Tonight!
Tony Toledo remembers Brother Blue!
10/28/11
10/14/11
In light of Stone Soup's recent coverage and discussion of recent activist movements, we are pleased to publish an account of Occupy Boston from poet and past Stone Soup feature April Penn.
My personal story about Occupy Boston
by April Penn
What is it all about?
For those who don’t know what Occupy Boston is, let me explain in my own words: There is a public park in the middle of Boston’s financial center where protesters have gathered and set up a make-shift village of tents as a way to have an around-the-clock protest of the tremendous and growing economic inequality in this country and abroad. It was modeled off the movement in New York called Occupy Wall Street, inspired by Wisconsin’s occupation of the capital and the Arab spring which brought revolution in Egypt. Protesters in Boston, New York, and cities all over the country, also stand in opposition of corporate greed, corporate tax loopholes, special interests and lobbyists that buy out politicians. For example, CEO salaries have increased by 300 percent in the last 15 years, whereas the minimum wage has not been raised. Another issue is education. College students are graduating with an extreme amount of debt while there are fewer job prospects. Of those who are employed, many are under-employed (working part-time jobs) or being grossly underpaid. I myself am working two part-time jobs and am no stranger to minimum wage. I currently make about 20,000 dollars a year, for which I consider myself very lucky. I am also lucky that I don’t have any college debt due to the fact I was on scholarship. (I graduated third in my high school class and received numerous awards for writing.)
Getting back to the issues that Occupy Boston protesters and protesters in all the occupation movements are focused on, it is important to note that this is also an anti-war protest. On marches, protesters frequently chant: “How do you solve the deficit? End the wars and tax the rich! Other chants include, “What does democracy look like? This is what democracy looks like!” “Banks got bailed out. We got sold out.” “Who’s streets? Our streets!” “Money for jobs and education. Not for banks and corporations.”
What happened on Monday that resulted in Occupy Boston making national news?
I have been going to Occupy Boston marches and general assemblies (made up of the people who show up and vote on issues) since the movement kicked off in Dewey Square. I have been to several marches and numerous general assemblies as well as served as a sidewalk protester where I held a political sign (with the same kind of message as the chants previously noted). After going to the march on Columbus day, I had an appointment so I left for a few hours. On my way back home from the appointment, I got several text messages from comrades at Occupy Boston stating that we had an emergency situation. Police were planning to possibly shut down the latest expansion of the occupation into a field of grass across the street from the original occupation site. We had to expand because so many people brought tents and wanted to join the occupation movement that we were running out of room. In order to protect the occupation sight-- the meeting ground and heartland of the growing movement for economic change if not all out revolution—the general assembly met and we decided with a consensus that we would stay to occupy the sight of our peaceful protest. We locked arms in a circle around the tents while others with flags encircled us and many stood in front as another line of defense and look-out.
How did the police attack us?
The police came in and issued a warning saying that if we did not disperse we would be arrested. There were large trucks nearby which we knew were to clear all the tents and items on the greenway. We held our ground and repeated that our constitutional right to freedom of speech and assembly permitted us to be there. The police burst in from the rear of the greenway and knocked over many veterans for peace who were holding flags. They pushed those who were locking arms in the circle. When the police pushed me, I couldn’t help but step back and back because I would lose my footing. The line of people locking arms to my right fell so I was split from them. My comrade to my left was still locking arms with him but no one was on his other side because that is where the police broke the circle and began bringing down the tents. Police were manhandling someone further down the circle to my right. They arrested my comrade to the left and I was left standing on my own. The police officer put my hands behind my back and cuffed me with plastic ties. I walked out to the street with him without speaking or putting up any fight. He had me stand between what he called “paddy wagons.” I prefer to avoid such a racial slur against the Irish and instead say “police wagon.” Then he had me walk with him to the back of one police wagon. I was the first to get in so I had to scoot all the way to the back. Eight other women soon joined me. I quickly learned that the police had banded some of the other woman’s arms so tight they were losing sensation in their hands and fingers. When they asked a police officer to loosen it, the female police officer who began asking us for names, height, weight, birth date, said she didn’t care if it hurt. Fortunately, mine were on loosely so I didn’t have any trouble with loosing sensation. The police wagon was dark as we bumped along the road. We sang songs like Amazing Grace and talked about our backgrounds. We debated about whether the police were part of the 99 percent—the working class who are subject to the oppression of the ruling class state. I believe that the police may come from a working class background but the institution of the police sides with the ruling class. In New York, for example, the NYPD received millions of dollars in donations from JP Morgan before the police decided to arrest 700 protesters. Once we got to the police station, they kept us in a small cinder block holding cell. Our numbers in that one holding cell grew from nine to 18 women as more arrived at the station. In all about 140 peaceful protesters were arrested and dispersed to nearby jails. There was some writing on the cinder block wall that appeared to be scrawled in blood. Some of the women asked a cop about the mysterious handwriting on the wall. One said it must be menstrual blood. Another suggested it might be from a wound. A police officer told us it spelled out the name of a gang. He made a joke saying, “If I give you a hammer will you stop hitting yourself in the head with it?” I didn’t understand his joke but he thought it was funny and kept repeating it. They took a group of us out of the holding cell because we had enough cash on us to make bail. They moved us to another holding cell where we waited for hours to be processed and released. It turned out that Occupy Boston had already raised enough money to cover everyone’s bail so I didn’t have to pay out of pocket. They fingerprinted me and scolded me for not having an ID but said they’d let me go anyway. I didn’t have an ID because I knew about the risk of arrest and had given Brenda my purse. I only kept some money on me just in case. I got a court summons for Thursday morning with the charge being “unlawful assembly.” Then I was released.
What happened after I got out of jail? And Concluding Reflections
A few comrades from Occupy Boston greeted me with a cheer so I smiled real big. Brenda arrived a few minutes later after she had finished driving someone else home. I was happy to see Brenda and gave her a big hug. I have a mix of emotions. I feel very loved because so many people helped support me in this process. I am grateful to everyone at Occupy Boston for carrying on the movement even in the face of personal sacrifice and the adversity that comes with police brutality. However, I also feel deeply hurt and confused why we everyday people were not permitted to peacefully assemble. I do not know what awaits me at court. It isn’t considered a serious offense so I probably won’t have to do much but pay a fine. Many people in our community, especially people of color, have endured far worse consequences at the hands of police brutality. I am humbled at my privilege as a white middle-class looking female. I am appalled that I can even refer to myself as privileged because most Americans like myself are far from privileged, from problems with healthcare to employment, education to police states, we are not going to be okay unless this movement continues to strengthen and give voice to the oppressed. We must tear down the capitalist system and replace it with one based not on human greed and profit but on human need where community and democracy are the highest goals.
My personal story about Occupy Boston
by April Penn
What is it all about?
For those who don’t know what Occupy Boston is, let me explain in my own words: There is a public park in the middle of Boston’s financial center where protesters have gathered and set up a make-shift village of tents as a way to have an around-the-clock protest of the tremendous and growing economic inequality in this country and abroad. It was modeled off the movement in New York called Occupy Wall Street, inspired by Wisconsin’s occupation of the capital and the Arab spring which brought revolution in Egypt. Protesters in Boston, New York, and cities all over the country, also stand in opposition of corporate greed, corporate tax loopholes, special interests and lobbyists that buy out politicians. For example, CEO salaries have increased by 300 percent in the last 15 years, whereas the minimum wage has not been raised. Another issue is education. College students are graduating with an extreme amount of debt while there are fewer job prospects. Of those who are employed, many are under-employed (working part-time jobs) or being grossly underpaid. I myself am working two part-time jobs and am no stranger to minimum wage. I currently make about 20,000 dollars a year, for which I consider myself very lucky. I am also lucky that I don’t have any college debt due to the fact I was on scholarship. (I graduated third in my high school class and received numerous awards for writing.)
Getting back to the issues that Occupy Boston protesters and protesters in all the occupation movements are focused on, it is important to note that this is also an anti-war protest. On marches, protesters frequently chant: “How do you solve the deficit? End the wars and tax the rich! Other chants include, “What does democracy look like? This is what democracy looks like!” “Banks got bailed out. We got sold out.” “Who’s streets? Our streets!” “Money for jobs and education. Not for banks and corporations.”
What happened on Monday that resulted in Occupy Boston making national news?
I have been going to Occupy Boston marches and general assemblies (made up of the people who show up and vote on issues) since the movement kicked off in Dewey Square. I have been to several marches and numerous general assemblies as well as served as a sidewalk protester where I held a political sign (with the same kind of message as the chants previously noted). After going to the march on Columbus day, I had an appointment so I left for a few hours. On my way back home from the appointment, I got several text messages from comrades at Occupy Boston stating that we had an emergency situation. Police were planning to possibly shut down the latest expansion of the occupation into a field of grass across the street from the original occupation site. We had to expand because so many people brought tents and wanted to join the occupation movement that we were running out of room. In order to protect the occupation sight-- the meeting ground and heartland of the growing movement for economic change if not all out revolution—the general assembly met and we decided with a consensus that we would stay to occupy the sight of our peaceful protest. We locked arms in a circle around the tents while others with flags encircled us and many stood in front as another line of defense and look-out.
How did the police attack us?
The police came in and issued a warning saying that if we did not disperse we would be arrested. There were large trucks nearby which we knew were to clear all the tents and items on the greenway. We held our ground and repeated that our constitutional right to freedom of speech and assembly permitted us to be there. The police burst in from the rear of the greenway and knocked over many veterans for peace who were holding flags. They pushed those who were locking arms in the circle. When the police pushed me, I couldn’t help but step back and back because I would lose my footing. The line of people locking arms to my right fell so I was split from them. My comrade to my left was still locking arms with him but no one was on his other side because that is where the police broke the circle and began bringing down the tents. Police were manhandling someone further down the circle to my right. They arrested my comrade to the left and I was left standing on my own. The police officer put my hands behind my back and cuffed me with plastic ties. I walked out to the street with him without speaking or putting up any fight. He had me stand between what he called “paddy wagons.” I prefer to avoid such a racial slur against the Irish and instead say “police wagon.” Then he had me walk with him to the back of one police wagon. I was the first to get in so I had to scoot all the way to the back. Eight other women soon joined me. I quickly learned that the police had banded some of the other woman’s arms so tight they were losing sensation in their hands and fingers. When they asked a police officer to loosen it, the female police officer who began asking us for names, height, weight, birth date, said she didn’t care if it hurt. Fortunately, mine were on loosely so I didn’t have any trouble with loosing sensation. The police wagon was dark as we bumped along the road. We sang songs like Amazing Grace and talked about our backgrounds. We debated about whether the police were part of the 99 percent—the working class who are subject to the oppression of the ruling class state. I believe that the police may come from a working class background but the institution of the police sides with the ruling class. In New York, for example, the NYPD received millions of dollars in donations from JP Morgan before the police decided to arrest 700 protesters. Once we got to the police station, they kept us in a small cinder block holding cell. Our numbers in that one holding cell grew from nine to 18 women as more arrived at the station. In all about 140 peaceful protesters were arrested and dispersed to nearby jails. There was some writing on the cinder block wall that appeared to be scrawled in blood. Some of the women asked a cop about the mysterious handwriting on the wall. One said it must be menstrual blood. Another suggested it might be from a wound. A police officer told us it spelled out the name of a gang. He made a joke saying, “If I give you a hammer will you stop hitting yourself in the head with it?” I didn’t understand his joke but he thought it was funny and kept repeating it. They took a group of us out of the holding cell because we had enough cash on us to make bail. They moved us to another holding cell where we waited for hours to be processed and released. It turned out that Occupy Boston had already raised enough money to cover everyone’s bail so I didn’t have to pay out of pocket. They fingerprinted me and scolded me for not having an ID but said they’d let me go anyway. I didn’t have an ID because I knew about the risk of arrest and had given Brenda my purse. I only kept some money on me just in case. I got a court summons for Thursday morning with the charge being “unlawful assembly.” Then I was released.
What happened after I got out of jail? And Concluding Reflections
A few comrades from Occupy Boston greeted me with a cheer so I smiled real big. Brenda arrived a few minutes later after she had finished driving someone else home. I was happy to see Brenda and gave her a big hug. I have a mix of emotions. I feel very loved because so many people helped support me in this process. I am grateful to everyone at Occupy Boston for carrying on the movement even in the face of personal sacrifice and the adversity that comes with police brutality. However, I also feel deeply hurt and confused why we everyday people were not permitted to peacefully assemble. I do not know what awaits me at court. It isn’t considered a serious offense so I probably won’t have to do much but pay a fine. Many people in our community, especially people of color, have endured far worse consequences at the hands of police brutality. I am humbled at my privilege as a white middle-class looking female. I am appalled that I can even refer to myself as privileged because most Americans like myself are far from privileged, from problems with healthcare to employment, education to police states, we are not going to be okay unless this movement continues to strengthen and give voice to the oppressed. We must tear down the capitalist system and replace it with one based not on human greed and profit but on human need where community and democracy are the highest goals.
10/10/11
November 28th: Ian Thal Features
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On November 28th, Ian Thal will be presenting Arlecchino Am Ravenous at Stone Soup, a one-act, one-man play which Ian describes as "a tale slapstick blasphemy and auto-canibalism" featuring Arlecchino, who before becoming a star of the commedia dell'arte and the inspiration for Harlequin, was a demonic figure of European folklore, even appearing as one of the "Evil-tails" in Dante's Inferno.
Ian Thal began writing poetry and doing performance art on the Boston scene in the late 90s, and was a regular at Stone Soup, he would later collaborate with James Van Looy and William J. Barnum in the poetry and mime troupe, Cosmic Spelunker Theater. A puppeteer and actor as well, he has also performed with Bread & Puppet Theatre, i Sebastiani, and the commedia dell'arte troupe, Teatro delle Maschere, of which he is the capocomico ("head comedian.") His play, Total War, was a semi-finalist in the 2009 Dorothy Silver Playwriting Competition, and its first reading was greeted with a protest on the sidewalk outside the venue. He is currently at work on another play, The Conversos of Venice. Ian has worked all over the Boston area as a theatre educator.
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On November 28th, Ian Thal will be presenting Arlecchino Am Ravenous at Stone Soup, a one-act, one-man play which Ian describes as "a tale slapstick blasphemy and auto-canibalism" featuring Arlecchino, who before becoming a star of the commedia dell'arte and the inspiration for Harlequin, was a demonic figure of European folklore, even appearing as one of the "Evil-tails" in Dante's Inferno.
Ian Thal began writing poetry and doing performance art on the Boston scene in the late 90s, and was a regular at Stone Soup, he would later collaborate with James Van Looy and William J. Barnum in the poetry and mime troupe, Cosmic Spelunker Theater. A puppeteer and actor as well, he has also performed with Bread & Puppet Theatre, i Sebastiani, and the commedia dell'arte troupe, Teatro delle Maschere, of which he is the capocomico ("head comedian.") His play, Total War, was a semi-finalist in the 2009 Dorothy Silver Playwriting Competition, and its first reading was greeted with a protest on the sidewalk outside the venue. He is currently at work on another play, The Conversos of Venice. Ian has worked all over the Boston area as a theatre educator.
10/5/11
November 14th: Tony Toledo Remembers Brother Blue
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On November 14th, Tony Toledo returns to the Out of The Blue to feature at Stone Soup to pay tribute to the late storytelling legend Brother Blue.
Tony Toledo spent many a Tuesday night with Brother Blue as his guide at the Tuesday Night Story Swaps. Brother Blue often said, "Tony, your voice is a trumpet! You and your lovely lady make a fine team." When Tony thinks of Blue he is happy and sad at the same time. Happy for the memory, sad Blue is not here to lead another swap. So next Monday Tony will be thinking of Brother Blue as he features at Stone Soup.
Come to hear some memories of one of Cambridge's finest fellows. A spoken salute if you will. Oh, don't worry, Tony will also share his poem of the Cat With a Drinking Problem, and What He Left Behind. There'll be a ghost story too just for the boo of it. See you Monday.
Tony Toledo lives on a massive one tenth of an acre estate in Beverly, MA that he bought with his storytelling. There is just enough room for his wife's basil, his books and their Corn Museum. Tony has been telling stories to pay the rent since 1990. Listeners at libraries, elementary schools and day cares all clap for more stories. Tony is 54 years old but reads at a 69 year old level.
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On November 14th, Tony Toledo returns to the Out of The Blue to feature at Stone Soup to pay tribute to the late storytelling legend Brother Blue.
Tony Toledo spent many a Tuesday night with Brother Blue as his guide at the Tuesday Night Story Swaps. Brother Blue often said, "Tony, your voice is a trumpet! You and your lovely lady make a fine team." When Tony thinks of Blue he is happy and sad at the same time. Happy for the memory, sad Blue is not here to lead another swap. So next Monday Tony will be thinking of Brother Blue as he features at Stone Soup.
Come to hear some memories of one of Cambridge's finest fellows. A spoken salute if you will. Oh, don't worry, Tony will also share his poem of the Cat With a Drinking Problem, and What He Left Behind. There'll be a ghost story too just for the boo of it. See you Monday.
Tony Toledo lives on a massive one tenth of an acre estate in Beverly, MA that he bought with his storytelling. There is just enough room for his wife's basil, his books and their Corn Museum. Tony has been telling stories to pay the rent since 1990. Listeners at libraries, elementary schools and day cares all clap for more stories. Tony is 54 years old but reads at a 69 year old level.
10/4/11
November 7th: D.A. Boucher, aka "Da Butcha," Features
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On November 7, we celebrate the long poetic life of D.A. "Da Butcha" Boucher.
Da Butcha entered the Cambridge Poetry Scene November 4, 1991 joining the fun of Stone Soup Poetry at T. T. the Bears Place. Through the ensuing twenty years, David Alan Boucher morphed into the Short Attention Span Poet, Art Fluff, then finally, Da Butcha, Short Attention Span King of Poetry.
Da Butcha's early sets were all of 30 seconds long & anything could happen during Butcha's set; his performance troupe, the Collective performed all over New England & has morphed as well, going from a bunch of Poets & Musicians, to Da Butcha & Ethan Mackler, who perform as, Da Butcha 'shoppe; Da Butcha also has an alternative set of musicians with whom he performs under the banner, Da Butcha & the Madcap Electric Jazz Band. Da Butcha has self published two chap books, Poetry Tales & Uncle Gay Dave, as well as numerous unpublished chap books, & one CD, with The Collective, Beyond the Page.
Da Butcha has written thousands of Poems, Stories, & Songs without music on subjects ranging from drug use to politics to queer & is known as the Poet who will write about a Taboo subject so that his peers don't have to. In short, Da Butcha is the best thing on stage since the Ramones & has proven time & again why he's the Short Attention Span King of Poetry, and he's humble, too.
Check out Da Butcha's 20th Anniversary Retrospective Show November 7, 2011, & experience twenty years of quality Poetry, this is not your grandfather's Poetry.
Warning: easily offended folks should definitely come to the show.
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On November 7, we celebrate the long poetic life of D.A. "Da Butcha" Boucher.
Da Butcha entered the Cambridge Poetry Scene November 4, 1991 joining the fun of Stone Soup Poetry at T. T. the Bears Place. Through the ensuing twenty years, David Alan Boucher morphed into the Short Attention Span Poet, Art Fluff, then finally, Da Butcha, Short Attention Span King of Poetry.
Da Butcha's early sets were all of 30 seconds long & anything could happen during Butcha's set; his performance troupe, the Collective performed all over New England & has morphed as well, going from a bunch of Poets & Musicians, to Da Butcha & Ethan Mackler, who perform as, Da Butcha 'shoppe; Da Butcha also has an alternative set of musicians with whom he performs under the banner, Da Butcha & the Madcap Electric Jazz Band. Da Butcha has self published two chap books, Poetry Tales & Uncle Gay Dave, as well as numerous unpublished chap books, & one CD, with The Collective, Beyond the Page.
Da Butcha has written thousands of Poems, Stories, & Songs without music on subjects ranging from drug use to politics to queer & is known as the Poet who will write about a Taboo subject so that his peers don't have to. In short, Da Butcha is the best thing on stage since the Ramones & has proven time & again why he's the Short Attention Span King of Poetry, and he's humble, too.
Check out Da Butcha's 20th Anniversary Retrospective Show November 7, 2011, & experience twenty years of quality Poetry, this is not your grandfather's Poetry.
Warning: easily offended folks should definitely come to the show.
October 31st: Aaron Goldstein Features
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the at the newly renamed Yarrow Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On 31st, Stone Soup invites back Aaron Goldstein.
Aaron Goldstein has been writing poetry for nearly twenty years. Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, Aaron came to Boston in 2000 to pursue happiness. A conservative in a field dominated by liberals, socialists and communists, Aaron used to antagonize the patrons and poets of the Cantab Lounge with his verse from the right until he was banned for life late last year.
Undeterred, Aaron has become an accomplished essayist on politics and other passions. He writes a weekly column and blogs daily for The American Spectator as well as contributing to other conservative blogs.
Aaron's poems were featured in the anthology Out of the Blue Writers Unite (2003). He has also put out two chapbooks Oysters & The Newborn Child: Melancholy & Dead Musicians (2003) and Woman in the Sky: Poems Inspired by Amelia Earhart & The Journey of Flight (2009).
Aaron, however, does not live by politics alone. His other passions include, but are not limited to, baseball, music and ketchup flavored potato chips. Aaron currently lives in Jamaica Plain where he shares space with the beloved Boston poet Christopher Kain.
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the at the newly renamed Yarrow Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On 31st, Stone Soup invites back Aaron Goldstein.
Aaron Goldstein has been writing poetry for nearly twenty years. Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, Aaron came to Boston in 2000 to pursue happiness. A conservative in a field dominated by liberals, socialists and communists, Aaron used to antagonize the patrons and poets of the Cantab Lounge with his verse from the right until he was banned for life late last year.
Undeterred, Aaron has become an accomplished essayist on politics and other passions. He writes a weekly column and blogs daily for The American Spectator as well as contributing to other conservative blogs.
Aaron's poems were featured in the anthology Out of the Blue Writers Unite (2003). He has also put out two chapbooks Oysters & The Newborn Child: Melancholy & Dead Musicians (2003) and Woman in the Sky: Poems Inspired by Amelia Earhart & The Journey of Flight (2009).
Aaron, however, does not live by politics alone. His other passions include, but are not limited to, baseball, music and ketchup flavored potato chips. Aaron currently lives in Jamaica Plain where he shares space with the beloved Boston poet Christopher Kain.
October 24th: Rene Schwiesow Features at Stone Soup
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On October 24th, we welcome the debut Stone Soup feature for local poet Rene Schwiesow.
Rene Schwiesow came to the Boston Poetry Scene through drumming. In a fortuitous alignment of the planets and stars she met the late, great Mike Amado at a drum circle and the rest is history. Now she travels Boston, Cambridge and southeastern Massachusetts on a regular basis seeking to secure a spot on open mike lists. She is a co-host for the popular South Shore poetry venue, The Art of Words, where she not only reads poetry and introduces features and open mike readers, but also is maker of the meatballs served during intermission (recipe is strictly a secret, unless you ask her nicely).
A member of Somerville’s Bagel Bards and Plymouth’s Tidepool poets, Rene has been published in various publications including Muddy River Poetry Review, City Lights, Ibbetson Street Press, The Aurorean, and Bagel Bard and Tidepool Poet Anthologies. She is a reviewer for Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene and Wilderness House Press. She is currently working on a third manuscript. When she is not writing, reading or studying, she can be found with a Tarot deck, aligning chakras with Reiki, or shopping for boots in support of her shoe fetish.
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On October 24th, we welcome the debut Stone Soup feature for local poet Rene Schwiesow.
Rene Schwiesow came to the Boston Poetry Scene through drumming. In a fortuitous alignment of the planets and stars she met the late, great Mike Amado at a drum circle and the rest is history. Now she travels Boston, Cambridge and southeastern Massachusetts on a regular basis seeking to secure a spot on open mike lists. She is a co-host for the popular South Shore poetry venue, The Art of Words, where she not only reads poetry and introduces features and open mike readers, but also is maker of the meatballs served during intermission (recipe is strictly a secret, unless you ask her nicely).
A member of Somerville’s Bagel Bards and Plymouth’s Tidepool poets, Rene has been published in various publications including Muddy River Poetry Review, City Lights, Ibbetson Street Press, The Aurorean, and Bagel Bard and Tidepool Poet Anthologies. She is a reviewer for Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene and Wilderness House Press. She is currently working on a third manuscript. When she is not writing, reading or studying, she can be found with a Tarot deck, aligning chakras with Reiki, or shopping for boots in support of her shoe fetish.
10/3/11
October 17th: James Van Looy and Ethan Mackler at Stone Soup
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On October 17th, James Van Looy performs a tribute to late founder Jack Powers with musical accompaniment by Ethan Mackler.
James Van Looy has been a fixture in Boston’s poetry venues since the 1970s and performed with the Mirage Mime Theater from 1980 to 1987 during which time he was also taught classes offered by Mirage. From 1987 to 1988 he was a member of the Collective Mime. His poetry has been anthologized in Out of the Blue Writers Unite. He has run poetry workshops for Boston area homeless people at Pine Street Inn and St. Francis House since 1992 and regularly reads at Bay State Prison as part of their poetry program. Currently, Van Looy leads the Labyrinth Creative Movement Workshop. In 2008, Van Looy reunited with the performance troupe Cosmic Spelunker Theatre alongside Ian Thal and William J. Barnum to perform for Stone Soup.
Ethan Mackler has been involved in the Cambridge poetry scene, in a musical capacity, for over ten years. Whether backing poets as diverse as DA Boucher, Deb Priestly, Lee Kidd or a host of others with his trusty BG, he delights in the opportunity for spontaneity, musical and otherwise.
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On October 17th, James Van Looy performs a tribute to late founder Jack Powers with musical accompaniment by Ethan Mackler.
James Van Looy has been a fixture in Boston’s poetry venues since the 1970s and performed with the Mirage Mime Theater from 1980 to 1987 during which time he was also taught classes offered by Mirage. From 1987 to 1988 he was a member of the Collective Mime. His poetry has been anthologized in Out of the Blue Writers Unite. He has run poetry workshops for Boston area homeless people at Pine Street Inn and St. Francis House since 1992 and regularly reads at Bay State Prison as part of their poetry program. Currently, Van Looy leads the Labyrinth Creative Movement Workshop. In 2008, Van Looy reunited with the performance troupe Cosmic Spelunker Theatre alongside Ian Thal and William J. Barnum to perform for Stone Soup.
Ethan Mackler has been involved in the Cambridge poetry scene, in a musical capacity, for over ten years. Whether backing poets as diverse as DA Boucher, Deb Priestly, Lee Kidd or a host of others with his trusty BG, he delights in the opportunity for spontaneity, musical and otherwise.
9/30/11
October 10th: Jack Scully and Nancy Brady Cunningham Debut Mike Amado's Book of Arrows
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On October 10th, we celebrate the legacy of Mike Amado with Jack Scully and Nancy Brady Cunningham reading from Amado's first posthumous collection.
The late Mike Amado was the co-founder, along with Jack Scully, of two ongoing poetry venues in Plymouth, Massachusetts , Poetry: The Art of Words a monthly poetry series and The Poetry Showcase a yearly poetry reading held in conjunction with the Plymouth Guild for the Arts yearly juried art show. Mike Amado published three books of poetry during his short time on this earth. Scully and poet Nancy Brady Cunningham have edited his fourth book, The Book of Arrows.
Scully, who currently serves as the literary executor of Mike’s work has read Mike's poetry as a feature reader at Greater Brockton Poetry and Arts Society, Boston National Poetry Month Festival, Main Street Café, Poetry in the Village, Stone Soup Poetry and Salem Literary Festival 2010. He also serves as the unofficial photographer of numerous poetry venues
Nancy Brady Cunningham is a published poet and author of 5 books of non-fiction. Nancy has featured at many venues, including Boston’s First Night 2000 in Big Night at the Bookhouse at the Boston Public Library. Her international experience includes readings in Paris, Toronto, and Lesbos, Greece. She is the founding member of the poets’ theater troupe IYANU, which has performed in Cambridge at the Blacksmith House, Club Passim, and Squawk Coffee House, as well as in Easton at the Blackthorne Tavern.
October 3rd: Elizabeth K. Doran Features
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On October 3rd, eturning to feature at Stone Soup is local poet and regular open miker Elizabeth K. Doran.
Elizabeth K. Doran has been influenced as a poet by modern women writers such as Sharon Olds and Louis Gluck. Although she would never want to be called a "nature poet" nature is always present in her work. "Nature is part of the environment we all share and informs my sensibility," she says. Elizabeth is drawn to syllabics and loves long syllabic lines. A major influence is Eugino Montale who in 1975 was awarded the Nobel prize for literature.
She has been published in Poises and Spare Change news and has read at many Venues in Boston and beyond. She is the former host of poetry at Gallery Diablo.
9/26/11
September 26th: The "Chad F***ed Up" Open Mike Extravaganza
Due to more than one scheduling error and one too many events planned in a row (i.e. Chad f***ed up AGAIN), Stone Soup was unable to secure a feature for September 26th. As a result, the night belongs to the open mikers with an ultra-extended open mike segment. People always afraid of showing up late for the open mike, coming with a poem that's too long (note: this almost never happens) or not knowing whether a particular night is a good night to debut a different kind of poem, Stone Soup says "Come on down!" People who have been away are welcome. People who have never been are welcome. We want to hear from you.
Due to more than one scheduling error and one too many events planned in a row (i.e. Chad f***ed up AGAIN), Stone Soup was unable to secure a feature for September 26th. As a result, the night belongs to the open mikers with an ultra-extended open mike segment. People always afraid of showing up late for the open mike, coming with a poem that's too long (note: this almost never happens) or not knowing whether a particular night is a good night to debut a different kind of poem, Stone Soup says "Come on down!" People who have been away are welcome. People who have never been are welcome. We want to hear from you.
9/23/11
Tomorrow, September 24th: Stone Soup Celebrates 100 Thousand Poets for Change
Tomorrow, at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery on 106 Prospect Street, Central Square, Cambridge: Stone Soup joins over over 335 cities representing 68 countries to take part in this this global initiative promoting the themes of peace and social change with poetry readings, political demonstrations, community picnics, awareness events, parades, and more!
Poets: Come read and share your work, or email a poem to be read for the recording of the event.
Musicians: Lend your voices as well.
Art Lovers: Come enjoy the atmosphere of the gallery, free food, and the multitude of voices!
The show begins at 11:30. Slated performers include:
Walter Howard
R. Wayne Nickerson
Chad Parenteau
April Penn
Bill Perrault
Carol Weston
and many other old and new friends.
Email us with any questions: stonesouppoetry@yahoo.com
9/16/11
September 19th: Gordon Marshall Features
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On September 19th, we celebrate Gordon Marshall's return. Marshall will feature his latest book and be on hand to present this year's Jack Powers Stone Soup Savor Poetry Prize.
Gordon Marshall will be celebrating the release of his tenth volume of poetry, Poet of the Smashed Palace (Shires). Gordon is an accomplished jazz critic as well as poet. His criticism can be found on the All About Jazz website, as well as The New York City Jazz Record. His nine previous volumes of verse are available through Shires Press, Manchester Ctr, VT. He lives in Boston's North End.
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On September 19th, we celebrate Gordon Marshall's return. Marshall will feature his latest book and be on hand to present this year's Jack Powers Stone Soup Savor Poetry Prize.
Gordon Marshall will be celebrating the release of his tenth volume of poetry, Poet of the Smashed Palace (Shires). Gordon is an accomplished jazz critic as well as poet. His criticism can be found on the All About Jazz website, as well as The New York City Jazz Record. His nine previous volumes of verse are available through Shires Press, Manchester Ctr, VT. He lives in Boston's North End.
9/12/11
September 24th: Stone Soup Celebrates 100 Thousand Poets for Change
Saturday, September 24 · 11:30am - 8:00pm
Out of the Blue Art Gallery
106 Prospect Street
Cambridge, MA
Poets around the world are planning individual events to take place simultaneously on September 24th in a demonstration/celebration of poetry to promote social and political change.
So far over 335 cities representing 68 countries have signed up to make this global initiative a success through poetry readings, political demonstrations, community picnics, awareness events, parades, and more!
Michael Rothenberg, the event's creator, envisions "a demonstration/celebration of poetry to promote serious social, environmental, and political change." Guidelines are peace and sustainability, and local groups define local issues within. Anyone with ideas of where to take this are welcome to contribute thoughts and more.
Stone Soup Poetry has elected to help Boston poets represent themselves for this event. The Out of The Blue Art Gallery Cambridge has allowed us to use their site as the initial "headquarters" as we seek volunteers and possibly other sites to hold this event simultaneously. If you have or know of a Boston area location that could offer us space for the day, please contact me at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com or stonesouppoetry@yahoo.com as soon as you can.
Our tentative time frame is from 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturday, September 24th. But if we get enough volunteers to keep the celebration going, we will.
We are also looking for the following:
People wiling to read their poetry throughout the day. The more the merrier.
Musicians and other performers.
People willing to record the event for prosperity.
People willing to help set up streaming video which will be used in conjunction with the main 100 Thousand Poets for Change website.
We also hope to load YouTube segments throughout the day.
If you are a poet or other performer who would like to contribute to the Boston effort, contact me at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com or stonesouppoetry@yahoo.com as soon a possible. We want as many possible to attend. Let's make this an event to remember.
Visit the 100 Thousand Poets for Change website for more news on this global event.
www.bigbridge.org/100thousandpoetsforchange/
Out of the Blue Art Gallery
106 Prospect Street
Cambridge, MA
Poets around the world are planning individual events to take place simultaneously on September 24th in a demonstration/celebration of poetry to promote social and political change.
So far over 335 cities representing 68 countries have signed up to make this global initiative a success through poetry readings, political demonstrations, community picnics, awareness events, parades, and more!
Michael Rothenberg, the event's creator, envisions "a demonstration/celebration of poetry to promote serious social, environmental, and political change." Guidelines are peace and sustainability, and local groups define local issues within. Anyone with ideas of where to take this are welcome to contribute thoughts and more.
Stone Soup Poetry has elected to help Boston poets represent themselves for this event. The Out of The Blue Art Gallery Cambridge has allowed us to use their site as the initial "headquarters" as we seek volunteers and possibly other sites to hold this event simultaneously. If you have or know of a Boston area location that could offer us space for the day, please contact me at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com or stonesouppoetry@yahoo.com as soon as you can.
Our tentative time frame is from 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturday, September 24th. But if we get enough volunteers to keep the celebration going, we will.
We are also looking for the following:
People wiling to read their poetry throughout the day. The more the merrier.
Musicians and other performers.
People willing to record the event for prosperity.
People willing to help set up streaming video which will be used in conjunction with the main 100 Thousand Poets for Change website.
We also hope to load YouTube segments throughout the day.
If you are a poet or other performer who would like to contribute to the Boston effort, contact me at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com or stonesouppoetry@yahoo.com as soon a possible. We want as many possible to attend. Let's make this an event to remember.
Visit the 100 Thousand Poets for Change website for more news on this global event.
www.bigbridge.org/100thousandpoetsforchange/
9/9/11
September 12th: Stuart Florsheim Features
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On August 29th, we welcome back New York poet and past Stone Soup feature Stewart Florsheim to the podium.
Stewart Florsheim was born in New York City, the son of refugees from Hitler's Germany. He has received several awards for his poetry and was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He has been widely published in magazines and anthologies. Stewart was the editor of Ghosts of the Holocaust, an anthology of poetry by children of Holocaust survivors (Wayne State University Press, 1989). He wrote the poetry chapbook, The Girl Eating Oysters (2River, 2004). In 2005, Stewart won the Blue Light Book Award for The Short Fall From Grace (Blue Light Press, 2006). His new collection, A Split Second of Light, was published by Blue Light Press in 2011 and received an Honorable Mention in the San Francisco Book Festival, honoring the best books published in the Spring of 2011.
He has been awarded residencies from Artcroft and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts. Stewart also writes non-fiction. Stewart's day job is in the technical writing field. He is also co-chair of the Board of Directors of Compassion and Choices of Northern California, an organization that helps the terminally ill make end-of-life decisions. Stewart lives in the Bay Area with his wife, two daughters, and their dog, Roxie.
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On August 29th, we welcome back New York poet and past Stone Soup feature Stewart Florsheim to the podium.
Stewart Florsheim was born in New York City, the son of refugees from Hitler's Germany. He has received several awards for his poetry and was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He has been widely published in magazines and anthologies. Stewart was the editor of Ghosts of the Holocaust, an anthology of poetry by children of Holocaust survivors (Wayne State University Press, 1989). He wrote the poetry chapbook, The Girl Eating Oysters (2River, 2004). In 2005, Stewart won the Blue Light Book Award for The Short Fall From Grace (Blue Light Press, 2006). His new collection, A Split Second of Light, was published by Blue Light Press in 2011 and received an Honorable Mention in the San Francisco Book Festival, honoring the best books published in the Spring of 2011.
He has been awarded residencies from Artcroft and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts. Stewart also writes non-fiction. Stewart's day job is in the technical writing field. He is also co-chair of the Board of Directors of Compassion and Choices of Northern California, an organization that helps the terminally ill make end-of-life decisions. Stewart lives in the Bay Area with his wife, two daughters, and their dog, Roxie.
8/21/11
August 29th: John Sturm Performs at Stone Soup
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On August 29th, the Boston poetry scene's star reciter, John Sturm, the Orator Extradinor, will be featuring some of his most popular recitations at Stone Soup. Audience members are encouraged to recite their own favorite poems on the open mike.
John Sturm has been performing at open mikes for the last few years at The Cantab, Club Passim, Out of The Blue and other venues. He has also performed at Forsyth Chapel for e.e. cummings' birthday anniversary.
August 22nd: Diana Saenz and Marshall Harvey and Lowell Poets Galore at Stone Soup
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On August 22nd, Bill Perault hosts an open mike filled with a contingency of poets from his hometown of Lowell, followed by his requested feature poets, Diana Senz and Marshall Harvey.
Diana Sáenz is a native of Los Angeles California, and has been writing poetry since the age of 15. Her plays have been produced around the country, and she is has three books of poetry presently for sale: An Ordindary Life Discussed, The Book of Eve, and Just This side of the 3rd Millenium. Diana and her husband, Marshall Harvey, whom she met in 1995 at Stone Soup Poetry when it was at TT The Bears, are the editors of Boston Poet Publication.
Marshall Harvey has been published in numerous journals and is the the author of Painted Light, published in 1994. He has also written a novel (The Psychic Lover) and an acclaimed study on iambic pentamet ("Iambic Pentameter from Shakespeare to Browning"). He is currently working on a theory on art.
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery at 106 Prospect Street with an open mike sign-up at 7:30 p.m. On August 22nd, Bill Perault hosts an open mike filled with a contingency of poets from his hometown of Lowell, followed by his requested feature poets, Diana Senz and Marshall Harvey.
Diana Sáenz is a native of Los Angeles California, and has been writing poetry since the age of 15. Her plays have been produced around the country, and she is has three books of poetry presently for sale: An Ordindary Life Discussed, The Book of Eve, and Just This side of the 3rd Millenium. Diana and her husband, Marshall Harvey, whom she met in 1995 at Stone Soup Poetry when it was at TT The Bears, are the editors of Boston Poet Publication.
Marshall Harvey has been published in numerous journals and is the the author of Painted Light, published in 1994. He has also written a novel (The Psychic Lover) and an acclaimed study on iambic pentamet ("Iambic Pentameter from Shakespeare to Browning"). He is currently working on a theory on art.
8/3/11
Regarding The Caller on Today's On Point Radio Featuring Slam Poetry
Let it be known that "Susie" who called WBUR today was NOT representing Stone Soup Poetry as a group. If you are going to make a comment about slam poetry, please stand on your own two feet and not on behind any banner you think we might be holding. In the last few years, Stone Soup has featured and appreciated poetry in all its forms and will continue to do so. Such comments made allegedly on our behalf do nothing but hurt us and the poetry scene as a whole.
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