!

MONDAY, MARCH 31^st at 7:00 pm-

“LIVE” AT WRITERS HOUSE presents MAD POETS DAN MAGUIRE, STEVE DELIA, AUTUMN KONOPKA, MISSY GROTZ and EILEEN D’ANGELO, and Musical Guest DEVIN GREENWOOD, at Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk on University of Pennsylvania Campus. This program will air on WXPN on April 14^th.  Free & open to the public.

          NATIONAL POETRY MONTH EVENTS!

*Something almost every day! Yikes !

FIRST !!   NOTE!  THE PHILADELPHIA WRITERS CONFERENCE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS APRIL 15TH. I’M ON THE PWC BOARD, IT’S A GREAT CONFERENCE THIS YEAR:  POETRY CLASSES TAUGHT BY KATE NORTHROP + BARB DANIELS; THERESE HALSCHEID ON JOURNALING, MICHAEL SMERCONISH IS OPENING SPEAKER, MARK BOWDEN (AUTHOR OF BLACK HAWK DOWN) IS BANQUET SPEAKER, LORRAINE RANALLI AND BONNIE NEUBAUER OFFER CREATIVITY SEMINARS.. SEE: WWW.PWCWRITERS.ORG AND CHECK OUT ALL THE SPEAKERS & WORKSHOP LEADERS !

    REMEMBER ! ANY WRITERS GROUP OF 7 OR MORE PEOPLE CAN SEND A MEMBER/WRITER ON A PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP !  INSTEAD OF PAYING $185 FOR THE THREE DAYS.. YOU PAY $100 .. FOR SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS, WRITE RAY PELHAM 1504 WARNER RD., MEADOWBROOK, PA, 19046-1913; SEND #10 STAMPED, SELF-ADDRESSED BUSINESS ENVELOPE FOR INFO.  ACT FAST! CONTEST DEADLINE IS ALSO APRIL 15TH, SO IF YOU ARE COMING TO THE CONFERENCE — YOU WANT TO GET REGISTERED, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER — AND GET YOUR ENTRIES IN !!!

TUESDAY, APRIL 1^ST at 7 PM  -

JOIN US FOR Another STEEL CITY COFFEEHOUSE MAD POET *OPEN MIKE* NIGHT*!   This series has moved from Sundays and are held FIRST TUESDAY NIGHTS at 7 pm, hosted by Eileen D’Angelo.  Located at 203 Bridge St. in Phoenixville, PA  19460; Store # 610-933-4043. You might want to come early & sign up, or email me in advance, at madpoets@comcast.net  (or if you are emailing on the day of the reading, zing a note to my work to reserve your spot:  eileendangelo@comcast.net, since I go straight from work to the readings.

Wednesday, APRIL 2^ND at 7 pm. 

HARVEST BOOK CRITIQUE CIRCLES !  Don’t miss the next MaD CiRcLe on  APRIL 2^ND .  Moderated by Amy Laub.  Bring 10 copies of a poem in progress for roundtable feedback, suggestions, discussion and critique *  Where else can you go to listen to people debate commas and line breaks ?!  It’s more fun than you can stand on a Wednesday night.  Harvest Book is directly across from Trader Joe’s on State St. in Media  (9 E. State St., 19063)

Tuesday, APRIL 8^TH at 7 pm

GRYPHON CAFÉ OPEN MIKE NIGHT - Richard Moyer hosts these cozy readings upstairs at the Gryphon Cafe, located at 105 W. Lancaster Ave., (2nd Fl) in Wayne, PA 19087); Cafe # is 610-688-1988. If you’ve never been there, it’s right on Rt. 30, next to the Anthony Wayne Theatre in the heart of Wayne.  The upstairs at the Gryphon is set up like a living room, and Richard offers a series of intimate gatherings of poets in an informal, comfortable atmosphere, poets who share original work, as well as their favorite poets’ and poems, as well.  A perfect setting for those who are just beginning to share their work, as well as those who are long time mad poets!

FRIDAY, APRIL 11^TH , 7 PM

THE LAST WORD BOOKSHOP

220 S. 40th Street      215-386-7750
(40th & Walnut Streets, U of Penn campus)
The Last Word Bookshop presents Dressing The Muse,

A Poetry Reading With:  Autumn McClintock + Leslie Valdez + Lisa Grunberger + Joyce Meyers + Rafi Lev + Anisa Rahim + Janet Spangler + Alison Hicks + Catherine Bancroft + Hanoch Guy
+ Steven Kleinman + Minna Duchovnay + Sekai Afua Zankel + Christy Schneider.

Hosted by LEONARD GONTAREK.

A Mad Poets Society & Peace/Works Event.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12^TH  at 7 pm

OTHERWISE – POETRY AT CHURCHILL - Mad Poets continue in 2008 at this venue, hosted by Glenn McLaughlin, at Churchill Artisan Baker & Chocolatier, 137 E. high St., Pottstown, PA 19464; 484-941-5100 – Come out to hear poetry by THERÉSE HALSCHEID and BOB WATTS ! An open mike follows.  Bring your poems ! 

SUNDAY, APRIL 13^TH AT 1:00 PM

YOUNG POETS AWARDS READING !

This is one of the most important events Mad Poets hosts all year. The student winners of the Young Poets Contest will come and read their award winning poems at the REDWOOD PLAYHOUSE, 6^th Street in Upland.  (Directions are on the website). It’s heartwarming and amazing to hear these young poets. This is one of the most important events Mad Poets hosts all year.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16^TH AT 6 PM – 8 PM

at the THOMAS DONATUCCI LIBRARY (formerly Passayunk Library)  DIANE GUARNIERI will host poets JC TODD and DANIEL ABDAL-HAYY MOORE, in celebration of POETRY MONTH.  Diane will host this series throughout the spring.. culminating in a special reading in June of her CENTER CITY POETS! Stay tuned!

Thomas Donatucci Library, 1935 Shunk St., Philly, 19145; Library # 215-685-1755.

From Eileen D’Angelo

A LOTTA NEWS ABOUT UPCOMING MAD EVENTS, BEGINNING WITH:

        THIS THURSDAY, February 21 – 7:00 pm – Mad Poets Presents FOUR FEMININE VOICES:  Kelly Fineman, Minna Duchovnay, Prabhu Prabhu, and Kathryn Morgeneier at the Delaware County Institute of Science, 11 Veterans Square, Media, PA 19083); Hosted by Eileen D’Angelo.  What a way to kick off the new year at the Institute- four talented women poets!   Open mike follows. Let us hear your poems !   Light refreshments served. (Next month, at this venue: March 20th, 7 pm: Don’t miss RACHEL BUNTING + SUSAN DEBORAH KING!  More later.)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28th at 7:00 p.m. -

MAD POETS OPEN STAGE AT TAYLOR’S AT THE OLDE MILL (200 W. Marshall St., Norristown, PA 19401; 610-272-2011)   -   Featuring YOU and a ton of other talented poets and musicians!  Hosted by Joseph Dorazio.  Each month, Mad Poets will present a special musical guest, to kick off the open mike.  This restaurant is a four story historic grist mill (circa 1880) This exciting new series will be held on 4th Thursdays through 2008, and offers an entertaining open forum for musicians poets, singer-songwriters– and anyone who enjoys listening to poetry and music is welcome.  Come early and have dinner (or you can also come, on time, at 7 pm, and order dinner during the event.)  The owners offered to make this event a mini-Mad Poets FUNDRAISER, by donating 10% of all dinners ordered that evening to Mad Poets.) See: http://www.taylorsoldemill.com/, you’ll find us on the events page, you can check out the menu, and you’ll get to see this stunning building. Note:  all future events at this venue will be on the 4th floor, and it is NOT handicapped accessible.  This first event will take place on the first floor.  And there is VALET PARKING– no need to drive around trying to find a spot.  

TUESDAY, MARCH 4TH AT 7 PM  - JOIN US FOR A

STEEL CITY COFFEEHOUSE MAD POET *OPEN MIKE* NIGHT*!   This series has moved from Sundays and are held FIRST TUESDAY NIGHTS at 7 pm, hosted by Eileen D’Angelo.  Located at 203 Bridge St. in Phoenixville, PA  19460; Store # 610-933-4043.  The first  one in February was a BALL, three musicians and a ton of poets- a screaming good time-  GREAT words and cool music, and a fun get together.  We were there ’til almost 10 pm on Feb. 5th, but these events will normally run from 7 – 9 pm. You might want to come early & sign up, or email me in advance, at madpoets@comcast.net  (or at work to reserve your spot:  eileendangelo@comcast.net, if you are emailing me on the day of the reading, March 4th), so I can put you on the list- it was a long list last time, and some people couldn’t stay ’til the end – so there was some shifting to accommodate the masses!)

Wednesday, March 5th at 7 pm. 

HARVEST BOOK CRITIQUE CIRCLES !  Don’t miss the next MaD CiRcLe on  March 5th at 7 pm.  Moderated by Amy Laub.  Bring 10 copies of a poem in progress for roundtable feedback, suggestions, discussion and critique.   The “usual suspects” who attend this critique circle / workshop are amazingly talented, serious, hardworking poets (say that 10 times real fast!)  Like Missy Grotz says:  these are the kind of people who believe:  YOU WRITE OR YOU DIE !!  All joking aside, I had the opportunity to pop in there last month and it is a great workshop!  Where else can you go to listen to people debate commas and line breaks ?!  It’s more fun than you can stand on a Wednesday night.  Harvest Book is directly across from Trader Joe’s on State St. in Media  (9 E. State St., 19063)

SATURDAY, MARCH 8th at 7 pm

OTHERWISE – POETRY AT CHURCHILL - Mad Poets continue in 2008 at this venue, hosted by Glenn McLaughlin, at Churchill ArtisanBaker & Chocolatier, 137 E. high St., Pottstown, PA 19464; 484-941-5100 – Come out SATURDAY, MARCH 8th at 7 pm,  to hear poetry by FRANK WOLFE, JOSEPH DORAZIO and DOUG ARNOLD! An open mike follows.  Bring your poems ! 

Tuesday, March 11th, at 7 pm

GRYPHON CAFE- Mad Poets also continue at this venue, with Richard Moyer at the helm, and the kickoff reading is Tuesday, March 11th, at 7 pm.  Richard hosts these cozy readings upstairs at the Gryphon Cafe, located at 105 W. Lancaster Ave., (2nd Fl) in Wayne, PA 19087); Cafe # is 610-688-1988. If you’ve never been there, it’s right on Rt. 30, next to the Anthony Wayne Theatre in the heart of Wayne.  The upstairs at the Gryphon is set up like a living room, and Richard offers a series of intimate gatherings of poets in an informal, comfortable atmosphere, poets who share original work, as well as their favorite poets’ and poems, as well.  A perfect setting for those who are just beginning to share their work, as well as those who are long time mad poets!

THURS., MARCH 6th – 7 pm

A-MUSE POETRY SERIES continues in Bucks County through 2008 at the Doylestown Library, 150 S. Pine St., in Doyletown (18901; 215-348-9081), coordinated and hosted by Bill Wunder and Joanne Leva.  Plan to be there on Thursday, March 6th, 7 pm, for a group reading and discussion of two poems:  one by Stanley Kunitz, and one by Galway Kinnell.   

THURS., MARCH 13 – MILK BOY ACOUSTIC CAFE located at 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 19010 (in the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, which is in the old Bryn Mawr Theatre on Rt. 30);   This series is now held on 2nd THURSDAYS at 7 pm through 2008, hosted by Autumn Konopka.  Join us at Milk Boy on MARCH 13th – for LEONARD GONTAREK + ROBERT BENSE, plus an open mike will follow.  (This is another venue that packs ‘em in, best to get there early to sign up for the open mike.)

SATURDAY, MARCH 29th at 2:00 pm-

Fox Chase Reading Series at The THREE SISTERS CAFE  hosted by G. Emil Reutter, will present poets LOUIS McKEE and EILEEN D’ANGELO at Three Sisters Cafe, 7950 Oxford ave., (Corner of Loney & Barnes) in Philly, 19111. Phone: 215-725-6848.  An open mike follows. 

    (Yeah- I know it’s borderline tacky for me to read in my own mad poets’ line-up, but how could I refuse the chance to read with renowned Philadelphia Poet Louis McKee–  and who can say “no” to George Reutter ?!?)

ALSO !!  LOTS OF POETRY MONTH / APRIL EVENTS AND NEWS TO COME …

    **INCLUDING  THE YOUNG POETS AWARDS EVENT, Sunday, April 13, 2008, 1:00 PM, at the REDWOOD COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE, 6th St. in Upland.  36 Student winners of the Young Poets Competition, sponsored by Mad Poets and the Delco Library System, will read their winning poems.  This is one of most inspiring events we run each year ! Don’t miss these talented students. If you need directions, I got ‘em.  Special thanks to our dedicated 2008 Judges, listed in order of the grade level they judged, 1st through 12th grade:  Janet Burgents *  Emiliano Martin * Richard Bank * Linda Fischer * Autumn Konopka * Courtney Bambrick * Joseph Dorazio * Diane Sahms-Guarnieri * Ed Krizek * Arlene Bernstein * Margaret A. Robinson * Ray Greenblatt.

ANOTHER UPCOMING APRIL EVENT !!

FRIDAY, APRIL 11th at 7 pm - LEONARD GONTAREK coordinated and is hosting THE LAST WORD BOOKSHOP SERIES again this coming year, and the first reading of 2008 will feature a line-up of the talented poets in his workshop.  Don’t miss:  “Dressing the Muse”, featuring * Autumn McClintock * Leslie Valdez * Lisa Grunberger * Joyce Meyers * Anisa Rahim * Janet Spangler * Alison Hicks ( Rafi Lev * Catherine Bancroft * Steven Kleinman * Hanock Guy * Minna Duchovnay * Sekai Afua Zankel * Christy Schneider.  

AND YET ANOTHER UPCOMING APRIL EVENT !!

ON  APRIL 16TH, 7 PM  – A KICKOFF READING FOR A NEW MAD POETS SERIES AT  THE THOMAS F. DONATUCCI, SR. BRANCH LIBRARY, (formerly the Passyunk Library), 1935 Shunk St., South Phila., 19145. Library # is 215-685-1755; hosted by Diane Sahms-Guarnieri, featuring JC TODD AND DANIEL ABDAL-HAYY MOORE on APRIL 16TH, 7 PM !!  Plus an open mike ! Mark your calendars now !!

MORE MAD POETS BALL NEWS!  THE PARTY IS SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH, 7 – 11 PM.  There’s still time to let us know that you want to come out and play with us and celebrate TWENTY YEARS OF BEING MAD !  The event will now be held at CAROLINE’S RESTAURANT, (not Heritage Ballrooms) at 925 Providence Road in Secane, (Del. Co), PA 19018.   $35.00 per person.  (It’s a small price to pay to hang out with your buddies and party for the night - and toast Mad Poets’ two decades of keeping poetry alive !   

    It’s a BUFFET DINNER – Including:  Hand carved Roast Beef, Chicken Scallopine, Tortellino Alfredo, Vegetable Stir Fry, Red Bliss Potatoes, Tossed House Salad, Fruit Salad, Ice Cream and cake.  Hot rolls, beverages, coffee and hot tea are included. (There is a cash bar).   We’re working on booking a D.J. to spin some tunes for us that night!   Directions and info about the restaurant are on the website at http://www.carolinesrestaurant.com    

    ZING ME A NOTE IF YOU WANT TO COME !  I’VE BOOKED THE ROOM,  AND THERE’S STILL SPACE FOR MORE - SO FAR-  40 OF YOU HAVE TOLD ME YOU WILL BE THERE!  And it’s going to be a blast.  (Send checks payable to Mad Poets Society, to P.O. Box 1248, Media, PA 19063-8248.

IF YOU HAVE NEWS YOU WANT INCLUDED IN  THE UPCOMING MAD POETS NEWSLETTER (YES! I am working on getting one out- now that we’ve got so many events lined up for 2008 !) ZING IT TO ME NOW, with “NEWSLETTER NEWS!” IN THE SUBJECT LINE.  Book releases, upcoming readings, etc.  Please include all info (if it’s a book release: how much? Mailing address? How is check payable?;  If it’s a poetry reading, please include the venue address). ALSO !! If you run a reading series or are coordinating special events – and you want to spread the word — Get me that info now, too.  If you don’t have your line-up for the entire year, just give me what you have, name of event or series, the dates/days of week, and location.  Lots of stuff going on out there – and I want to include all of it.)

IF YOU WANT TO JOIN MAD POETS SOCIETY — NOW IS THE TIME to pay your dues to society !!  Kindly send $20 payable to Mad Poets Society, P.O. Box 1248, Media, PA 19063-8248; Stay tuned to the website for our ARTS ANGELS donation information … but for now, if you are interested in being a bonafide MAD POETS, zing us your dues !!      Help keep our many events, readings, programs,workshops, bonfires, critique circles —  and the literary magazine up and running!    IN RESPONSE TO THE MANY INQUIRIES:  YES !!  Mad Poets Society is running the annual Poetry Competition.  Deadline is June 20, 2008.     The website is in the process of being updated (God Bless Autumn Konopka), and with all these changes and events – we’re working our poor web queen to the bone ! Stay tuned for changes.      OTHER NOTABLE DATES: 

From Eileen D’Angelo

Hello, All!   JUST A HEADS UP … The MAD POETS REVIEW Book Release Party that was scheduled for THIS SATURDAY. October 27th HAS BEEN POSTPONED !!!!   The new date is SAT. DECEMBER 1st .  11:00 a.m. at the Delaware County Institute of Science, 11 Veterans Square in Media.  I absolutely hated having to do this – but it was inevitable, due to the wild schedule of Mad Poets since September 1st.  The new issue is shaping up to be amazing, and features work by RENEE ASHLEY, BARB CROOKER, DAVID KOZINSKI, MARIA FAMA, ANNA EVANS, RACHEL BUNTING, COURTNEY BAMBRICK, PAUL MARTIN, HARRY HUMES, LOUIS McKEE, CA CONRAD, FRANK SHERLOCK,  and others. Special thanks to Amy Laub for doing a large portion of the typing, and to Missy Grotz and Dave Worrell, for their dedicated assistance.  See you on December 1st !

*********************

WINNERS OF THE 2007 MAD POETS REVIEW COMPETITION !

KATE NORTHROP (Bio below) was our esteemed Judge for the 2007 Mad Poets Competition.  The winners will appear in Volume 21, scheduled to be released on December 1st.  In a field of 425 poems, Kate chose 12 to recognize.  Here are this year’s talented winners:

1ST PRIZE – KATE WILDING

2ND PRIZE – KIM GEK LIN SHORT

3RD PRIZE – BARBARA TORODE

4TH PRIZE – TAMMY PAOLINO

5TH PRIZE – MARGARET ROBINSON

6TH PRIZE – ASHRAF OSMAN

7TH PRIZE – RICHARD S. BANK

8TH PRIZE – KATE WILDING

9TH PRIZE – CAMILLE NORVAISAS

10TH PRIZE – DIANE GUARNIERI

11TH PRIZE – MARGARET ROBINSON

12TH PRIZE – HANOCH GUY

*If you sent an SASE for results, copies of the winners’ flyer is going out ASAP. (The MPR Winner’s List flyers got packed away after the mad poets festival –and are in one of the boxes in the garage! Hence the delay).

WED., OCTOBER 24TH – 7 PM, MAD POETS OPEN MIKE NIGHT AT THE GRYPHON CAFE - hosted by Richard Moyer in the upstairs room. Bring your poems, or your favorite poets’ work !  Musicians welcome.  Come for a cozy circle of sharing poetry or music ! Last chance for 2007 !

OCTOBER 28TH at 1 pm - Mad Poets at STEEL CITY COFFEEHOUSE – Featured poets LYNN BLUE + MARIA LIGOS, followed by an open. Hosted by Noah Cutler. Steel City is located at 203 Bridge St., Phoenixville, PA 19460.  Store # is 610-933-4043. Be there or be square!

OCTOBER 29TH 8 PM – Mad Poets Presents a special reading at ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY featuring APRIL LINDNER, ANTHONY PALMA AND BROOKE PALMA !  Details on the room at St. Joe’s and full bio info to come.  MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW, and don’t miss these fine poets. 

THURS. NOVEMBER 1ST - 7 PM - MAD POETS AT MILK BOY COFFEE features COURTNEY BAMBRICK and BARBARA TORODE plus an open mike to follow, hosted by Autumn Konopka.  Milk Boy is at 824 W. Lancaster Ave., in the Bryn mawr Film Institute (the old theatre) in Bryn Mawr. (Not to be confused with Milk Boy’s other Ardmore location. This series will continue in 2008, but will move to second Thursdays).  (Note: Courtney Bambrick is working on running a series of Mad Poets Workshops in 2008, stay tuned ! And Barbara Torode is one of our 2007 Mad Poet Winners !!)

ALSO – ON NOVEMBER 1ST  at 7 pm !!!

ALL YOU BUCKS COUNTY POETS !!  A NEW MAD POETS SERIES IN BUCKS COUNTY AT DOYLESTOWN LIBRARY !!!

“A-MUSE POETRY SERIES“ will begin on November 1st at 7 pm, at the Doylestown Library Panel Discussion with Bucks County Poet Laureate, Marie Kane and Montco Poet Laureate David Simpson, including Q & A.  This new MPS Series is moderated/organized and coordinated by Mad Poets:  Joanne Leva, Bill Wunder and Camille Norvaisis !!! 

Doylestown Library is at 150 S. Pine St., Doylestown, PA 18901, Phone: 215-348-9081. Emails for info, for Bill Wunder and Camille: billybaloney02@yahoo.com, Camille525@aol.com  (Joanne’s is a work email, so until I get her OK, I can’t release it).   So! For all you Bucks County poets without a Mad Poets “home” – you can’t get better than this !!  Special thanks to Bill, Joanne and Camille, for all their hard work !!!!! 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH AT 7 PM - MAD POETS PRESENTS:   EMILIANO MARTIN, KASIA NEWCOMER AND FERESHTEH SHOLEVAR at the HAVERFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY, in the Community Room downstairs. An Open Mike will follow. The library is at 1601 Darby Rd. Havertown, PA 19083; their number is 610-446-3082. Hosted by Eileen D’Angelo (unfortunately, Peter Krok who was scheduled to host this reading will not be able to join us).

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH  – 7:30 PM – MAD POETS PRESENTS LAWRENCE DUGAN + RICHARD MOYER AT THE DELCO INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, 11 Veterans Square, Media, PA 19063; Open reading follows!  Hosted by Eileen D’Angelo.  Bring your poems!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH – ROBERT ZALLER WILL RUN A MAD POETS WORKSHOP at the Delco Institute of Science, 11 Veterans Square.  Workshop begins at 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 pm – Lunch is catered and brought to us at 1 pm – and Robert Zaller will read from his work at 2 pm.  There’s a $50 fee for the workshop.  The class is open for 8-12 participants.  SIGN UP NOW..   The Deadline is Saturday, November 3rd, for registrations; to allow Robert time to review two poems of each participant by email, prior to the workshop on Nov. 17th.  EMAIL MADPOETS@COMCAST.NET with ZALLER WORKSHOP in the subject line, and mail your check for $50 made payable to “Mad Poets Society”, to Mad Poets Society, P.O. Box 1248, Media, PA 19063-8248 – TIME IS RUNNING OUT !!!!