Amateur Night at the Ritz First FRIDAY of Every Month, 7:30pm Modeled after the Amateur Night at the famed Apollo Theatre in Harlem, N.Y., Amateur Night has been a hit since the Ritz's Grand Opening in October 1999. Like the Apollo's show, contestants compete for cash prizes on the Ritz stage and let the audience be the judge. $5.50 The Art of Spoken Word First THURSDAY of every month, 7pm The First Thursday of every month, the lobby of the Ritz is transformed into a stage for poets and poetry lovers of all ages. Show off your own talent for verse, or just come, listen and soak up the creative atmosphere. FREE First Wednesday Art Walk First WEDNESDAY of every month, 5pm - 8pm On the First Wednesday of every month the Ritz is free to the public between 5pm and 8pm as a venue for the popular Artwalk Event. Visitors may view the permanent and temporary collections, and view work by local African American Artists. FREE Lift Every Voice In LaVilla Gallery Tours The LaVilla Museum's permanent exhibit, "Lift Ev'ry Voice" captures the excitement of 1920's LaVilla through music, photography and an extensive collection of objects of daily life. Lift "Ev'ry Voice in LaVilla" includes an animatronic salute to LaVilla's native sons, James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson. The voices of renowned actor Ossie Davis, educator Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, and singer/actor Harry Burney set a dramatic tone as you "witness" the brothers share their history. Museum Admission.. Ritz Jazz and Blues Lounge Third SATURDAY of every month, 8pm Mark your calendars for the third Saturday of every month to be a the Ritz Jazz and Blues Lounge, a new café style concert series featuring local and national jazz recording artists at the Ritz. Prices for individual shows vary.