Time for my weekly updates on the best places live entertainment.  I have two features this week! Tonight, .  March 19, 8:30pm – 11:00pm at Bloombars (3222 11th St NW Washington DC map)

The Garden Open Mic features poetry, music, comedy, storytelling and other talents that can be shared in 5 minutes or less in an all-ages arts space. Come to share, listen and meet people in our community! Sign-up list opens at 8:30 pm and the first performer goes on at 9:00 pm $7 donation Guest hosts: TAMIKA “LOVE” JONES and JABARI EXUM

I will also be featuring at “Live” @ Ben’s Next Door, the D.C. home of local and national independant artists. Next Door we provides the venue and the audience for artists to showcase themselves, their music and their talents to a new audience. And what do you get out of the deal? You get to hear an amazing playlist of music while you chill and dine daily and nightly, get to meet great independant artists, get to purchase signed copies of their CD’s, and get free, soulful and spirited live musical performances. There is NEVER A COVER CHARGE for the performances at Ben’s Next Door.

Busboys and Poets Open Mic

Check the Busboys and Poets website for all the poetry events this week, including Drew “Droopy the Brokeballer” Anderson hosting at 14th & V on Tuesday, and Jonathan Tucker hosting at the 5th in K location on Wednesday.  Featuring Monica Hand
Hosted by Jonathan B. Tucker.

Monica A Hand is an award winning poet and book artist. Author of  “me and Nina,” (Alice James Books, 2012), her poems have also appeared in numerous publications including Aunt Chloe, Black Renaissance Noire, Naugatuck River Review, The Sow’s Ear, Drunken Boat, Beyond the Frontier, African-American Poetry for the 21st Century, Gathering Ground: A Reader Celebrating Cave Canem’s First Decade and American Creative Writers on Class.  She has a MFA in Poetry and Poetry in Translation from Drew University and is a founding member of Poets for Ayiti.  http://www.monicaahand.com/Click the Busboys & Poets logo to the left for more info.— $5/person. Wristbands for Tuesday night open mic at 14th & V are sold all day in the Bookstore beginning at 10 AM and online until sold out. Limit of 4 wristbands per person.

Split this Rock Poetry Festival

Participants: Join us for a kick-off reading and reception Wednesday March 21, from 6:30-8:30 pm in the Langston Room of Busboys and Poets. Featured poet Kathy Engel, plus Sam Hamill, Alexis DeVeaux, and Adrienne Torf—all friends of June Jordan—will give a brief, informal reading of June’s work. Also: greetings from Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin.

Then: Visit registration to pick up your badge! Wednesday evening you may do so at at Busboys and Poets. From Thursday to Saturday, the registration table will be in the lobby of the Thurgood Marshall Center from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Your badge is your ticket to all events and readings. The festival is completely sold out, so without a badge you won’t be able to gain access to these events. Please wear your badge at all times.

For more, please check out the festival program and schedule to plan your festival experience.

“Wednesday Verses” at Bohemian Caverns.

This week at Wendesday Verses: The Open Mic, Lorna and the gang are featuring T-Soul and Sol Zahran.

“Will Work For Food” at Sweet & Natural

Sweet and Natural’s, “Live and Breathe” and Ra Brown’s, “Will Work For Food” are very happy to bring you, Free!
Her beautiful voice and outstanding range is a symphony unto itself. Her peaceful vibe and quiet, yet fierce energy makes it easy to be… listen and…stay for awhile. A worthwhile venture over to the best vegan cafe in the DC Metro area…Please welcome Free (Yvette Benjamin) March 21st…the first day of Spring. (This feature is befitting to the changing season.) Come out and witness something to grow on! Showtime: 8:30p. Hosted by Ra Brown. 4009 34th St Mt Rainier, MD. See you there!

Thursday  #SpitDatDC at the ECAC Building

is a weekly open mic held every Thursday @ 9pm at the ECAC (733 Euclid Street, NW, 2nd Floor Washington, DC 20001).  The cover is only $1 (ONLY $1!?).  Yep, that’s right.  Only a dollar.