For more information, and to schedule an author event at The powerhouse Arena, please contact Susanne König, Arena Director, susanne@powerhousearena.com, phone: 212.604.9074 ext. 116

"powerHouse events are all-out parties rather than staid readings. Attention is paid to pairing the right music with the right book-performers from Kool DJ Red Alert to the MisShapes have played book parties-and an open bar is almost always part of the equation."
—Publishers Weekly

Are you looking for an alternative bookstore event space for your authors this fall? The powerHouse Arena would love to host your authors at our 5,000-square-foot bookstore and art space in DUMBO, Brooklyn. We've held enhanced book readings and signings for touring authors from Irvine Welsh to Jennifer 8. Lee, and hosted special events like the New Yorker Speakeasy, PEN World Voices, and this fall, the National Book Foundation's "5 Under 35" event. Please find below a brief description of our venue, and some cool panoramic photos of our space.

Here's what Publishers Weekly writes about our events: Read the article

We are scheduling the Fall '09 season and would love to include your authors. Please let us know if you have any questions or if you would like more information, we're certainly happy to give you a tour.

We hope you will join us at the Arena!

In fall 2006, world-renowned and critically-acclaimed independent art book publisher powerHouse Books launched The powerHouse Arena, a laboratory for creative thought that features exhibitions, installations, presentations, displays, viewings, performances, readings, and retail therapy—all drawing upon photography and popular culture as sources of inspiration. It is our ambition to spark cultural trends and ideas and thus, would like to have you join us! In "36 Hours: Photography in NYC" The New York Times declared The Arena one of twelve places to see, Wallpaper called us "An Athenian theatre of pop-culture debate," and Newsday dubbed The Arena "A hip bookstore and art space."

We promote our events in print and online, using custom handbills, Facebook, Twitter, and an e-mail list with over 8,000-subscribers. During the past year we have hosted very successful book events for Irvine Welsh, Laura Lippman, Jennifer 8. Lee, Susan Orlean, Amiri Baraka, Mireille Guiliano, Hannah Tinti, Joe Meno, and Jessica Lange, among others.

Our carefully curated children's section features an unparalleled collection of outstanding children's books and European and Japanese art and game kits. Recently we hosted a kids' book reading for The Curious Garden with Peter Brown, reaching out to our young readers face-to-face. Other kids' readings in the past have included the authors and illustrators Tad Hills, Greg Foley, Susan Orlean, John Rocco, and Amy Hest. Our Arena events are often listed in Time Out Kids as well as in Brooklyn kids' blogs and local-parent web groups who are avid promoters of our readings.
About the venue:
Located at 37 Main Street in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, the 10,200-square-foot marquee showroom and retail space is unlike any other in New York City, featuring a soaring 24-foot ceiling on the 5,000-square-foot ground floor, and an equally impressive 5,200-square-foot mezzanine, with over 175 feet of glass frontage, designed by esteemed architectural firm David Howell Design. The powerHouse Arena Skylounge is located on the mezzanine level and functions as a gallery, VIP lounge, and green room for authors. The powerHouse Arena can hold up to 500 people and offers the following amenities: VIP area on mezzanine level, 24-hour access to loading dock, 3 toilets, full sound system including 2 Technics 1200MK turntables, 2 Pioneer CDJ1000MK3 turntables, 1 Vestax VMC-004XL 4-Channel mixer, 2 Shure mics, and 2 Mackie speakers. We've also added a Sanyo PLC-X25 LCD projector for private screenings.

The powerHouse Arena is proud to announce its participation in Independent Booksellers of New York City, an alliance of independent bookshops working together to promote the cultural, literary, and economic benefits of shopping at New York City's diverse collection of bookstores.