Rooms With
a Groove
FROM PUBLISHING
TRENDS (JUNE 2003)
Tis
the season for publishing parties, what with all those
pre- and post-BookExpo America stopovers putting
literary-venue bookings into overdrive. If the National
Arts Club doesn’t suit your style — or your budget
— here’s a selection of some New York City standbys
and (hopefully) a few off-the-beaten-path finds for
that launch party, reading, or celebration.
The Bowery Poetry Club: Past the small coffee shop
serving Yonah Schimmel knishes is a performance space
at this newish, amped-up club that seats over 100 and
boasts digital recording and cybercast gear, plus a
full bar. At 308 Bowery, New York, NY 10012. Call “Poetry
Czar” Bob Holman, (212) 614-0505; nuyopoman@aol.com;
www.bowerypoetry.com.
Cornelia Street Café: The time-honored (since 1977)
cabaret space has showcased everything from Monty Python
members to the Greek-American Writers Association. At
29 Cornelia Street, New York, NY 10014. Call (212) 989-9319;
corneliastreet.cafe@verizon.net;
www.corneliastreetcafe.com.
The Culture Project: This literary-activist venue
produces theater, dance, and spoken word events “with
emphasis on cross-disciplinary works that influence
social and aesthetic values.” At 45 Bleecker Street,
New York, NY 10012. Call (212) 253-7017; bleeckertheater@aol.com;
www.45bleecker.com.
Fuel at Phebes: Sleek, multi-room lounge holds up
to 100, and has a full catering menu (mini crab cakes
with guacamole go for $50 for 30 pieces). It’ll cost
you $8 - $10 per hour per person, with a two-hour minimum.
At 359 Bowery (at East 4th), New York, NY 10003. Call
Joan McNaughton, (212) 473-9008; fuelatphebes@godaddy.com;
www.fuelatphebes.com.
General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen: Home
of the Small Press Center and the General Society Library,
this grand four-story reading room offers “bookish ambience”
for literary events. At 20 West 44th Street, New York,
NY 10036. Call (212) 764-7021; info@smallpress.org;
www.smallpress.org.
Grolier Club: A bibliophile mecca with a major graphic
arts collection, the club seats as many as 100, with
a public lecture hall and several book-lined meeting
rooms. At 47 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022. Call
William McClure, (212) 838-6690; wjm@grolierclub.org;
www.grolierclub.org.
Housing Works Used Book Café: Popular Soho site
of bashes for The New Yorker, Harper’s,
and Poets & Writers (the café is available
for catering). At 126 Crosby St. (btwn. Houston &
Prince), New York, NY 10012. Call Joel Tippie, (212)
334-3324; bookstore@housingworks.org;
www.housingworks.org.
KGB
Bar: Low-key East Village room hosts venerable reading
series (and cheap drinks) almost every Sunday evening
(fiction) and Monday evening (poetry), plus other weeknight
events. At 85 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003. Call
Denis Woychuk, (212) 505-3360; www.kgbbar.com.
Mercantile
Library: A historic bastion of literary life (founded
in 1820), the library’s sprawling, second-floor reading
room holds up to 150, and costs $500/evening. At 17
East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017. Call Anne Keisman,
(212) 755-6710; info@mercantilelibrary.org;
www.mercantilelibrary.org.
Nuyorican
Poets Café: Famous, rowdy Lower East Side multicultural
collective opens its stage to poetry slams, hip-hop,
film, and theater. At 236 East 3rd Street (btwn. Aves.
B & C), New York, NY 10009. Call (212) 505-8183;
nuyorican@mindspring.com;
www.nuyorican.org.
Poets
House: Elegant, informal poetry archive founded
by poet Stanley Kunitz is available for $500
per evening ($300 for nonprofits) and capacity is 60-80
seated or 300 for parties. At 72 Spring Street, New
York, NY 10012. Call Jane Preston, (212) 431-7920, ext.
16; jane@poetshouse.org;
www.poetshouse.org.
Puffin
Room: Soho art and dance space devoted to artists
“excluded from mainstream opportunities due to their
race, gender, or social philosophy.” It’s $100/hour,
and holds 75 seated or 150 standing. At 435 Broome St.
(off B’way), New York, NY 10013. Call Carl Rosenstein,
(212) 343-2881; puffin@puffinroom.org;
www.puffinroom.org.
Soft
Skull Shortwave Bookstore: Cutting-edge cachet is
yours at this Brooklyn book bodega devoted to the world
of independent publishing (it seats 40). At 71
Bond Street (at State St.), Brooklyn, NY 11217. Call
Shanna Compton, (718) 643-1599; shanna@softskull.com;
www.softskull.com.
Teachers
& Writers Collaborative: Nonprofit venue for
writer-in-residence programs hosts eclectic book parties
and readings. At 5 Union Square West, New York, NY 10003.
Call Bruce Morrow, (212) 691-6590; info@twc.org;
www.twc.org.
White Box Gallery: Hip Chelsea nonprofit center
champions notable art exhibitions plus a variety of
“lectures, readings, performances, and VIP cocktail
parties.” At 525 West 26th Street (btwn. 10th &
11th Aves.), New York, NY 10001. Call (212) 714-2347;
info@whiteboxny.org;
www.whiteboxny.org.
©2003
Publishing Trends
