The Garden is the place to plant your seeds.

Please join us in congratulating Artist in Bloom Resident Fellow Carolyn Malachi, recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award. The award comes with a $1,000 grant and the honor of being one of just eight artists to receive the award in the Solo Musical Performance category. You can catch her performance at Blues Alley on Monday, March 15th (Shows at 8-10pm), or at BloomBars on Sunday, April 29th (8:00pm).

Send your congratulations to Carolyn – fearless leader of Smart Chicks, Inc. – and tell her she’s BLOOMING! info@smartchicksinc.org.

Press Release from Governor O’Malleyhttp://www.msac.org/docs_uploaded/IAA_MR.pdf

List of Grantees: http://www.msac.org/docs_uploaded/IAAFY10Grantees.pdf

Sunrise Cinema — “Don’t Drink and Drive! Watch Movies Until Sunrise! — 2:30am to 6:00am — That’s right, Sunrise Cinema is back. This event is a no-brainer. Too many tragedies that don’t have to happen. We hope this will provide a healthy and safe alternative to driving all the way out to Sterling, VA or Gaithersburg, MD. Sometimes we even have a comedian for the first ½ hour (And we’re taking applications). Nothing like a little laughter at 2:30 in the morning to wake you up. And we are looking for insomniacs help us run it!!! $5-10 suggested donation.

In addition to piano/keyboard lessons, Terrence is also offering his time to tutor youth (in all subjects). Contact info@bloombars.com.

Let us know if you are interested! Contact: info@bloombars.com

In the late 40s and 50s, legendary jazz pianist John Malachi shared the stage with Billy Eckstine , Illinois Jacquet , Louis Jordan, Pearl Bailey , Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan , and Joe Williams. A half century later, Malachi’s great-granddaughter Carolyn is blazing a trail of her own—On March, 15th at 8:00 and 10pm, Carolyn will perform at Blues Alley (Tickets $20).

With her unique style that blends traditional jazz with R&B, Hip Hop, and spoken word. Carolyn has been the talk of the DC music scene for the last year. Most recently, she was selected to be an Artist-in-Bloom Resident Fellow at BloomBars, an arts organization working to unite communities through the arts and nurture artists committed to serving the community.

“Carolyn’s potential is limitless. Rarely do we find an artist who has the drive and determination to match their talent. Equally impressive is her commitment to serving her community, and empowering women in particular. I’m sure if her great grandfather were alive today, he would be beaming with pride,” said John R. Chambers, founder of BloomBars.

As part of a BloomBars artist exchange program, Carolyn recently had the chance to perform and record with South African Hip Hop icon, Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP). HHP was so impressed with Carolyn, he flew her and several other Artist in Bloom Residents to Johannesburg, South Africa for a concert celebrating the cross-continental connection. The reception, and standing ovation she received by the crowd only hints at her potential reach audiences around the globe.

HHP– Winner of the Best Video Award at the MTV Africa Awards, HHP’s celebrity is evidenced by his chart toping songs, regular network and television appearances, and acclaim by music critics across the globe. He has shared the stage with the likes of Will Downing, Angelique Kidjo, Wyclef Jean, Jamie Cullum, Saul Williams, and Snoop Dogg. He’s received numerous awards and recognition for his efforts to combat AIDS, promote education and literacy, and other community conscious activities, including an invitation by Oprah to lecture to students at her Leadership Academy for Girls. HHP has appeared on the third one-off TV special of quiz show “Test The Nation,” entitled National Parenting Test, as the Team Captain representing fathers. In 2007 he won the third season of the reality dance show “Strictly Come Dancing” along with his professional dance partner Hayley Bennett. In 2008 he starred as himself in 11 episodes of the e.tv musical soapie “Rhythm City.” He made his debut on the show on April 4th, 2008. He was one of the featured celebrities on the first season of the South African version of the genealogy documentary series “Who Do You Think You Are?” based on the British series of the same name), which premiered on SABC2 in May 2009.

We are honored to offer our space to musicians and bands for rehearsal. In the spirit of BloomBars, however, we added a little twist—we call it Open Rehearsal. Here’s the concept: It’s hard for music lovers who are not musicians to understand the time it takes to sound the way they do when they are on the stage performing. Open Rehearsal provides the viewing public a chance to sit in (quietly) and watch their favorite local musician or band hone their craft. We only ask that the public leave a donation, which reduces the cost musicians and bands have to pay for use of the space. House drum kit and PA system included. Interested in seeing whose rehearsing? Check our calendar.

Sunrise Cinema — “Don’t Drink and Drive! Watch Movies Until Sunrise! — 2:30am to 6:00am — That’s right, Sunrise Cinema is back. This event is a no-brainer. Too many tragedies that don’t have to happen. We hope this will provide a healthy and safe alternative to driving all the way out to Sterling, VA or Gaithersburg, MD. Sometimes we even have a comedian for the first ½ hour (And we’re taking applications). Nothing like a little laughter at 2:30 in the morning to wake you up. And we are looking for insomniacs help us run it!!! $5-10 suggested donation.