Hybrid: in person 1436 2nd St Santa Monica & via Zoom. Sign-up: 8:15-8:30pm. Free. *NEWS: We have a NEW NAME! Rapp Saloon Reading Series, First Fridays is now: Santa Monica Reading Series, First Fridays !
10 YEARS! Celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary with us at our year-long Decennial Series–a year of events to celebrate a decade of poetry, music, art, and comm
unity-building. EVENT DESCRIPTION: Santa Monica Reading Series First Fridays is a monthly literary event presenting Poetry Features, an Open Mic, and a Reception with Book Signing & Refreshments. DIRECTOR & HOST of Santa Monica Reading Series First Fridays: Cynthia Alessandra Briano . OPEN MIC (limited): 10 Readers/Musicians
-Sign-up OPENS at 8:15pm PT in-person/via Zoom & CLOSES at 8:30pm.
-TIME LIMIT: 4 minutes MAX.
*Elevate Black Voices: Join us in amplifying and celebrating Black voices by bringing a poem or prose excerpt by a Black author to read alongside your own work. LOCATION: The historic Rapp Saloon at Santa Monica Hostel & via Zoom! SMRS 1st Fridays takes place in the oldest building in Santa Monica, a historic landmark & community space housed in & operated by . Thank you for hosting us! ADDRESS: 1436 2nd St. Santa Monica CA 90410 (entrance inside HI Santa Monica Hostel). ZOOM link is posted in on FB page 3 hours before event
ZOOM link is also posted in bio
INSTAGRAM: (Previously (at)rappsaloon)
COST: Free, open to the public, all ages
PARKING: Directly across the street at the city parking structure 6. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: The Expo Line Downtown Santa Monica Station is .4 miles walking distance (about 7 mins). Make a left on Colorado, then a right on 2nd street. (The station is on Colorado between 4th and 5th street, and the Rapp Saloon is on 1436 2nd Street between Broadway and Santa Monica Blvd.) For returning home: there is a 10:06pm, 11:06pm, 12:02am, 1:02am, and 2:02am train that departs the SM Station. ACCESSIBILITY: Unloading zone directly in front of Rapp Saloon on 2nd Street. Wheelchair accessible room with ramp.
10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY & NEW NAME: The Rapp Saloon Reading Series First Fridays, Directed and Hosted by Cynthia Alessandra Briano, has been running in-person since Feb 2016, virtually since April 2020, and in July 2022, in hybrid form (in-person & online). In 2026, it celebrated its 10-Year Anniversary and launched its Decennial Series, a year of events to celebrate a decade of poetry. It also took on a new name: Santa Monica Reading Series . ABOUT: Rapp Saloon Reading Series First Fridays does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, ancestry, genetic information, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, pregnancy, or marital status in any of its activities or operations. All voices, arts, abilities, and identities welcome. Santa Monica Reading Series First Fridays remains committed to creating a forum for expression that actively works towards dismantling racism, and amplifying and celebrating marginalized voices. Join us in our ongoing efforts to create spaces where voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are heard, supported, and received with joy. Artists and writers are welcome and encouraged to present their art in any language and format they prefer. All faiths welcome. All gender expressions and identities welcome. All forms of artistic expression welcome. No restrictions or expectations on theme. The fullness of your humanity welcome. HISTORY: History of the Rapp Saloon: http://www.santamonicalandmarks.com/landmk28.html
