Well folks, no slam this month as we have a rare opportunity for two fantastic poets who happen to be traveling through the area!  The Open Mic will be restricted for time sake so get there early for a chance to read!  Doors open at 7 and the poetry starts at 7:30 SHARP!

So who are our guests you may ask...

Tarishi M.I.D.N.I.G.H.T. Shuler

Tarishi Shuler is an artist who goes by the name M.I.D.N.I.G.H.T.  His pseudonym is an acronym which stands for Messiah Is Dominant Now Inspired GOD Helps Tarishi. Tarishi being his birth name is Swahili for messenger. He was raised by the three most important women in his life, his Great Grandmother, Grandmother and Mother. These three women were the ones that shaped him into the person he is today. Having all of these ingredients and most importantly the main element in his life GOD, has brought M.I.D.N.I.G.H.T. to this junction on his journey. Tarishi uses art to tell his and other people stories through spoken word. Poetry has giving him the opportunity to meet new people and learn in the process. 

Tarishi Shuler is a native of New Haven, CT. He now resides in Brooklyn, NY. He has performed and won various poetry slams across the country including the Nuyorican Poets Café in NYC, The Nuyorican Café in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Yale University, New Haven, CT, The Lizard Lounge in Cambridge where he won the title of Lizard King, MA, Da Poetry Lounge in Los Angeles, CA and many more. He has won the Yale Peabody MLK & Zannette Lewis Invitational Slam in 2017 & 2016, and McDonald's McCafe Poetry Slam in NYC in 2016, 2013, 2012 & 2010.  He was the Slammaster of the CT National Poetry Slam Team Verbal Slap in 2016. He has won the title of CT Grandslam Champion in 2016, 2012 & 2011He has competed every year at the National Poetry Slam since 2011 and has opened for very notable individuals such as Saul Williams, Grammy nominated Neo-Soul Artist Dwele, Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets, and former US President Bill Clinton. His work has been featured on Russell Simmons All Def Poetry in 2016 and he also won 3rd place on the World's Famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY.

Besides doing art, Tarishi has previously worked for Love 146. A non-profit organization that advocates against human trafficking & child sex exploitation. Now he works for the Discovery Center. A non-profit, diversity and antiracism training program serving elementary and middle school's throughout Connecticut while still living in Brooklyn, NY.

D. Colin

Danielle Colin has  been writing poetry since she was 11 years old.  For most of her teenage years, poetry was more of a personal outlet and shared with others on rare occasions. In college, she started writing more seriously as well as reading and performing her poetry more often. As an undergraduate, she majored in English with a concentration in African American literature and creative writing. She went on to pursue a Masters in English and Masters in Africana Studies concentrating in African American literature and creative writing.  D. Colin self published her first collection of poems and prose in 2015.  It is entitled Dreaming in Kreyol and is an homage to her Haitian heritage and history. 

Originally from Bridgeport, CT, Danielle Colin is a published poet, educator and performer currently residing in Troy, NY. Performing with her abbreviated name, D. Colin has shared her work at many venues including the Nuyorican Poet’s Café and Busboys and Poets. Since 2010 she has been the featured poet at venues in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington D.C. Internationally, she has been the featured poet in London, England, Glasgow, Scotland and Toronto, Ontario Canada. She has competed at the Women of the World Poetry Slam two years in a row and is currently ranked 35 out of 96 women from around the country and overseas. D. Colin won first place at the QEW Slam with the Nitty Gritty Slam Team in 2017 and competed with the inaugural Nitty Gritty Slam Team team at the National Poetry Slam in 2012. 

In 2014, she started and ran a poetry reading series called “Between the Lines” and currently she curates a weekly poetry/spoken word series called “Poetic Vibe” at Troy Kitchen that has featured poets from all over the east coast and mid-Atlantic.