Join Southside Shai for a very special fundraiser show + open jam on November 11 to help keep BloomBars open!

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Three years ago to the day, Southside Shai first hit the BloomBars stage following a near-death experience that left her temporary paralyzed.

While she arrived unsure if she'd ever be able to perform again, she left BloomBars a budding artist and activist with a new purpose and direction for her art — to build a community rooted in love.

On Wednesday, November 11, we return to where it all started for the first ever full-length performance of 'The Tale of Southside Shai', a story that we'll build together, song-by-song.

Part autobiography, part group project, we can guarantee it'll be a show and experience you won't soon forget.

Following the show, we will open the stage to reclaim BloomBar's purpose and power: a space for artists to bloom, connect, and build something together.

We invite musicians, poets, and friends to join us for an open jam — and some birthday cake 🎂! Not into performing? Come hang out anyway! Did we mention cake? 🍰

FINALLY, we will also be exhibiting Shai's storytelling project about her solidarity economy work East of the River and highlighting emerging tenant organizing and community healing efforts led by her neighbors, supported by funding through the Marigold Effect.

Whew, what a night!

Tickets are a $15-20 suggested donation, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Tickets will be available for purchase day-of at the door.

100% of proceeds will go towards keeping BloomBars' doors open. We are up against a hard deadline of the end of November, and every dollar counts.

Bring a friend, make a new friend, or just come to enjoy yourself! There's room for you, always.

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ABOUT THE EVENING

Doors open @ 6:30 pm

'Exiled Matriarch: The Tale of Southside Shai' performance begins at 7 and runtime is approximately 120 minutes plus a 20 minute intermission

The community open jam begins at 9:30 pm and will run until approximately 11:30 pm

BloomBars is located at 3222 11th Street NW in Columbia Heights. The closest metro stops are either Columbia Heights or Georgia Ave-Petworth off the Green/Yellow lines. The closest bus stop is the 14th St NW and Park Street location on either the D5X or D50.

Accessibility information: BloomBars' first floor is wheelchair accessible with a ramp, although the entrance is tight and may not accommodate wider mobility devices. The second floor is only accessible up a flight of stairs. There will be loud audio and some moving lighting.

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ABOUT BLOOMBARS

BloomBars is not something you can easily describe. Some have called it an artist and non-profit incubator, performance space, art gallery, theater, dance studio, screening room, youth academy, and center for health, wellness, and community engagement.

They were all correct.

Located in the heart of Columbia Heights, BloomBars serves as a multi-purpose space where community change-makers can bring their visions to life, where neighbors can discover new art, and where transformation occurs.

BloomBars is open all week long, including the ReBloom Marketplace, a boutique thrifting experience featuring one-of-a-kind finds from around the world.

Proceeds from the shop help keep community programming accessible, so don't be afraid to shop!

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ABOUT SOUTHSIDE SHAI

Southside Shai is the explicitly political, place-based project from multidisciplinary artist, writer, and communicator Shaila Huq. Currently based out of Southeast DC, Huq was born in Baltimore, but grew up in New Jersey.

A transplant and a neighbor, Southside Shai is a storyteller and a relationship-centered community archivist, holding the stories of the times, and keys to the future, with care, intent, and love.

You can stream her released music on the following platforms:

Bandcamp

Soundcloud

Subvert.fm

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ABOUT THE MARIGOLD EFFECT

The Marigold Effect draws on decades of experience inside businesses, nonprofits, philanthropy, and the federal government. We’ve advised cabinet secretaries, CEOs, founders, and one-person teams. We’ve built, bought, and sold businesses, raised and invested capital, and helped organizations navigate decisions with lasting consequences.

The focus of these efforts is those working toward a fairer economy. Through advising, investing, and storytelling, they help strong ideas take hold in the real world, and help more people recognize the possibilities already taking shape.

This microgrant is part of their solidarity economy storytelling project initiative.

Exiled Matriarch: The Tale of Southside Shai | Fundraiser + Open Jam @ BloomBars

Help me ring in 11.11 with cake, community, and collective action to keep BloomBars open!

Team Members