The Presidential Debate Series at Busboys and Poets!

Presidential Debate Series Image

As always, Busboys and Poets is your community go-to place for politics!

This election season, Busboys and Poets will show all Presidential Debates, at every location. We aim to provide a dynamic and engaging environment for each viewing party!

Our First Featured Cocktail
Demo Blue – coconut rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice over ice | $8

Busboys and Poets is located in six distinctive neighborhoods in the Washington Metropolitan area and is a community resource for artists, activists, writers, thinkers and dreamers.

Debates will be streamed on the newly upgraded
large screens at every Busboys and Poets location.
Drink specials will be available all night.

Please see below for all dates and times of upcoming debate screenings
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE SCHEDULE

A Seat at the Table: The Making of Busboys and Poets

Sep 2, 2025

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

For Langston Hughes on His 123 Birthday

Feb 1, 2024

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

Palestine Week 2024

Jan 12, 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

COVID-19 Update

Mar 13, 2020

UPDATE: March 25, 2020 We have made the difficult decision to close our Brookland and Takoma locations. Delivery and pick up are currently available from all other locations from 11AM – 9 PM daily via order.busboysandpoets.com UPDATE: March 17, 2020 All DC and MD locations are offering carryout and delivery services from 11 AM – … Continued

Ramadan and the Games

Jul 28, 2012

Olympic games callously scheduled during the holiest of months for Muslims – Ramadan

Reflections on a Historic Week

Jul 3, 2013

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in a landmark decision the Facebook generation has quickly likened to the collapse of de jure segregation.

3. Cuba – The arrival

Jul 6, 2022

Our visit to Cuba is to see this first hand. This is a cultural trip. Not a political one. It is meant to open opportunities for dialogue and understanding between people in the United States and the Cuban people. I hope you will join me as we explore this island nation together.