Poetry night

Poetry is an art that is often considered an old-fashioned idea. Something that belongs in the era of the Middle Ages, or to the turn of the 20th century. But such a view would be incorrect.

Every Thursday in Binghamton, New York, at the Belmar Bar and on various days in cities actross the nation there are poetry nights. Open mike events where new and established writers gather to share their thoughts and emotions with those that are interested. It's more than a fad, it's a trend that has been growing and surging among those in college as well as regular older adults as well.

Recently I was at the Belmar Bar in Binghamton to listen to the poets at the open mike. Some of those that stepped up to the mike were part of the Binghamton University Poetry Slam, others were just students, and still more were just fans. Overall it was an interesting night of styles and forms of poetry and presentation that brought new meaning to what many think is poetry and/or how it might sound.

I have already presented one poet, Khamal, who read one of my more popular poems - I Rejoice In Me. But there were more than a dozen other poets at the Belmar Bar that Thursday night. I present a couple of those artists for your consideration.

[I note that the low lighting, for the mood, made it difficult to get clear video. Please bare with me on that and hear how and what was said.]

Justin


Khamal


Jimmy


There were many others that were equally as good as the above. I hope to have a chance to present them as well in the future. More importantly, let your inner voice sound out.

If you have a poem you would like to share, come down after 9pm on Thursday to the Belmar (if you are in Binghamton or the surrounding area). Or het on Youtube, or just write. Poetry deserves to live with your voice, and it will if you let it.


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Poetry reading: I Rejoice In Me

I will be presenting videos by the Binghamton University Poetry Slam team shortly, but I wanted to start off with a bonus I had from the reading at the Belmar bar. After the Slam had finished, Khamal [pronounced KHA-mal] took the opportunity to read one of my favorite poems that I wrote a few years back.

Some of you may have already read my poem I Rejoice In Me on my poetry section of this blog. For others this will be the first time. I hope you all enjoy it, as I think Khamal's reading is very close to the thoughts I had as I wrote it.



I realize that the lighting is not optimal. The Poetry Slam was lit a bit darker to add to the atmosphere of the event. But while visually it may not have the impact, the words are the most important I believe.

For those interested in learning more about the poetry slam, or interested in taking part, you can come down to the Belmar Bar in Binghamton NY on Thursday after 9pm. Most nights are open mike and everyone is welcome to read their poems. It is a very first time reader friendly poetry reading, often with guest poets from across the country and other colleges.

Brawlin at the Belmar 2009 BMX Dirt Challenge

Well the 3rd annual Brawlin' at the Belmar BMX contest has just finished and I had a blast. The crowd was huge, and the event just keeps getting bigger each year.

This year there were more photographers, more people, and a film crew. In fact there was one phtographer from Japan. And the film crew was shooting scenes from the upcoming BMX movie Xcelerate (Director Eric Bugbee).

I have a lot of video to go through of all the pros competing. I expect to have that up in a day or so.

In addition I was able to get a quick interview with last years winner Chris Doyle. I also have some information about the Xcelerate film, and may have a chance to get more information on the in development independant film to you exclusively.

More details and video soon. I just wanted to let everyone know what a great time the event was. Plus the pros are still doing trick jumps, and the crowd is out to party all night at the Belmar Bar in Binghamton New York.

BMX Pro-Am dirt jumping video from Brawlin' at the Belmar

Yes I finally got it done. Long over due but finished at last. What might that be?

Back in August I reviewed my time at the Brawlin' at the Belmar BMX Pro-Am dirt jumping tournament.

I mentioned in that post

"Now it’s taking me a bit of time to get the video of the event done, my editing skill are not the greatest and I have 200 video clips to work through...

The event was sponsored by Red Bull, FBM Bikes, and the Belmar Bar...

there were roughly 200 plus people there at any moment from 12pm until night fell some 9 hours later. That was just the crowd on Saturday, with part of the event being held previously Friday."

The place was packed during the event. Riders from across the northeast and out to the mid-west all arrived for the competition. And they came to compete.

I had well over 200 video clips and photos. Though each jump was relatively short in combination, with editing involved, and my less than stellar editing abilities I had more than a day of work once I got to it. Still I made my best effort on the situation.

So without much further ado I present my video of the professional jumps from the event. There were some 15 or more professionals. Each had a dozen jumps by the end of the day. And I have put together some of the best ones, in my opinion.

When you critique the video, please be somewhat kind.

Brawlin'at the Belmar - my first BMX Pro-Am dirt jumping tournament

Over the weekend I had the chance to watch America rise to the challenge. I wasn’t watching the Olympics, or the news on Iraq and/or Afghanistan. I wasn’t at a movie. I was watching a BMX competition – Brawlin’ at the Belmar.

I’ll say it again, I was watching teens and young men on bicycles competing on a short dirt track. In fact it wasn’t a track but a jump, landing hill, and turnaround wall specially built behind the Belmar here in Binghamton just for this event. To be more accurate it was a dirt ramp setup by Dave King – a master ramp builder in the sport - specifically for a Pro-Am dirt jumping tournament. And it was a great experience.

Now it’s taking me a bit of time to get the video of the event done, my editing skill are not the greatest and I have 200 video clips to work through, but I will have one soon. Even so the event was a wonderful display of America just enjoying itself.

The event was sponsored by Red Bull, FBM Bikes, and the Belmar Bar. This was not the first year this event has been held here, but it was the first time I went to it. And there were roughly 200 plus people there at any moment from 12pm until night fell some 9 hours later. That was just the crowd on Saturday, with part of the event being held previously Friday.

Now I should mention that I am not a fan of BMX (never seen it before). I also knew nothing about the sport beyond the thought that it was something that kids did before some Monster Truck event. Such are the thoughts of a 40 yr old from the Bronx. I was wrong on multiple counts.

The competition involved both amateurs and professionals with a total of some 30 riders or more in all. There were riders there from as far as Chicago and Long Island that I am aware of. There was even one rider that had been at the X-games this year. And the age ranges were from one young Black kid (Boogie was his nickname if I recall correctly) of 10 to a 32 year old.

Now I would be remiss if I did not mention that I was amazed by some of the jumps and tricks that were being done. I am quite sure that I’d have killed myself if I tried to do any of it. Yet all the riders were out giving their all for the crowd. There were riders jumping up some 20+ feet into the air, and others getting almost as much height while doing flips or 180 and 360 degree turns.

Now I had to ask a couple of the riders about this sport.

One rider I spoke to was Dan Psimer from Cleveland, Ohio. He’s 25 years old and first started riding bikes in competition in the NBL. The NBL is the National Bike League as I learned. Dan was 13 then, and he never looked back. His mother supported him in his endeavors and now he is a professional with big plans. I can’t discuss some of his plans for the future, but I can say that his love of the sport has gotten him to look to the entrepreneurial aspects as well as competition.

As someone who never had seen this type of event I have to say it was unique and fun. And the crowd was filled with spectators of all ages. A large amount of the crowd were very familiar with the professionals, and local amateurs as well.

Once I have my video, or videos, done I will go into more detail on the event. But I will say this, given the opportunity of watching another event like this or watching Olympic bicycling, or the Tour De France, I would gladly go all American and watch the BMX competition.