We celebrate poetry every day in our spaces. From the art, to the books, to our Tribe (several who are poets!), poetry surrounds us and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Whether it’s an Open Mic Night or just grabbing a few books of poetry to read, there’s no wrong way to celebrate with us this month.

Pick up a new book of poetry (maybe Magical Negro by Morgan Parker?) or an older favorite such as Sonia Sanchez’s Shake Loose My Skin to enjoy.

Open Mic Nights are hosted nearly every day with something for everyone to enjoy. Expect to hear from a diverse chorus of voices and a vast array of professional spoken word performers, open mic rookies, musicians and a different host every week. Expect to be moved, expect a packed house, expect the unexpected, but above all come with an open mind and ear. We can’t wait to have you.


Some Notable Events to Attend

April 9, 2019 | Poetry on the Outfield at Audi Field

April 12, 2019 | 11th Hour Poetry Slam hosted by Charity Blackwell

April 18, 2019 | A Poem in Your Pocket Day

April 19, 2019 | STOKED: Burlesque and Poetry

April 20, 2019 | Youth Open Mic Night featuring 2019 DC Youth Poet Laureate Gabriela Orozco

April 22-26, 2019 | South African Poets from Tswane are a residency at Busboys and Poets

April 30, 2019 | The Beltway Poetry Slam featuring Rudy Francisco


Download our National Poetry Month calendar here. Print it out at home and make sure you don’t miss one of our awesome poetry events this month!

The Making of Busboys and Poets

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We’re proud to announce A Seat at the Table: The Making of Busboys and Poets, the new memoir from our CEO and Founder, which reveals the vision, challenges, and triumphs behind opening Busboys and Poets. Packed with misadventures, unexpected triumphs, and insights on race, business and politics, Andy Shallal’s memoir takes us on a “How I Built … Continued

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For Langston Hughes on His 123 Birthday

Speech given on February 1, 2024 in Havana, Cuba In 1927 Langston Hughes walked into a Cuba amid an emerging community of artists, intellectuals, and radicals.  He saw a “sunrise in a new land [– a day – in his words]sic – full of brownskin surprises, and hitherto unknown contacts in a world of color.”  … Continued

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Palestine Week 2024

January 18, 2024 – January 25, 2024 In keeping with our ongoing mission of uplifting racial and cultural connections, Busboys and Poets is hosting Palestine Week (January 18 through January 25, 2024). This week-long series of events will offer a diverse range of programming featuring Palestinian food, music, dance, poetry, discussions, and other enriching events. … Continued

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Busboys in En Route Traveler

“Part of the reason why I founded this place was that I wanted a space that feels like home away from home, a space that represents the multi-cultural, multi ethnic, multi-racial, and multi-age aspects of the city, a space that represents the city that I live in – Washington, DC.” – Andy Shallal

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Dine After Dark

We’re proud to be joining Dine After Dark along with other great local businesses to make dining-out more convenient for our Muslim community celebrating Ramadan. 3.5 million Americans and 1.6 billion people worldwide celebrate Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, as a time of reflection and charity. We’re inviting customers to “Dine After … Continued

Busboys and Poets Book Review: Pansy Boy

Busboys and Poets Book Review: Pansy Boy

Captivating, touching, and sincere, “Pansy Boy” tells the story of a thoughtful young boy who is tormented by his classmates because they perceive him as being different. With whimsical, thoughtful rhymes and a mixture of colorful imagery painted against a grayscale canvas, author and illustrator Paul Harfleet shows us how a seed planted by hate … Continued

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#PaintTheStorefronts

These are trying times for people and local, small businesses across the globe. Instead of boarding up our windows after an unfortunate act of vandalism, we’ve responded by spreading messages of optimism and hope by hiring local artists to #PaintTheStorefronts. All of our seven locations are painted, and we are spreading the movement; already we’ve … Continued