People all over keep sending Slingshot word of radical communtity spaces, both already in existence or recently opened. Each of these spaces is the culmination of a massive community building effort, and once open, radical spaces can be a foundation for organizing and liberation. Here are some places that have cropped up since we published the 2007 organizer, which went to press in August, 2006, plus other contact info for spaces around the globe.
Collective for Arts, Freedom, and Ecology (C.A.F.E.) – Fresno, CA
C.A.F.E has a community center with a weekly radical movie night, lectures, a womyn’s discussion group, Food Not Bombs, Critical Mass, a weekly food distro, and a community garden. Groups sharing the space include: the Native Women’s Council, Sierra Nevada Earth First!, Food Not Bombs, and Fresno Voices for Animals. They are the center of lots of activity in Fresno! Check them out at 935 F Street Fresno, CA 93706, cafefresno.org
Wildcat Infoshop – Lexington, KY
This space has zines and books and also hosts shows and potlucks. Every Sunday at 6 p.m. is “Letters to Prisoners” night. Open Friday thru Sunday, 3 pm-7 pm, and for events. Visit at 832 Porter Place Lexington, KY 40508 www.wildcatinfoshop.org
Mathilde Anneke Infoshop – Milwaukee, WI
The infoshop is part of a coalition of groups that use this space. It has a bookstore, lending library, archive and community space for meetings, films and workshops. The space has an art gallery and resource center, a free skool, a printmaking collective and space for bike repair and Food Not Bombs. Open: Monday to Friday 3 pm – 7 pm; Saturday 1 pm – 7 pm; Sunday 10 am – 7 pm. By the way, who was Mathilde Anneke? Anneke, born in 1817 in Germany, participated in 1848-49 revolutionary activities and founded the first German feminist newspaper while her husband was a political prisoner. After the insurrection was crushed, the couple fled to Milwaukee, where Anneke became a leading feminist and active abolitionist working with the likes of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. While Anneke supported herself as a writer and wrote numerous essays, stories and articles in Europe and the USA, she also founded the first American feminist newpaper as well as a women’s academy in Milwaukee. The infoshop is at 732 E. Clark St, Milwaukee WI 53212, www.creamcitycollectives.org
Black Bear Bakery – St. Louis, MO
This 8 year old, worker-run collective bakery has just moved into a new space where they now have a cafe, newsstand and a library. 2639 Cherokee St. St. Louis, MO 63118, 314-771-2236, www.blackbearbakery.org.
Mad Ratz infoshop – Atlanta, GA
After 2 years, Mad Ratz finally got a space in October. They have a reading/lending library, bookshop, meeting space and workshop. Check them out Thursday – Saturday noon – 8 at 840 Dekalb Ave Suite C, Atlanta GA 30307, 404 992 7218, www.madratzinfoshop.com
Velocipede Infoshop – Iowa City, IA
This recently-opened infoshop/radical library is also the homebase for a volunteer run, non-profit bike courier service. The Infoshop features cheap fruit, a copy machine and scanner, a play place and a bike shop. 114 1/2 College St. #10 Iowa City, IA 52240, (319)321-5494, www.velocipede-iowa.info
Aprovecho Research Center – Cottage Grove, OR
For many years, this center has been studying and teaching sustainable living practices and appropriate technology, including such services as their 3 month intensive course in Organic Farming, Appropriate Technology, and Sustainable Forestry. The rural Aprovecho site is a living example of a sustainable eco-commune featuring passive solar and solar electricity, wood burning cook stoves and ovens, pedal powered flour mills and washing machines, an organic farm and orchard with chickens and goats, etc. They also have a small library! Aprovecho’s goal is complete autonomy from the system, and they hope to set a precedent for people worldwide who wish to be self-determined. There is an open house with tours every Sunday. Check them out at 80574 Hazelton Rd, Cottage Grove, OR 97424, (541) 942-8198, www.aprovecho.net.
Fuori Controllo – Savona, Italy
A new infoshop in a smaller town – via chiavella 3r – savona c.p. 573 – 17100 savona cpo fuoricontrollo@inventati.org
Centro Cultural de Playancha – Chile
Community center at Pedro León Gallo 4040, Playancha/Valparaíso, Chile, 56 (32) 2349571, ccpavalpo@yahoo.com
Gatazka infoshop – Bilbao, Basque Country (Spain)
Gatazka (which means “conflict” in Basque) have a 15 year old infoshop at Ronda Street, 12 48005 Bilbao, Spain. www.ddtgatazka.com Also, check out radical publication Ekintza Zuzena (“direct action”) at www.nodo50.org/ekintza.
Places to visit
These may not necessarily all be infoshops, but these small businesses, co-ops, and community spaces are good spots to stop by if you’re traveling through.
Fargo, North Dakota
• Tochi Products
1111 2nd Ave N, Fargo ND 701-232-7700
• The Red Raven Espresso Parlor, 14 Roberts street in the basement, Fargo, ND 58102.701-478-7337.
• Amazing Grains Cooperative, 214 DeMers Ave, Grand Forks ND 701-775-4542
• Mill Town Herbs, 2400 Highway 281 S, Jamestown ND 701-252-2284
Atlanta, Georgia
• Charis Books – the oldest feminist bookstore in the south with a non-profit arm – 1189 Euclid Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307, 404 524-0304 www.charisbooksandmore.com
• Sevananda – featuring teach-ins & events – 467 Moreland Avenue NE Atlanta, GA 30307 404 681-2831 www.sevananda.coop
• Five Spot – 1123 Euclid Ave Atlanta, GA 30307, 404 223-1100 www.fivespot-atl.com
• Little Five Points community center – lots of events and home of Radio Free Georgia – 1083 Austin Ave. Atlanta, GA 30307 404-522-2926
• SoPo Bikes – bike coop – 465-C Flat Shoals Ave. Atlanta, GA 30316, sopobikes.org
Syracuse, New York
• Second Story Books – bookstore with coffee shop, art gallery, film showings and readings – 550 Westcott St. Syracuse, NY anharwood@yahoo.com
• Lavender Inkwell Bookshoppe – focusing on LGBT literature – 304 McBride St. Syracuse, NY, lavenderinkwell@twcny.rr.com
Missoula, Montana
• Shakespeare & Co. books – 103 S. 3rd St., W. Missoula, MT 59801, 406-541-6222.
Greensboro, North Carolina
• Greenleaf coop – student run coop cafe – 17708 Founders Hall 5800 W. Friendly Ave. Greensboro, NC 27410
San Diego, California
• Rubber Rose – feminist sex and art shop – 3812 Ray St., San Diego, CA 92104 619-865-6930.
Madison, Wisconsin
• A Room of One’s Own Feminist Bookstore. Ahhh, so many places in Madison to visit . . . 307 W. Johnson St., Madison, WI 53703, 608-257-7888
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Bike Pirates – coop bikeshop and anti-car infoshop – 457 Bathurst St, Toronto Canada
• Community Bicycle Network Bike Share – bike lending program plus library of bike material – 761 Queen Street West, Toronto communitybicyclenetwork.org
Corrections to the 2007 Organizer
• Oops – we didn’t list the Acre Infoshop in Raleigh, NC. They’re at 824 Chamberlain St. Raleigh, NC 27607, 919-341-8263.
• We also didn’t list the Ironweed coop at 98 Grand St. Albany, NY 12202 518-429-8233, www.ironweedcollective.org. This used to be an infoshop and is now a house that hosts shows and other events.
• Papercut zine library in Cambridge, MA has a new phone #: 617-492-2600.
• To send mail to the Dry River Infoshop, send it c/o Joleen S, 48 W 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85705
Places that are gone (or not?)
• We got mail returned from the 908 Collective in Ft. Collins, CO – not sure if they are gone or if it was postal mistake.
• We got mail returned from the Green Lantern Cab
aret in Winona – their website appears to say they are closed now,. but it is darn confusing.
• We have a report that Uprisings in Toronto Canada is gone – if anyone knows, let us know.
• We got mail back from Hodgepodge books – we called but they didn’t call us back – let us know if they still exist.
• We got a letter returned from New World infoshop in Ottawa, Canada (and they owe us $$) we think they’re gone.
• Paper Matches in Indianapolis (listed in the 2006 organizer) is sadly confirmed to be out of business.