5 identity-based bookstores to explore

New York City has no shortage of bookstores. From the well-known names of Shakespeare & Co. and the Strand Book Store, to the hole-in-the-wall shops you find by chance on your walk to class, there are plenty of places for students to satisfy their book cravings. Yet the sheer number of options to choose from can make picking a place a challenge in itself. For students with marginalized identities, finding titles and authors that focus on and speak to their unique experiences can be an arduous process of combing through shelves and searching for the books that have historically been buried or simply unpublished. Here is a list of identity-based bookstores throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn that are spaces for marginalized groups to connect with stories specifically catered to them.

Sister’s Uptown Bookstore

1942 Amsterdam Ave.

It’s hard to say whether NYU students will naturally find themselves on West 156th Street, but if you ever do, Sister’s Uptown Bookstore and Cultural Center in Washington Heights is the bookstore to visit. Following the store’s motto “Knowledge is the Key” written on its storefront, owner Janifer Wilson envisioned the shop as “a community resource center for the exchange of information and ideas.” In the purple-colored, woody interior of the store, customers can buy a range of titles on African American history, such as the Black Power movement or the repercussions of white feminism. Readers can find the works of both current and older Black literaries, like Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, and engage in community events, which range from storytelling sessions to musical performances by local artists. 

1804 Books 

320 W. 37th St.

If you have time to kill before your train leaves from Penn Station, consider stopping by The People’s Forum for its very small but comprehensive selection of books about socialism, revolution, racism and imperialism. The People’s Forum is a community center that is dedicated to political education, and 1804 Books reflects this commitment. Its collection of critical analysis on systems of oppression features the historical works of radical revolutionaries of color, such as Claudia Jones, Ghassan Kanafani and Kwame Nkrumah. The selection is diverse in geographic focus, including but not limited to literature from Africa, Latin America, the United States and Palestine. The store offers a limited selection of children’s books and also has a lending library, where you can check out books at no cost that contend with the issues of social injustice and political organizing. It is an open and multipurpose space set with a cafe, public seating and art gallery.  

Bluestockings Cooperative 

116 Suffolk St.

To explore the city’s only “queer, trans AND sex worker run bookstore” in the Lower East Side, you’ll need to wear a face mask to make the store accessible for immunocompromised people. Bluestockings is a feminist bookstore, activist hub and communal space that is completely owned and operated by its workers. Upon entering, a sign posted on the wall, “Reasons to Not Steal From Us,” lists as the fourth reason that “our NICHE, RADICAL, GAY stuff does NOT resell well.” Opposite the counter covered with zines and flyers designed by the local community, a wall of shelves features an expansive collection of used and new books that showcase stories on queerness, including its historical manifestations in New York City. The store also carries works on Marxism, feminism and abolition movements. Customers can read the books that catch their eye in the seating area found at the back of the store while sipping on a cup of coffee from the cafe priced at only a dollar. It’s worth going and supporting a space that both embodies and actively distributes the concepts of community, care and mutual aid.

Yu & Me Books

44 Mulberry St.

Yu & Me Books will become a regular stop on your day trips to Chinatown after your first visit. The bookstore is the first in the city to be owned by an Asian American woman. Its founder and owner, Lucy Yu, created the shop to spotlight books by and for people of color, with an emphasis on immigrant stories, all of which she carefully selects herself. The two-floor bookstore — with a cafe serving coffee, beer and wine on the main level — is perfect for when you have no specific book in mind. If you are struggling to find a book, check the counter of employee suggestions — I was able to find one of my favorite books of all time this way. In addition, make sure to check their Instagram at the start of each month to take note of the various book launches, author meet-and-greets and other events the store plans on hosting, which are free and require no prior registration.

Cafe con Libros 

724 Prospect Place

The strong smell of coffee that pervades the small square footage of Cafe con Libros fosters a homey ambience for its customers. The intersectional feminist bookstore and cafe is Afro-Latine owned and located in Crown Heights. Cafe con Libros does showcase more mainstream authors, such as Sally Rooney and Madeline Miller, but the shelves are clearly labeled and divided to highlight specific identities, with a significant section dedicated to Latine writers. There are a variety of genres to choose from, including romance, young adult, science fiction and fantasy, but queer people or people of color remain at the center of all of these stories. 

Contact Julia Kim at culture@nyunews.com.

This story 5 identity-based bookstores to explore appeared first on Washington Square News.

4 tea-rrific spots for chai near campus

You’ve seen chai on drink menus all over the city. From campus staples like The Bean to global chains like Dunkin’, a growing number of businesses have a stake in the chai latte game. South Asian food establishments, however, are pushing the boundaries and providing a range of drinks and snacks that go beyond the classic chai. With sweet and savory pastries and uniquely flavored drinks, these South Asian cafes are breaking the mold, one cup of chai at a time. 

Hidden Grounds Chai & Coffee House 

36 Third Ave.

Located just a block away from Third Avenue North, Hidden Grounds is a solid spot for Indian-inspired drinks and baked goods for a reasonable price. In addition to offering many types of chai like rose and caramel, the cafe shines through with its coffee, from the New Orleans Brew to the Masala Filter Coffee. Don’t miss Hidden Grounds’ Gulab Jamun Donuts, inspired by the sugary, syrup-soaked Indian confection. The donuts’ sweetness is topped with fun icing flavors like blueberry and pistachio, making them the perfect sweet treat to kick off your morning.

The Chai Spot 

156 Mott St.

With its colorful decorations, traditional carpets and low couches, The Chai Spot aims to bridge the gap between South Asian and American cultures. Its comfortable setting offers a unique cafe environment — one that encourages relaxation and community building, as opposed to the individualized work environment of many New York City cafes. Located a few blocks away from NYU’s Broome Street residence hall, The Chai Spot describes itself as a “social enterprise,” giving half of its profits to projects that support women and children in Pakistan. It serves many types of chai and other teas, from the hot Butter Chai, Coconut Rose Chai and Traditional Cardamom Chai to the Orange Blossom Green Iced Tea and Thai Iced Tea.

The Hideout Chai Bar 

42 Rivington St. 

The Hideout Chai Bar lives up to its mysterious name, home to a modern interior and a variety of teas, from chai to Japanese hojicha. The culinary influences of cafe founder Christopher Bunet — who has a background in fine dining — are evident throughout the menu. Customers can buy flights of tea, served on a wooden tray like a beer tasting, along with a few sweet and savory items and six-packs of tea starting at $35. The Hideout offers five different teas brewed with oat milk, one of which is chai. Thanks to its calming atmosphere, this Lower East Side gem is a great place to study, unwind and snag an aesthetic shot for your next Instagram story.

Kolkata Chai Co.

60 Kenmare St.

You might have seen this cafe on Instagram after Indian American comedian Hasan Minhaj, now a Kolkata Chai Co. partner, offered free chai to audience members after his shows earlier this year. Named after the capital of India’s West Bengal state, this East Village cafe offers both chai and coffee, but perhaps most notably, a variety of savory Indian foods. The $4 vegetable samosas are served with mint and tamarind chutney — a complement to one of the cafe’s soothing, herbaceous chais. Kolkata Chai Co. also serves breakfast paratha, which is a soft flatbread filled with fluffy eggs, herbs and spices — perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or for curling up with a cup of chai.

Contact Pritheva Zakaria at culture@nyunews.com.

This story 4 tea-rrific spots for chai near campus appeared first on Washington Square News.

4 tea-rrific spots for chai near campus

You’ve seen chai on drink menus all over the city. From campus staples like The Bean to global chains like Dunkin’, a growing number of businesses have a stake in the chai latte game. South Asian food establishments, however, are pushing the boundaries and providing a range of drinks and snacks that go beyond the classic chai. With sweet and savory pastries and uniquely flavored drinks, these South Asian cafes are breaking the mold, one cup of chai at a time. 

Hidden Grounds Chai & Coffee House 

36 Third Ave.

Located just a block away from Third Avenue North, Hidden Grounds is a solid spot for Indian-inspired drinks and baked goods for a reasonable price. In addition to offering many types of chai like rose and caramel, the cafe shines through with its coffee, from the New Orleans Brew to the Masala Filter Coffee. Don’t miss Hidden Grounds’ Gulab Jamun Donuts, inspired by the sugary, syrup-soaked Indian confection. The donuts’ sweetness is topped with fun icing flavors like blueberry and pistachio, making them the perfect sweet treat to kick off your morning.

The Chai Spot 

156 Mott St.

With its colorful decorations, traditional carpets and low couches, The Chai Spot aims to bridge the gap between South Asian and American cultures. Its comfortable setting offers a unique cafe environment — one that encourages relaxation and community building, as opposed to the individualized work environment of many New York City cafes. Located a few blocks away from NYU’s Broome Street residence hall, The Chai Spot describes itself as a “social enterprise,” giving half of its profits to projects that support women and children in Pakistan. It serves many types of chai and other teas, from the hot Butter Chai, Coconut Rose Chai and Traditional Cardamom Chai to the Orange Blossom Green Iced Tea and Thai Iced Tea.

The Hideout Chai Bar 

42 Rivington St. 

The Hideout Chai Bar lives up to its mysterious name, home to a modern interior and a variety of teas, from chai to Japanese hojicha. The culinary influences of cafe founder Christopher Bunet — who has a background in fine dining — are evident throughout the menu. Customers can buy flights of tea, served on a wooden tray like a beer tasting, along with a few sweet and savory items and six-packs of tea starting at $35. The Hideout offers five different teas brewed with oat milk, one of which is chai. Thanks to its calming atmosphere, this Lower East Side gem is a great place to study, unwind and snag an aesthetic shot for your next Instagram story.

Kolkata Chai Co.

60 Kenmare St.

You might have seen this cafe on Instagram after Indian American comedian Hasan Minhaj, now a Kolkata Chai Co. partner, offered free chai to audience members after his shows earlier this year. Named after the capital of India’s West Bengal state, this East Village cafe offers both chai and coffee, but perhaps most notably, a variety of savory Indian foods. The $4 vegetable samosas are served with mint and tamarind chutney — a complement to one of the cafe’s soothing, herbaceous chais. Kolkata Chai Co. also serves breakfast paratha, which is a soft flatbread filled with fluffy eggs, herbs and spices — perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or for curling up with a cup of chai.

Contact Pritheva Zakaria at culture@nyunews.com.

This story 4 tea-rrific spots for chai near campus appeared first on Washington Square News.

Crossover of the year: Celebrating Halloween and Diwali in 2024

This story Crossover of the year: Celebrating Halloween and Diwali in 2024 appeared first on Washington Square News.

Crossover of the year: Celebrating Halloween and Diwali in 2024

This story Crossover of the year: Celebrating Halloween and Diwali in 2024 appeared first on Washington Square News.

A woman in business school: Charisma, confusion and closure

The Stern School of Business had always been my dream college. Exactly three years ago, I was a wide-eyed senior from a no-name public school working tirelessly on my “Why NYU?” application essay. My “why” was simple — to prove that I could make something of myself in the biggest, brightest city in the entire world.

I grew up with a mom who immigrated to small-town Canada at 10 years old. While her family left village life behind in China, their traditional values moved with them. My grandparents kept having kids until they got two sons — but as the eldest of five siblings, my mom is the sharpest and most resourceful. She is a protector at heart and pretty much everything her siblings could ask for in an older sister.

However, none of this mattered to her parents. Following the principles of Cantonese culture, only my mom’s brothers were worthy of being praised in front of uncles and aunties or inheriting the family home. They were the kings, the future breadwinners — my mom, a girl.

But out of her own merit, she went on to become the ultimate career woman. She was the only woman at a top real estate investment firm working as a Certified Public Accountant. She built and sold dozens of multimillion-dollar homes to the wealthiest clientele in Vancouver, earning much more than her husband. 

For my mom, a first-generation immigrant, success meant fighting tooth and nail for everything she ever wanted. She raised me to climb and scratch my way up to the top — naturally, this became my mindset as I entered business school. 

Although I was a highly optimistic Stern first-year ready to tackle any obstacle, I still struggled academically, felt insecure about my social life, got rejected from several clubs and lost the election for Stern class president. Like many first-years, I was craving community. But I also knew that all these challenges were learning experiences — ones I could use to, hopefully, improve my chances of getting into Stern clubs.

Toward the end of my first semester, I asked a couple of upperclassmen if I could get feedback from club executives on how I did in my interviews. One message came back across the board: I needed more conviction.

This didn’t come as a surprise. Conviction is something I’ve always had to work on — when I was eight years old, my mom enrolled me in competitive public speaking classes to get over my shyness. Although I’ve built up my voice since then, the idea of being a consistently confident person still troubles me. Regardless, I took the advice seriously and the following semester, having conviction became my number one priority.

In January 2023, I decided to rush a co-ed fraternity with one of Stern’s best professional networks. At the time, I had high hopes that I would receive a bid — I already knew one of the rush chairs and communicated with them for months prior.

During the rush process, I thought I was doing everything right — showing off a bubbly but not too bubbly personality, laughing at jokes the split second after brothers made them, pretending to be attentive and interested when the brothers droned on about their careers. I consciously pushed myself to have conviction when speaking to them and to exude the same energy as all the other men in the room. This was critical, especially since I was among the few female rushees.

A week flew by, and I didn’t receive a bid. I was sad, but I knew it was by no means the end of the world. I just couldn’t really put together what I did wrong, so I asked the rush chair if they could meet with me to share any feedback.

Going into the meeting, I conjured up all the possibilities I could think of for the feedback. Perhaps I needed to polish my behavioral interview skills or be more strategic about the topics I centered my conversations around. I thought the feedback was going to be tangible, things I could reasonably work on.

I was then told to my face that I was “too much” and came off “too strong” during rush.

Yet, at the same time, I was somehow “too quiet” during lunch with the brothers.

I was the only woman at that lunch.

I was lost for words, and I couldn’t help but think about how there were first-year boys who were just as loud and annoying as I was, if not even more. In the past, I had heard harrowing stories about being discriminated against as a woman in the workplace. Still, I always felt those stories wouldn’t characterize my reality, they were talked away behind a news headline. I just couldn’t believe gender bias was finally happening to me and that I didn’t see it coming sooner. I couldn’t believe how naive I was.

I felt like I failed my mom. I wasn’t able to enter, much less dominate, the male-dominated spaces like she had been doing her whole life. I wasn’t proving my prowess to anyone or anything, and I wasn’t doing justice by the prejudice my mom experienced when she was younger.

While at one of my lowest points, I discovered an open application for the Undergraduate Stern Women in Business mentorship program, which pairs female underclassmen mentees with female upperclassmen mentors. I was eventually paired with a junior who showed me the kindness and compassion I needed — she not only served as a voice of reason for my concerns but also lifted my spirits by taking me out to lunch or coffee.

My mentor was the kind of Stern student I strive to be and was my introduction to the supportive community I help lead today. USWIB, Stern’s largest club, represents thousands of female undergraduate students and alumnae and promotes their personal and professional development through women-only recruitment events, leadership workshops and fun outings. As part of the board of USWIB, we make sure that no woman at Stern feels like opportunities are gatekept, or feels like they can’t be their most authentic selves on campus.

I’m not afraid to champion women’s spaces in male-dominated environments. Every day, women are told that they are too much and not enough at the same time.

I’m proud to say that I don’t aspire to be soft spoken or any louder than I have to be. The Stern School of Business is still my dream school — only when I say it now, I’m carving my journey the way I want it to be.

Contact Andrea Lui at alui@nyunews.com.

This story A woman in business school: Charisma, confusion and closure appeared first on Washington Square News.

A woman in business school: Charisma, confusion and closure

The Stern School of Business had always been my dream college. Exactly three years ago, I was a wide-eyed senior from a no-name public school working tirelessly on my “Why NYU?” application essay. My “why” was simple — to prove that I could make something of myself in the biggest, brightest city in the entire world.

I grew up with a mom who immigrated to small-town Canada at 10 years old. While her family left village life behind in China, their traditional values moved with them. My grandparents kept having kids until they got two sons — but as the eldest of five siblings, my mom is the sharpest and most resourceful. She is a protector at heart and pretty much everything her siblings could ask for in an older sister.

However, none of this mattered to her parents. Following the principles of Cantonese culture, only my mom’s brothers were worthy of being praised in front of uncles and aunties or inheriting the family home. They were the kings, the future breadwinners — my mom, a girl.

But out of her own merit, she went on to become the ultimate career woman. She was the only woman at a top real estate investment firm working as a Certified Public Accountant. She built and sold dozens of multimillion-dollar homes to the wealthiest clientele in Vancouver, earning much more than her husband. 

For my mom, a first-generation immigrant, success meant fighting tooth and nail for everything she ever wanted. She raised me to climb and scratch my way up to the top — naturally, this became my mindset as I entered business school. 

Although I was a highly optimistic Stern first-year ready to tackle any obstacle, I still struggled academically, felt insecure about my social life, got rejected from several clubs and lost the election for Stern class president. Like many first-years, I was craving community. But I also knew that all these challenges were learning experiences — ones I could use to, hopefully, improve my chances of getting into Stern clubs.

Toward the end of my first semester, I asked a couple of upperclassmen if I could get feedback from club executives on how I did in my interviews. One message came back across the board: I needed more conviction.

This didn’t come as a surprise. Conviction is something I’ve always had to work on — when I was eight years old, my mom enrolled me in competitive public speaking classes to get over my shyness. Although I’ve built up my voice since then, the idea of being a consistently confident person still troubles me. Regardless, I took the advice seriously and the following semester, having conviction became my number one priority.

In January 2023, I decided to rush a co-ed fraternity with one of Stern’s best professional networks. At the time, I had high hopes that I would receive a bid — I already knew one of the rush chairs and communicated with them for months prior.

During the rush process, I thought I was doing everything right — showing off a bubbly but not too bubbly personality, laughing at jokes the split second after brothers made them, pretending to be attentive and interested when the brothers droned on about their careers. I consciously pushed myself to have conviction when speaking to them and to exude the same energy as all the other men in the room. This was critical, especially since I was among the few female rushees.

A week flew by, and I didn’t receive a bid. I was sad, but I knew it was by no means the end of the world. I just couldn’t really put together what I did wrong, so I asked the rush chair if they could meet with me to share any feedback.

Going into the meeting, I conjured up all the possibilities I could think of for the feedback. Perhaps I needed to polish my behavioral interview skills or be more strategic about the topics I centered my conversations around. I thought the feedback was going to be tangible, things I could reasonably work on.

I was then told to my face that I was “too much” and came off “too strong” during rush.

Yet, at the same time, I was somehow “too quiet” during lunch with the brothers.

I was the only woman at that lunch.

I was lost for words, and I couldn’t help but think about how there were first-year boys who were just as loud and annoying as I was, if not even more. In the past, I had heard harrowing stories about being discriminated against as a woman in the workplace. Still, I always felt those stories wouldn’t characterize my reality, they were talked away behind a news headline. I just couldn’t believe gender bias was finally happening to me and that I didn’t see it coming sooner. I couldn’t believe how naive I was.

I felt like I failed my mom. I wasn’t able to enter, much less dominate, the male-dominated spaces like she had been doing her whole life. I wasn’t proving my prowess to anyone or anything, and I wasn’t doing justice by the prejudice my mom experienced when she was younger.

While at one of my lowest points, I discovered an open application for the Undergraduate Stern Women in Business mentorship program, which pairs female underclassmen mentees with female upperclassmen mentors. I was eventually paired with a junior who showed me the kindness and compassion I needed — she not only served as a voice of reason for my concerns but also lifted my spirits by taking me out to lunch or coffee.

My mentor was the kind of Stern student I strive to be and was my introduction to the supportive community I help lead today. USWIB, Stern’s largest club, represents thousands of female undergraduate students and alumnae and promotes their personal and professional development through women-only recruitment events, leadership workshops and fun outings. As part of the board of USWIB, we make sure that no woman at Stern feels like opportunities are gatekept, or feels like they can’t be their most authentic selves on campus.

I’m not afraid to champion women’s spaces in male-dominated environments. Every day, women are told that they are too much and not enough at the same time.

I’m proud to say that I don’t aspire to be soft spoken or any louder than I have to be. The Stern School of Business is still my dream school — only when I say it now, I’m carving my journey the way I want it to be.

Contact Andrea Lui at alui@nyunews.com.

This story A woman in business school: Charisma, confusion and closure appeared first on Washington Square News.