Week In Poetry

Tonight at the Poets Asylum – Auf Wiedersehen – Tonight the Worcester Poets’ Asylum will be closing up shop. After nearly two and a half decades of weekly open mics, we are going on an extended hiatus. We will be back someday in some form. We promise. For now, however, it is time for us to bid the New England poetry scene a very fond “see you later.” But if you know The Asylum, you know that we aren’t going out without a very big bang. As a tribute to the last twenty-four years of weekly poetry open mics and slams in the city of Worcester (that’s roughly 1,250 readings for those of you playing along at home), we are holding one last big show. For one last night, we are pulling out all the stops. One last hurrah! Once more with feeling! Once more into the breech! Many of The Asylum’s past regulars, staff members, team members and features will be there to read and tell stories. All of the Poet’s Asylum merchandise that has been made over the years will be sold. All of the insane recipes that our refreshments team has been too scared to try will be baked and served. A portion of the profits from the event will go towards settling all of The Asylum’s accounts. Whatever is left over will go to benefit our home base for the last two years: Worcester’s only community radio station, WCUW. This is it, kids. If you are looking for a way to show your support of a slam that has given so much to the New England scene, this is your chance. We hope you can all come through and show your love for this legendary New England reading. Doors at 6:30, show at 7 – all ages and free free free; coffee and snacks by donation.

Sunday	EVERY OTHER SUNDAY  – The Hangover Hour Poetry Salon is this afternoon, with a poet from the community reading the works of a poet from history. The open mic before the feature is a tight 5 minutes, for poems, stories or other spoken word propaganda. Spread the word nerd! The future is a drag, man!!! We start promptly at 5:00 p.m. every other Sunday, so come early, have a tasty beverage and be cool cats. 18+ Nicks (124 Millbury Street, Worcester)  And if you’re in Boston, go check out the Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam. Every Sunday with a Poetry Slam co-hosted by Joyce Cunha and Jeff Robinson, starting at 7:30pm. Open Mic also accompanied by the Jeff Robinson Trio starting at 9:00pm – there’s a $5 cover and you must be 21 to enter the venue. Or if you’re in Maine – Rhythmic Cypher happens every Sunday at Dobra Tea (151 Middle Street in Portland’s Old Port) 7pm. Avant garde poetry open mic with musical accompaniment, and feature. Every fourth Sunday, come out for a 3-2-1 Slam.
Monday	The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show is held every Monday night starting at 9:00 p.m. The reading is being held at Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner (148 Grove Street, Worcester). Always a feature, an open mic, a ruckus, and a musical guest. Visit the Dirty Gerund Blog for more info. $3-5 donation requested.  The Anything Goes Open Mic at the Buttonwood Tree – This open mic, hosted by J-Cherry, is a warm group that encourages personal development. Come play with us! You’ll find Phill is available to drum along if you like. We have a piano and congas or BYO instrument, poem, dance, or whatever artistic piece of yourself you’d like to share. We’re all in this together–let’s have some fun and create ourselves anew! At the Buttonwood Tree (605 Main Street, Middletown, CT) (860) 347-4957. 7:30 signup, $3-5 suggested donation. FIRST MONDAYS – First Monday Poetry Series happens at the First Unitarian Church (90 Main Street). 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday	Northampton Poetry, Northampton’s only weekly open mic poetry night offers some of the best, most creative voices in the county, every Tuesday night at 8. Come down and just listen. Come down and share your words with us. Whether you consider your work to be academic poetry, slam poetry, spoken word, political poetry, or poetry about how much you like cake, you and your words are welcome. Always an open mic and a featured poet or event – sometimes we all get drunk (those of us who drink and/or are old enough to do so) and slam. All ages are welcome. At the door, we charge a sliding cover between $1 and $5, whatever you can afford. See you at Hinge (48 Main Street 413/727-8561) in downtown Northampton!  GotPoetry Live meets every Tuesday at Blue State Coffee (300 Thayer Street, Providence, RI). Join them from 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. for an open mic and a feature. $3 cover.
Wednesday	The Boston Slam at the Cantab Lounge (738 Mass Avenue, Cambridge) holds a reading every Wednesday night starting at 8:00 p.m. Open mic followed by a feature, sometimes a slam. $3 cover – 18+. For more info please visit their website.
Thursday	The Coffee Loft Poetry Reading meets every Thursday night and starts around 7:00 p.m. The reading meets at the Coffee Loft (406 Lincoln Street, Marlboro). For more information contact Jarad at Jarad.T.Bushnell@gmail.com.  Slam Free or Die, the New Hampshire Poetry Slam, meets weekly on Thursday nights at Milly’s Tavern (500 North Commercial Street, Manchester, NH). Feature & open mic. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. The open mic starts at 8:00 p.m. and the cover is $3. More info is available at their Facebook page. MONTHLY – In Worcester, it’s the Round Room Women’s Writing Series! Reading is pot luck, and byob. There will be a donation bucket for the feature and an open mic list in the kitchen. As always, men are welcome to attend, but may not read unless there is a workshop. This is a reading in a private home, so please RSVP for address and other info on the series – mareh.k@gmail.com 8pm. SECOND THURSDAY – The Street Beat reading happens, with an open mic and feature. Come enjoy homemade baked goods and coffee.WCPA Headquarters at Vasa Hall, 1 Ekman Street, 1st Floor Performance Space, Worcester, 7:oopm.
Friday	The Shrewsbury Senior Writers is a group that meets every Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, at the Shrewsbury Senior Center (100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury). The meeting is open to all, and welcome both you and your contributions.  FOURTH FRIDAY The Worcester Storytellers is back! Every 4th Friday of the Month, 7:00 p.m. at Annie’s Book Stop (65 James Street, Worcester). Join them tonight for a feature.  Don’t forget to bring a story (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, prose) to share with the crowd during the Open Mic at the beginning of the reading (your own or someone else’s work is quite fine).
Saturday	FIRST SATURDAYS – Slam Free or Die Writing Workshop will be held this morning at the UNH Manchester Public Library, in the Conference Room. The event starts at 12:00 noon. 400 Commercial Ave, 1st Floor  FOURTH SATURDAYS – Barnes & Noble Fourth Saturday Open Mic. 7-9pm, Lincoln Square B&N, Worcester, MA. Open mic & feature.