One of my favorite things about Greenpoint is its literati culture: WORD (126 Franklin St) for its impeccable catalogue and ongoing readings, Archestratus (160 Huron St) for its love of cuisine, connection, and experience, and of course, Booklyn (37 Greenpoint Ave, Ste C4) for their mission to promote books as art.
While Booklyn has been a wonderful hub in Greenpoint, the non-profit received an amazing opportunity to move into the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, following a successful Kickstarter campaign where they raised more than $19k. With the new space, Booklyn will be able to double their facilities and expand their supportive and nurturing community. The non-profit plans to start an archive and distribute programs for educational institutions. Plus, their new space even has room for events, further paving the way for an art gallery and events. As a Greenpointer, I’ll be sad to see them go from our ‘hood, but I’m rooting for their glorious new journey that will further support communities in arts, culture, and expression.
So Greenpointers, let’s toast them to a connection with a new neighborhood and a new community! On February 22 – 24, Booklyn (37 Greenpoint Ave, Suite C4) will be hosting a weekend of farewell parties marking the last exhibition in their Greenpoint location before they move to their new space. Check them out, and say goodbye and good luck! Continue reading →
For the last four years, McNally Jackson, the beloved indie bookstore at 52 Prince Street, has been in the process of opening a branch in Williamsburg. Now, the wait is over. The Williamsburg outpost has opened its doors at 76 North 4th Street, joining mainstays like Spoonbill and Sugartown and Book Thug Nation to round out a literary trifecta in Williamsburg .
McNally Jackson has an exceptional selection, and fans of the Prince Street location will recognize a comparably rich array of titles grouped by genre, and spread over two floors, as well as the impressive collection of literary magazines, indie periodicals and art journals. Continue reading →
Steffanie Ostrowski, Floor Manager of Word Brooklyn.
What types of books are your fellow Greenpointers curling up with this winter? More winter survival tips are coming your way this week, this time we get some solid literary recommendations from Word Bookstore’s Brooklyn floor manager Steffanie Ostrowski.
BOOKS: WORD BROOKLYN| 126 Franklin Street Steffanie Ostrowski, Floor Manager
Greenpointers: What types of books are currently the most popular at the Greenpoint store?
Steffanie Ostrowski: I think that in general, everyone is looking for a lot of social science books so that they can learn about things that are going on today. Also, there’s the escapism of fiction so that they don’t have to deal with the world, so people are getting the new fiction that’s coming out. When Pete Souza’s Obama book came out, that was our big ticket item. Now it’s out of stock everywhere because everyone just wanted to remember.Continue reading →
WHAT: Friends of Leonard Library Book Sale & Bake Sale
WHERE: Leonard Library, 81 Devoe Street
WHEN: Saturday, October 21st, 12-4pm
Leonard Library (81 Devoe Street) is having their Friends of the Library Book Sale this Saturday, October 21st, from noon to 4pm! Donations of new and *gently* used books are being accepted during regular business hours, through October 19th.
This weekend, Greenpoint played host to the first ever Brooklyn Dirty Book Fair. The event, presented by MATTE Magazine, lasted all day Saturday and Sunday at Point Green Studio (260 Java St), and featured not only titillating books, zines and gifts for sale, but also cheeky performance art (including a cake sitting performance by Lindsay Dye), music and more.
It’s mid-July and hopefully by now you’ve had the chance to get some proper summer lovin’. If not, then Greenpoint’s first ever erotic book fair and sexy afterparty this weekend might be the perfect place for you to get your summertime jollies. MATTE Magazine is presenting the Brooklyn Dirty Book Fair Saturday and Sunday July 15th and 16th, from 12pm-9pm at Point Green Studio (260 Java Street). You can find out more details and RSVP on Facebook.
From the organizers:
Crushed, the first annual Brooklyn Dirty Book Fair, is a platform for independent publishers of erotic and pornographic material and artists working with sex. Curated by former VICE Photo Editor Matthew Leifheit, the fair will feature two small-scale exhibitions, a selection of publications and prints for sale, a program of performances and readings, live nude classical and jazz musicians, smutty film screenings, and an orgy afterparty.
Perhaps you just heard of The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker – either randomly browsing the shelves at Word Bookstore (126 Franklin St.) or you stopped by the author’s reading at the cozy shop. What happens when you meet your best friend at university? Meet Mel and Sharon in The Animators, two women who forge a kinship and friendship in art school and endure the trials and tribulations of living and working in Brooklyn while making a path for themselves as animators. They’re on the brink of success with their first full-length feature film while living in a fragile world full of urgency, love, sex, and drugs.
Want some Summer reading about our neighborhood? Here’s a list of books related to Greenpoint. People ask me how I researched my account of local history Greenpoint Brooklyn’s Forgotten Past. The answer partially is that I read the books in the list below.
1) Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, Joe Pistone
The amazing story of how an Italian American F.B.I agent got into the Greenpoint Mafia, risking his life, but also taking down more than a hundred mobsters.
2) Historic Greenpoint, William Felter
The first book on local history, Felter published his remarkable book about a century ago. It tells the area’s history, but omits the dark chapters of Greenpoint’s Past—well worth a read though. And since it’s out of copyright, it’s free to download. Continue reading →
Archestratus, the food bookstore and cafe on Huron Street, has been open for a few months now. We last updated you upon its opening in October 2015, so we thought it was time to pop into the store for a chat with owner Paige Lipari, who has exciting new plans for Greenpoint.
It’s the summer time–the weather is fine, and you could reach right up and touch the sky–or you could simply reach for a good book and hit the park. Last weekend we canvassed McGolrick Park and McCarren Park, approaching total strangers and interrupting their afternoons to ask them questions about their reading material. Join us now as we discover what the young and the restless and the literary of Greenpoint are burying their noses in this July.
So what’s this novel about?
I think it’s about how so much of American anxiety is created by pop culture. Wow, that was good. You really cut to the heart of that, a lot of people just recite plot points.
[Mike’s Girlfriend: That was a great summary, babe.] Continue reading →
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