May 19: MP Carver Features at Stone Soup Poetry

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 May 12, Stone Soup is please to welcome M.P. Carver to the podium.

M.P. Carver lives in Salem, Massachusetts. A member of YesNo Press, M.P. helps host the twice-monthly Zig Zag Poetry Open Mic (Salem, MA). M.P. has featured at Stone Soup previously, at Speak Up! (Lynn, MA), Merrimac Mic (Newburyport, MA). and most recently in the Poets in the Round event at the 2014 Mass Poetry Festival. M.P.’s poetry has appeared at the Massachusetts State Poetry Festival (2012, part of the Poetry Everywhere art installations), in the University of Virginia’s Hospital Drive, and in the inaugural issue of Zig Zag Folios.

May 12: The Wild Women of Lynn Feature 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 May 12,  Stone Soup's 43rd anniversary month continues strong, as we we have the pleasure of featuring every single contributor from the recommended local Wild Women of Lynn anthology.

Ring of Bone Press is a small publishing house founded in 2013, from Ipswich, MA. The mission of the press is to bring "The American Voice" to you, the reader, by publishing the work of local, under discovered poets and writers. The first book from the press is Wild Women of Lynn: Writings from the Walnut Street Coffee Cafe, poems and writings from five incredibly talented women poets from Lynn, each sharing their versions of "The American Voice."

Kerry Zagarella is a performance poet and toured with the first Boston Poetry Slam Team. She has performed at a variety of venues, including First Night Boston, The DeCordova Museum, The Boston Architectural Society, and the Green Mill in Chicago. Her work has appeared in magazines such as The Stone Soup Quarterly, Borderine Magazine, The Tower Journal and Wail Magazine. Her collection of original poems, Cardboard Soul, was published by This Poet's Press, and one of her essays can be found in A Tribute to Brother Blue by Yellow Moon Press.

Jocelyn Almy-Testa is a not quite 40 year old dancer, mother of four, writer, arts advocate, runner, photographer, sculptor, fiber artist, daughter, sister, lover, housewife, feminist coach and friend. Sometimes she likes to have a glass of wine and just stare out her favorite window and not be anything.

Kato Mele is a writer who has abandoned the idea of keeping up with the Joneses and has instead concentrated on keeping her head above water, which she is current accomplishing in her beloved adopted city of Lynn, Massachusetts - that the great and terrible beauty. She is neighborhood renowned for her use of her wit, her wits and even the occasional use of her half-wits whom she keeps in her shed and deploys only when absolutely necessary as she fears an uprising if they were to gain knowledge of the outside world and al the possibilities it holds. Her work has been sparsely published due to her inability to focus and complete the task at hand, but she has been found between the covers of THIS Magazine, Zig Zag Folios, and she can, truth be told, at the moment to be found between the covers and sheets of her reasonable comfortable bed.

Elizabeth Gordon McKim is a poet, spoken word performance artist, editor and teacher of poetry for people of all ages. She is the author of five books of poetry, the latest being The Red Thread, published by Leapfrog Press and Beyond Words, a poetry guide for parents and teachers co-authored by poet and teacher Judith Steinberg. McKim's poems have appeared in magazines, reviews and journals and she is a member of the graduate faculty of Lesley University in the department of Creative Arts in Learning. Her roots are in the oral tradition of song, story and chant. She is Poet Laureate of the European Graduate School in Saas Fee, Switzerland and locally is known as The Jazz Poet of Lynn, MA where she lives in a renovated shoe factory in Central Square and is often found at the Speak Up! open mic magic evenings at the Walnut Street Coffee Cafe.

May 5: Dennis Daly and Dimitris Lyacos at Stone Soup

Dennis Daly’s first full length book of poetry, The Custom House, was published by Ibbetson Street Press in June, 2012. His second book, a verse translation of Sophocles’ Ajax, was published by Wilderness House Press in August, 2012. A third book entitled Nightwalking with Nathaniel was just released by Dos Madres Press in April 2014. Daly writes reviews regularly for the Boston Small Press and Poetry Scene. He is a former factory worker and labor leader. Follow his blog here: dennisfdaly.blogspot.com.

Dimitris Lyacos is the author of the Poena Damni trilogy, an exceptionally popular and influential work of European avant-garde writing. Translations of the original Greek have appeared in English, German, Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese, and numerous performances have taken place across Europe and the USA. The trilogy has inspired many sister projects in the fields of drama, contemporary dance, video and sculpture installations, opera and contemporary music. Dimitris Lyacos was 2012 Fellow at the International Writing Program, University of Iowa.

April 28th: Carla Schwartz Features at Stone Soup Poetry

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 April 28, we welcome back Carla Schwartz, who comes back with the return of her newest book of poetry.

Carla Schwartz is a poet, poetry filmmaker, photographer, and lyricist. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Fulcrum, Common Ground Review, Cactus Heart, Wordgathering, Stone Highway Review, Boston Poetry Magazine, Literary Juice, Emerge Literary Journal, Enizagam, Equinox, and 05401 among others. Her book, Mother, One More Thing is available through WordTech and Turning Point Books ( 2014). She has performed and read her work in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Carla is also a professional writer with a doctoral degree from Princeton University. Learn more at her website at carlapoet.com.

April 21st: Jennifer Jean 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 April 21, Jennifer Jean, one of Salem's finest active poets, will be featuring her newest work for the Boston audience.

Jennifer Jean's most recent poetry collection is The Fool (Big Table, 2013); other collections include: The Archivist, Fishwife, and In the War. Her book reviews, essays, and poems have appeared in: Drunken Boat, Denver Quarterly, Tidal Basin Review, Caketrain, Poets/Artists, Poetica, The Mom Egg Review, and more. Her Pushcart nominated poem "Love All the Girls" was published by Ibbetson Street Magazine. Jennifer blogs for Amirah, a non-profit advocacy group for sex-trafficking survivors; she is a key organizer of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival; and, she teaches writing and literature at Salem State University. For more information, visit: www.fishwifetales.com

April 14: LightSpeed Arafat 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 April 14, get a Taste of Boston Flavor with LightSpeed Arafat, a father, come-unity activist and entrepreneur promoting visual art, media design, music, performance art and various other kinds of cultural enrichment. He is dedicated to using his talents for the betterment of inner city communities in Boston and beyond.

Arafat is a firm believer in the power of individuals and families to provide for and heal themselves. In 2008 Arafat founded LightSpeed Entertainment, Inc., beginning a life of business dedicated to edutainment, and cultural therapy enlightening himself and others on their natural capacity to thrive.

Toni Bee is happy to host this event with Chad Parenteau!

April 7: Jason Wright 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 April 7, we welcome Oddball Magazine Editor Jason Wright back to the podium.

Jason Wright is a Graduate of UMass Boston, recent guest on Wheel of Fortune, and self proclaimed champion of mental illness. He co-published five issues of the print journal Oddball Magazine before moving the journal online to oddballmagazine.com, which he still runs and edit today, featuring poetry and prose from a multitude of contributors as local as Cambridge, Massachusetts and as remote as the African country Tunisia.

He has been featured on Talk Up with Charlie Peters, and a frequent performer at The Middle East, Cantab Lounge, Cafe Luna, and other local venues. He currently resides in Somerville, Massachusetts, where he was recently featured in it's new local journal, The Scout.. His poem, "Strong as Boston Skyline" was recently chosen for the 2014 Mayor’s Prose & Poetry Program focusing on the Marathon tragedy of last year.

The Mayor's Prose & Poetry Selections, April 2014

Greetings Boston Writers and Poets, here are the latest winners for the April installment of The Mayor’s Prose & Poetry Program focusing on the Marathon tragedy of last year. One or two poems from each poet were chosen by the Poet Laureate Sam Cornish. The chosen poems will be printed and hung in various locations around Boston City Hall very soon and an opening reading and reception will take place sometime after April 22nd. Congratulations to the winners and keep an eye out for the next Call for Poetry from the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events and the City of Boston.


Alexis Ivy / From My Fire Eascape

Chad Parenteau / Mom at the Marathon

Lisa Fay / The Noise of Terror

Linda Carney Goodrich / Pleasure Bay

Michael Burke II / In April Boston roads turn pale

Holly Guran / To Cleanse

Holly Guran / A Hot Wind Blows

Dorothy E. Morris / Elegy

Jason Wright / Strong as Boston Skyline

Jane Jacobson / Buxton to Boston

Louisa Clerici / The Photographer’s Marathon

Carol Masshardt / September in Boston, 2013

Kurt Cole Eidsvig / The Rainest June & The Hottest July (excerpt)

 and 9th grader Kevin Downing! / Death is in the Field Today


Special THANKS go out  to Poet Laureate Sam Cornish for the time and effort he has invested over the last several years on the Mayor’s Prose & Poetry Program. He was a conscientious and learned juror, choosing poems for numerous installments of Poetry on the walls of Boston City Hall. Thank you Sam and thank you all for participating in this artistic process!

--
John Crowley
Curator/Exhibitions Coordinator

March 31: Ryk McIntyre 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 March 31, we welcome the return of Ryk McIntyre.

Ryk McIntyre has been a legendary presence on the New England poetry scene for decades. Which is to say, he is rarely photographed and not everyone is convinced he really exists. He has toured extensively around the continental United States and Canada, appearing on stages as varied as NYC’s New School, Portsmouth NH’s Music Hall, Lollapalooza and the very first “Legends of The Slam” Showcase, at the National Poetry Slam in 2006 in Austin, TX. He has also appeared at countless poetry venues, festivals and house parties. He was even on 5 NPS Slam Teams...you’d think some of those people would have had cameras, He has been published widely, most notably, in The Worcester Review, Off the Coast, Short Fuse-An Anthology of New Fusion Poets, and Aim for the Head - An Anthology of Zombie Poetry. He is currently touring and reading from his new book After Everything Burns (Sargent Press)

March 24: Clay Ventre 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 March 24, join us for an evening with Clay Ventre, one of the organizers of the Zig Zag Poetry open mic.  Attendance is recommended as this show will not be televised.  For more on Clay Ventre, like his Facebook page.

March 17: Gemma Cooper-Novack 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 March 17, we introduce Stone Soup's audience to Gemma Cooper-Novack.

Gemma Cooper-Novack is a writer, writing coach, and arts educator who lived in New York, Chicago, and Pokuase, Ghana before moving to Boston. Her poetry has appeared in more than a dozen journals, including Amethyst Arsenic, Ballard Street Poetry Journal (Pushcart Prize nomination), Hanging Loose, Lyre Lyre, PressBoardPress, The Saint Ann’s Review, Spry, and Tampa Review Online, and is forthcoming in Cider Press Review; her fiction has been published in Elsewhere and Printer’s Devil Review. Gemma’s plays have been produced in Chicago and New York, and her articles have appeared on Feminist Review and Elevate Difference and in NASPA Knowledge Communities. She enjoys baking cookies and walking on stilts in her spare time.

Tell-Tale Inklings Seeks Submits

Tell-Tale Inklings seeks character studies for its “free trial” first issue, Autumn 2014.  Narrative poems (50-line maximum) and flash fiction (1,000-word maximum) only.

The poem or story must have a beginning, middle, and end and reveal something about the character(s).  It needn’t be an Earth-shattering secret or personality flaw, but readers should think or feel something about the character(s) by the end.  The namesake Edgar Allan Poe avowed that a story ought to be readable in its entirety in one sitting.  Who are we to argue with Poe?  Feel free to challenge us with another time period, foreign planet, etc.  Kindly don’t challenge our tastebuds, though.  Gratuitous sex, graphic violence or anything defamatory/hateful, rantingly political, et cetera will not be published.

Submit a maximum of 5 poems and/or two stories in the body of an e-mail to making2@outlook.com.  Left-margin aligned, 12-pt. font  Deadline: May 15, 2014. 

Payment is nothing but glory, and the writer relinquishes monetary claims should the work eventually appear in print form.  The first issue will be online as a page of the Tell-Tale Chapbooks (TTC) web site.  TTC is a small press, and the publisher hopes that the free online first issue of Tell-Tale Inklings will be the last.  That is, one hopes that enough interest is shown in the “free trial” to inspire a 4-page broadsheet that can be purchased via mail or downloaded.

March 10: Mignon Ariel King 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 March 10, we have the long-awaited return of local author and new publisher Mignon Ariel King, who will be celebrating the release of her newest collection.

Mignon Ariel King is a third-generation New Englander who was born in Boston City Hospital.  An alumna of Girls' Latin School and the Graduate Program in English at Simmons College, she identifies as a womanist writer.  Her current autobiographical collection of poetry "What Good is a View of the Charles...?" was inspired both by the poetry of Charles Bukowski and by King's lifetime of living in Massachusetts.  It is Volume 2 of a trilogy within a trilogy.

This year, the writer celebrates being 50 by publishing in all three of her writing genres: poetry, memoir, and novella.  She is the Publisher of Hidden Charm Press and Tell-Tale Chapbooks.  She is also a Classic Hard Rock and sports fan.  For more info on her current projects, check out the blog Making Books at mignonarielking.wordpress.com

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March 3: Bill Perrault's Birthday Bash Guest Starring John Sturm

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 March 3, we celebrate the birthday of Stone Soup's own Bill Perrault as he reads with guest performer John Sturm.

Bill Perrault has been published in Spoonful, Out of the Blue Writers Unite, and various web pages, and if you are lucky enough to be on his e-mail list, the poetry is Hot Off The Presses! Bill has featured, performed and sometimes hosted at open mikes all over NewEngland--including: COOL COFFEE in Biddeford, ME, Bestseller’s Cafe inMedford, MA his Walden Pond Series and, of course, Out Of the BlueGallery. Bill is a staple figure at the Gallery in Cambridge, MA and has faithfully supported the events they hold there every day/night of the week-- Stone Soup and all.




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.

February 24: Jeff Savlon 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 February 24, we welcome one of the newest to be published by Yes/No Press publisher of the Zig-Zag Folios.
 
Jeff Savlon writes poetry, stories, and songs. His poetry chapbook Foul-Mouthed Imaginary Friends was released by YesNo Press in 2014.He has been published in Zig-Zag Folios Volume 1 and North Shore Art Throb, and in 2012 he released Sad Songs and Moon Expeditions, a full-length acoustic album. He is the co-host of the Gulu-Gulu Café Open Mic in Salem.

February 17: Navah the Buddaphliii 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 February 17, we welcome the words and melody of  Navah the Buddaphlii.  

Crystal Beck, also known as Navah the Buddaphliii is a poet/spoken word performing artist. She is a native of the South End of Boston and a single mother of three. Two boys and a girl ages are 17, 10, 3. Navah knows the challenges of trying to work her full time job as a medical billing specialist, raising a family and finding time for her art. She release her first CD entitle Far From Your Reality in 2000 and was featured in True Magazine describing her as "soulfully creative" Navah's poetic and very conscious other world lyrics makes her one of the most authentic local artists on the scene. She is a creative thinker and inspired by the universe of imagination. Her creative goal is to create abstract thoughts and visual images with words on the canvas of the human mind as a painter would do with paint on a blank canvas. She will continue to prevail as a mother grow as an artist and stay true to her gift.

February 10: Toni Bee 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 February 10, we gleefully welcome the return of Toni Bee.

Poet and photographer Toni Bee served as the Poet Populist of Cambridge, Massachusetts from 2011-2013 as well as the position of Artist Fellow at Citi Performing Arts Center in Boston.  She currently serves as co-host of the podcast "The Oddball Hour with PB n 'J" and will be part of the upcoming panel "Stone Soup Presents: Oddball Magazine" at the Massachusetts Poetry Festival this May.

February 3: Krysten Hill 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 February 3, Stone Soup is glad to welcome back performance poet Krysten Hill.

Krysten Hill received her MFA in poetry from UMass Boston. She has featured at the Cantab, Literary Firsts, U35, Breakwater Reading Series, Write on the DOT, and The Encyclopedia Show Somerville. She is published in PANK, apt, Write on the DOT, and Amethyst Arsenic.

January 27: Zachary Bos 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 January 27th, we welcome Boston Poetry Union collaborative member Zachary Bos.

Zachary Bos studied in the graduate poetry program at Boston University. He's been on the editorial staff of publications including News from the Republic of Letters, Fulcrum, Clarion, and The Battersea Review, and is current editor of Poetry Northeast. From the Pen & Anvil Press sharespace on Newbury Street, he publishes books, periodicals, literary posters, and chapbooks, including a new series of poems that have been hand-written, burned, and then "published" as ashes in corked glass bottle reliquaries. He lives in Lunenburg with his fiancee and family.

January 20th: Adelon Joseph 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 January 20th, Adelon Joseph has his first Stone Soup feature.

Adelon Joseph: " I came to the United States from Haiti when I was 8 years old. I can remember loving to write since Elementary School, Essays, book reports, you name it I wanted to write about it. The truth is I’m a complete Nerd who has an utter obsession with words. I’ve loved words since I could remember. I love the sound they can make when they are put in the right order.

"I write about everything. There have been times where I’ve had to pull off to the brake down lane on the highway to write down a new poem that just won’t leave me alone. I really came onto my on as a poet in college and have been writing since, though I’ve never had the nerve until about a year ago to do spoken word. But I’m glad I decided to do it. It has breathed new life into my poetry. Since I’ve started doing open Mics I’ve been featured at the Walnut street Café in Lynn and the Middle East in Cambridge. I’ve also performed in various places in and around the Boston area. My work can be seen on youtube and I have multiple poetry tracks set to music that can be found on Soundcloud.com.

"In the near future I would love to publish a book of poetry, and then move on to novels. I’m an avid lover of great poets such as Pablo Neruda, Khalil Gibran and Langston Hughes. I think these are among the greatest poets to ever exist. These are some of the poets that make you think there must be more to life than just matter. I’m looking at the future with a poet’s eye, dreaming to make writing and performing not just a vocation but a real profession."

January 13th: The PB n' J Podcast Reading with Chad Parenteau, Toni Bee and Jason Wright

Join us this Monday as we attempt to record our first live-audience podcast episode for the second ever episode of "The Oddball Hour With PB n' J" while featuring work from Stone Soup host Chad Parenteau, former Cambridge Poet Populist Toni Bee and Oddball Magazine Editor Jason Wright.  Bring your best work, and maybe you'll make the episode! 

January 6: Pre-Stone Soup Poetry Writing Workshop

I will be leading a workshop on January 6, to take place before Stone Soup Poetry from 6:00 PM to just before 8:00 PM at the Au Bon Pain in Central Square.

Please bring a poem of any form and style no more than 1-2 pages. Bring up to 10 copies of your poem to share with the group, and be prepared to share your thoughts on each others work. If you have trouble printing your work, you can email it to me before 5:00 Monday at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com

January 6: Teisha Dawn Twomey 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 January 6, we kick off 2014 with a feature by rising local poet Teisha Dawn Twomey.

Teisha Dawn Twomey received her MFA in Poetry from Lesley University. She is an Associate Editor at Wilderness House Press. Teisha’s work has appeared in Ibbetson Street , Fried Chicken and Coffee, The Santa Fe Literary Review, Metazen, Poetica, and "Wasn't That Special?" Anthology. Her poem “Hannah’s Ambry” was recently nominated for the Pushcart Prize. 

December 30: Patrick S. 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 December 30, Patrick S. will provide us a terrific close to 2013 with his first feature debuting his first full-length book of poetry.

Patrick S. is a co-organizer of Lowell, Massachusetts's Mill City Slam and was a member of its 2010 National Poetry Slam team. He has featured at numerous poetry venues in the Northeast, including past features at Stone Soup. He will be debuting his first full-length book, a narrative 47-poem series entitled Her Name Was Not Brighton composed during many sessions of the Brighton Word Factory writing group. He describes the book as "sort of a magical realism romance novella in free verse", as it otherwise defies attempts at classification.

December 23: Susie Davidson 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 December 23, we welcome back Susie Davidson to the venue. 

Susie Davidson is a poet, journalist, author, and filmmaker who writes regularly for the Jewish Advocate, the Jewish Daily Forward in New York, the Cambridge Chronicle and other media. Her article on medical marijuana, published this month in Israel's largest daily, Ha'aretz, received almost 7000 Facebook recommendations. She has also contributed to the Boston Sunday Globe, the Boston Herald and the Jerusalem Post. She was the feature of a July, 2012 "G-Force" full-page Boston Globe profile.

She has written two books about local Holocaust survivors. She organized the 2011 OccuPoetry series at Occupy Boston in Dewey Square, Boston, which received a front-page Boston Globe Metro section writeup in November, 2011. She is Coordinator of the Boston chapter of The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, a board member of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, and coordinates the Brookline Library Authors' Collaborative.

December 16th: Zeke Russell 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 December 16, we welcome performer, author, podcast host and venue host Zeke Russell back to our venue.

Ezekiel "Zeke" Russell is a third generation poet. He grew up in an artist's collective in Central Maine where he learned to express himself and also how to split wood. He lived for ten years in Lowell MA. During that time he helped to organize the Untitled Open Mic at Brew'd Awakening Coffee House. He still organizes the slam for that venue but mostly sits in the back and yells out inappropriate things. He has published three chapbooks and lives in Lower Mills Dorchester with his partner Emily and a very naughty pug named PJ.

December 9: L.U.C.C.I. 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 December 9th, we welcome Glen Lucci Furman, aka L.U.C.C.I. to Stone Soup's podium for his first feature at the venue.

L.U.C.C.I. (which stands for Listening, Understanding, Caring, Considering, Inquiring) is a poet, an actor and aspiring comedian who enjoys being creative while making positive change and entertaining in the process.  He has lived in Southwest Detroit Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia and now Boston.

He has featured in such places as Boston Talent Showcase, Wierdstock 2011, The 2nd Annual Haught Pink Breast Cancer Fashion Show, Writer's Block, and also had a role in the independent film Supa Dupa.

Upcoming projects include a lead role in the  upcoming film Scavengers and an upcoming poetry CD entitled My Name Is L.U.C.C.I.

December 2: Pre-Stone Soup Poetry Writing Workshop

I will be leading a workshop on December 2, to take place before Stone Soup Poetry from 6:00 PM to just before 8:00 PM at the Au Bon Pain in Central Square.

Please bring a poem of any form and style no more than 1-2 pages. Bring up to 10 copies of your poem to share with the group, and be prepared to share your thoughts on each others work. If you have trouble printing your work, you can email it to me before 5:00 Monday at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com

December 2: Ben Mazer 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 December 2nd, we welcome Ben Mazer to the podium.

Ben Mazer was born in New York City in 1964. He was raised around Cambridge, where he soaked up the lore of men who had known Robert Lowell, Tate, T.S. Eliot. At Harvard he studied with Seamus and Heaney and William Alfred, then he moved on and did a Ph.D. in textual scholarship under Sir Christopher Ricks and Archie Burnett at the Editorial Institute, Boston University. His doctoral dissertation, a critical edition of the poems of Frederick Goddard Tuckerman was published by Harvard University Press in 2010. His critical edition of the complete poems John Crowe Ransom is forthcoming from Boston's Un-Gyve Press. Mazer's poems have appeared in many periodicals, here and abroad, including, Verse, Stand, Agenda, Poetry Wales, The Wolf, Fulcrum, Jacket, The Boston Review, Harvard Review, Pequod, and Harvard Magazine. His new collection of poems is NEW POEMS (Pen &Anvil Press, 2013), and his previous collections include POEMS (Pen & Anvil Press, 2010), JANUARY 2008 (Dark Sky Books, 2010), and WHITE CITIES (Barbara Matteau Editions, 1995). Mazer lives in Cambridge, and is the Editor of THE BATTERSEA REVIEW.

November 25th: Pre-Stone Soup Poetry Writing Workshop

I will be leading a workshop on November 25th, to take place before Stone Soup Poetry from 6:00 PM to just before 8:00 PM at the Au Bon Pain in Central Square.

Please bring a poem of any form and style no more than 1-2 pages. Bring up to 10 copies of your poem to share with the group, and be prepared to share your thoughts on each others work. If you have trouble printing your work, you can email it to me before 5:00 Monday at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com

November 25th: Timothy Gager 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 25th, we welcome back Tim Gager, who is currently riding a wave of accolades for his newest poetry collection.

Timothy Gager is the author of ten books of short fiction and poetry. His latest, The Shutting Door (Ibbetson Street Press) is his first full-length book of poetry in nine years and is nominated for The Massachusetts Book Award. He has hosted the successful Dire Literary Series in Cambridge, Massachusetts every month for the past twelve years and is the co-founder of Somerville News Writers Festival.

He has had over 250 works of fiction and poetry published since 2007: nine have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His work has been read on National Public Radio. He lives on www.timothygager.com
 

November 18: Carolyn Gregory 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 18th,we welcome back poet Carolyn Gregory.

Carolyn Gregory’s poems and music essays have been published in AMERICAN POETRY REVIEW, MAIN STREET RAG, BELLOWING ARK, SEATTLE REVIEW, WILDERNESS HOUSE LITERARY REVIEW and STYLUS. She was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and is a past recipient of a Massachusetts Cultural Council Award. Her first book, OPEN LETTERS, was published in 2009 and a second book, FACING THE MUSIC, will appear in January, 2014. Carolyn worked for twenty five years in the Harvard medical hospital system doing research and administrative work. She is now a community activist, working against all use of the Death Penalty, for stricter enforcement of automatic weapons and handguns and for the rights of animals. Though she tends to be pretty serious, she also has a well honed sense of humor! 

November 11th: Pre-Stone Soup Poetry Writing Workshop

I will be leading a workshop on November 11th, to take place before Stone Soup Poetry from 6:00 PM to just before 8:00 PM at the Au Bon Pain in Central Square.

Please bring a poem of any form and style no more than 1-2 pages. Bring up to 10 copies of your poem to share with the group, and be prepared to share your thoughts on each others work. If you have trouble printing your work, you can email it to me before 5:00 Monday at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com

November 11: 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 November 11th, Gordon Marshall Returns with the latest in his substantial library of poetry collections.

Gordon Marshall has been publishing poetry books for five years, and he has been writing poetry for 34. He just finished his 27 volume, which may be his last, so he can focus on his music blog, theflashboston.com.

November 4th: Pre-Stone Soup Poetry Writing Workshop

I will be leading a workshop today on November 4th, to take place before Stone Soup Poetry from 6:00 PM to just before 8:00 PM at the Au Bon Pain in Central Square.

Please bring a poem of any form and style no more than 1-2 pages. Bring up to 10 copies of your poem to share with the group, and be prepared to share your thoughts on each others work. If you have trouble printing your work, you can email it to me before 5:00 Monday at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com

Those unable to attend that are interested in future dates please email me or call me at 617-217-8038.

November 4: Kris Weinrich 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 fourth, we welcome Kris Weinrich to his first Stone Soup feature.

Kris Weinrich graduated form Emerson College in December of 2002 with a BA in Audio Engineering and a Minor in Literature.  He is a poetry workshop facilitator for the Brockton Poetry Series at Fuller Craft Museum.  He is one of the hosts of Night Slam, a poetry open mic and slam at Massasoit Community College.  Kris has featured at poetry venues in Easton, Brockton, Plymouth and Providence.  He is also on the Brockton Arts board of directors as their Social Media Director promoting their events and programming.  His new chapbook of poems is titled Between Streetlights And Stars.

October 28th: Pre-Stone Soup Poetry Writing Workshop

I will be leading a workshop today on October 28th, to take place before Stone Soup Poetry from 6:00 PM to just before 8:00 PM at the Au Bon Pain in Central Square.

Please bring a poem of any form and style no more than 1-2 pages. Bring up to 10 copies of your poem to share with the group, and be prepared to share your thoughts on each others work. If you have trouble printing your work, you can email it to me before 5:00 Monday at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com

Those unable to attend that are interested in future dates please email me or call me at 617-217-8038.

Tonight

Linda Griggs and Martin Willitts, Jr. at Stone Soup, October 21st.

Tom Daley's New Poetry Writing Workshop

Poetry writing workshop

at a restaurant in Porter Square, Cambridge

Six Wednesdays 12:30-2:30 pm

November 6, 13, 20; December 4, 11, 18, 2013.

Cost is $150.

The optional poetry exercises will focus on the poetry of Patricia Smith

 

Joint workshop for poets & writers  working in creative prose

 (memoir, fiction, creative non-fiction, storytelling)

at the instructor’s house in Cambridge

 

Seven Mondays 5:30-7:30 pm

November 4, 11, 18, 25;

December 2, 9, & 16, 2013.

Cost is $175.

The optional poetry exercises will focus on the poetry of Patricia Smith

 

To register for either workshop, contact the instructor at tom.daley2@verizon.net

 

Tom Daley leads writing workshops at the Online School of Poetry, Boston Center for Adult Education, and Lexington Community Education. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in a number of journals including Fence, Denver Quarterly, Crazyhorse, Witness, Massachusetts Review, The Boston Globe, Harvard Review, and Poetry Ireland Review and have been anthologized in the Poets for Haiti and The Body Electric anthologies. He is a recipient of 2012 Dana Award in Poetry and the author of a play, Every Broom and Bridget—Emily Dickinson and Her Irish Servants, which he performs as a one-man show.

 

Stone Soup Gallery at Midway Studios, October 19 -20

Open showing of art photos by David Agee of Stone Soup poets reading at the Out of the Blue. This is part of the Fort Point fall Open Studios ranging along Summer and A streets in the art district across the channel from South Station.

"Many poets are shown, but the exhibit is based on photographs with some artistic merit that I happened to take; it is not an encyclopedic compendium of the Stone Soup poets as a whole. The photos are NOT family snap shots - each reader is in the context of art that has some effect on the mood. emotion, etc of the scene. SO look at the whole photo; reader, background art, etc."

The display is on the fifth floor (elevator) of the Midway Studios, 15 Channel Center St., Boston, 02210 (map at info booth on A St.)

To reach the building by car, go to South Station, follow Summer St. across the channel, make an immediate right and right again onto A St. You will see an information booth on A St. at the entrance to a free parking lot.

By public transportation take the Red Line to South Station and upstairs on Summer Street pick up the #11 bus. Exit at Mt. Vernon Avenue on A Street (2nd stop).

Open Studios is free and free parking available off A St. There are further displays in buildings along Summer St. and along A St. Map at info booth on A St. (617 423 4299).

Open 12 - 6 Saturday Oct. 19 and Sunday Oct. 20.


Come and check out all the 150 artist displays!

Oddball Magazine Presents Stone Soup Servings

Stone Soup is pleased to be partnering with Oddball Magazine to present Stone Soup Servings, a column that will give readers a first look at upcoming Stone Soup performers. This week, we have Martin Willitts Jr. and Linda Griggs, who arrive at Stone Soup on October 21st. Thanks to publisher Jason Wright and Gordon Marshall's sister, Jennifer Davidson Marshall, for the photography.

October 28th: David R. Surette 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 28th, we welcome back David R. Surrette, who has his newest poetry collection coming out this month.

David R. Surette’s new book of poetry is Wicked Hard. He is the author of three other collections: The Immaculate Conception Mothers‘ Club, Young Gentlemen’s School and Easy to Keep, Hard to Keep In. His poems appear in the anthologies French Connections: A Gathering of Franco-American Poets and Cadence of Hooves: A Celebration of Horses.  He teaches English and coaches varsity hockey at East Bridgewater High School. He lives in South Easton, Massachusetts.

October 21st: Linda Griggs and Martin Willitts, Jr. Feature 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 21st, we  welcome back Linda Griggs and Martin Willits Jr. as they make their annual trip to New England.

Linda Griggs has worked as an elementary school art teacher and a mental health counselor. She has also worked with at-risk youth. A college teacher currently working at SUNY Empire State College, she holds a M.P.S. in the Applied Work of the Humanistic Psychologists. She is also an artist, and she is the founder and host of The Palace Poetry Group in Syracuse, NY. Her children’s book, The Night of the Starfish People, was published in 2011 (Willet Press), and she self-published the chapbook, Love Poems of the Universe, in 2003. She lives in Syracuse, NY.

Martin Willitts Jr is a retired Librarian living in Syracuse, New York. He currently evaluates Prior Learning Evaluations for SUNY Empire State College. He is a visual artist of Victorian and Chinese paper cutouts. He was nominated for 6 Pushcart and 6 Best of the Net awards. He provided his hands-on workshop “How to Make Origami Haiku Jumping Frogs” at the 2012 Massachusetts Poetry Festival. He won the William K. Hathaway Award for Poem of the Year 2012. He has 5 full-length and 20 chapbooks of poetry including forthcoming poetry books include Waiting For The Day To Open Its Wings (UNBOUND Content), “Art Is the Impression of an Artist” (Edgar and Lenore's Publishing House), City Of Tents (Crisis Chronicles Press), Swimming In the Ladle of Stars (Kattywompus Press), and he is the winner of the inaugural Wild Earth Poetry Contest for his full length collection Searching For What Is Not There (Hiraeth Press).
 

October 14: Blaine Hebbel 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 14th, we welcome back poet, activist and new publisher Blaine Hebbel to the venue.

Blaine Hebbel – Poet, activist and Ipswich native, has been fascinated by the “American Voice” for over 35 years and has been fighting social injustice since the 60s. He has read as a member of the Poets’ Mimeo Cooperative in Burlington, VT and on the Poemair show on KUOR FM, the University of Redlands, CA station. He is a member of the OccuPoets and has featured his poetry at the Walnut Street Coffee Café, Stone Soup and Merrimac Mic in Newburyport and reads at the open mic at every other venue he can find. He has published two chapbooks, Poems From the Shore and The Occupy Poems. His work has appeared in Stone Soup Fresh Broth, Poesis, Zig Zag Folios, Firehouse and Bagels with the Bards #8. He has just started a publishing house, Ring of Bone Press with a mission to bring “The American Voice” to the reader, by publishing the work of local under discovered poets and writers. The first book from the press, Wild Women of Lynn is at the printer and will be released shortly. Occupy Everything.

October 7th: Pre-Stone Soup Poetry Writing Workshop

I will be leading a workshop today on October 7th, to take place before Stone Soup Poetry from 6:00 PM to just before 8:00 PM at the Out of The Blue Gallery (or at the Au Bon Pain in Central Square if the weather is bad).

Please bring a poem of any form and style no more than 1-2 pages. Bring up to 10 copies of your poem to share with the group, and be prepared to share your thoughts on each others work. If you have trouble printing your work, you can email it to me before 5:00 Monday at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com

Those unable to attend that are interested in future dates please email me or call me at 617-217-8038.

Today from 11:00 to 3:00

Stone Soup participates in 100 Thousand Poets for Change.

October 7th: D.A. "Da Butcha" Boucher 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 7th, we welcome the return of D.A. Boucher to Stone Soup's stage, with a special appearance by bassist Ethan Mackler.

Da Butcha rose from the ashes of, Art Fluff, Short Attention Span Poet, in the mid-nineties, born one Sunday night at the Poetry Jam, Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, Mass, the name coined by Jeff Robinson, from D. A. Boucher, who rose from the ashes of David Alan Boucher, who burned down in the mid-nineties during a vision quest for self.

Rebuilt using whatever parts were laying around at the time, Da Butcha, continues in the tradition begun by his predecessor, writing continuously about anything and everything, wholly addicted and consumed by Poetry, Da Butcha is Poetry Incarnate.  Da Butcha writes, writes, writey, writes, non-stop, anywhere, and he holds nothing sacred, attends the church of Sacred Nothingness, and will harpoon, lampoon, and take to the carpet any subject, from Politics to Life to Family to Sexuality to everything in between.

He began his egotistical attempt at the ever popular, 365/365 Poetry Challenge, after writing, 418 Pomes in 2012, and saying to himself, "huh, that was easy. I bet I could succeed at the, 365/365 Poetry Challenge", and ten months later, here he is, reading random selections from the project that continues his brand of irreverence and observation of the stupidities of life.

Da Butcha and Ethan Mackler have been bringing Poetry to life since 1997, when they met at Naked City, and have amazed and astounded audiences all over New England and New York City.

Ethan is an accomplished musician-multi-instrumentalist specializing in Bass Guitar and has performed with many bands over the years and accompanied Poets at Open Mics in Cambridge, Mass.

The two are known in underground circles as, Words and Music, the foundation blocks of high Culture, Da Butcha is called the King of Poetry and Ethan as Bass Master, and after tonight's reading you, the audience, will know why they are the best thing to happen to Poetry and Music since the ball point pen and ball strings.

Sit back, relax, listen, and enjoy the Poetic and Musical Styling of Da Butcha and Ethan Mackler, some times referred to as, Da Butcha 'shoppe...but, not tonight.

September 30: Infamous Somerville Bagel Bards to invade 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 September 30th, Stone Soup celebrates another visit by the Bagel Bards.  Be sure to bring extra money to purchase their latest anthology.

The Bagel Bards were brought to life through discussion over breakfast by two area poetry icons, Doug Holder and Harris Gardner. Their anthology Bagel Bards #8 was edited by Zvi Sesling of Muddy River Poetry Review and boasts an amazing cover showcasing the art of the talented Irene Koronas. Between the covers the anthology does not disappoint and is filled with a host of well-known, well-published Boston area writers.

The Bagel Bards, who meet every Saturday morning at the Au Bon Pain in Davis Square, are an avante-garde group of writers who may or may not be considered “camp.” They will delight you with the reading of their work and with their witty camaraderie. You will not want to miss this group of wonderful, eclectic poets!

September 23: Bluu Kollar 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 23rd, Stone Soup welcomes Bluu Kollar to the podium with a feature hosted by former Cambridge Poet Populist Toni Bee.

From the state asylum to the stage Bluu Kollar harpoons every corruption. Lyrics lavish with trips to the other side, teachings of healing, and interracial love. Bluu Kollar is a fighter for people who choose to be good.

What Does This Have to Do With My Stone Soup Workshop?

Email me at chadpoetforhire@yahoo if you want an answer.  Oh, and want to workshop.

September 28th: Stone Soup Participates in 100 Thousand Poets for Change 2013

Stone Soup is helping to host another annual 100 Thousand Poets for Change event. In the wake of recent national and global events, we feel it's more important than ever to continue this forum. We will be holding it from 11:00 to 3:00 at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery.  We are planning to have an open mice with extended forums. Depending on the number of people in the audience, we will give you 10-15 minutes to feature your work. Less is fine.We will be filming for the 100 Thousand Poets for Change web site, and poet Joe Gouveia should be on hand to interview and record for his Provincetown radio show.

From the 100 Thousand Poets for Change Web site by Michael Rothenberg:

The first order of change is for poets, writers, musicians, artists, anybody, to actually get together to create and perform, educate and demonstrate, simultaneously, with other communities around the world. This will change how we see our local community and the global community. We have all become incredibly alienated in recent years. We hardly know our neighbors down the street let alone our creative allies who live and share our concerns in other countries. We need to feel this kind of global solidarity. I think it will be empowering.

And of course there is the political/social change that many of us are talking about these days. There is trouble in the world. Wars, ecocide, the lack of affordable medical care, racism, the list goes on. We are only asking that local organize events about change within the guidelines of peace and sustainability.

It appears that transformation towards a more sustainable world is a major concern and could be a global guiding principle for this event. Peace also seems to be a common cause. War is not sustainable. There is an increasing sense that we need to move forward and stop moving backwards. But I am trying not to be dogmatic. I am hoping that together we can develop our ideas of the “change/transformation” we are looking for as a group, and that each community group will decide their own specific area of focus for change for their particular event.

We're also happy to announce that Joe Gouveia, host of the Poets Corner radio show out of WOMR-FM Provincetown, is planning to come to the event to record it and other poets for his show.

September 16th: Chad Parenteau 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 16th, Chad Parenteau will read from his new poetry collection as well as selections from the late founder of Stone Soup, Jack Powers, in honor of his recent birthday.

Chad Parenteau is the current host of the long-running Stone Soup Poetry reading series in Cambridge.  His latest book is Patron Emeritus from FootHills Publishing.

September 9th: Pre-Stone Soup Poetry Writing Workshop

I will be leading a workshop today on September 9th, to take place before Stone Soup Poetry from 6:00 PM to just before 8:00 PM at the Out of The Blue Gallery (or at the Au Bon Pain in Central Square if the weather is bad).

Please bring a poem of any form and style no more than 1-2 pages. Bring up to 10 copies of your poem to share with the group, and be prepared to share your thoughts on each others work. If you have trouble printing your work, you can email it to me before 5:00 Monday at chadpoetforhire@yahoo.com

Those unable to attend that are interested in future dates please email me or call me at 617-217-8038.

September 9: Ying Zhang 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 9th, Stone Soup has the pleasure of granting both a debut and farewell feature to poet Ying Zhang.

Born in China 1974, Ying Zhang quit high school at age of 17 in order to pursue his dream of becoming China's Hemingway. After successfully working as a headhunter (recruiter) with international executive search companies in Shanghai and Hong Kong for 10+ years, he resigned from business at age of 36 and in 2010 came to the US where he has been studying for 3 years including the most recent one year studying at IAIA (Institute of American Indian Arts) in Santa Fe, NM and another year studying at Diné College (Navajo Tribal College) in Navajo Reservation, AZ.

The idea of studying and living with Native American peoples has been influenced by the biography of the French painter Gauguin which he read in his teen. He has never published any of his works even though more than 2,000 poems have been created by him since he started poetry writing at age of 10. Ying has just completed his Poetry Writing course at Harvard Summer School in the past summer break and is about will be returning to his home country on Sep 20th for good.