A new reading series: Poetry and Prose at P&T Knitwear

Photo from May by Stacie Joy 

Longtime East Villager resident Wayne Kral, who co-produced a reading series from 1995-2015 beginning at the Telephone Bar, then Bar 82, dba and 2A, is launching a new series at the recently opened P&T Knitwear bookshop at 180 Orchard St. between Houston and Stanton. 

The first one is this Monday (July 11) from 6:30-7:30 p.m. He'll be doing this every two weeks at P&T. Here's info about the initial participants via the EVG inbox... 

• Phil Gammage is a New York-based fiction writer and musician best known for his eight solo album releases. Twisting from railroad cars, burlesque houses, endless roads, and the folklore of 20th century America, Phil's stories and songs draw inspiration from his life as a musician, historian, and fiction writer. "Beatniks, Broads, and Burlesque" is a reading from an ongoing short story collection Phil is writing. 

• Phillip Giambri aka "The Ancient Mariner" left home at 18 and never looked back. He's seen and done what others dream of or fear. That's how he lives and that's what he writes. His 2020 novelette The Amorous Adventures of Blondie and Boho is a story of love, survival, and gentrification in NYC's East Village. 

• Jonathan Berger used to read his little poems every Monday night at the Sidewalk Cafe until he couldn't anymore and then he read his little poems every Monday night at Gran Torino until he couldn't anymore and then he read his little poems at Bar Freda until he wouldn't anymore and now he's coming to this.

• Linda Kleinbub is the curator of Fahrenheit Open Mic, founder of Pen Pal Poets & editor of Pink Trees Press. Linda was one of six local poets invited to read at the Americas Poetry Festival of New York 2021. Some of her work is found in The Best American Poetry, Brooklyn Rail, The Observer, and Sensitive Skin Magazine. Her first full-length book of poetry COVER CHARGE is an Unbearables Title from Autonomedia. 

For information on reading contact Wayne at bopstreet@gmail.com

A visit to P&T Knitwear on Orchard Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

P&T Knitwear, the neighborhood's newest bookstore, debuted at 180 Orchard St. between Houston and Stanton this past Saturday. 

This is a family-owned independent bookstore, podcast studio, event space and cafe ... "run by a team of passionate lifelong readers and listeners." (Our previous post has more about the owners.) 

So far, we've heard good things about the shop, which offers free WiFi ... EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by and shared these photos...

P&T also has an event space that seats up to 80 people. (See their upcoming events here.) 

The space is free to use not only for book events but also for community programs, workshops, mixers and more. You can email info@ptknitwear.com for info...

P&T is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

P&T Knitwear, a new bookstore, cafe and podcast studio, opens tomorrow on Orchard Street

P&T Knitwear, the neighborhood's latest bookstore, debuts tomorrow (Saturday!) at 180 Orchard St. between Houston and Stanton.

P&T Knitwear is a family-owned independent bookstore, podcast studio, event space and cafe ... "run by a team of passionate lifelong readers and listeners."

As previously reported (first by the publishing industry newsletter Shelf Awareness), Bradley Tusk, the venture capitalist and philanthropist who founded the Gotham Book Prize in 2020, and general manager and buyer Julie Wernersbach are behind the new venture. 

In 1952, Tusk's grandfather, Hymie Tusk, and his business partner Mike Pudlo opened the original P&T Knitwear, a small shop selling sweaters and collared shirts at 37½ Allen St. Per the store's website, "the two men survived the Holocaust and met in an American displacement camp in Germany after the war."

The 3,000-square-foot bookstore is open this weekend from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can find a list of specials and promos here.  

P&T Knitwear Co. bringing books, coffee and podcasts to the Lower East Side

P&T Knitwear Co., an independent bookstore and cafe, is slated to open in early 2022 at 180 Orchard St. between Houston and Stanton. 

The publishing industry newsletter Shelf Awareness first reported on this arrival. 

According to the report by Alex Mutter, Bradley Tusk, the venture capitalist and philanthropist who founded the Gotham Book Prize last year, and general manager and buyer Julie Wernersbach, are behind the new venture. 

Per Shelf Awareness:

"He wants to give back to New York," Wernersbach said of Tusk, adding that he's a "huge reader" and "loves the city." The store's name comes from the name of a knitwear company co-founded by Tusk's grandfather in the early 1950s, which was located just a few blocks away from where the bookstore will open. "He wanted to pay homage to the neighborhood, and create a good bookstore for New York and the Lower East Side." 

Another major part of the project for Tusk and Wernersbach is making sure that the store's booksellers are well compensated, have health insurance and are able to "make a real living wage in NYC." Given what the bottom line looks like for a bookstore, that could make for an "exciting challenge." Said Wernersbach: "We're putting our staff and community first."

The 3,000-square-foot bookstore will include "an events amphitheater with built-in seating" as well as a podcast studio that community members will reportedly be able to use for free in this retail space connected to the Indigo Hotel.

H/T Marjorie!