NYC Place to Write

March 7, 2011 3:43 PM

Looking for a good place to write in New York City. I presently use the Priest/Rose Reading Rooms at the Schwarzman Building on 42nd & 5th, which is beautiful and great except for the fact that it doesn't open until 10am and 1pm Sundays. I would be looking for something similar to the library reading rooms that would be open earlier (ideally 8am) and offer the same amenities such as; a power outlet, internet (if possible) and a inspiring atmosphere. I searched mefi for other similar questions and have only found this one, which focuses more on coffee house and outdoor settings. Please advise. Also let me know if there are any university libraries, private libraries or clubs (located in or near Manhattan) that I could use/join that fulfill my meager requirements. Thank you.
posted by mbx to Writing & Language (10 answers total)

There are a bunch of University affiliated clubs in the city, the nicest of which is almost certainly the Yale Club (43rd & Vanderbilt) which features 2 restaurants, a bar and a decent library with quiet rooms and actual librarians on staff. It's probably the nicest private library in Manhattan. The Harvard Club (44th & 6th) is significantly smaller but cozy in its own way with wood paneling and working fireplaces. NYU has the Torch Club right off Washington Square Park, though I've never been. NYU's Bobst library is huge enough that you could probably write in a different nook every day for a year.

All of these clubs have different membership requirements and dues; the Harvard and Yale clubs normally require that you are an alumni, but there are exceptions and also reciprocity agreements with other clubs/other ivy league schools. They are also fairly expensive, though less so if you are a recent grad. Bobst has a list of qualifications to join, most are pretty easy to satisfy as long as you are willing to pay your charitable donation. You need not be a student, though check-out privileges are expensive.
posted by 2bucksplus at 4:10 PM on March 7, 2011

My answer is not terribly useful because of some bad timing, but I'll give it anyway.

Wave Hill a garden/estate in the Bronx has a cafe with two rooms one of which is just a few tables. I believe that at least one of those rooms has outlets in it. During the week, except the free days (Tuesday and Saturday) and Monday when the place is closed, the cafe tends to be pretty quiet.

Membership is $40. Access is via bus (BX7), subway (1 to 242nd St and then an hourly shuttle will take you there) or train (Metro North to Riverdale and then an hourly shuttle again will take you there).

The reason I think that this would be useful to you: I've often thought that it is a good place for sitting and getting some work done.

The reason that this isn't terribly useful is that they are going to start doing renovations on the building in question in April and these renovations are going to continue for more than a year, but for the sake of future people looking for similar things ...



Disclosure: I am associated with the place.
posted by sciencegeek at 5:06 PM on March 7, 2011

The NYPL mid manhattan library down the street(40th and 5th), 4th floor, has outlets, internet, but not inspiring visuals. Opens at 8:00 my last time by, so you could do a couple hours there then move over to where you are now.

On warmer days there are a couple outlets in Bryant Park, which has internet and inspiring visuals.

Failed miserably when I tried to use some of the University Law libraries in town.
posted by rakish_yet_centered at 6:09 PM on March 7, 2011

in that area i always liked the indoor public open space on the corner of 42nd and Park. it's surprisingly empty most of the time (sometimes there are some homeless dudes or maintenance guys taking breaks there). great visuals -- watching everyone rush past you into grand central -- but no internet.

however, i'm not sure of the hours.
posted by nanhey at 6:28 PM on March 7, 2011

There's the Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center (Broadway between 62nd & 63rd). It opens at 8AM on weekdays and has free wifi and a nice atmosphere. I'm not sure if there are available outlets - if so, there aren't many.
posted by Awkward Philip at 7:59 PM on March 7, 2011

Have you tried any of the CUNY libraries? The Newman Library at Baruch opens at 7 a.m. while the libraries at Hunter and City College open at 8:00. I don't know about the atmosphere of any of them.
posted by plastic_animals at 8:45 PM on March 7, 2011

The atrium at The World Financial Center is an excellent place to write. There are plenty of tables, chairs and benches to sit at. There aren't power outlets everywhere, but there are enough that you can usually grab one. I think the best feature is that the Western wall is all glass, and several stories high, so it gets amazing light and has an excellent view of the river. It usually gets pretty crowded around lunch time, but never so that it's impossible to concentrate and get work done. When I worked in the building, I often ditched out of my office and went down there to get work done, because I found it a better working atmosphere.
posted by EvilPRGuy at 9:32 PM on March 7, 2011

The atmosphere of the CCNY library is loud - really, really loud - and ugly. They also require a current ID to enter.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:35 AM on March 8, 2011

Thanks for all your suggestions. All sound really great. I checked out the public space at 42nd and Park but that's under construction. So I'm saving that for down the road. Wave Hill looks beautiful but the travel time may be prohibitive. I plan to visit there this summer. The WFC, the Met and Lincoln Center are also on my list for future inspection. CCNY sounds too LOUD and ugly. Mid-Manhattan Library kind of depresses me. The best bet for getting some work done looks like membering up at Bobst or Baruch. Hours of operation and atmosphere appear to be worth the donation. Wish I could take the ceiling at the Rose Reading Room with me. Please keep the suggestions coming.
posted by mbx at 7:26 AM on March 8, 2011

Would you consider Brooklyn? There's the Brooklyn Writers Space, which seems to have several locations in Brooklyn. I've never used one, but I've walked by the one in Carroll Gardens and it looks pretty ideal.
posted by hooray at 8:19 PM on March 8, 2011