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Hello, Folks! March 14, 2008 marked the third anniversary of the East Meets Words Open Mic. The Open Mic in retrospect changed a lot of people’s lives and since everyone was taking a look back at the Open Mic, I thought I would take my turn to look back at my experience with the event. My first Open Mic was May 2007, so my first anniversary is coming up. The feature was the prophet himself, Bao Phi. Around the time, I was just introduced to the Spoken Word genre and ever since then I have been amazed at the true talent that the performers have and I have fallen in love with the Bookstore.

For the first time since I have been attending East Meets Words, there was no single feature. Since it was the anniversary of the Open Mic, it was time to feature all of the people that make the Open Mic possible… and that includes EVERYONE that attends East Meets Words.

East Meets Words’ 3rd Birthday was kicked off by a video that Ash created. I’ve included it at the top of this book. The video took us back down memory lane with many of the memorable moments from the past three years. A lot of the past members and features returned to perform as well as a “long-time-Open-Mic attendee, but first-time-on-the-Mic performer.” Vinh the Kid, Kit Yan, Theresa, and Justine OK, all past features, performed in the celebration of East Meets Words’ 3rd Birthday.

Vinh the Kid delivered a wonderful piece and thanked the open mic and Boston Progress Arts Collective for helping him get to where he is today. He actually said that he almost cried.

Victor once again fired up the crowd with his freestyle. Delia and first-time open mic performer, BPR’s very own Eugene reminisced about their first date, which was at the open mic, with a poem dedicated to Pi (It happened to be Pi Day, March 14). Charles shared some beats while performers Taz and Ash also joined in the celebration. Ash performed a piece dedicated to basketball. At the very end of the open mic, Theresa ended with something unique. She turned off the lights and asked everyone in the audience to get out their phones for a photo op. We waved our lights in the darkness of the bookstore and celebrated in a silent, but meditative way.

It was a special night for a special event. The event again has touched a lot of people’s lives including myself and it was only fitting that the feature was us, the people. Happy Birthday East Meets Words, see you next month.

Last 5 posts by long

• East Meets Words: Ms. Conchita Campos - May 14th, 2008
• L.I.F.E at East Meets Words - April 16th, 2008
• You Have Your Heroes, I Have Mine - March 11th, 2008
• Cynthia Lin under the Microscope - January 16th, 2008
• No, not Gina. It's Jinah Kim. - December 19th, 2007

Tags: Open Mic, Recaps.