Rules of IAWA: Read Each Other, Write or Be Written, Buy Our Books! And review each other!
@ John D. Calandra Italian American Institute 25 W. 43rd St., 17th Floor, NYC
George Guida and Gerry La Femina
NOTE DATE & TIME CHANGE: FRIDAY, February 13, 2026
LIVE 3-5 PM EST; Open Mic begins at 3PM; admission is free
George Guida is the author of 13 books. Among them is the memoir, The Walking Amoeba (Bordighera Press, 2026); his sixth poetry collection, The Fulfillment Center (Foothills Publishing, 2026); the 2026 Bright Hill Press Chapbook Award-winning long poem Bloom and the Blitz, and a novel, The Uniform (Guernica Editions, 2024). He teaches at New York City College of Technology, curates the Finger Lakes Arts Series, and is concocting a cool pen name with which to deceive editors who know his schtick.
Gerry LaFemina is an accomplished poet, writer, and editor whose latest books are After the War for Independence (Poems, Steph F Austin University Press) and The Pursuit: A Meditation on Happiness (CNF, Madville). In 20025 he was named a Councilor of the Maryland State Arts Council by Governor Wes Moore. He teaches at Frostburg State University and in the Carlow University low residency MFA program. He also plays rhythm guitar and sings for Rotten Princess recording artists The Downstrokes.
To renew or join IAWA, https://iawa.net/join/
March 4-7: IAWA @ AWP, Baltimore
March 5: Off-site Reading @ Charm City Books
featuring GRACE CAVALIERI
March 4: INAUGURAL PHILLY IAWA Reading @ Fergie’s Pub
Boston IAWA takes place on 3rd Saturdays @ IAM Books