The Mad Poets Blog

MPS Fox Chase Reading Series on Saturday, July 26 @2pm features Poets Glenn McLaughlin and Arlene Bernstein 3 Sister Corner Café ,7950 Oxford Ave., (corner of Barnes and Loney), Philadelphia, Pa.19111

In 2004, Arlene Bernstein created Friends of Poetry as a vehicle for performing her poetry and to highlight local poets and musicians, which she does regularly throughout the Main Line/Philadelphia/Media area in coffee shops, libraries, book stores, and private salons. She is a member of Mad Poets Society, New Philadelphia Poets, Freshmeadow Poets of Flushing, NY, and the
Bonnie Baillis Havertown Poetry Circle . Twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize (for a poem and an essay), she has also won contests locally and been published in many local and far-flung journals. She also writes fiction. 

Glenn McLaughlin is a former plastics sales representative and a soon-to-be-former COO of a bio-medical start-up company. While he started reading and writing at age appropriate times in his life those activities did not include poetry until he was well into his fifth decade (not required for his chemistry degree). In the decade since, he has been published in several regional and online journals, published a volume of poems (”Something Catches,” Roland Street , 2006) and has been invited to read at the Philadelphia Library plus numerous venues throughout the mid-Atlantic area. He conceived of and hosts the poetry series “Otherwise - Poetry at Churchill” in Pottstown, PA where he resides with his wife and their numerous pets, his children having reached the point of self-sufficiency and flown the coop though still easily able to show up for dinner.

It was a hot Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia and even hotter at the MPS Fox Chase Reading Series at the 3 Sisters Corner Café in Fox Chase. The series hosted by G Emil Reutter and Kristine Grow featured Poets Vincent Quatroche of Fredonia New York and Alla Vilnyanskaya of Ardmore Pennsylvania who shared their poetry with a packed house. Following the features, poets Paul Selbst, Bob Finklestein, Diane Sahms-Guarnieri and Arthur Krasnow delighted the crowd with their work. Liz and Kristin of 3 Sisters Corner Café served up hot and cold drinks and treats from the 3 Sisters Menu.

The MPS Fox Chase Reading Series resumes on July 26 at 2pm with featured poets Arlene Bernstein and Glenn McLaughlin.  

The Fox Chase Reading Series presents Poets Vincent Quatroche and Alla Vilnyanskaya at The 3 Sisters Corner Café at Barnes and Loney Streets, June 28^th at 2pm.

Vincent Quatroche is poet and Professor from Fredonia State University in New York. He has recorded several cd’s to include “Matador from Another Planet” and “In Dreamthink” Vincent has published several volumes of poetry and prose most recently “Cyberstein”.  His website is www.rubbereden.com .

Alla Vilnyanskaya was born in the Ukraine and moved to the U.S. when she was 8 years old. She has been writing poetry since the age of sixteen. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in Communications and writing with a poetry track. She has been published in online journals such as Flutter, Aurora Review and Lost Beat Poetry. and the Fox Chase Review. You can visit her website at: http://www.tushkanchik.com

You can visit the Fox Chase Review at www.foxchasereview.org

In the middle of a Philadelphia Heat Wave Richard Bank curator of the MPS Blue Grotto Series welcomed the Center City Poets to feature at the Grotto. The Poets read to a large crowd gathered in The Blue Grotto created by Artist Randy Dalton. Diane Sahms-Guarnieri hosted her fellow poets Mary Brucker, Eileen Moeller, Cheryl Mercier, Walt Feldman, Rafi Levi, Paul Selbst and Liz Quiqley.

The Blue Grotto is located at the Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave. in
Philadelphia. The Grotto a creation of Randy Dalton features over a hundred blue light sculptures, models and memorabilia. For more information call 215-779-4566.

If you haven’t had the chance, do consider purchasing your copy of The Mad Poets Review. Issues 20 and 21 of this yearly publication are still available from the Mad Poets Society.

Issue 20 presents the work of poets from the Delaware Valley and from across the
United States packed with 223 pages of outstanding poetry. ISSN 1526-7792. The price $12.00 

Issue 21 presents the work of poets from the Delaware Valley and from across the
United States packed with 223 pages of outstanding poetry. ISSN 1526-7792. The price $12.00 

Send a check or money order to : The Mad Poets Society, P.O Box 1248, Media, Pa.
19063-8248

For more information please email: Madpoets@comcast.net

On April 16th at 6pm J.C. Todd and Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore will feature at the first Donatucci Library Reading Series hosted by Diane Sahms-Guarnieri. The Library is located at 1935 Shunk Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19145.  215-685-1755

MONDAY, MARCH 31st 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 14th.  Free & open to the public.

The Fox Chase Reading Series at 3 Sisters Cafe was packed for Featured Poets Louis McKee and Eileen D’Angelo hosted by Kristine Grow. The open mic complimented the fine features with readings by Ellen Peckham, Bella Feliciano, Arthur Krasnow, Diane Sahms-Guarnieri, Steve Delia and Mike Cohen.

The series resumes on June 28^th at 2pm with Poet Vincent Quatroche  (www.rubbereden.com) and Poet Alla Vilnyanskaya who you can visit at ( http://www.tushkanchik.com )

Don’t forget to visit our featured and guest poets at The Fox Chase Review www.foxchasereview.org

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.

Garrison Keillor reads Lou McKee’s “Angels” at the Writers Almanac on March 14^th.

To read and have a listen check out : http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/programs/2008/03/10/#friday