NYC Arts: The Complete Guide to Art and Culture

Housing Works Bookstore Cafe has established itself as a New York downtown institution and tourist destination. Special events and a fully stocked cafe make the nonprofit book store a community for literature lovers who appreciate both the written and spoken word. The space is available for rental and all merchandise is donated. It is staffed almost entirely by volunteers and 100 percents of profits go to Housing Works.

Since opening its doors in 1998, Housing Works’ Bookstore Café has been an unparalleled hotspot for New York’s literary community, hosting countless readings, panels and parties for every major publisher, as well as magazines from Lucky to The New Yorker. Every dollar from every customer goes to support Housing Works’ mission to end homelessness and AIDS.

• Directions: Subway: B, D, F, M to Broadway-Lafayette Street; N, R to Prince Street; 6 to Bleecker Street.