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The Bowery Poetry Club

308 Bowery, New York, NY 10012
nr. Bleecker St. See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-614-0505 Send to Phone

Reader Rating:
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1 Reviews | Write a Review
Scene: WiFi, Bar Food, Comedy Club, DJ, Live Music, Open Mic, Theme

Photo by Youngna Park

Map Rate & Review

Official Website

bowerypoetry.com

Hours

Mon-Fri, 4pm-4am; Sat-Sun, noon-4am

Happy Hour

Mon-Fri, 5pm-7pm; two-for-one drinks

Nearby Subway Stops

6 at Bleecker St.; F, V at Lower East Side-Second Ave.

Cover Charge

$5-$10

Payment Methods

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Upcoming Events

Ongoing
Every Tue Book-in-Hand Reading Group

See Full Schedule >>

Profile

Bob Holman, a bearded, linen-suited veteran of St. Mark’s Poetry Project and the Nuyorican, founded the Bowery Poetry Club in 2002 as a haven for verse in all its forms—not just the shrill nursery rhymes and political rants associated with its noisier, smokier forebears. The stage and DJ booth loom impressively over the café’s sleek tables and exposed-brick walls, focusing all eyes and ears on performers who, in a single night, can range from improv-Dada-cabaret group the Typing Explosion to Bowery flophouse poet Bingo Gazingo. Big shows and regular gigs draw the steadiest audiences, but the chilled-out, wireless-accessible coffee shop opens at 10am during the week and at 11am on weekends. “We’re trying to make it a place where you can hang out,” Holman says, “and let inspiration take its time.”

OK, I admit I liked the Nuyorican when Bob Holman ran the Slams there, and that was what brought me to the Bowery Poetry Club. But it's the vibe of the whole place -- the staff, the artists, the feel of the room -- that makes me return. There's GREAT coffee, a full bar, and plenty of nooks and crannies to hang. Plus, the shows are the Real Thing -- always entertaining and very human, no matter whether it's a newbie or a pro. And EVERYBODY seems to show up -- I've seen jazz legends, poetry stars, and some of the wildest theater ever at this place. This is what New York -- especially downtown New York -- is all about, and I couldn't recommend it more.

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