Beltway RESOURCE BANK Greater DC Reading and Performance Series Readings throughout the DC Metro region are listed here by the day of the week on which they typically occur (and within each listing for each day, by frequency). Please confirm with hosts as this information changes frequently. For more information about featured readers and special events, also see the Poetry News section of Beltway, which is updated monthly. This list last updated: January 2012.   SUNDAY Iota Poetry Series 2nd Sundays at 6:00 pm Iota Bar and Restaurant, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Clarendon neighborhood, Arlington, VA. (703) 522-8340 or (703) 256-9275. Featured readers, followed by open mic. Hosted by Miles David Moore. Free Admission. Articles Press Hour 2nd Sundays at 8:15 pm Iota Bar and Restaurant, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Clarendon neighborhood, Arlington, VA. (703) 522-8340 Featured readers. Hosted by Ethan Edwards. Free Admission. In Your Ear 3rd Sundays at 3:00 pm DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St. NW, Adams Morgan neighborhood, DC. (202) 462-7833. Featured readers from the DC area and around the country, with an emphasis on experimental writing. Hosted by Adam Good, Cathy Eisenhower, and Tom Orange. $3 Admission. Sunday Kind of Love 3rd Sundays at 4:00 pm Busboys and Poets, Langston Room, 14th and V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET. Featured readers, plus open mic. Sponsored by Split This Rock. Hosted by Sarah Browning and Katy Richey. $5 Admission. The Writers Center Erratic Sundays at 2:00 pm 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, MD. (301) 654-8664. Featured writers, often reading from newly published books. Also hosts workshops, open readings, staged readings of plays, annual small press festival, other events. Sunil Freeman, Assistant Director. Free Admission for most readings. Bridge Street Books Erratic Sundays at 7:00 pm 2814 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (at M Street), Georgetown neighborhood, DC. (202) 965-5200. Featured writers; mostly experimental poets. Hosted by Rod Smith. Free admission; donations for the poets accepted.   MONDAY Open Mic Mondays Every Monday at 5:00 pm The Reef, 2446 18th St. NW, Adams Morgan neighborhood, DC. (202) 518-3800. Multidisciplinary open mic. Happy hour drink specials. Poets on the Fringe Reading/Workshop offered every Monday at 7:00 pm Stoddert Recreation Center, 4001 Calvert St. NW, DC. (202) 299-3326. Open to anyone aged 18 and up. "Poets from all walks of life encouraged to share their work, and bring copies of their poems and offer positive feedback with each other." Hosted by Pamela Passaretta. Free Admission. Info: passapamela@aol.com. La-Ti-Do Every Monday at 8:00 pm Black Fox Lounge, 1723 Connecticut Ave. NW, Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC. (202) 483-1723. Cabaret and spoken word, open mic with featured performers. Hosted by Regie Cabico and Donmike Mendoza. $10 Admission includes one drink. Busboys at Shirlington Every Monday at 8:00 pm Busboys and Poets, 4251 S. Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA. (703) 379-9756. Hosted by Rich Hanks, Benny Blaq, Rebecca Dupas, 2Deep the Poetess, and E-Baby. $4 Admission. Third Sundays are devoted to "Other People's Poetry," open mic readings of poems we love by others. 15 slots for performers (sign up starts 7:30 pm). The Garden Open Mic Every Monday at 8:30 pm BloomBars, 3222 11th St. NW, Columbia Heights neighborhood, DC.(202) 567-7713. Open mic with featured performers. Hosted by Jonathan Tucker. $10 suggested donation. Cafe Muse 1st Mondays at 7:00 pm Friendship Heights Community Center, 4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase, MD. (301) 656-2797 Featured readers followed by open mic. Hosted by Adele Steiner, Hailey Leithauser, and Laura Golberg. Michael Davis plays classical guitar. Sponsored by The Word Works, Inc. Free Admission. DC Guerrilla Insurgency 2nd Mondays at 7:00 pm Bossa Bistro Lounge, 2463 18th St. NW, Adams Morgan neighborhood, DC (202) 886-6157 Open reading "incorporating rhythm, spoken word, song, community and resistance." Hosted by Laurelle Blair. Free admission. Word of Mouth Poetry 4th Mondays at 8:00 pm Bossa Bistro Lounge, 2463 18th St. NW, Adams Morgan neighborhood, DC. (202) 353-5635. Hosted by Laila. Open Mic. Free Admission. Music accompanies the poets during the second half. Folger Shakespeare Library Poetry Series Erratic Mondays, some other days, at 7:30 pm 201 E. Capitol St. SE, DC. (202) 544-7077. Research library on Capitol Hill with extensive holdings in Shakespearean and Elizabethan documents, including original folios of Shakespeare plays; seminars for teachers and students; hosts the PEN/Faulker Reading Series in Fiction and the Poetry Series with visiting writers of national and international stature. Poetry series coordinated by Teri Ellen Cross; $12 Admission to most events.   TUESDAY Verbal Assault Every Tuesday at 8:00 pm The Soundry, 316 Dominion Ave., Vienna, VA (703) 869-0088. "Anything goes" open mic: improv, poetry, spoken word, monologues, comedy, short stories, rants, and "free-form verbalocity." Free. Hosted by Brian Wentz. Open Mic Every Tuesday at 9:00 pm Busboys & Poets, 14th and V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET. $4 Admission. Hosted by Derrick Weston Brown, Bomani Armah, Drew "Droopy" Anderson, Jenny C. Lares, and 2Deep the Poetess.15 open slots (sign up starts at 8:30 pm), plus featured poet. Up and Up Open Mic Every Tueday at 9:00 pm Live at Bohemian Caverns, 2003 11th St. NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. (202) 229-0800. Free before 8:00 pm; $5 after. With live music by Mambo Sauce. Poetic Situations Every Tuesday at 9:00 pm International Grill, 2013 14th St. NW, DC. (301) 792-4447. Open mic poetry, music, and comedy. Sign up starts at 8:00 pm. Cash bar. Hosted by Kuroji Ntu. $5 Admission. R Street Speaks Open Mic 2nd Tuesdays at 6:30 pm H Street Playhouse, 1635 H St., NW, DC. (202) 544-0703. Featured performers, multi-disciplinary open mic for high school students, sponsored by Duke Ellington School for the Arts. $10 Admission for adults; $5 for students. Info: rstspeaks@gmail.com. Speakeasy 2nd Tuesdays at 8:00 pm Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St. NW, DC. (240) 888-9751. Storytelling for adults with different themes each month; featured performers followed by open mic. Sponsored by Washington Storyteller's Theater. Must be 21 years or older and have ID. Full bar, bring your own food. Hosted by Amy Saidman. $15 Admission. Beltway Poetry Slam Last Tuesdays at 7:30 pm The Fridge, 516 Eighth Street SE, rear alley, Barracks Row neighborhood, DC. (202) 664-4151. Featured performers and slam competition. Open to writers from DC, MD, and VA. Sarah Lawson, slammaster. $5 Admission. Lannan Poetry Series Erratic Tuesdays, sometimes on other days of the week as well; seminars begin at 5:30 and readings at 8:00 pm. Georgetown University, Intercultural Center, 37th & O Streets NW, DC. (202) 687-7435. Poetry readings, seminars and lectures, with an emphasis on experimental writing. Free admission.   WEDNESDAY On the Rocks Wednesdays Every Wednesday at 8:00 pm The Topaz Hotel Restaurant Bar and Lounge, 1733 N St. NW, lower level, Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC. (202) 393-3000. Featured reader and open mic for poets, signers, and lyricists. Show up by 7:30 to sign up for open mic. Must be 18 or older. Hosted by Patrick "Pages" Matam and "Element" of Da Movement Poetz. $5 Admission. Red Alert Wednesdayz Every Wednesday at 8:00 pm Urban Eats, 3311 Rhode Island Avenue, Gateway Arts District, Mt. Rainier, MD. (301) 209-8023. Open mic for spoken word, music, and film. Hosted by Dwayne B. and Samantha G. with DJ "Chop Da Butcha." Admission unclear. Everything Verses Series Every Wednesday at 8:00 pm Bohemian Caverns, 2001 1th Street NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. (202) 299-0800. Featured readers, open mic, live band. Hosted by Lance Reynolds. $7 Admission. Open Mic Every Wednesday at 9:00 pm Busboys and Poets, 5th & K Streets, NW, DC. (202) 789-2227. $3 Admission. Slots for 15 performers (sign up starts at 8:30 pm). Hosted by Holly Bass, 2Deep the Poetess, and Tiffany Okafor. SOVA Show and Tell 1st Wednesdays at 8:00 pm SOVA, 1359 H St. NE, in the living room loft, DC. (2020 397-3080. Multi-Media Open Mic, hosted by Joe P. Harris. Short films, performance art, music, spoken word. Admission unclear. Sparkle Series 4th Wednesdays at 9:00 pm Busboys and Poets, 5th & K Streets, NW, DC. (202) 789-2227. $3 Admission. Open to Queer poets and their allies. Hosted by Regie Cabico and Danielle Evennou. Native Writers Series Erratic Wednesdays at 6:30 pm National Museum of the American Indian, Elmer and Mary Louis Rasmusen Theater, 1st level, 4th St. and Independence Ave. SW, DC. For evening program, enter at the south entrance on Maryland Avenue near 4th Street. (202) 633-1000. Hosted by Suzan Shown Harjo. Free Admission. University of Maryland Erratic Wednesdays at 7:00 pm Dorchester Hall, 1st floor lounge, College Park, MD. (301) 405-3820 Writers Here & Now series, with visiting writers, Free Admission. Additional campus literary events at the Jimenez-Porter Writers House. U of M also offers an MFA in Poetry or Fiction. Director of Creative Writing: Michael Collier. American University Erratic Wednesdays at 8:00 pm Butler Pavilion, Board Room, 6th floor, DC. (202) 885-2973. (Sometimes uses other campus locations.) Readings by faculty, students, and visiting writers. American also sponsors a literary journal, Folio, and offers an MFA degree in Poetry or Fiction. Program Director: Richard McCann. Free Admission. THURSDAY Spit Dat! Open Mic Poetry Every Thursday at 8:30 pm ECAC, 733 Euclid Street NW, Pleasant Plains neighborhood, DC. (202) 462-2285. Spoken word open mic, hosted by Drew "Droopy" Anderson and Dwayne B. Free Admission. Open Mic Every Thursday at 9:00 pm Busboys & Poets, 5331 Baltimore Ave., Suite 104, Hyattsville, MD. (301) 779-ARTS. $5 Admission. Various hosts. HearArts 1st Thursdays at 7:00 pm VisArts Gallery, 155 Gibbs St. Rockville Town Center, Rockville, MD. (301) 315-8200. Poetry with live music, hosted by Philip Wexler. Free admission. The Nora School Series 2nd Thursday of every other month, September through April, at 7:30 pm 955 Sligo Ave., Silver Spring, MD. (301) 495-6672. Readings at a private high school feature local poets of note along with talented teenage writers from the area. Coordinated by Chris Conlon. Free Admission. Family-Friendly Poetry Open Mic 3rd Thursdays at 6:00 pm Annie's Art Gallery, 5814 Allentown Way, Camp Springs, MD 20748 (301) 449-9588. Hosted by Sistah Joy. Inter-generational event with featured readers, open mic. Free admission. Cheryl's Gone Series 3rd Thursdays at 8:00 pm Big Bear Cafe, 1st and R Streets NW, DC. (202) 470-5543. 3 to 4 featured readers (poetry and prose), with either an open mic or an acoustic act during intermission. Hosted by Wade Fletcher. Free Admission, but donations accepted. Library of Congress Erratic Thursdays at 6:45 pm Madison Blg., 101 Independence Ave. SE, DC. Events usually in the Mumford Room, 6th floor. (202) 707-1517. The visiting writers series hosts eminent visiting poets from across the country and an annual reading by the US Poet Laureate. Free Admission. Coordinated by Rob Casper. Takoma Park Poetry Series Erratic Thursdays at 7:00 pm Takoma Park Community Center, Atrium, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, MD (301) 891-7224. Featured readers, some open readings. Hosted by the Takoma Park Poet Laureate. Free Admission. George Washington University Erratic Thursdays at 8:00 pm (some events start at 8:30) Visiting writers and scholars program. Also hosts the Jenny McKean Moore Free Community Workshops, led by visting poets in odd-numbered years and offered free to selected participants. Hosts the journal GW Review, and offers an MA degree in English. Events in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. Coordinated by David McAleavey. Free Admission.   FRIDAY The @ttic 1st Fridays at 9:00 pm Station 9, 1438 U Street NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. $15 Admission. Featured readers with limited open mic. Hosted by Rebecca Dupas. Live! from Busboys 1st Fridays at 11:00 pm Busboys and Poets, 14th and V Streets NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. (202) 387-POET. Open mic/talent showcase, open to all performers: poets, musicians, comics, dancers, actors, magicians, etc. Hosted by Ne'a Posey and Bomani Armah. $5 admission. 11th Hour Slam 2nd Fridays at 11:00 pm Busboys and Poets, 14th and V Streets NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. (202) 387-POET. $5 Admission. Hosted by 2Deep the Poetess. Home of the DC Slam Team. Sounds of Hope Final Fridays at 8:00 (sign up starts at 7:00 pm) Potter's House Books, 1658 Columbia Rd. NW, Adams Morgan neighborhood, DC. (202) 232-2885. Music and poetry. Coordinated by Mary Shapiro. $10 suggested contribution. ASL Open Mic Final Fridays at 11:00 pm Busboys and Poets, 14th and V Streets NW, historic U Street neighborhood, DC. (202) 387-POET. $5 Admission. Open to poets and spoken word artists performing in American Sign Language. Hosted by DJ SupaLee. Connections Literary Series Erratic Fridays at 7:30 pm College of Southern Maryland, Languages and Literatures Dept. Readings at both the LaPlata and Leonardtown campuses. (301) 934-7684. Admission usually $2, some readings free. PEN/Faulkner Series Erratic Fridays at 8:00 pm Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE, DC. (202) 544-7077. Visiting writers series brings in fiction writers from around the world. $15 Admission.   SATURDAY Poetry on the Patio 1st Saturdays at 9:00 pm, weather permitting Busboys and Poets, 5th & K Streets, NW, DC. (202) 789-2227. Free Admission. Featured poets. Hosted by Holly Bass and other guest hosts. Youth Open Mic 3rd Saturdays at 5:00 pm Busboys and Poets, 5th & K Streets, NW, DC. (202) 789-2227. Free Admission. Slots for 15 performers. Hosted by Jonathan Tucker. SULU DC Alternate odd-numbered months, 3rd Saturdays at 7:00 pm Artisphere, Dome Theater, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Rosslyn neighborhood, Arlington, VA. (703) 875-1100. An underground, grassroots network for Asian American and/or Pacific Islander American (AAPI) artists, to showcase emerging and established artists in music, spoken word, video, and multidisciplinary performances. Curated and hosted by Jenny C. Lares. $10 Admission, $8 for students. Also of Interest DC Poetry Web site with information on three area readings series: Bridge Street Books, In Your Ear, and Ruthless Grip. Also publishes the history of the experimental and language poetry community in DC through personal essays, and an annual anthology of poets from DC and throughout the US. George Mason University Readings by visiting writers. GMU is also home to the Associated Writing Programs, and offers an MFA degree in creative writing. Hosts the journal English Matters. Events in Fairfax, VA. Free Admission. HoCoPoLitSo Various days and times The Howard County Poetry and Literature Society hosts readings, workshops, and in-school programs. Also creates videos of area poets, such as Lucille Clifton, Roland Flint, and Michael Collier. Memorial Day Writers Project Created by Vietnam veterans as a creative venue for vets and those who have been touched by war. They sponsor readings twice a year, at Memorial Day and Veteran's Day, in a tent adjacent to the Vietnam Memorial (near Constitution Ave and 21st St NW). Coordinated by Mike McDonell and Dick Epstein. National Museum of Women in the Arts Various days Sponsors readings by women writers with national or international reputations. Admission charged. 1250 New York Ave. NW, DC. (202) 783-7982. Nine on the Ninth Held on the 9th day of every month at 9:00 pm Featured readers and open mic, hosted by Derrick Weston Brown. Free, but donations accepted. Busboys & Poets, 14th & V Streets NW, DC. (202) 387-POET. Ruthless Grip Series Sometimes Fridays, and sometimes Saturdays, once a month, at 8:00 pm Black Fox Lounge, 1723 Connecticut Ave. NW, Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC. (202) 483-1723. Featured authors, with an emphasis on experimental and avant garde writers. Coordinated by Mel Nichols and Kaplan Harris. Free Admission, although donations accepted to pay featured authors. Three Tents Reading Series Sponsored by Big Lucks bimonthly, includes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Free. The Big Hunt, 1345 Connecticut Ave. NW, Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC. (202) 785-2333. Vida la vida literaria: Resources in the Washington DC Area for Spanish Language Writers & Translators C.M. Mayo, editor of Tameme Books, and a translator and poet, has compiled this excellent resource list on her web site.     Know of a reading series in the Greater DC area we're missing? See some wrong information? Please let us know! Email: beltway.poetry@juno.com.