Bloombars

02/09/2025

.garcia leading Tintas - A Latine Writer’s Group this afternoon at Bloom. Behold, the power of the pen!!!

02/07/2025

Join every 4th Friday at BloomBars as she teaches Salsa and Bachata (Alternating months, staring with Salsa Feb. 28th and Bachata in March 28th, and so on...). Yoii will be accompanied by one of the DMV’s newest and hottest salsa bands, Orquesta Manplesa | Doors open at 7:30pm. Class starts at 8pm. Open dance and social starts at 9pm.

Yoii’s core focus is salsa and bachata, however her background also extends from hip hop to heels, ballroom, and all other latin dances. She loves working with individuals from diverse paths of life. Aside from teaching beginners and intermediate-level dancers, She also coach performance teams, and work with weddings, charities, and corporations. Yoii especially enjoys working with children of all ages, including those with special needs. She is the founder and choreographer of three salsa performance teams: La Femme (ladies), Son Caleño (Colombian), and Salsa Fusion. Through her teaching she tries to spread awareness of issues particularly close to her heart such as domestic violence, health, and substance abuse. She is a a native Spanish and english speaker, and can also communicate in French. In her free time, Yoii love photography, reading, and being in nature!

Orquesta Manplesa is Washington, DC’s youngest salsa band, dedicated to keeping the Golden Age of Salsa alive for new generations. Founded by alumni from top conservatories, this dynamic 10-piece ensemble blends salsa and jazz with infectious rhythms and powerful vocals. With bass, percussion, piano, trombone, trumpet, and bilingual singers, they light up the dance floor like no other.

02/04/2025

We’re excited to present a special Valentine’s Day Concert featuring: Snehesh Nag (Sitar) & Hasan Imam Hamdani (Guitar). Presented by BloomBars & Multicultural Community Service (MCS), the concert promises a night of soulful and dynamic interplay of guitar and sitar as Imam and Snehesh present a unique performance bridging musical traditions from India to West Africa. There will be two 90min sets at 7pm (Doors at 6:15) and 9:15pm (Doors at 8:45) to accommodate pre/post dinner crowds. Tix on zeffy (see above QR).

Snehesh Nag is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator who primarily plays the sitar, exploring Hindustani classical music, and produces music incorporating other genres such as western classical and electronic music. He has performed extensively in India, the US, and Canada garnering wide acclaim, and is the recipient of multiple accolades such as the National Scholarship, Government of India and the Acharya Allauddin Khan Memorial Award. As a sitarist, he has trained with his father Pandit Sugato Nag and legend of sarod Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, and plays a unique blend of two gharanas (school of music), namely the Senia Shahjahanpore and
Enayatkhani gharana . As a composer and improvisor, he collaborates with a variety of musicians where he enjoys discovering and improvising based on the common musical language shared between them. Known for his soulfulness, dynamism, and versatility, Snehesh holds a master’s degree in music technology from the Georgia Institute of Technology and was an artist-in-residence at Strathmore, class of 2024.

Hasan Imam Hamdani, a Pakistani – American composer and guitar player is the driving force behind the collaborative global music ensemble, Imam Collective. In 2022, Imam Collective released its debut E.P , “Solitude,” under the Australian label ‘Worlds Within Worlds,’ exploring the richness of West African and Indian Classical Music.

dcmusicscene

01/30/2025

is coming to the Stage this Friday (2 Sets), for a night of comedy! Pedro Gonzalez is a Colombian American comedian based out of NYC. Besides touring the country as a stand up, Pedro is a staff writer on Freevee’s hit show Primo, based on the life of NY Times best seller Shea Serrano. He was a finalist on Stand Up NBC and New York Funniest, and also has the honor of being the first Latin American immigrant comedian to appear on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. DM for ticket availability.

01/29/2025

💜💜💜💜

01/28/2025

Samba Dance Party & Brazilian Cultural Experience For Kids & Families is NOW a MONTLY event! (And yes, we’re adding an extra on this month for Fat Tuesday, Feb 18th). You and your little ones will experience a taste the magical celebration of carnival in Brazil, the Caribbean Islands, and New Orleans with former (São Paulo) carnival queen Illeuma Zezeh Brazil as your guide. Costumes encourage and some will be available for use. Wear your dancing shoes! Beads, music, light show, and instruments provided!

$10 per person, suggested donation. Tickets available on EventBrite

01/26/2025

It’s not magic if it’s divine truth…

01/25/2025

Africa World Now Project and BloomBars present: “WE RISE FOR OUR LAND” by Kurt Otabenga Orderson. 

WE RISE FOR OUR LAND explores the complexities and contentions of land struggles in three countries in Southern Africa: Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), Mozambique, and Zambia. In the film, the protagonists are women activists, rural women who work the land and mobilize for laws to be reviewed, with rural women at the center. (50 min)

Suggested Donation: $10. Proceeds support both the Africa World Now Project and BloomBars.

01/22/2025

Founded in 1977 by Pete Seeger, Charlie King, and several others pictured (in both photos!), The People’s Music Network for is a nonprofit that serves as a network of musicians, activists, songwriters, concert producers, sound engineers, and others, who use music and culture to promote progressive ideas and values. The DC chapter of PMN meets at BloomBars on the last Sunday of the month from 3-5pm.

The People’s Music Network is a diverse community of singers, artists, activists and allies that cultivates music and cultural work as catalysts for a just and peaceful world.

We use music and culture to promote progressive ideas and values. We’re committed to working with and supporting grassroots and community organizations, to explore and present the diversity of people’s culture. We learn from our communities and each other and we have fun doing it!

01/21/2025

Join & friends on Thursday, January 30th at 7pm for the Create on Purpose Open Mic w/ special guest performances from headline artists & .mp4

Create on Purpose is not just any open mic. It’s a community gathering for artists of all disciplines and those who want to support them. It’s about highlighting creatives who are making purposeful, inspiring art.

All proceeds from Create on Purpose will go toward post-production costs for Howard MFA thesis film !

If you’d like to perform, please send a DM, check her link bio, and get tickets at bit.ly/createjan30

This event is generously sponsored by

01/20/2025

01/19/2025

Snow or sleet, we’ll be holding space tonight at 6pm for hosted by .estefaniahhh Estorygoz is a span-ish centered open mic with themes of liberation and healing.

01/18/2025

Join The American Poetry Museum and BloomBars in welcoming ecologist, educator, and award-winning author Frederick Livingston for an evening exploring how the metaphors we inhabit shape the futures available to us. Weaving readings with discussion and writing prompts, we will embrace earth grief alongside wild imagination towards the more fruitful world we hunger for. Whether you are a poet, human, or tree, you are sure to leave with seeds of evolution.” Frederick was recently honored with the Prism Prize for Climate Literature.

“A beautiful compilation that eloquently links critical academic thought with poetry and art in support of a deep land ethic.”
– Dr. Olivia Sylvester, Head of Environment, Development, and Peace Department at the University for Peace

Studying environmental science in college, I measured toxins and degrees of warming, but not how to transmute grief into hope. I was wrapped in thorns and told those were my best years. Walking down to the cold sea I was saved by purple starfish on jagged rocks who promised me not everything on Earth is broken.

Besides featuring at traditional open mic events, Frederick started experimenting with more interactive formats, he draws from his work in experiential education. Typically he posed questions to the audience to facilitate a conversation about the role of poetry (or art broadly) in cultural evolution and planetary healing.

Since hosting his first book launch at BloomBars in April 2023, he published a second book, “Trees are Bridges to the Sky.” Books will be available for signing and purchase. Also available .books Don’t forget to bring your poetry journal with some blank pages!

01/17/2025

As we head into a new year and a different world, there are a lot of unknowns. What we do know for sure is that music moves hearts and minds and is a binding force for good and light even in the darkest times. If you’re looking for a little light and song, join us this Sunday, December 29th (3-5pm) at to close out 2024 and ring in the new year with music, song, and the magic of harmony. Special thanks to the leadership team of the People’s Music Network, DC Chapter, and all the efforts that went into restarting this special multi-generational and culturally diverse community of friendship & fellowship. Check out the photos of PMN’s first meeting with founders including the legendary Pete Seeger at St. Stephen’s Church in 1982!

What to bring:
*Bring a song to share, your voice, or an instrument.
*Vegan snacks to share welcome
*If you have a song in mind and can send us the lyrics by Friday 12/27, and we’ll be glad to print and bring copies.

01/14/2025

Our family carnival dance party is NOW a MONTLY event! Every 3rd Saturday! You and your little ones will experience a taste the magical celebration of carnival in Brazil, the Caribbean Islands and New Orleans with former carnival queen Illeuma Zezeh Brazil as your guide. Costumes encourage and some will be available for use. Wear your dancing shoes! Beads and instruments provided! $10 per person, suggested donation.

01/14/2025

So much talent to be nurtured and guided! Kid’s Open Mic at BloomBars! Every Monday at 6pm!