Please send all requests regarding using the space to info@americanpoetrymuseum.org
Museum Hours
American Poetry Museum is open Thursday and Friday from 5pm to 7pm, Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 2 to 5. Please wear a mask and follow Covid protocols.
2024 Poetry Readings & Events
Events
Current and Upcoming Events
Programming Funded in Part by The Poetry Foundation and the Cynepid Fund
Sunday, April 21st - 3 to 5pm
Reuben Jackson Jazz Poetry Set
Poets - Ife Al-Din and Bonafide Rojas
Musicians - Pepe Gonzalez on Bass, Taimoor Saeedi on Guitar, Deepak Ram on Bansuri Flute
Saturday, April 21st - 2:30 to 5pm
It’s Your Mug 30th Anniversary Celebration
Panel and Workshops: What Did It’s Your Mug Mean To DC
Host: Lisa Pegram
Featuring: Jane Alberdeston and A. Van Jordan
Previous Events
2024
Friday, April 12th - 6pm to 8pm
If All The Trees Were Pens Open Mic: Hosted by Sasa Aakil Feature Caleb Wein
Purchase tickets at - https://www.sasaaakil.com/product/if-all-the-trees-were-pens/41
Sunday, March 24th - 5 to 7pm
Memorial for Reuben Jackson at the Josephine Butler Parks Center
Saturday, March 23rd - 4 to 6pm
Opening for exhibit by Nando Alvarez - Poetry Reading With Maria Fernanda and Sami Miranda
Live Screenprinting
Sunday, March 17th - 3 to 5pm
Reuben Jackson Jazz Poetry Set
Poets - Fargo Nissim Tbakhi and Olatunde Osinaike
Musicians - Pepe Gonzalez on Bass, Aaron Walker on Drums, Jose Luiz martin on Piano and Alex Hamburger on Flute
Saturday, March 16th - 1pm to 2pm
Break a Vase: Writing a Zuihitsu Writing Workshop - led by Maria Fernanda
Purchase at- https://www.mariafernandapoet.com/workshops
Friday, March 1 - 6pm to 8pm
If All The Trees Were Pens Open Mic: Hosted by Sasa Aakil
Purchase tickets at - https://www.sasaaakil.com/product/if-all-the-trees-were-pens/41
Sunday February 18th - 3 to 5pm
Reading by Ivory Johnson and Brandon Douglas
Music Provided by Pepe Gonzalez, Kelton Norris and William Knowles
Sunday, February 11th - 1pm
On Key - Creating a Broadside on a Typewriter - Workshop led by Maria Fernanda
Friday, February 2nd - 6 to 8pm
If All The Trees Were Pens Open Mic - Featuring Dr. Tony Keith Jr. and Hosted by Sasa Aakil
Sunday, January 28th - 3PM
Reading by Marian Urquilla and Melanie Henderson- Hosted by Naomi Ayala - ONLINE PROGRAM - FACEBOOK LIVE
Saturday, January 27th - 4pm
Crushed and Crowned by Joe Ross - Book Launch with readings by Joe Ross and Melanie Henderson
Sunday, January 21st - 3-4:30pm
This reading will take place at the Mt. Pleasant Library - 3160 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Reading by Armando Batista and Jonny Teklit
Music By Pepe Gonzalez on Bass, Nasar Abadey on Drums, Jon Ozment on Piano
Sunday January 14th - 1 to 2pm
Assemblage: Writing the Contrapuntal - Workshop led by Maria Fernanda
Saturday, January 13th - 4PM-6pm
Opening Reception: Art by Desepe deVargas
Friday, January 5th - 6 to 8pm
If All The Trees Were Pens Open Mic - Hosted by Sasa Aakil
2023
Saturday, December 16th - 4PM
Opening Reception: We Are (Here): Beauty Conviction and Unrelenting Joy art by Sasa Aakil
Sunday, December 3rd - 3PM
Reading byAda Vilageliu Diaz and Raga Raga Ayyagari - Hosted by Naomi Ayala - ONLINE PROGRAM - FACEBOOK LIVE
Friday, December 1st - 6 to 8pm
If All The Trees Were Pens Open Mic - Hosted by Sasa Aakil
Sunday November 19th - 3 to 5pm
Malik Thompson and Victoria Newton Ford with music by Pepe Gonzalez on Bass, Deepak Ram on Bansuri Flute, Taimoor Saeedi on Guitar and Avi Shah on Percussion
Sunday, November 12th - 3pm
Reading by Azalea Aguilar and Alexis Renee Jefferson - Hosted by Naomi Ayala - ONLINE PROGRAM - FACEBOOK LIVE
Friday, November 3rd - 6 to 8pm
If All The Trees Were Pens Open Mic - Hosted by Sasa Aakil
Sunday, September 24th - 3 to 5pm
Reading by Simon Shieh and Sally Wen Mao - Accompanied by a Taimoor Saeedi on guitar Emory Diggs on Bass and Bubbles Dean on drums..
Saturday, September 16th - 5 to 8pm
Book Launch for MASTER by Simon Shieh - A Poetry Exhibition and Reading
Visual work by Simon Shieh and Nando Alvarez - Poetry by Simon Shieh, Taylor Johnson, Maria Fernanda and Tamara Panici
Friday, September 1 - 6 to 8pm
If All The Trees Were Pens Open Mic - Hosted by Sasa Aakil
Sunday, August 13th 3 to 5pm
Gowri Koneswaran and Derrick Weston Brown - Accompanied by jazz trio led by bassist Pepe Gonzalez
Friday, August 5, 6 to 8pm
If All The Trees Were Pens Open Mic - Hosted by Dwayne B and Featuring Kenny Carroll III
Sunday, July 16th 3 to 5pm
Patrick Washington, Ash Newton, Saniya Pearson, Mekdi Gebreslassie - Accompanied by Pepe Gonzalez on bass, Janelle Gill on piano and Kelton Norris on drums.
Friday, July 7th 6 to 8pm
If All The Trees Were Pens Open Mic - Hosted by Brandon Douglas
Sunday, June 25th, 2023 3 to 5pm
Alexa Patrick and Rasheed Copeland - Accompanied by Pepe Gonzalez, Alan Blackman, Greg Holloway
Friday, June 3rd 2023 6 to 8pm
If All The Trees Were Pens Open Mic - Hosted by Sasa Aakil
Sunday, May 21, 2023 3 to 5pm
Brian Gilmore and Peter J. Harris
Accompanied by Jazz Trio
celebrating exhibition opening for
"See You ... Comes by Tens,"
Conceived and Curated by Peter J. Harris
(Dedicated to Greg Tate)
A project of Harris's Residency at The Nicholson Project in collaboration with American Poetry Museum
Friday, May 12 6 to 8pm
If All The Trees Were Pens Open Mic - Hosted by Sasa Aakil
Saturday, April 8 5 to 7pm
at Bloombars - 3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Screening of “Spanish Joe Remembers” a short film about Pepe Gonzalez, bass player. (This film was funded by a grant from DC Humanities)
Saturday, April 1st 4 to 6pm
Reception for “Gathering” an exhibit of artists with studios on the Arts Walk
Including the work of: Marta Staudinger, Maroulla Sculpture, Cedric Baker, Lisa Farrell, Yuri Long, Hesam Mostafavi, Mina M Jafari, Pegah Shahghasemi, Topaz Murphy Terry, Bonita Bing and George Tolbert.
Sunday, March 26th 3 to 5pm
Reading by Dahlia Aguilar and Celeste Mendoza hosted by Naomi Ayala
Sunday, March 12th 3 to 5pm
APM will be hosting NSO in your neighborhood musicians Zino and Natasha Bogachek (violins), Kenji Yokote(Keyboard) with a reading by Caleb Wein and Jade Huang
Saturday, March 11th 2pm
APM will be hosting NSO in your neighborhood Brass Quintet Performance
Billy Gerlach, Principal Trumpet | Joshua Kauffman, Trumpet | James Nickel, Horn | David Murray, Trombone | Seth Cook, Tuba with a reading by Reuben Jackson and Naomi Ayala as part of the Norooz Festival on the ArtsWalk
Sunday, February 26th 3:00 to 4:30pm - APM at the Mt. Pleasant Library
Reading by Maria Fernanda and Jeffrey Banks hosted by Brandon D Johnson
Music Provided by Pepe Gonzalez on Bass, Joel Santiago on Drums and Cristian Perez on Guitar
Sunday, February 19th, 3 to 5 Facebook Live Event
“Those Winter Sunday: Celebrating Black Fatherhood”
Reading by Brandon D. Johnson, Patrick Washington and Hayes Davis hosted by Lisa Pegram
Friday, February 10, 6 to 8pm
If All the Trees Were Pens: Multimedia Open Mic - Hosted By Sasa Aakil
Sunday, January 29th 3:00 to 4:30pm - APM at the Mt. Pleasant Library 3160 16th Street NW, Washington, DC.
Reading by Tatiana Figueroa Ramirez and Sophia Guidici
Music Provided by Pepe Gonzalez on Bass,Kelton Norris on Drums and William Knowles on Piano
Sunday, January 22, 3pm Facebook Live Event.
Reading by Luivette Resto and Rebeca Lois Lucret hosted by Naomi Ayala
Friday, January 6, 6 to 8
If All the Trees Were Pens: Multimedia Open Mic - Hosted By Sasa Aakil Featuring Raquel “Ra” Brown
2022
Sunday, December 11th, 3 to 5
Reading By Tara Betts and Taylor Johnson, hosted by Lisa Pegram
Friday, December 2, 6 to 8
If All the Trees Were Pens: Multimedia Open Mic - Hosted By Sasa Aakil Featuring Raquel “Ra” Brown
Saturday,November 5th 3 to 5
Exhibit Reception for Vision Y Sonido/Sight and Sound - Tres Raices Arts Collective
Franciso Rosario, Lazaro Batista, Wilfredo Valladares, Desepe deVargas, Virginia Robles Rosario, Ana Melendez, Sami Miranda
Friday, November 4th 6 to 8
If All the Trees Were Pens: Multimedia Open Mic - Hosted By Sasa Aakil
$10 cover - Purchase tickets at https://www.sasaaakil.com/
Sunday, October 30th 3-5
Sunday Jazz at APM
Taimoor Saeedi on Guitar, Emory Diggs on Bass and Bubbles Dean on Drums
Friday, October 7th 5:30 to 7:30
If All the Trees Were Pens: Multimedia Open Mic - Hosted By Sasa Aakil and Featuring Rasheed Copeland
Sunday, September 25th 3 to 5
Summer Jazz at APM
Art Cobb on drums, Russell Carter on sax, Thomas View on bass, Peter Frassrand on piano.
Sunday, August 28th 3 to 5
Summer Jazz at APM
The Greg Holloway Quartet: Greg Holloway on drums, Kent Miller on bass, Geoff Reecer on guitar and Vaughn Ambrose on sax
Sunday, August 14th 3 to 5
Poetry featuring Sasa Aakil
Music provided by Pepe Gonzalez, Bubbles Dean and Taimoor Saeedi
Sunday, July 31st 3 to 5
Summer Jazz at APM - Music by Pepe Gonzalez on bass, Iya Suarez on flute, Raciel Suarez on piano, and Sam Turner on percussion.
Sunday, July 17th 3 to 5
8 Rock Collective: Joel Dias-Porter, Kenneth Carrol, Brian Gilmore
Music by Pepe Gonzalez on bass, Joel Santiago on drums and Hope Udobi on piano
Sunday, June 26th 3 to 5
Summer Jazz at APM - Music by Pepe Gonzalez on Bass, Greg Holloway on Drums, Jon Ozment on Piano and Tracey Cutler on Sax
Sunday, June 12th 3 to 5
APM and WBL partner to bring the Youth Poet Laureates from DC - Sarina Patel, Montgomery County - Elana Ernst, and Arlington VA - Kashvi Ramani to the APM stage
Music by Pepe Gonzalez on bass, Chuck Underwood on on guitar, Joe Link on drums and Lorenz Wheatley on sax
Sunday, May 29th 3 to 5
Summer Jazz at APM - Music by Pepe Gonzalez on Bass, Jon Ozment on Piano, Greg Holloway on Drums, and Kenny Rittenhouse on Trumpet
Sunday, May 22nd 3 to 5
Kenny Carroll III and Lo May - Reading Curated and hosted by Brandon Douglas
Saturday, April 16th 3 to 6
Artist Talk for Ancestral Journey by Dominique Hughes
Sunday, April 10th 3 to 5
Where We Stand: Launch Reading
Poetry by: Naomi Ayala, Derrick Weston Brown, Kenneth Carroll, Kimberly A. Collins, Melanie Henderson, Reuben Jackson, Brandon D. Johnson, Alan King, Sami Miranda, Joseph Ross, Truth Thomas, Michelle K. Tokarezyk
Music by: Pepe Gonzalez, Bubbles Dean, Taimoor Saeedi
Saturday, March 19th 3 to 6
Opening for Ancestral Journey artwork by Dominique Hughes
Sunday, March 6th to 3pm (virtual event)
E. Ethelbert Miller and Miho Kinnas Hosted by Naomi Ayala
Sunday, February 27th 3pm (virtual event)
Saida Angostini and Holly Bass Hosted by Lisa Pegram
2021
Saturday, December 11th 3 to 5
Opening for Entity/Identity artwork by Marisa Evangelista and Wayson Jones
Saturday November 22nd 4 to 5pm
Artist talk for Entity/Identity with Marisa Evangelista and Wayson Jones
Sunday, November 13th 4 to 6
Spanish Joe Remembers: Exhibit of art and poetry and the debut of short film about the life of bass player Pepe Gonzalez. Funding for this project was provided by the DC Humanities Council.
Sunday, October 17th 3 to 5
Poetry by Sami Miranda and Patrick Rosal Music by Pepe Gonzalez on Bass, Lawrence “Bubbles” Dean on Drums and Taimoor Saeedi on Guitar
Saturday, October 16th, 3 to 5pm
Artist Talk With George H. Smith / Shomari about his exhibit Spiritual Talismans
Friday, September 24th 6:30 to 8:30
Peña Cultural de los Viernes - Casa de la Cultura El Salvador - featuring Sofia Estevez and Carlos Ruben
Saturday, September 25th, 3 to 5pm
Opening Reception for Spiritual Talismans by George H. Smith / Shomari
Sunday, September 26th
Poetry by Alan King and Tiffany Thompson - Music by Pepe Gonzalez on Bass, Janelle Gill on Piano and Greg Holloway on Drums.
Sunday, September 12th
Poetry by Quique Aviles and Carlos Parada Ayala - Music by Pepe Gonzalez on Bass, Ivan Navas on Percussion
Saturday August 29th, 3 to 5pm
Poetry by Shaheen Qureshi and Leeya Mehta
Saturday August 21, 3 to 5pm In Person
Closing for “Entre/In Between” Exhibit featuring the work of Marta Perez Garcia, Wilfredo Valladares, Sami Miranda, Rafael Rodriguez, Francisco Rosario and Lazaro Batista with music by Pepe Gonzalez an Poetry by Sami Miranda
Sunday, August 15th, 3 to 5pm In Person
Poetry by Azalea Aguilar and Kenneth Carroll III - Music by Pepe Gonzalez - Bass, Nasar Abadey - Drums, Pete Muldoon - Guitar
Sunday, August 1, 3pm (Facebook Live)
Poetry by Lillo Way and Mary Moore Easter with pre-recorded music by Pepe Gonzalez, Jay Jefferson and Taimoor Saeedi
Sunday, July 25th, 3 to 5pm In-Person
Poetry by Kenneth Carroll and Charity Blackwell - Music by Pepe Gonzalez - Bass, Jay Jefferson - Drums, Vince Evans - Keys
Sunday July 11th, 3 to 5pm In-Person
Poetry by Brian Gilmore and Toni Asante Lightfoot - Music by Pepe Gonzalez - Bass, Greg Holloway - Drums, William Knowle - Piano
Sunday, May 23, 3pm
Poets Gowri Koneswaran and Chiwan Choi with pre-recorded music by Pepe Gonzalez, Jay Jefferson and Taimoor Saeedi
Sunday, April 25th, 3pm (Facebook Live)
Poets Teri Cross Davis and Aracelis Girmay with pre-recorded music by Pepe Gonzalez, Jay Jefferson and Taimoor Saeedi
Sunday, March 7th 3pm (Facebook Live)
KaNikki Jakarta Poet Laureate of Alexandria and Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, the San Antonio Poet Laureate
Saturday, March 6th 10am-2pm
Opening for WOMXN - Exhibit of photos and interviews by Zoe Y. Valladares
Sunday, February 28th
Poets Brandon Douglas and Asha Gardner (Facebook Live)
January - February in our Gallery
Ella: Photos by Helen Criales
2020
Sunday, November 15th
Poets Reginald Dwayne Betts, Joe Weil and Sean Thomas Dougherty (Facebook Live)
Through November 5th in our gallery
Afrofuturism Symbology: Afropop in the age of covid 19 an exhibit of work by JMCrooms
Monday, November 1st, 2020 •6:30 Facebook Live
Reading in response to work exhibited by JMCrooms (Facebook Live)
Sunday, October 25th, 2020•3-5pm Facebook Live
Poets Edward Vidaurre and John Manuel Arias (Facebook Live)
Sunday, October 11th, 2020•3-5pm Facebook Live
Poets Edward Gonzalez and Gabriela Orozco, (Facebook Live)
Saturday October 3rd, 2020 • 3pm
Book Launch for Joseph Ross •Facebook Live and Zoom
Sunday, September 27th, 2020•3-5
Poets Anatalia Vallez and C Thomas (Facebook Live)
Saturday, September 26th,2020 1:30 to 5:30
Opening for Afrofuturism Symbology: Afropop in the age of covid 19 and exhibit of work by JMCrooms
Sunday, September 20th, 2020 •3-5
Poets Beyond Your Definition and Dimitri Reyes (Facebook Live)
Friday, February 28th, 2020 •6-8
Poets John Murillo, Joel Dias Porter and Brandon Johnson
Sunday, February 2nd, 2020 •3-5
Poets Jane Alberdeston, Steve Castro and Cedric Tillman
Friday, January 31st, 2020 •7-9
Its Your Mug Anniversary Reading
The 26th Anniversary celebration of It’s Your Mug begins with a reading at The American Poetry Museum. We’ll do it the way we did it back in the day. The first 20 people to contact Toni Asante Lightfoot will make the list and read. Don’t delay. The roster is filling up, so contact Toni via FB Messenger.
Saturday, January 11th, 2020 • 6-8
Opening for “Feedback” an exhibit which features the work of artist living in Madrid in conversation with artists from the DC area. Show will hang until February 20th.
2019
Saturday, December 14th, 2019 •6-8
Poets Reuben Jackson with Rose Solari and Maritza Rivera
Sunday, November 24th, 2019 • 3-5
Writers Malka Older and Sunny Moraine
Sunday, October 13th, 2019 • 3-5
Poets Maria Fernanda Chamorro and Kerwyn Sutherland
Sunday, October 6th, 2019 • 3-5
Poets Armando Batista and Alexa Patrick
Friday, September 27th, 2019 •6:30-8:30
Guramayle - Fundraising reading in support of One Pack for One Child. Reading will be in Amharic and English and include poets, Yohannes Molla, Girum Seid, Charity Blackwell, Senait Mulugeta, Daria-Ann Martineau and Tatiana Figueroa Ramirez
Sunday, September 22nd, 2019 • 3-5
Poets Brian Gilmore and Laini Mataka
Wednesday, September 4th, 2019 •6:30-8:30
Writers for Immigrant Justice Fundraising Reading - Arifah Ahsan, Maricielo Ampudia, Derrick Weston Brown, Dorritt Carroll, Mena El Turky, Tatiana Figueroa Ramirez, Malka Older, Sami Miranda, Elizabeth St. Victor
Sunday, August 25th, 2019 - 3-5
Book Launch for Coconut Curls Y Cafe Con Leche by Tatiana Figueroa w/ Pepe Gonzalez, Sami Miranda, C. Thomas and Naomi Ayala
Sunday, June 23rd, 2019 • 3-5
Poets Venus Thrash and Wendy Chin-Tanner reading from their work
Sunday, May 26th, 2019 • 3-5
Poets Henry Mills and Silvana Straw reading from their work
Sunday, May 5th, 2019 • 3-5
Poets Katy Richey and Jose Padua reading from their work
Saturday, April 13th, 2019 • 5-8
Opening for Microcosm - Macrocosm exhibit of prints from the International Print Exchange Programme, representing 40 printmakers from across the globe. Poetry reading by Sami Miranda, with music by Pepe Gonzalez, Taimoor Saeedi and Deepak Ram.
(this will be an Artswalk event that includes both the American Poetry Museum and Cheryl Edwards Studio)
Friday, April 26th, 2019 • 6-8
Poets Ana Portnoy Brimmer,Lark Omura,Tatiana Figueroa reading from their work.
Thursday, April 18th, 2019 •6:30-8:30
Poets Willie Perdomo and Naomi Ayala reading from their work
Sunday, April 7th, 2019 • 3-5
Poets Rasheed Copeland and Paine the Poet reading from their work
Sunday, March 24th, 2019 •3-5
Poets Abdul Ali and Daria_Ann Martineau reading from their work
Tuesday, February 19th, 2019•6-7
Poets Morgan Parker and Elizabeth Acevedo
Sunday, February 10th, 2019• 3-5
Poets Yao Glover, Kenneth Carroll and Sarah Trembath
Sunday, January 27th, 2019•3-5
Bocafloja and Conrado Muluc
2018
Sunday, December 16th, 2018 •3-5
Poets Alan King and Derrick Weston Brown
Sunday, December 9th, 2018 • 3-5
Poets Tony Medina and Anthony Morales
Sunday, November 18th, 2018 •3-5
Poets Nicole Capo and Seve Torres
Sunday, October 14th, 2018 • 3-5
Poets Kenneth Carroll and Kenneth Caroll III
Sunday, October 7th, 2018 •3-5
Poets Teri Cross Davis and Hayes Davis
September 22nd, 2018 • 7-9
Poets for Puerto Rico Fundraiser
Sunday, August 12th, 2018 •3-5
Poets Melanie Henderson and Lisa Pegram
Sunday, August 5th, 2018• 3-5
Poets Joseph Ross and Le Hinton
Sunday, July 22nd, 2018• 3-5
Poets Claudia Rojas, Naomi Ayala, Milagros Teran
Sunday, June 24th, 2018 • 3-5
Poets Brandon Johnson and Reuben Jackson