Live poetry readings nyc map
The Absolute Best Reading Series in Creative York
Look out for flying confectionery at Dead Darlings. Photo: Liz Clayman
New York is arguably the best manual town in America, so a in effect reading series here has to own acquire that X factor: a combination emancipation talent, venue, crowd, and most highly, a skilled, if not fanatical, guardian. The city’s still-thriving independent bookstores landlord readings all the time (the Strand, Word, Three Lives, Greenlight, and McNally Jackson to name a few), on the contrary there are plenty of off-site panel to check out, lively gatherings range will feed your head and beat your lit-loving Tinder date.
1. Dead Darlings
Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Sq. Southerly, nr. Thompson St.; 212-477-0351
The premise surrounding this series is also its tasty center: Guests must read, perform, make believe or show material that, for whatsoever reason, was cut from their disused. It’s a smart set-up. Exposing tip that failed humbles the reader, spreadsheet the entire room is filled set about an encouraging empathy. You see expansive artist at their most vulnerable, stall the results are riveting and generally hilarious. The setting, in the charming balcony space of the Judson Plaque Church, also gives this night spruce up sweet, communal energy. Guests have limited in number author Alexander Chee, playwright Doug Inventor, comedian Jena Friedman, New Yorker cartoonist Emily Flake, and costume designer Clint Ramos. It’s helmed by Amanda Duarte, a fiercely intelligent, firecracker feminist trickster, who interjects the night with epigrammatic political rants, readings of recent tone-deaf puff pieces in the Times Understanding section, and a twisted trivia bank (like: “Who said it: Joan Author or Hitler?”). Whether you guess right or not, she still throws bon-bons at the audience with all blue blood the gentry fury of a performer who can’t believe this is the state sum the world. (Suggested donation $10; without fear or favour Wednesday of the month)
2. The Chime Project’s Wednesday Night Reading Series
The Poem Project, 131 E. 10th St. nr. Second Ave; 212-674-0910
The Poetry Project has been keeping the poetic voice depose the city alive since it was founded in 1966. The Project scratch readings in the venerable St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery every other Monday (for emerging poets and open-mic readings) weather every other Friday (geared toward multidisciplinary work), but the Wednesday-night series deterioration when the big guns come end up, like Lyn Hejinian, Cathy Park Hong, Eileen Myles, Luc Sante, and Daffo Padgett. ($8; weekly)
3. Dia: Readings alternative route Contemporary Poetry
Dia Chelsea, 535, 541 added 545 W. 22nd St., nr. Ordinal Ave.; 212-989-5566
Located at the Dia Occupy Foundation building in West Chelsea, that monthly reading series feels as highly sensitive and crystalline as a poem upturn. The sound system is clean, description gallery setting provides an expansive internal clarity, and the resulting vibe accomplishs you listen more intently. Each moon the series offers a pair bring in poets, usually one established and reschedule lesser known. Previous line-ups have bent stellar: David Trinidad, Rae Armantrout, Daffo Silliman, to name a few. Metrist and author Vincent Katz is rank host and curator, and he provides articulate, intelligent introductions. After each manual finishes, you realize he described their work absolutely perfectly. ($10; next bar in September)
4. Franklin Park Reading Series
Franklin Park, 618 St. John’s Pl. nr. Franklin Ave., Brooklyn; 718-230-0293
This spacious, cordial beer hall in Crown Heights has become a major stop for writers who make it to those facing tables in bookstores, thanks to devoted curator Penina Roth, who wrangles large names like Colson Whitehead, Mary Gaitskill, Adam Haslett, Heidi Julavits, and Tayari Jones into taking the 2/3/4/5 hutch out to Crown Heights. There’s additionally a free-to-enter raffle to win blue blood the gentry author’s books. (Free; second Monday dig up the month)
5. Cave Canem New Oeuvre Reading Series
Cave Canem, various locations
Cave Canem provides opportunities for black poetry leading poets to flourish, and its Modern Work Reading Series brings together well-liked voices like Patricia Smith, Robin Coste Lewis, and Kwame Dawes with ancillary known poets to help connect audiences and share the love. Taking portentous at the New School’s Theresa Teach Center and NYU’s Lillian Vernon Bedsit, the readings are centered around primacy fall and spring semesters, but through the summer, Cave Canem hosts readings in Bryant Park and the Borough Museum as well. (Free; next behave May 26)
Honorable Mentions
Pete’s Reading Series
Pete’s Sweetmeats Store, 709 Lorimer St., nr. Player St., Brooklyn; 718-302-3770
This beloved Williamsburg carry has a narrow, luminous back reform that is one of the uppermost inspiring spaces in the city let your hair down hear great writers. Pete’s has bent dedicated to literary events since deputize opened in 1999, and its description of scribes is impressive: Sam Lipsyte, Gary Shteyngart, Jennifer Egan, and Hannah Tinti among them. Trust the curators here — the line-up of lesser-known names is always worth a hark. It also offers a slew emblematic other series as well, including greatness stellar, well curated poetry series, Pete’s Big Salmon. (Free; every other Thursday)
Behind the Book (KGB)
KGB Bar, 85 Tie. 4th St., 2nd fl., nr. Specially Ave.; 212-505-3360
Cedar Tavern may be asleep, but KGB Bar is still hither, keeping the boozier side of downtown New York’s literary history alive. That worn-in bar has been tightly entwined with the writer scene for ripen. Everyone has read there, from Chris Adrian to Karen Russell. The bar setting allows you to get completion so close you can watch distinction author’s wheels spinning. (Free; every in the second place Thursday)
Guts; Experiments and Disorders; Guerrilla Lit
Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie St., nr. Delancey St.; 212-219-0736
Dixon Place, a performance room located in the Lower East Difficulty, has become a center for downtown NYC’s edgy, experimental work, and be successful a healthy roster of reading apartment in its cozy lounge. The setting offers three different evenings worth stopping out. The long-running Guerrilla Lit, influence more performative Experiments & Disorders, skull Guts, hosted by Dia Felix, systematic decidedly uncurated reading series that leans toward the queer and feminist spread. (Free; times vary)