Real Good for Free: Poets in the Park, Washington Park

Started back in 1989 by the late Tom Nattell, the Poets in the Park series of poetry readings has taken place each summer at the foot of the Robert Burns statue in Albany’s Washington Park. The series is back again this year, run by Albany poet Dan Wilcox and co-sponsored by the Hudson Valley Writers Guild.

The readings are scheduled to take place at 7pm on Saturdays throughout the month of July. Rain site for all readings is the Social Justice Center in Albany. Admission is free, although donations are accepted.

Here’s the schedule of readings for 2011:

July 9: Danielle D. Colin Charlestin and Daniel Nester

July 16: Cara Benson and Gary Metras

July 23: Alan Berecka and Rebecca Schumejda

July 30: Alan Catlin and Marie-Elizabeth Mali

MORE REAL GOOD FOR FREE SHOWS, 2011:

Athens Street Festival @ Athens (July 8-9)
Community Dance Day @ Jacob’s Pillow, Becket (July 10)
Freedom Park, Scotia (7pm on various days)
NYS Summer Writers Institute @ Skidmore College’s Palamountain Hall, Saratoga Springs (8pm on various days)
Free Dance Performances @ Jacob’s Pillow, Beckett (6:15pm on various days)
Free Summer Theater @ various locations (various days)
Monday Night Concerts in the Park @ Veteran’s Memorial Field, Thurman (7pm on Mondays)
Music in the Park @ Riverfront Park, Rensselaer (6pm on Tuesdays)
Concerts On the Lawn @ the Clark Art Institute, Williamstown (6pm on Tuesdays)
Tuesday Nights in the Park @ Cook Park, Colonie (6:30pm on Tuesdays)
The SCA Summer Concert Series @ the Outdoor Entertainment Center, South Glens Falls (6:30pm on Tuesdays)
Music on Mainstreet @ NBT Bank, Canajoharie (7pm on Tuesdays)
Rockin’ On the River @ the Hedley District Riverfront Parking Lot, River St., Troy (5pm on Wednesdays)
Live On the Lake @ Burbank Park, Pittsfield (6pm on Wednesdays)
Concerts On the Green @ Bethlehem Public Library, Delmar (7pm on Wednesdays)
Lake George Summer Concert Series @ Shepard Park, Lake George (7:30pm on Wednesdays)
Jazz On Jay @ Jay Street, Schenectady (12noon on Thursdays)
Alive at Five @ Corning Preserve’s Riverfront Park, Albany (5pm on Thursdays)
Concerts in the Park @ Wiswall Park, Ballston Spa (6pm on Thursdays)
Guilderland Performing Arts Center @ Tawasentha Park, Guilderland (7:30pm on Thursdays)
UpBeat on the Roof @ Skidmore College’s Tang Museum, Saratoga Springs (7pm on Fridays)
Improv Records’ Free Fridays @ Shepard Park, Lake George (7pm on Fridays)
Music at Sunset @ Greenport Town Park, Hudson (7pm on Fridays)
Concerts in the Park @ Riverfront Part, Athens (7pm on Fridays)
Canal Square Summer Concert Series @ Canal Square, Cohoes (7pm on Fridays)
Summer Sounds of Salem @ the Main Street Gazebo, Salem (11am on Saturdays)
Powers Park Concert Series @ Powers Park, Troy (6pm on Saturdays)
Riverlink Concert Series @ Riverlink Park, Amsterdam (7pm on Saturdays)
Performing Arts at the Common @ the Clifton Park Common, Clifton Park (7pm on Sundays)
Skidmore Summer Jazz Institute Concert Series @ Skidmore College’s Zankel Music Center, Saratoga Springs (June 28-July 8)
Jazz at the Lake: Lake George Jazz Weekend @ Shepard Park, Lake George (Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18)