Bluestockings

Really cute bookstore– dollar coffee. Great place to hang out if you’ve got nothing to do. Definitely going to go again when I’m in the area.

Cool book store that captures the old-​world essence of the LES. Quirky and thought provoking book selection. Super cheap coffee and warm atmosphere.

A great DIY feel (volunteer run) bookstore and coffee shop, where you can work on your computer to the free wifi and not feel time pressured to leave.
Very relaxed, and supporting an aspect of New York you don’t often find in Manhattan anymore amidst the overproduced venues and arti$anal $hops galore.

Feminist bookstore in the heart of LES. Lot’s of good books, places to lounge with the staff and others, and finally — pretty good $ 1 coffee.

Have only gone here a couple times, but it’s really a great resource for literature anything queer and/​or feminist. I’m just so broke, I haven’t been able to get much more besides zines, but they’re always wonderful and the one book I did buy was incredible and I’ll definitely be coming back for more queer reads.
I might be a bit sensitive, but I think the workers could be a little friendlier. Not that they’re outright rude, just like quiet enough to feel like you’re intruding on a space you’re not welcome in. As I said, I might just be sensitive. It’s still worth visiting despite my slight discomfort.

Reminiscent of Portlandia’s Women & Women First in the best way. Coffee could be better but the books and zines are on point and it’s a great spot for getting work done. They hold a lot of cool little events and guest lecturers worth looking into at night as well.

Amazing book selection of rarities and treasures and essentials. Lovely staff. Fair trade coffee at affordable prices. Fun and educational knick knacks — especially the people’s history poster series. Great events. A real community spirit and feeling of the old LES in the best possible way. I wish they had a couple more tables because I always want to sit there and they tables are always full, but not if that means fewer books of course!

I have been coming here since the place opened in 1997. Great selection and good politics.
I just wish that the people who worked behind the counters were ok with talking to people who come in the store, not making them wait at the coffee counter for a while and being more friendly. It seems that many of the people who volunteer there are more into having fun chilling behind the counter than anything and if you are over 24, your chances of interaction about books, etc are not good.

I’ve known about Bluestockings for years and have been on the mailing list, but never made it out for events until this summer. It was my great loss for not discovering how much of a gem it is until now. The quality and range of critical theory, social justice books is fantastic, even what’s available in the kids and young adult sections. Volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable about the titles as well as making your drinks. The space is malleable to accommodate groups and talks of many sizes without complaint. It definitely feels like a haven for engaged minds, reinforced by its safer space policy. In all honesty, though, the vibe has strong white feminist overtones, which is why the draw was a bit weak for me for so long. But it does what it does really well, and is not wholly exclusive of the needs of others in the struggle. The answer is we just need more spaces like this to focus on the other intersectional issues!

Helpful and considerate staff, incredibly interesting and well-​curated selection. I’ll be back soon!

Went here with a friend for the first time a few weeks ago and loved it! They have cheap but yummy coffee and a ton of books I’ve been meaning to scratch off my radical reading list!

Discovered this little LES gem while dining in the area. I’m usually a Barnes-​and-​Nobles-​kinda gal, but this laid-​back and no-​nonsense bookstore was a nice fresh breath of air. I was actually unaware of its feminist background until I read the reviews here, but the overall homey feeling of the store drew me in right away. There are reading areas near the entrance with college kids and their «intellectual» heated discussions over the latest indie movies. Local baked goods and coffee at the counter. Clean petite restroom in the back that suggests non-​employees should consider washing their hands even though they don’t work there. This is a book haven where I truly feel like I can just relax and drown myself in the wonderful sea of books.
Highly recommended!

Bluestockings continues to be one of the best bookstores in America, punching way above its weight. You will literally find more quality books in this one tiny store than you’ll ever find in all the Barnes & Nobles in the world.
The events here are also top notch. There’s a book reading, book club, or other literary event literally every night of the week — and the store has a fantastic little café, so you can enjoy top notch (non-​alcoholic!) drinks with your experience.
Great graphic novels. Queer theory. Novels. Magazines. Zines. Bluestockings. Has. Them. All! GO!

On our way to Pala Pizza, on a beautiful Saturday night, we stumbled into this place. WHY, you might be wondering? Simple… My wife, is an avid reader and book enthusiast. Having written a novel of her own, she appreciates a good read along with the rest of us. The bookstore is independently operated, by the looks of it. They have an interesting selection with authors i have never heard off. As I perused through the sections, I noticed that the books covered various topics as Transgender, Rape, Civil War history and even Tupac Amaru. Not the same Tupac that we know and love from music, but the Tupac who was apparently a Spanish ruler of some sort. Definitely need to do my research into that.
This is a quaint bookstore and there is even an area where you can sit, drink coffee and read the books. I was surprised to learn that all the people «working» there are actually volunteers. Will stop by here if I’m in the area for a nice read.

I hate to say it, but I was pretty disappointed by my experience here. I found that the selection was very limited (it’s a small bookstore and maybe I got my hopes up because of the nature of the store) and that the staff were disorganized.
I was looking for a book by bell hooks, and was very surprised when I couldn’t find it. One of the volunteers told me that the book was in stock (the computer said it was), but when we went to look for it, it was of course not there. So I ordered the book through them. I received a call a few days later saying that the book had arrived, but when I went to pick it up, it wasn’t. When the book did arrive, there was a mix-​up with the price and I was told to pay a price higher than originally stated (when I ordered the book). However, when I explained the situation, the salesperson changed the price back to what I was originally told.
Everyone was very friendly through the whole thing (I was very pleased with how the salesperson handled the price mix-​up), and I understand that it’s tricky when volunteers are in charge (I volunteer at a bookstore as well so I get it) but I was disappointed with the level of disorganization, especially because the bookstore came so highly recommended. I doubt that I’ll order another book through Bluestockings, but I hope to go back and browse and have a better experience in the future.

I love this place! A relaxed café/​coffee spot/​bookstore with an awesome variety of literary works. A relaxed atmosphere that is good for the community!

This is a great, collectively-​run, feminist bookstore. The best thing about shopping here is that you can be sure you’re supporting activism in a neighborhood that’s fast becoming as homogenized as every other neighborhood in Manhattan.
All the workers here are volunteers; in addition to edgy, feminist, political, and radical-​type books, they also sell fair-​trade Zapatista-​roast coffee (by the pound or cup) and great baked goods such as the killer Vegan O’Brien cookies (chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and now brownies.)
The selection of books is, as I said, stuff you might not find at Barnes & Noble. As their website states, they hold events nearly every night, and list coming events here:
As the world becomes increasingly Kindle-​ized, bookstores need to set themselves apart in some way. Bluestockings does that, and does it very well; I’m lucky to have them just a short bus ride away – unless it’s a nice day and I walk.
[Lastly, they have a restroom, and won’t give you the stink-​eye if you ask to use it.]

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT HERE!
Whenever I’m in NYC, (Miami girl here) I always make sure to stop by one of my favorite places in the world. If you’re an activist or want to educate yourself on social justice issues, this is your one-​stop shop! They have a great variety of books that are probably also hard to find in regular bookstores. Their volunteers are sweet individuals ! Their vegan treats are a nice delight to have while checking out their zines and activist gear. I always find AMAZING book gems and usually spend around $ 60.00 on books here whenever I’m in town. If you’re visiting on nyc and planning to buy some books make sure to come prepared to fall in love with their books and warm atmosphere!

Its a wonderful feeling to be in a shop that is non-​corporate and truly community oriented. You are safe to settle in here and browse. There are tables to sit at. Theres a bathroom. This place is a resource for you. For all of us. The register is volunteer staffed, be patient. Consder becoming a volunteer.
I dont get enough free time to volunteer myself. But I love to support this place. I buy gifts here at the holidays. They have fantastic oddities and art books. They have books for kids. They also host a bulletin board and many community events, workshops, carry lots of zines and slingshot calendars and wonderful books from publishers that I love. In an era of social movements being expanded through the web we are also very fragmented and dispersed along the same lines as commerce. We’ve lost the art of community — places like this are safe haven for the wayward isolated new yorker to drift in and find that community whenever you need it.

My #1 favorite bookstore! The book selection focuses on feminism, queer theory, race, activism, political scifi, and more. I have found tons of books here that I didn’t know about before, and it has really broadened my thinking on womens’ issues, Palestine, and capitalism. The pins, patches, and journal selection is also bad ass.
The customers and counter people are also super friendly and loves to discuss politics, organizing, crafts, and more. It is collectively-​owned, volunteer-​run and non-​hierarchical — it’s inspiring that a group of committed folks can operate a space like this according to their own principles!