Correctional
Library Services > Connections
2008 > Social and Cultural Resources
Social and Cultural Resources
Incarcerated persons can write PEN Prison Writing Program for a
free copy of their booklet "Handbook for Writers in Prison." Contents
include chapters on Getting Started: Basic Exercises, Tips on Writing for
the Stage, a Punctuation Guide, About Copyrights, Preparing a Manuscript,
as well as listings of Small Magazines, Book Programs for Prisoners, and
a bibliography of Books for Writers. Write: Prison Writing Program, PEN American Center, 588 Broadway, Suite 303, New York, NY 10012.
Entertainment
(Movies, Clubs, Special Events, Etc.)
The daily newspapers are an excellent source of information on events around the city. The Daily News and New York Times both have weekend entertainment sections which appear in their Friday
editions. El Diario, on Friday, contains a listing of non-profit events
of special interest to the Hispanic community, and the Amsterdam News, out on Thursdays, has a similar calendar of events of
interest to New York's Black community. New York Magazine appears on Mondays, Time Out New York on Tuesdays, and both list restaurants, clubs, movies, theater performances, comedy clubs, and museum and gallery showings. The Village Voice, a free weekly appearing Wednesdays, has a comprehensive listing of films, plays, live music, dance, poetry, lectures, clubs, etc., along with reviews. It also contains a calendar of events that are free or inexpensive. WBAI Radio at 99.5 FM maintains a great community calender, which is read regularly on the air and available on www.wbai.org. The station also broadcasts current events programming oriented toward many diverse New York City
communities. Listen to WBAI's "On the Count" prison issues
show on Saturdays from 10:30 to noon.
An excellent source on the Internet for all types of New York City resources
is www.allny.com/frames/category.html. Search here
for listings of museums, jazz, thrift shops, schools, movies, restaurants,
dance, health foods, and much more.
Sports fans can call for box office and information:
Madison Square Garden 212.465.6741
Meadowlands (Giants Stadium) 201.935.3900
Shea Stadium 718.507.8499
Yankee Stadium 718.293.6000
Ticketmaster 212.307.7171
Museums, Zoos, and Botanical Gardens
Many museums have special rates or are free on certain days or evenings.
Call for information on current exhibits, fees, and travel directions. A mere sampling of New York's museums, cultural
centers and zoos are offered here:
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND
THE HAYDEN PLANETARIUM
Central Park West and 79th Street, Manhattan
www.amnh.org
Call 212.769.5100 for taped information in English and Spanish.
THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM
200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, 11238
www.brooklynmuseum.org
Call 718.638.5000 for information. Includes a world-renowned Egyptian art collection. Free live music and entertainment on the first Saturday of each month from 5-11pm.
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street, Manhattan
www.metmuseum.org
Suggested admission is $20, but any donation is appreciated. One of the world's best art museums, it includes an ancient Egyptian temple, a wing devoted to African, South Pacific, and Pre-Columbian art, artworks by the European Masters, a weapons and armor wing, and lots more. Sun. 9:30-5:30, Mon. closed, Tue., Wed., Thu. 9:30-5:30, Fri.-Sat. 9:30-9. Call 212.535.7710 for information. TTY: 212.650.2921
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
West 53rd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, Manhattan
www.moma.org
Call 212.708.9400. Free entry Fridays 4-8pm. Accessible to
people with disabilities.
STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM
144 West 125th Street, between Lenox Avenue and
Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, Manhattan
www.studiomuseuminharlem.org
Presents the arts of Black America and the African Diaspora. Museum hours:
Wed.–Fri. 12–6; Sat. 10–6; Sun. 12–6. Accessible
to people with disabilities. Call 212.864.4500 for
information on current exhibits and admissions.
MUSEO DEL BARRIO
1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street, Manhattan
www.elmuseo.org
The only museum in the continental United States devoted to Puerto Rican
and Latin American art. Special events include
chamber and folk music concerts, and poetry readings. Open Wed.–Sun.
11–5. Call 212.831.7272 for taped information. Spanish also spoken.
Accessible to people with disabilities.
THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL
MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
1 Bowling Green, Manhattan
www.americanindian.si.edu
Open every day 10-5; Thursdays 10-8 . Free admission. Accessible to people with disabilities. For general information
call 212.514.3700.
TPREGONES THEATER
571-575 Walton Avenue and East 150th Street, Bronx
www.pregones.org
Latino theater center, offering performances in Spanish and English.
Call 718.585.1202 for schedules and pricing.
BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY's CARIBBEAN LITERACY
& CULTURAL CENTER
Flatbush Library, 22 Linden Boulevard at Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn
A center for Caribbean arts and culture, dedicated to increasing public awareness and promoting intercultural exchange. Author events, musical performances, art exhibits and more. Open Mon., Tues & Thurs. 1-5, Wed. & Fr. 10-5. Free admission. Accessible to people with disabilities. Call 718.287.8597 for information.
ART FOR CHANGE
Carlitos Café y Galería
1701 Lexington Avenue, between 106th and 107th Streets, Manhattan
212.348.7044
www.artforchange.org
An East Harlem community arts group hosting low-cost or free theater performances, storytelling, music, films, mural art, open mic nights and other events. Call the above number or call the Café at 212.534.7168. Spanish also spoken.
NUYORICAN POETS CAFE
236 East 3rd Street, between Avenues B and C, Manhattan
212.505.8183
www.nuyorican.org
Spoken word, theater, slam poetry, hip hop, live music and films. A Lower East Side institution since the heyday of Pedro Pietri
and Miguel Piñero. Events range from $7-$12.
THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
Kazimiroff Boulevard and 200th Street, Bronx
www.nybg.org
Call 718.817.8700 for information on what flowers are in bloom,
special exhibits, travel directions, hours and admission fees. Free all day Wednesday and Saturday morning from 10 to noon.
THE BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN
It is a short walk from Grand Army Plaza, and next to the
Brooklyn Museum. Call 718.623.7200 for hours, directions,
and entrance fees.
BRONX ZOO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PARK
www.bronxzoo.com
Free on Wednesdays. Open every day 10-4:30. For information on special events and travel directions, call 718.367.1010.
Libraries and Specialty Bookstores
Apply to the nearest branch of your public library for a library card. The New York Public Library has 87 branches throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island; the Brooklyn Public Library has 58 branches in addition to its main building; the Queens Library has 63 branches. Each of the Library systems sponsors a multitude of events, such as film showings, book
discussions, craft workshops, and children's storytelling hours,
all free to the public. Check for the monthly calendar at your
local branch.
www.nypl.org
The New York Public Library online
Includes information on programs and services in both the Branch and Research
Libraries, special events and collections, hours and directions to the branches,
how to obtain a library card, access
to catalogs. Also information on the Library's English-for-Speakers-of-Other-Languages
classes, adult literacy programs, services for persons with disabilities,
Internet classes, and much more.
www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org
The Brooklyn Public Library online
Information on Brooklyn neighborhoods, cultural institutions, including libraries,
immigrant services, access to the library
catalog, special programs, electronic resources, an online book club, and
much more.
www.queenslibrary.org
The Queens Borough Public Library online
Access to catalogs; library branches with their directions and hours; events;
community services; information also in Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean,
and Russian.
HUE-MAN BOOKSTORE & CAFE
2319 Federick Douglass Boulevard (at 125th Street)
Manhattan 10027
Telephone: 212.665.7400
www.huemanbookstore.com
A large collection of both adult and children's titles with emphasis on the African-American and African Diaspora experiences. Features readings and author signings. Mon.-Sat. 10-8; Sun. 11-7.
SISTER'S UPTOWN BOOKSTORE, L.L.C.
1942 Amsterdam Avenue at 156th Street, Manhattan 10032
Telephone: 212.862.3680
www.sistersculturalstop.com
Calling itself "a Community Resource for the Exchange of Information
and Ideas," the bookstore offers not only a wide
variety of literature, including hard-to-find titles, but supports a book
club, authors' signings and readings, and classes, such
as yoga and drumming for women. Also has a cafe. Open Mon.-Fri. 10-8; Sat. 12-7. Spanish also spoken. Accessible
to people with disabilities.
HOUSING WORKS USED BOOK CAFE
126 Crosby Street, near Spring Street, Manhattan 10012
Telephone: 212.334.3324
www.housingworks.org/usedbookcafe
Tens of thousands of used and rare books can be found at this friendly cafe.
100% of its profits go to Housing Works, a nonprofit organization that provides
services to homeless New Yorkers
living with HIV or AIDS.
BLUESTOCKINGS BOOKSTORE
172 Allen Street, near Stanton Street, Manhattan 10002
Telephone: 212.777.6028
www.bluestockings.org
A bookstore and infoshop in the Lower East Side. Books, zines, and magazines, with a focus on left-wing history, politics, queer studies, countercultures and the environment. Events include poetry performances, author talks, documentary films and presentations by activists from around the world. Open every day 11-11. Accessible to people with disabilities.
LECTORUM PUBLICATIONS, INC.
137 West 14th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues, Manhattan 10011
Telephone: 212.741.0220
www.lectorum.com/eng/libreria
Has a large selection of Spanish-language books on all aspects
of Hispanic and Caribbean history and culture. Open 10:30-7 Mon.-Sat.; Sun. 12-6. Spanish also spoken.
BROWNSTONE BOOKS
409 Lewis Avenue, at Macdonough Street, Brooklyn
Telephone: 718.953.7328
www.brownstonebooks.com
African American bookstore in Bedford-Stuyvesant, featuring author visits, a book club, and children's events. Open Mon.-Sat. 10-7
THE OSCAR WILDE BOOK SHOP
15 Christopher Street, Between Waverly Place and Gay Street, Manhattan 10014
Telephone: 212.255.8097
www.oscarwildebooks.com
A bookstore serving gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, containing a wide selection of materials, both fiction and nonfiction. Open every day 11-7.
REVOLUTION BOOKS
146 West 26th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues
Telephone: 212.691.3345
www.revolutionbooksnyc.org
A large selection of ultra-leftist literature, from biographies of Che Guvera to booklets by Mao Tse Tung. Mon.-Sat. 10-7, Sun. 12-5.
You can find books on almost any subject, both current and out
of print, for as much as 50% off at the Strand Bookstore, one of
the world's largest used bookstores, at Broadway and 12th Street, and
95 Fulton Street, Manhattan. Call 212.473.1452.
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