| Bowery Poetry Club |
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| Written by Megan McGibney |
| Monday, 25 May 2009 13:36 |
 NEW YORK Manhattan’s Lower East Side is quiet even as residents hurry home from a long day at work. Businesses are closing up, and some have already been closed for weeks due to the struggling economy. It is not desolate in this area, but it is not bustling, as other neighborhoods in New York would be at this time. As one walks down the streets here, that person might be wondering when something that represents Lower East Side would spring up.
And then it comes – the Bowery Poetry Club, located between Houston and Bowery Streets. Just the sight of the venue is like spotting an oasis. Its large sign is like a sunrise, and it’s patrons and staff who are hanging outside for a smoke, are like singing birds with their delightful laughs and conversations. It is impossible to walk pass by the Poetry Club and not feel a magnetic draw to it. Perhaps it is the sense of community being felt. Talk to one of the staff members and they would tell you how much they love being here. “It feels great here,” says 24 year-old box office manager and poet Duv. “It’s a place to interact with artists. There’s a lot of love. On a personal level, I feel comfortable here.” “I can be myself,” says Moon Shine Shorey, 28, who works both as a bartender and artist in residence at the Bowery. “I am surrounded by wonderful talent.”  Creating a place where talented artists could congregate was what poet Bob Holman had in mind when he opened the Poetry Club in 2002. Holman already made a name for himself as a poet, and was looking for a home base for artists like him. Patrons and local artists could not have been more thankful. “I came here a few years ago, and feel in love with the place,” says Steph Sabelli, a 25 year-old bartender and comedian/actress who performs at the Bowery. “It made me realize my potential as an artist,” she adds. “It creates creativity! This venue can do everything and still be authentic.” Authenticity is a word that comes up a lot from those who work at the Bowery. “It’s a space for artists, but in a self-sustaining kind of way,” says general manager Mike Barile, age 32. “There’s a certain standard of professionalism, but all the people here can be as creative as they want to be.” While the Bowery allows all kinds of artistry besides poems - such as jazz, hip-hop, comedy and burlesque – it is not easy to put on a show here. This already legendary place is not for beginners. Only the top poets from all over the world come here, often through their connections with Bob Holman, who was not available to be interviewed for this article. Poets such as laureates Billy Collins and Paul Strand, Paul Muldoon and Patricia Smith have all done shows here. All styles of poetry are welcomed, and there are between 20 and 30 events happening each week. Tuesdays has the Urbana poetry slam, and there was an event on May 10th called “Hollywood Does Poetry”, in which actresses Claire Danes and Amber Tamblyn will read poems to a packed audience. On Wednesday April 29th, there were two events. One, an open mike session for the students from New York University. The other called “Page Meets Stage” in which poetic legends Taylor Mali and Galway Kinnel faced off in a spoken word versus published poems match. They traded poems and answered each other’s questions about their work. Taylor Mali was main draw for this event, and visitors of all ages were streaming in to check it out. Many were first timers at the Bowery Poetry Club, and already were impressed. “It’s really, incredibly friendly here,” said Helen Gasser, a 22 year-old student from the Bronx. “Not pretentious at all.” Valerie Brandon was on a trip to New York from Tennessee with her husband, and read about Bowery in a local magazine. “I love poetry, as I am an English teacher,” she explained. “I’ve never been to any place like this, and you can’t find anything like this where I come from.” The idea of someone from Tennessee coming to the Bowery does not surprise box office manager Duv, who has seen tourists from as far away as Germany pass through. “They say, ‘this is the place to visit,’” he says. “That shows how far we can go as a venue.” Judging by the reactions of the student from New York University, the Poetry Club gains new fans from each event. “This is my first time being here, but it’s the first of many,” said Angelo Sarmiento, a pre-med student, who played guitar during the open mike session. “It’s really nice and very intimate.” As for the future of the Bowery, the staff sees nothing but more excitement and creativity. “I see it running strong,” says Steph Sabelli. “It’s a staple of the history of downtown New York. Boutiques and banks can be put in here, but this place still represents what New York is about – what people come to New York to do as artists. It’s going to be around for a long time.” Bookmark us: 
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 May 2009 07:27 |