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YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 2, 2025
    5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Join us to learn about the unique perspectives and challenges of transracial adoptees with adoption expert Angela Tucker and MSNBC host Jen PsakiAn adoption expert and transracial adoptee herself examines the unique perspectives and challenges these adoptees have as they navigate multiple cultures“Your parents are so amazing for adopting you! You should be grateful that (more…)

Stats & Stanzas

Stats & Stanzas: Poetry for the Public’s Health | co-hosted by Drs. Ryan J. Petteway, Shanaé Burch, and LeConté Dill


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 2, 2025
    6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Join us for an evening of healing, resistance, and solidarity, featuring poetry readings from a line-up of poets whose work embodies the spirit of poetic health justice. Every social movement of health consequence has been backed by poetry, music, and dance to codify resistance, galvanize community, nurture imagination, and testify for more just futures. For (more…)

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Monday Night Open Mic hosted by KaNikki J


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 3, 2025
    8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

A Busboys and Poetry Event hosted this week by KaNikki J.KaNikki Jakarta is the First African American Poet Laureate of Alexandria, Virginia. She is an Award Winning Performance Poet who has toured the US and the UK. KaNikki is the author of three novels, two poetry collections, a memoir, a short story, poetry collection entitled (more…)

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Live Recording | The Collision | Etan Thomas, Dave Zirin & Chuck Modiano


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 4, 2025
    6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

LIVE: The Collision: Where Sports and Politics Collide hosted by Etan Thomas, Chuck Modiano and Dave ZirinIn celebration of the 20-year anniversary of Busboys and Poets, we are thrilled to host a live recording of the WPFW 89.3 FM radio show The Collision: Sports and Politics on the Nicolas Guillen stage. Award-winning political sportswriter Dave Zirin, former (more…)

Zohran Mamdani Election Night Watch Party (1)

Zohran Mamdani Election Watch Party


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 4, 2025
    7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Join us at Busboys and Poets–Brookland on November 4, 2025 for a lively watch party as we cheer on Zohran Mamdani! Grab a seat, enjoy great company, and root for a victory together.  (more…)

TwainDSQ

Tuesday Night Open Mic hosted by Twain Dooley


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 4, 2025
    8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

A Busboys and Poetry Event hosted this week by Twain DooleyTwain Dooley is a first generation American. Born and raised in Washington, DC, he learned to use language to talk himself into and out of inner-city challenges. He joined the Army Reserves and served on active duty during Desert Storm. After a two-year stay in (more…)

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Scribble! A Drawing Hangout for Maryland Creatives


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 5, 2025
    6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

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SODA LAKE | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 5, 2025
    6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Join us to dive into an existential suspense mystery mixed with autobiography and imaginary portraits with author John HampseySoda Lake opens with an unnamed narrator seeing a man disappear into a lake of white salt. This sets the narrator on a quest of discovery, shaped by a series of stories with interconnected characters who all (more…)

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WE HAD IT COMING | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 5, 2025
    6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Join us to celebrate the release of a haunting yet darkly humorous exploration of a world teetering on the edge of collapse“I’ve been asking myself just how it is that a person can go about their day to day life at a time like this and I keep coming back to another question which is (more…)

Anthony Oakes

Wednesday Night Open Mic hosted by Anthony Oakes


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 5, 2025
    8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

A Busboys and Poetry Event hosted this week by Anthony D. Oakes!Hailing from North Carolina, Anthony D. Oakes is a District of Columbia resident who is taking comedy on the east coast by storm. His clean, yet edgy, southern, intellectual, witty humor will have you reeling with laughter. Performance cities include: Atlanta, New York, LA, (more…)

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Thursday Night Open Mic hosted by Lady Brion


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 6, 2025
    8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

A Busboys and Poetry Event hosted this week by Lady BrionLady Brion is an international spoken word artist, poetry coach, activist, organizer, educator and the executive director of the Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts and Entertainment District. She received her B.A. in Communication and Culture from Howard University and her MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing (more…)

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Thursday Night Open Mic hosted by DJ Tao


  • Event Start
    Event Start
    Nov 6, 2025
    8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

A Busboys and Poetry Event hosted this week by DJ TaoWhether freestyle or written, DJ Tao is word in motion.DJ Tao began his career as a spoken word artist in the Washington, DC area. After extensive experience performing locally he decided to expand his audience. He took his act on the road, touring America’s colleges (more…)