“…and yes I said yes I will Yes.”

It’s Bloomsday, the annual celebration dedicated to Leopold Bloom, the main character of James Joyce’s Ulysses. On this day in 1904, Bloom embarked upon his odyssey around Dublin and has since captured the imaginations of millions of readers.

Residents and tourists alike take to the streets of the city, retracing Bloom’s footsteps, visiting locations featured in the book, and taking part in readings and activities associated with Ulysses. More than 60 countries around the world mark the occasion of Bloomsday, but none more imaginatively than Joyce’s native Ireland.

In DC, enthusiasts can stop by the Irish Channel Pub at 5^th and H Streets, NW for a reading of Ulysses highlights, sponsored by the Harvard Club of Washington and Washington Independent Writers.

If you don’t already have a copy of this literary classic, track one down, raise a glass of burgundy, nibble some gorgonzola, and indulge your inner Dubliner.