This blog post was written by Program Intern Olaya Barr.
You probably know by now that we live in one of the most expensive cities on the planet. $4 for a coffee –What!?
It’s an unfair world, but they can’t take away from us our passion for reading and our devotion to writing! Instead of going to the same Starbucks to get your creative juices flowing, go to a new place without spending all your pocket money! Here’s a list of ideas of places to read, write, or meet up and talk literary talk:
Parks and public places…
I know, the weather is not exactly ideal for this right now, but keep it in mind that as the spring arrives, New York City public parks are excellent spots for writing and people watching. My favorite spot for this is Washington Square Park; sit on a bench, listen to the jazz performers (and maybe eavesdrop on some good conversations to help you work on your own written dialogue?), and watch the Greenwich Village bohemians young and old pass by. Surely some inspiration will come to you. There are also luminous public atriums that are indoors and scattered across the city. The Bank of America Tower Atrium, by Bryant Park, is a great place to meet up and has a chic greenhouse vibe.
Hotel lobbies…
Why did we never think of this? Hotel lobbies intrinsically have tons of people coming and going, speaking new languages and generating lots of bustle. Also, there are many comfy places to sit! Perhaps not the perfect spot to get some intense reading done, but it’s a nice alternative to a coffee shop to check-in with your mentor or mentee and edit some writing. Caution: you may have to get a tea or pastry, as it’s hard to resist the lavish cafés that accompany these lobbies. Some ideas: the hipster Ace Hotel at 20 W. 29th St, the swanky Algonquin Hotel at 59 W. 44th St, (it used to be a hotspot for writers in the 1920’s), or the SoHo Grand at 310 W. Broadway.
Libraries…
I often hope that by being surrounded by books and scholars that some of the genius energy will rub off on me. Not sure if it’s so, but the web of NYC Public Libraries scattered around the boroughs is plenty (and access is free!) so there are many options to choose from. They all have quiet rooms (some are especially grand and awe-inducing) as well as rooms where you can chat quietly. The Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza has nice study spaces, and of course, nothing beats the Main Reading Room at the 455 5th Ave. branch.
Museums…
If you plan to get some writing done at a museum, I suggest visiting one of the “pay as you wish” museums. The following are “pay as you wish” (meaning, the payment is by suggested donation): American Museum of Natural History, Bronx Museum, Brooklyn Museum, the Cloisters, El Museo del Barrio, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Museum of American Illustration, P.S.1. MoMA, Queens Museum of Art, Staten Island Museum and the Studio Museum in Harlem. You can get some observing and writing done, and then check out one of the circulating shows. The Met is my all-time favorite because not only is the architecture and the art beautiful, but also it’s surrounded by Central Park!
The Poet’s House…
A new discovery of mine is The Poet’s House, at 10 River Terrace in Battery Park City. They house a national archive of over 50,000 volumes of poetry and chapbooks (free access!) and very comfortable areas for studying. They also have cool exhibitions and events going on each month.
Lastly, if you’re going to read and write at a diner or cafe…
Try a place in a neighborhood that is new to you! Surround yourself with different people in an unusual atmosphere. Try The Brooklyn Tea Lounge, at 837 Union St (Brooklyn), Try The Lower East Side Nuyorican Poets Café at 236 E. 3rd St (Manhattan), or The Queen’s Kickshaw at 40-17 Broadway (Astoria).