Tag: Dan Wilcox

Why you should attend FFAPL book reviews

Tuesday, July 28th, the Stories and Spoken Word Poetry Open Mic Night

I’m going to tell you why you should attend FFAPL book reviews and author talks. For one thing, you might learn some obscure facts.

On July 21, Dan Wilcox, peace activist & noted local poet, reviewed Shadow Ticket, a detective novel by Thomas Pynchon.  He mentioned that, in the fictional tale, there may have been some factual events. Sure enough, the Bridge Table Murder case actually happened. “Myrtle Adkins Bennett…, a Kansas City housewife,” was charged with “the murder of her husband John G. Bennett over a game of contract bridge in September 1929.” She was acquitted in March 1931.

Dan also mentioned several other Pynchon novels.  When the novelist won the National Book Award for Gravity’s Rainbow, it was Professor Irwin Corey, the eccentric comedian, who accepted the award.

Upcoming

The events take place Tuesdays at 2 pm at the Albany Public Library, 161 Washington Avenue, in the large auditorium. Limited parking is available in the rear of the building.

July 28 | Book Review | The Left Hand of Darkness, a sci-fi classic by Ursula K. Le Guin.  Reviewer:  David Brickman, photographer & FFAPL treasurer.

August 4 | Book Review | Tiny Gardens Everywhere: The Past, Present, and Future of the Self-Provisioning City by Kate Brown, science historian at MIT.  Reviewer:  Richard King, retired attorney.

August 11 | Book Review | The Hours of Henry VIII: A Renaissance Masterpiece by Jean Poyet by R. S. Wieck, W. M. Voelkle & K. Michelle Hearne. Reviewer: K. Michelle Hearne Arthur, Ph.D., former museum curator and director & current high school history teacher.

August 18 | Book Review | Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman.  Reviewer:  Mary A. Rosch, former APL Trustee, current FFAPL board member, proud Albany native who is active in several local organizations and loves connection, learning, and building community.

August 25 | Book Review | The Last Extinction:  The Real Science behind the Death of the Dinosaurs by Gerta Keller.  Reviewer:  Jonathan Skinner, PhD, retired statistician & amateur classicist.

1000 Madison Avenue, the former Pine Hills library

 Moth-style  stories
On Tuesday, July 28th, the Stories and Spoken Word Poetry Open Mic Night will take place. This month, it will be at a temporary location: the Madison Pour House at 1110 Madison Ave – just one block west of the Madison Theatre. The Madison Theatre is currently closed for renovations.
Please note: the meeting will be on the second floor at the Madison Pour House, accessible only via the staircase. 
As usual, they welcome both Spoken Word Poetry and Stories (Moth-style personal stories are encouraged – and folk tales are welcome too). No notes if humanly possible!
  • $5 at the 2nd floor door; cash, Venmo, and Zelle accepted – All proceeds go to the local business for allowing us to use their space!
  • Doors open at 6:30 (sign up to take the mic) 
  • Show begins at 7:00 pm, ends at 8:15 pm
Ultimately, the event will return to the Madison Theatre once renovations are complete! 

APL Foundation Celebrating Literary Legends

Peter Golden, Lyn Lifshin, and Dan Wilcox

Peter Golden
Peter Golden
The Albany [NY] Public Library Foundation will be hosting several events in the upcoming months to celebrate the 2019 Literary Legends, Peter Golden, Lyn Lifshin, and Dan Wilcox.

Save the dates!

Thursday, May 30, 2019 – An Evening With The Authors

An Evening With The Authors is a wine and dessert reception will begin at 6:00 pm, followed by a special toast at 6:30 pm. Following the toast, Literary Legends Dan Wilcox and Peter Golden will hold court until 7:30 pm, reading from their work and talking about their craft with APL Foundation Director Alexis Bhagat.

Peter Golden
Dan Wilcox

The event will take place in the Community Room in the Washington Avenue branch of the Albany Public Library. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at any branch or online at literarylegends.org after April 30th. Proceeds benefit the Albany Public Library Foundation.

Friday, May 31, 2019 – Leaves of Grass Bicentennial Reading

Literary Legend Dan Wilcox and the Poetry Motel Foundation present their annual reading of “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman each year on his birthday, rain or shine. Whitman turns 200 this year, so this should be an extra special reading. The event will take place near the Robert Burns statue in Washington Park at 6:00 pm. It is an outdoor event, so bring your own blankets or chairs. This event is sponsored by the APL Foundation and the Hudson Valley Writers Guild.

Thursday, June 13, 2019 – Lyn Lifshin Not Made Of Glass Film Screening

Lyn Lifshin
Lyn Lifshin

“Lyn Lifshin: Not Made of Glass” (Karista Films, 1987) is a documentary about one of our Literary Legends. Readings of Lifshin’s poems are interspersed with her own and others’ observations about her life and work. The documentary was produced, directed, and edited by Mary Ann Lynch. It is 55 minutes long and will include a Q&A. The screening will take place at the Opalka Gallery, 140 New Scotland Ave. Albany, NY 12208 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

Friday, June 14, 2019 – Poets from Albany Read Their Favorite Lyn Lifshin Poems

Literary Legend Lyn Lifshin has written more than 125 books and edited 4 anthologies of women writers. For this special reading, local poets will select their favorite Lyn Lifshin poems to read aloud. The reading will take place in the Large Auditorium at the Washington Avenue branch of the Albany Public Library from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Please contact APL Foundation at 518-427-4367 if you are interested in reading!

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