8. Bluestockings (116 Suffolk St.)

Once society moves out of the COVID-19 era, customers will soon be able to mingle with influential authors amidst a diverse array of books.

Bluestockings is a spot where customers enjoy coffee and tea while searching for books on topics such as feminism, queer and gender studies, and police and prisons. The space in the Bowery is dedicated to empowering “all people to challenge oppression and participate in creating a society which is equitable, cooperative, and free.”

In addition to their Feminist Book Club and YA Book Club, Bluestockings succeeds in accomplishing this mission through their author events. Influential authors Tauno Biltsted author of The Anatomist’s Tale and Yao Xiao author of Everything Is Beautiful, and I’m Not Afraid have held Zoom events through Bluestockings. This center of books, coffee, and passion also provides spaces for discussion, such as their Off the Binary discussion space for nonbinary folks.