Bluestockings

More than a bookstore, Bluestockings is an activist center and a fair trade cafe offering a welcome and inviting community space for people to gather. Located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, this radical, feminist bookstore is staffed by volunteers and offers a wide variety of literature as well a packed calendar of events including lectures and readings.

Feminist Literature and More

The shelves at Bluestockings are stocked with a wide variety of radical, progressive literature that you are unlikely to find at your local Borders or Barnes and Noble. With a collection of over 6,000 titles there is plenty for bibliophiles to browse at this eclectic shop and Bluestockings will also place orders for books that aren’t available in the store.

The book selection covers a broad range of topics including gay and lesbian studies, feminism, black liberation, activist strategies and global capitalism. Bluestockings also offers many fiction titles, erotica, magazines, vegan cookbooks and is known for its collection of hard-to-find zines. It’s also the place to go for political t-shirts and posters and alternative menstrual products like the DivaCup.

Fair Trade Café & Foodstockings

With its relaxing atmosphere and comfy seats, the caf é at Bluestockings is the perfect place to sit, browse your new reading materials and enjoy a cup of organic java and a vegan cookie. This fair trade caf é offers a variety of vegan and organic snacks as well as a selection of reasonably priced fair trade coffees.

Bluestockings also runs a sustainable agriculture project called Foodstockings. Run by volunteers, the food provided and distributed each week is locally grown and sourced from organic farms and bakeries like Brooklyn’s Hot Bread Kitchen which uses natural ingredients and employs immigrant women who bring their recipes and techniques from around the world.

Free and Pay-What-You-Can Events

Part of Bluestockings’ mission is to “actively support movements that challenge hierarchy and all systems of oppression.” In support of this, this independent bookstore regularly offers its space for meetings and events and hosts a busy schedule of lectures and readings, including screenings, poetry readings and the monthly gathering of the Feminist Book Club.

There is something going on almost every night at Bluestockings. Events are either free or a nominal fee is charged- although if you don’t have the cash, you will not be refused admission.

Visiting Bluestockings

Bluestockings is located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan at 172 Allen Street (between Stanton and Rivington, one block south of Houston St.). For more information call or visit the Bluestockings website .

Location: 172 Allen Street, New York City, New York
Phone: 212-777-6028
Store Type: Bookstore

Click here to visit Bluestockings official website.