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So You Want to Be A Writer?
Location is everything.
Hector’s Cafeteria in Times Square
There’s no better place to be a writer than New York City. Every neighborhood has historical places that have connections to famous writers including Dylan Thomas and The Whitehorse Tavern, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Chumley’s, O. Henry and Pete’s Tavern, Jack Kerouac and Hector’s.
A few decades later little has changed. Every neighborhood still has its haunts for a new generation of writers. So we thought we would offer a few locations that you’ll be able to write, read, drink, mingle and meet other writers.
West Village - ’SNICE (45 8th Ave.) It’s small, comfortable and communal tables for writers. A literary crowd, with usually a famous writer sighting every week. Beware: its vegetarian …just in case you’re looking for a porterhouse steak. 212-645-0310
Chelsea- THE HALF KING (505 W. 23rd St.). Co-owned by writer Sebastian Junger so it’s probably a no-brainer the writer crowd will follow. Reading’s are held once a week. During the day its a great, quiet place to write, at night those raucous writers let loose and you’re sure to strike up a conversation about everything writing including the Perfect Storm. A pub with bar food. (212) 462-4300.
NoLita- MCNALLY ROBINSON (52 Prince St.). A great indie bookstore with a café. Writers hang and do some writing but mostly look at the gorgeous people shopping about. (212) 274-1160.
East Village- KGB BAR (87 E. 4th St.). Free weekly readings. Expected to drink a lot of Russian vodka. This place is remnants of East Village past and a joy to hang out in. (212) 505-3360.
UWS- HUNGARIAN PASTRY SHOP (1030 Amsterdam Ave.). Makes you feel like you’re in a Woody Allen movie. Oops…wait, that’s right, Woody Allen did film a scene from Husbands and Wives there. Lots of tables and the food and coffee are incredible with writers scribbling about. 212-866-4230.
Murray Hill – Pine Tree Lodge, (326 E 35 St). Popular with writers in recent years because of its cheap drink and spectacular atmosphere. It’s a great spot to lounge for hours and work or discuss writing with fellow patrons. Has the whole Catskill hunting lodge feel going. Sit at the tables and enjoy a cocktail from their huge liquor selection, relax on the couch or sit on the floor in their bean bags and pillows. (212) 481-5490.
SoHo – Housing Works Bookstore Café, (126 Crosby St (between Prince St & Jersey St), can only lead receive heartwarming compliments, the idea of a blended bookstore and café where the food is memorable, not to mention a portion of the proceeds goes to charity. Although the book collection covers odd topics, the prices easily make up for it. (212) 334-3324
Tribeca – Kaffe 1668, (275 Greenwich St betwn Murray St & Warren St.) takes their coffee seriously and that is just what they are known for, coincidentally all you will be able to write about is how great the coffee is. (212) 693-3750
Brooklyn - Retreat (147 Front St.). For a true literary experience you must check out Brooklyn. Take the F train to Dumbo, and a block from the subway you’ll find a literary treat in Retreat. There’s a tiny coffee shop at the base of stairs that lead up to a factory loft space full of antiques and occupied by people lazing about, chatting, writing and reading. (718) 797-2322.
Brooklyn – Pete’s Candy Store (709 Lorimer St.), At first glance Pete’s is a classic dive, but it’s so much more. Walking to the back, you enter a railway space whose tiny stage at the end is surrounded by light bulbs. There’s an ongoing not-to-be-missed reading series. The series takes place every other Thursday and their “Big Poetry” reading series takes place every other Friday. (718) 302-3770
More Brooklyn - Atlas Café, (116 Havemeyer St. betwn Hope St & Grand St), in Williamsburg will present you with the best kinds of bagels you could ever dream of, although it is secularized between “laptop zones” and “no laptop zones” it still has the components of a great writing setting.
Brooklyn, NY 11211 (718) 782-7470