Dear Friends of BloomBars,
Growth… What is that? It is often a concept we associate with how tall something or someone is getting – “oh, look at how tall you have grown,” grandma says as she measures her granddaughter against the wall.
Well, I have found that growth can take place in the spirit; it is something that you cannot measure, and the impact of an inch can truly mean a mile. That is where we are! We are at a stage where the growth of spirit has actually entered into that phase where growing pains start to take place. You remember that awkward stage around your teen years when some body parts started to ache due to the speed with which your body was expanding…
Well, we hang in there because we know it passes. So many things have transpired – the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows, the lefts and the rights, the changes and the choices…
Olu’s Dream has continued to quietly inspire and motivate. This little character speaks to the growth of spirit and the living forward of dreams, and this concept has spread from Mali in West Africa to Washington, D.C. We have seen Dream Studio connect community through the arts and through the dream in a dynamic way, a dynamic bloom in the “middle west.” Inspiring and inspired by all around us, the dream continues to grow.
These roots reach out to BloomBars, and we believe beyond sight that the seed that has landed in Columbia Heights will prosper, grow, and inspire a community.
We’ve been invited back to be one of six featured authors at the Kennedy Center’s 15th Annual Multicultural Book Festival. Last year, the event hosted close to 20,000 families and I literally did not stop moving for seven hours straight. One of the highlights was sharing Olu’s Dream on one of the Kennedy Center Stages and getting to share “The Dream Theme.” People were so inspired that Olu’s Dream sold out! So this year, we look to share the new illustrated works, My Brother Charlie written by Holly Robinson Peete and her daughter Ryan, Black Jack By Charles Smith, and of course, the cornerstone of the dream, Olu’s Dream, in an even more dynamic fashion.
As was the case last year (and you have to see the videos), it would not be a BloomBars event, if we didn’t reach out to the community at large with the dream, so we have already scheduled meetings with four grade school classes in the D.C. school district and a night of music and special guests at BloomBars, and then on to the Kennedy Center. After that, we up to New York City to participate in the Brooklyn Book Festival.
Let’s keep bringing these dreams to bloom…
Many thanks to you all.
Shane W. Evans
Author/Illustrator/Artist/Musician/Humanitarian
www.olusdream.com
www.shaneevans.com
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This Week at BloomBars:
Jazz to Mother Earth, with Flutologist Arch Thompson — Wandering Souls Presents: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night” — Sing with Alexandra! — High Wattage: Elements of Performing the Slam Poem with Regie Cabico — Noah’s Ark Was A Spaceship, John Wayne Hero, Dance for the Dying — Seed the Sound featuring Huda Asfour, Nadim Khoury & Ayman Mabrouk — The Return of ‘Mind Power!’ — BloomScreen Presents: Farmingville
BloomBars’ Complete Schedule
View everything coming up this week! Classes, music, open mic, and more.
Bloom For Thought
Thought-provoking articles and videos about art, music, and creativity.
Bloom News
Columbia Heights Day at BloomBars — Volunteers Needed
Blooming Soon
Upcoming Film Screenings at BloomBars — Special Open Mic at Big Bear Cafe
Bloom TV
Tune in to watch musical, theatrical, and comedic performances, interviews, feature stories, and animation.
BloomBars Buzz Online
See what people are saying about BloomBars around Twitter, Facebook, & Flickr
Discovering BloomBars
There are several ways to connect with BloomBars and learn who we are.
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Arch Thompson, environmentalist and flutist, celebrates the Earth with his Music.
Jazz to Mother Earth, with Flutologist Arch Thompson
Starts September 2nd at 9:30 pm!
Every first Thursday, celebrated flutist Arch Thompson will call on a listening audience to experience love for “Mother Earth” through his music and the music of special guests.
Arch is a strong advocate for the environment, and uses his music to help educate about the importance of clean air and being good caretakers of the planet.
“Every one of us is a flute waiting for life’s precious gift of clean air to fill our lungs, to feed our brain cells, give us life in abundance, and keep our hearts pumping with the flow of blood through our bodies. I have learned throughout my life that music can vibrate the unseen core of the human soul.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Arch Thompson is a gifted flutist, composer/arranger, and performer who upholds a rich and diverse musical tradition that extends from the shores of the Caribbean Islands and on to North, Central and South America.
Learn More about Arch Thompson’s distinguished background and preview his beautiful flute music.
- Date: Every First Thursday, Starting September 2nd, 2010
- Time: 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
- Suggested Donation: $10
- RSVP on Facebook
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See Shakespeare’s famous comedy in person!
Celebrate Shakespeare!
Join BloomBars and Wandering Souls as we bring the Bard to life in Columbia Heights for three Friday night performances. If you’ve never experienced a Shakespeare play live, this is your chance to get up close & personal.
Wit, music, romance, and revelry are the food of love at this comedic feast of lovers and fools. One of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies – Twelfth Night – is a play about love in all its excess. Merry deceptions, mistaken identities and yellow stockings abound in this lilting comedy.
Pay-What-You-Can Performances at BloomBars:
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Register Now for Voice Lessons from an accomplished soprano!
Starting on Sunday, September 5th at 12:00 pm
Have you ever wanted to sing? Do you want to get back into singing again? Are you ready to start auditioning for musicals? A band? American idol?
Well check this out! This voice class includes one-on-one interaction, techniques for breathing and connecting with your sound and voice, and adapts to various skill levels and experience.
Students bring in songs they want to sing, and songs will also be assigned to each student. This is a very nurturing class that encourages exploration of the singing warrior within. Who is this appropriate for? All artists from actors to singers to kids to adults – all ages are welcome! Alexandra wants to help you find your voice!
The class will begin with a 15-week session (or the equivalent to a whole semester) that includes an hour per week of lessons. At the end of the session, students will perform a recital on the BloomBars stage.
For this program to take place, BloomBars requires preregistration of at least 7 participants.
About the Instructor:
Alexandra Phillips, Soprano, is a classically trained opera singer and performer who loves to explore the collaboration and fusions of different genres and techniques. She has soloed at such venues as the Kennedy Center, the Folger Theatre, and recently returned from a three month performance tour in Italy. In addition, she has released her new recording “High Notes” which includes coloratura opera arias such as “Glitter and be Gay” from Bernstein’s “Candide,” as well as arias from “Lucia di Lammermoor” by Donizetti and “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” by Offenbach.
- Date: Sunday, September 5th, 2010 – Preregistration Required
- Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- Donation: $20 per person per week for group lessons
- Private lessons also available for a donation of $65 per person per hour.
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Learn performance tips from 3-time National Poetry Slam Finalist Regie Cabico.
Two Day Session: Sunday, September 5th & Sunday, September 12th from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
How do we make performance choices that heighten the poem’s life? How do we live the poem and not simply read the poem?
Join HBO Def Poetry Jam veteran and 3-time National Poetry Slam finalist Regie Cabico for “High Wattage: Elements of Performing the Slam Poem.”
A slam text is your show stopper, your three minute solo play. In this two-session class, we will explore the vocal & physical techniques for audiences to see the poem.
From the professional slammer to the virginal journal poet, we will stretch your interpretation of your over-performed texts, and we will prepare you to kick your verses in the squint of the spotlight in a nurturing environment.
Attention will be given to the page including language, imagery, and craft. Bring a poem, no more than a page long, comfortable shoes & clothes, your body, and a packet of your emotional colors.
This 2-part class will take place on Sunday, September 5th and Sunday, September 12th from 4 pm to 7pm. Pre-registration is encouraged.
Register Online Now to reserve your spot & save $10 off door price!
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Three Bands Rock BloomBars Friday at 9:00 pm!
Noah’s Ark Was A Spaceship is a four piece rock band from Omaha, Nebraska formed in 2004 and Influenced by late 80s and early 90s alternative rock the band combines noisy guitars, fuzzed out bass, and hard hitting drums in a simple songwriting fashion.
John Wayne Hero is a four piece rock outfit from Washington, D.C. Formed in 2007 as a declaration of love for DC punk, 90s fuzz and loud guitars, post-rock, and thought-provoking lyrics, the band has quickly garnered a local following since, notably for their “raw and honest” live shows.
Blend synth melodies with driving beats and ethereal electric guitars, and add to it a delicious layer of sexy and seductive female voice that you can’t help but sway to, and you have just a taste of the four piece rock/dance outfit called Dance for the Dying.
- Date: Friday, September 3rd, 2010
- Time: Show starts at 9 pm
- Donation: Suggested donation of $10
- All ages welcome
Learn more about these bands at BloomBars.com
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Seed the Sound welcomes three amazing Middle Eastern musicians on Sunday.
Sunday at 8:30 pm
Seed the Sound Sundays feature local and touring musicians — this week, the features are Huda Asfour on oud, Nadim Khoury on buzuq, and Ayman Mabrouk on percussion.
About the Artists
Huda Asfour is a Palestinian oud and kanoun player, born in 1982 in Lebanon and raised in Tunisia and Gaza. Huda is currently a doctoral student at the George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Washington, D.C. She has performed in Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, and the D.C. metropolitan area. Huda reflects her journey as a Palestinian in her music while exploring different genres and styles.
Nadim Khoury is a Palestinian who grew up in the cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Nadim studied the buzuk under the guidance of Khaled Jubran. He also has interest in Persian and Indian music. In addition, Nadim is a member of Melechesh, a heavy metal band that started in Jerusalem, whose music incorporates extensive Middle Eastern influences mainly based on Mesopotamian/Sumerian and occult themes, both musically and lyrically, and has seen incredible success in Europe.
Ayman Mabrouk was born in Alexandria, Egypt, right in the deepness of the Arabic culture. He began to work professionally as a percussionist with some of the most respected bands of the traditional oriental music scene like the Alexandria Opera House Band and he soon established himself as a sought-after musician, well known for his authentic grasp of Arabic, Jazz, Flamenco, African, and Latin American music styles.
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Flex Matthews hosts “Mind Power,” Sept. 7th!
The Return of ‘Mind Power!’
Tuesday, September 7th with Flex Matthews
The first Tuesday of every month is Mind Power, a two-hour freestyle obstacle course open to MCs, producers, poets and singers who wish to sharpen their ability to spontaneously create while helping to unify a gifted music and freestyle community looking for space to be embraced.
During this workshop, different exercises are given as challenges to the group by the new host, Flex Matthews. As the exercises are introduced, every participant takes his/her turn at freestyling about the given topic or exercise.
- Date: Starting September 7th, then Every First Tuesday of Every Month
- Time: 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
- Cost: $10 Suggested Donation
- RSVP on Facebook
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Discuss & View “Farmingville” on Tuesday!
BloomScreen Indie Film Night:
“Farmingville”
Tuesday, September 7th at 6:30 pm
The shocking hate-based attempted murders of two Mexican day laborers catapult a small Long Island town into national headlines, unmasking a new front line in the border wars: suburbia. For nearly a year, Carlos Sandoval and Catherine Tambini lived and worked in Farmingville, New York, so they could capture first-hand the stories of residents, day laborers and activists on all sides of the debate. This timely and powerful film is more than a story about illegal immigration. Ultimately it challenges viewers to ask what the ‘American dream’ really means.
This event is a collaboration with POV, the award- winning independent nonfiction film series on PBS
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This Week at BloomBars!
Here’s this week’s complete schedule. You can also stay updated on our Facebook Page |
| Wednesday: |
Tap
Dancing Class
Bring your groove and hard-soled shoes! Learn the basics of
this classic American art form to modern afro-beat, latin, funk,
& soul music.
6:30 pm
- 7:30 pm |
Salsa
Dancing Class
Salsa Casino de Rueda is an easy-to-learn spin on salsa that is danced both
as a group to universal calls and in couples.
7:30 pm
- 8:30 pm |
| Thursdays: |
Samba
Class
Learn the dance of Brazilian Carnival with expert sambista Zezeh Zax.
7:00 pm
- 8:00 pm |
Improv
Comedy Night
Live comedy that celebrates the funny things that happen when people
show humanity on stage.
8:15 pm
- 9:00 pm |
| Friday: |
Wandering Souls Presents: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night:
Pay-what-you-can performances of Shakespeare, bringing the Bard to Columbia Heights.
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm |
Noah’s Ark Was A Spaceship
Plus John Wayne Hero and Dance for the Dying.
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm |
| Saturdays: |
Yoga
Our certified instructor teaches yogis of all levels the
yoga postures, synchronizing movements & the breath, and
centering the mind & body.
10:00 am – 11:00 am |
| Capoeira
No class for the holiday weekend. A unique martial art combining strength, cardio &
music for a challenging, exciting sport!
11:00 am – 12:00
pm |
| Sundays: |
Pilates
Strengthen your entire torso with intense concentration on the lower,
intrinsic abdominal muscles.
10:00 am – 11:00 am |
| Capoeira
No class for the holiday weekend. Capoeria classes are now on Sundays, too! Be ready to get your ginga on twice a week.
11:00 am – 12:00
pm |
| Drumming Classes
Join DrumLady Kristen Arant and Ghanaian drummer/drum-builder Kweku Owusu for West African drumming classes, and learn how the drummers in Malcolm X Park do it!
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm |
| Sing with Alexandra!
Voice lessons from an accomplished Soprano. Preregistration required. Sign up today!
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm |
| High Wattage: Slam Poetry Workshop
Learn the elements of performing a high-impact poem in this 2-day workshop.
Preregistration required! Sign up today!
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm |
Seed
the Sound:
Artist in Bloom Terrence Cunningham hosts our weekly jam session to wrap up the weekend, featuring guests from diverse genres.
8:30 pm – 10:30 pm |
| Mondays: |
Poetry
in the Morning
Share original poetry, read pieces by others and get feedback in a
supportive space.
7:30 am
- 8:15 am |
| Belly Dance – Danza del Vientre
Re-awaken your core muscles, strengthen your posture and shimmy out
Monday stress. Learn the art of belly dance in a welcoming, encouraging environment. (Las clases son bilingues)
6:45 pm – 7:45 pm |
The
Garden: Open Mic
Along with a featured artist, anyone can take the stage to perform
poetry, music, spoken word, dance, or anything.
8:30 pm – 11:00 pm |
| Tuesdays: |
BloomScreen
Indie Film Night
A different independent, issue-focused, or documentary film each week
followed by a discussion with fellow film fanatics.
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm |
View our complete listing of
upcoming events at
our Event
Calendar.
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Take a closer look at what makes art, and a country, great.
The slogan for the National Endowment for the Arts raises questions about how we as Americans define great art – and greatness itself.
At first glance, the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) slogan seems simple enough – “A great nation deserves great art.” But if you take a closer look, you might just end up debating the very definitions of art and greatness. Artist, composer, and writer David Arzouman has done just that in an article that takes the slogan apart to question what we define as great art in a Democratic nation with majority rule.
If we look at purely market-driven arts, all we see are reality television shows, over-the-top entertainments and stimulating images that serve as advertisements. If this is today’s popular perception of the arts, can we safely say that this is the great art that a nation like ours deserves? Arzouman also asks, ‘How do we define “great nation”? If it’s economic, technological and/or military power, nothing in that picture emphasizes a connection to art. Were that connection more central to the definition, greatness would be evident by what a people consider worthy of expression, distribution, and attention, a telling indicator regardless.’
He adds that it is the NEA’s role to foster more ‘worthy’ arts that go beyond the lifespan of market appeal, and that great art should perhaps be a blen of what is available in museums and concert halls with common, everyday expressions and objects.
The word ‘deserves’ that connects the great art and the great nation also get some scrutiny. Arzouman’s belief is that, ‘a great nation inevitably expresses greatness as the fruit of its core identity, like apple trees giving apples – “deserves” has nothing to do with it.’
At BloomBars, we believe everyone has the power to create art, and grow from that experience – and that, in and of itself, is great.
Read the complete article and decide for yourself: “Does A Great Nation Deserve Great Art?”
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More Blooms for You to Ponder
National Spotlight:
Backyard Buzz:
Global Spotlight:
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Columbia Heights Day and The Garden: Open Mic
Did I mention the bottom line the prophet spoke of?
I’m inclined to redefine profit,
begin kneeling to a different kind of symbol,
bring low the structures of steel and return the river’s flow.
Let it go,
let it go.
John Barrows,
Reciting his poetry at our special The Garden: Open Mic
August 28th, 2010
Columbia Heights Day came once again, and we opened our doors for a special session of The Garden: Open Mic. In the midst of a week’s worth of programming scheduled into one day, the afternoon open mic at BloomBars provided a cool, shady oasis of music, poetry, and relaxed celebration away from the diesel hum of the food trucks and the handshakes of eager city council candidates.
Co-hosts Jonathan B. Tucker and Gowri K. lured festival-goers from the sidewalk with audience participation. “On the count of three, y’all are going to help me make as much noise as possible!” said Jonathan, prompting a chorus of rattling shakers, clapping hands, and whistles to remind any artists passing by that our stage was calling.
Under the swirling green stage lights, several poets and singer-songwriters took their turn. Huda Asfour joined us once again with her oud – a pear-shaped, Middle Eastern string instrument – to play a soulful song titled “Coming and Going.”
“This song is about the journey of hopping from one place to another,” Huda said, reflecting on her experience of living in several cities before moving to D.C.
A little girl in a bright summer dress was fascinated. “Mama, look at that guitar!” she said.
Later, Kethia Clairvoyant, Certified Pilates and Yoga Instructor, stopped by to talk about the practices she uses in her yoga instruction at BloomBars on Saturdays at 10:00 am. Kethia emphasized using breathing techniques to calm the body and exercise the mind.
In addition to the special session of The Garden: Open Mic, the day’s programming included a Cuban salsa jam session, special samba showcase by our own samba instructor Zezeh Zax and her group, ZeZeh BraZil, and live music by Gregg Hammond and Amber Dutton, among others.
Join us for our regular open mic on Mondays from 9 pm – 11 pm for a showcase of amazing local talent! Jonathan and Gowri will be back on stage, calling for comedians, dancers, poets, and other artists to come up and perform, so come on by, answer the call, and give in to your talents!
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Volunteers Needed!
Help BloomBars Blossom
Everyone from the program director to the newsletter editor to the myriad others who greet at our events and run the day-to-day functions of the space are volunteers who believe in what BloomBars stands for and its potential to foster growth in the community. And we can always use more help!
Our priorities include:
- Guitar Teachers for Guitars not Guns
- Contractors
- Electricians
- Translators to convert our information into Spanish and assist Spanish-speaking guests & students
- Fundraising Ambassadors
- Interns who have time to help with admin tasks during the day
And even if you don’t have the skills to be a contractor or electrician, we still need you!
View More about our Volunteer Needs
If you are interested in lending some time to be a greeter at events, helping with web development, covering stories for BloomTV and The Weekly Bloom, helping organize events, or editing videos, please contact Nilanga at nilanga@bloombars.com
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Every Tuesday, we screen & discuss independent films.
BloomScreen Indie Film Night
Each week, join fellow film buffs for a screening followed by a discussion with talking points about the film.
We’re also working to bring in filmmakers, directors, and subject matter experts whenever possible to aid in discussions and answer your questions.
All films start at 6:30 pm unless otherwise noted, and have a suggested donation of $10. Here are the upcoming films:
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Open Mic artists head to Big Bear Cafe to spread the word about BloomBars!
BloomBars Teams Up With Big Bear Cafe
Wednesday, September 29th at 7:30 pm
bloom one, bloom all in support of BLOOMBARS
read a poem or play a song
tell a story
…we’ll sing along
vegan pies and sage burning
candles lit and windows open
come sit with us
for the LOVE of: BLOOMBARS
To spread the word and raise some money for BloomBars, we’re teaming up with Big Bear Cafe (1st and R St, NW) later this month for a collaborative open mic night to benefit BloomBars!
Enjoy a cup of Counter Culture coffee, some organic Rishi tea, and the talented musicians and performers from BloomBars while in the welcoming atmosphere of Big Bear Cafe.
Our honored featured guest is singer, writer, lover, host, BloomBars volunteer, activist, daydreamer, songwriter, and friend, Gowri Koneswaran! Be there at 7:30 pm to get your latte ready in time for the show and sign up for your performance on the list.
- Date: Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
- Time: 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Be on the lookout for the event invite on Facebook & on BloomBars.com!
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Bloom in Your Room
We know that you can’t spend all your life at BloomBars (although it seems like some of you try!). Tune into BloomTV and experience our growth and creativity.
BloomTV gives artists a louder voice and issues larger platform. BloomTV is the video network of BloomBars. Get involved -Interns, Correspondents, Editors, Videographers needed. Email: julie@bloombars.com
This Week on BloomTV:
The Columbia Heights Media Project’s presence at Columbia Heights Day was a huge success!
Armed with six Flip cameras, we interviewed over thirty individuals about their experience here in the neighborhood and their thoughts on the community. Long-term residents were represented as well as new faces and the diversity of their perspectives reflect the complexity of our interaction in this time and place.
A huge thanks goes out to everyone who joined the effort in community interaction! I would like to especially thank Elva Anderson, a novice media-maker, Columbia Heights resident of nine years, and mother of two who took a camera to the festival grounds completely on a whim and interviewed festival vendors, attendees and even a few politicians!
See more of Elva’s interviews with local political candidates and learn more about the Columbia Heights Media Project!
Special Thanks to BloomTV Correspondent & Artist-in-Bloom Julie Espinosa, and Columbia Heights Media Project participants Elva Anderson, Jonathan Branch and Jack Harrison.
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 Columbia Heights resident Elva Anderson filmed attendees of Columbia Heights Day.
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Donate to BloomBars &
Help Us Bloom!
BloomBars is completely supported by the community. We rely on you to keep our programs running and our bills paid.
Interested in donating?
We leave it to you: learn more about who we are and what we do, then decide if we have value to you. And if you want this work in your community to last, it will have to mean more than a deduction in tax.
If you’re short on cash when you visit BloomBars, please make your donation now via Paypal.
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Show Us Your BloomBars!
 We know that you’re capturing some of the magic that happens here… Share the love!
Add photos to our Flickr photo pool, and we will choose the best to hang on the walls of BloomBars. The top 25 photos each month will also be featured on our website.
This week’s photo is by Anne Arnold, friend of Tap instructor Melissa Frakman, taken at our recent salsa jam during Columbia Heights Day. Thanks for contributing!
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We Hear You!
Thank you to our supportive community for all your interaction, questions, and feedback!
Keep up the chatter, and let us know what you think of BloomBars on Twitter and Facebook.
 Facebook Comments of the Week:
Lauren Spears:
i will make it there [drumming class] someday,.. i really want to learn to drum.
 Twitter Comments of the Week:
@rachaelmaddox:
reason #1 why i love monday’s: @BloomBars open mic & poetry in the morning (even on days when i’m too tired to wake up for it)
@chelseydc:
Looking forward to @WanderingInDC’s #TwelfthNight at @BloomBars http://bit.ly/9uZe4M #DC #Theatre #PayWhatYouCan
@MahoganyBooks:
Columbia Heights Day is a huge success. Thanks @BloomBars for letting us do Story Time time at your place today!
@dance_dc:
#Dance events in the #DMV this weekend. @BloomBars doing it big for Columbia Heights Day! http://bit.ly/aRTCGn
@Cshortiered:
If you like hip hop, indie rock, world music,films, dance classes, and more, @BloomBars is the place to be in DC.
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BloomBars is a not for profit arts organization that seeks to unite and inspire communities through the arts while nurturing artists committed to serving the community. With events, classes and programming around music, visual arts, film, dance, theater, and more, our goal is personal and collective growth.
We strive to create a larger platform for grassroots artists to have their voices heard across the globe. BloomBars redefines the traditional perception of a bar: we don’t serve alcohol and encourage all ages to attend our events, to create more meaningful human connections.
Learn more about BloomBars’ mission and vision.
Got an idea for BloomBars? Want to get involved? Contact us on Facebook or Twitter.
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