Compiled by Jesse D. Palmer
As fragile, small, individual humans facing overwhelming threats like climate change, mega-corporations and repressive political movements, organic connection with others based on love and mutual aid is all we have. It also happens to be a superpower our opponents lack that they can’t squash, co-opt or steal. AI-armed computers and capitalism can’t understand or operate with love — a glue that binds people together not out of transactional selfishness but which rather comes from an irrational yet evolutionary essential place as old and universal as life itself. Giving ourself to others and the earth is fundamental — because while each of us is unique, we’re also all one. Everyone everywhere has the same hopes, weaknesses, pleasures, fears as we do — looking out at the world with the same eyes.
It’s up to us to create community, nurture it, seek it out, plug in, and then give what we can to keep it alive — and bask in the glow that gives back more than you put in. Which is why people all over are putting their lives into creating underground spaces that are alternatives to a world dominated by bleak conformity, mediocrity and boredom — chain stores, office parks, cement, iphones, consumerism — fuck that shit. May we spend our days around freaky, friendly people in cozy homemade artists warehouses, all-ages venues, radical bookstores, maker spaces and community centers.
Here’s some radical spaces Slingshot has heard about since the 2024 organizer was printed in June, 2023. Email us with your corrections and additions. Updates are at slingshotcollective.org/contacts.
Under the Umbrella – Salt Lake City UT
A queer bookstore providing “a safe space for queer folks of all ages to congregate and celebrate their stories.” They feature many types of books. “Every book in our store is either queer in content and/or written by queer authors.” 511 W 200 S Suite 120 Salt Lake City, UT 84101 801-922-0923 undertheumbrellabookstore.com
Grey Coast Guild Hall – Quilcene, WA
A volunteer collectively run event space in rural Washington that hosts drag shows, a local film fest, speakers, punk shows and other events. 11 Church Hall Road Quilcene, WA 98376 graycoastguildhall@gmail.com, graycoastguildhall.com
Love Reforms Cooperative -Harrisburg, PA
A non-profit cooperative that promotes gardening and the arts. 2358 Berryhill Street Harrisburg, PA 17104 lovereforms.org
Milwaukee Outdoor Indoor Exchange – Milwaukee, WI
An outdoor repair / recycling store that hosts events and shows. 3044 S. Delaware Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207 414-935-2903 mkeoutdoorindoor.com
Eleanor’s Norfolk – Norfolk, VA
A radical neighborhood bookstore & bottle shop that also acts as a safe space for community activism, engagement, and learning. They amplify underrepresented voices and invite those seeking to be a more active part of their community by offering space for education & conversation. 806 baldwin Ave. #1 Norfolk, VA 23517 eleanorsnfk.com
Mac’s Backs Books on Coventry – Cleveland Heights, OH
An independent bookstore that hosts events about different issues/personal topics. 1820 Coventry Rd. Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118, 216-321-2665 macsbacks.com
Meinolf Weaving School – San Anselmo, CA
A weaving school that offers shared equipment and materials, and a space for people to make things and be with other people. Home of Marin Zine Club for all kinds of making, mending, skill sharing, and community in addition to zine making and sharing every Sunday from 5 – 8 pm. They aim to host other events and have a small zine library/free media area. 141 Tunstead Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960. 510-229-7466.
Silver Sprocket – San Francisco CA
Radical indie comics publisher, shop, and gallery with a focus on zines. They share their zine making resources with anyone who comes in. 1018 Valencia, San Francisco 94110 silversprocket.net
Positive Images – Santa Rosa
An LGBTQIA+ Community Center with a library of media, recreation room, food pantry and transformation station providing free clothing and gender-affirming aids. They offer peer-run mental health support groups and many other programs. 200 Montgomery Drive, Suite C, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-568-5830 posimages.org
Lizard Tree Library – Niland, CA
A library for Slab City, an off-the-grid squatter community built by the Salton Sea on an abandoned military base. 555 Rosalie Drive, Niland, CA (mail: PO Box 642 Niland, CA 92257)
Grand Opening – Berkeley, CA
Alternative art space that hosts events and roadside attraction The Illusion Room. 1220 4th St. Berkeley CA 94710 IG: @grand.opening.arts
Red Willow Collective – Minot, ND
An Indigenous, volunteer run music and art collective that presents social justice workshops, art shows, zines, skill shares, and all-ages events at various locations in downtown Minot. They don’t have a space but are hoping to locate one soon. redwillowcollective@gmail. instagram/bitch_cave
La Colectiva Feminista En Construcción – San Juan, PR
A political organization that hosts workshops and events on social justice. 51 Calle Robles, Río Piedras, San Juan, 00925, Puerto Rico colectivafeministapr@gmail.com instagram.com/colectivafeministapr/
Taller Libertá – Mayagüez, PR
A multidisciplinary space for the arts. 66 Calle Pablo Casals, Mayagüez, 00680, Puerto Rico taller.liberta@gmail.com facebook.com/groups/TallerLiberta
Filaret16 – Bucharest, Romania
A DIY, autonomous space for alternative music, art, politics and community events. 16, Strada Mitropolit Filaret Bucharest Romania instagram/filaret.saispe echipa.filaret16@gmail
Corrections to Radical Contact List
• Oops – we published the wrong address for The Lucy Parsons Center in Boston because we thought they were going to move when were making the organizer – they are still at 358 A Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
• Taala Hooghan Infoshop in Flagstaff, Az is closing in the wake of Klee Benally’s death.
• Oops we left out People’s Cauldron Herbal Apothecary & Free Herbal Clinic 69 Coxing Rd. Cottekill, NY 12419, 845 332 3354. It’s a point of contact for Mastodon Valley EF! (previously known as Hudson valley EF! and The Moon Infoshop (previously in Newburgh NY). Their physical locations are word of mouth only.
• We forgot to include Impetus Records at 13 Delaware Ave, Claymont, DE 19703.