Bookstore Briefs: Hurricane Sandy, Pop Ups, and Expats

Photo via Printed Matter on Facebook

[New update below]

Since 1976, Printed Matter has been an organization that fosters, exhibits, and sells books and publications created by artists. Sadly, they lost many unique and limited edition books to basement flooding after Hurricane Sandy. Donate to help the store--or browse their exciting and extensive online catalog--here: http://printedmatter.org/.

Primary Information, a press influenced by Printed Matter (and co-founded by former Printed Matter employee, James Hoff, along with Miriam Katzeff), also lost much of their inventory in a Manhattan Mini Storage unit that flooded during Sandy. They are taking donations here. Read more about the press, which is interested in 60s conceptual practices and reviving out of print artists' books and artists' writings, while creating a conversation with contemporary artists: http://primaryinformation.org/index.php?/about/.

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 17th, publisher and bookstore powerHouse Books will hold a book fair and reading (Noon to 9pm) to recoup some of the $50,000 of losses they incurred when Hurricane Sandy waters entered their DUMBO, Brooklyn space. Details and lineup: http://powerhousearena.com/newsletters/sandyhatesbooks/

Word Up Books is currently without a brick and mortar space, and is fundraising in order to resume their wildly popular community bookstore (originally conceived to be a one-week pop up) in Washington Heights, Manhattan. Their promotional video featuring bookstore volunteers and neighborhood readers will warm any bookstore lover’s heart, and you can find the video and the Indiegogo fundraising campaign here: http://www.indiegogo.com/wordupbooks.

Pittsburgh’s East End Book Exchange started in the summer of 2011 as a pop up bookstore at events, moved on to a three-day-a-week book stall at a gourmet farmers market, and tonight (Friday November 16) holds its grand opening in a brick and mortar space in the Italian neighborhood of Bloomfield. They feature gently used books and the output of local small press writers. Read the article in Pop City.

ADDED NEWS ITEM:

I forgot when I was blogging on the fly this morning to add another important item of bookstore news:

Under the Volcano Books, an English language bookstore in Mexico City, has moved to a new location, one that sounds very promising for a store still cultivating its audience. Owner Grant Cogswell says the new store is situated in "the upstairs of the American Legion, with full access to their magnificent bar and lounge with stage, and the best burgers in the city. Meeting and event space, and cineclub schedule forthcoming." Their grand re-opening in Condesa is scheduled for November 24. Facebook event page is here: http://www.facebook.com/events/164430983702510/ 

Previously:

Word Up Community Bookshop to Grace Upper Manhattan for One Month

Under the Volcano Books Opens October 15, Mexico City

Bookseller of the Month: Grant Cogswell