Photo by John Sonderman

By DCist contributor Melinda Contreras

POETRY: The celebration of young D.C. talent continues. It’s the second night of the New Play Festival at the GALA Hispanic Theater, and today is the semifinals of Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation competition. Fifty-three students compete in the semifinals, including a student from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Lisner Auditorium (730 21st Street NW). 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free, with a live webcast also available.

NOSTALGIA: Remember when Michelle Tanner fell off a horse? Remember when Mr. Burns was shot? Remember when you had to agonize over which existing tape to record over in order to add the season’s most talked about season finale to your library of VHS cassettes? Watch your favorite ’90s cliffhangers get hijacked by the last 40 minutes of The Empire Strikes Back when Comet Ping Pong’s (5037 Connecticut Ave NW) monthly show of VHS recordings returns tonight. 8-10 p.m. Free.

COMEDY: If you’d prefer live comedy over ’90s comedy television, this week’s edition of “Eclectic Tuesdays” at the Anacostia Arts Center (1231 Good Hope Road SE) welcomes Washington Improv Theater. 7:30-9 p.m. Free.