Begun in 1998, this exciting, standing room only performance space is now the largest weekly open mic event in the country, bringing together audiences which cross all ethnic and age boundaries, and providing an important forum for personal expression without criticism or judgment. Over the course of it’s existence Da’ Poetry Lounge became one of the inspirations for the Peabody Award Winning HBO series Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry(in which one of the hosts serves as Talent Coordinator) as well as a driving force in the resurgence of the spoken word movement. Once a month, Da’ Lounge also holds "slams", or competitions, for the opportunity to compete on the Hollywood Slam team both regionally and nationally (2004 National Champions). full story