Here are some listings of new infoshops or radical community spaces that we’ve learned about since we published the radical contact list in the 2008 Slingshot organizer, along with some corrections. Radical community spaces can play an important role in building the radical scene, making space for meetings, workshops and events, and hosting groups, do-it-yourself projects like bike kitchens, Food Not Bombs and alternative media. Each of these radical spaces is the culmination of vibrant community and people doing the hard work to transform our dreams of how a post-capitalist world could be — guided by cooperation, freedom and enjoyment — into reality. Plug into and support your local community space or start your own!
Indigenous Youth Media Arts Center & Infoshop – Flagstaff, AZ
Ivan tells us that this organization has existed for a few years, but that they just opened a new space. It hosts Out of Your Backpack Media, which empowers native youth in media through trainings, production, and screening. There is also a small library with hard-to-find books, zines, and movies on native rights, gender, sexuality, race and art. They also have a storefront selling books, zines, Zapatista coffee, and the work of local artists. Their action statement says: “We are an Indigenous-established volunteer-run collective dedicated to creatively confronting and overcoming social and environmental injustices in Flagstaff and surrounding areas. We are restoring and redefining knowledge and information in ways that will be meaningful to our communities. We offer access to independent media, the arts, and alternative education, with the goal of self-development as well as empowerment for youth and the greater community into action in favor of a more just and sustainable world.” Hell yeah! Visit them at 1926 N. 4th Street, #7B, Flagstaff, AZ, 928-213-9063, info@indigenousaction.org, indigenousaction.org.
Firefly Lending Library – Miami, FL
They are a radical lending library housing over 500 books and zines. The space is open for community group meetings, film nights, art shows and other events. Visit Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-7 pm and Saturdays 2-6 pm at 219 NE 20th St. Miami FL, 33137, 305-572-0064, us@thefirerfly.info, www.thefirefly.info
Grand Ole Co-opry – Evansville, IN
They are a collective and co-housing project consisting of 2 houses in Evansville and one sister house in southern Indiana. They have a house library, bike library and project house. Visit at 1405 S. Grand Ave. Evansville, IN 47713 615-275-5161.
Community Cycles – Boulder, CO
They are a non-profit bike shop that provides re-cycled bikes and a welcoming space to learn about bicycle repair, maintenance and operation through outreach and advocacy activities. 2805 Wilderness place, Ste 1000, Boulder, CO 80301, 720-565-6019
Firehouse Artspace – Phoenix, AZ
They are an artists’ live/work collective with a gallery and a performance stage that hosts events and displays art. 1015 N. 1st St Phoenix, AZ 85006 www.strivedreams.com
City Heights Free Skool – San Diego
They have a free skool, infoshop, bike kitchen and community garden with a lending library, workshops and classes and a computer lab. 4246 Wightman St. San Diego CA 92105 619-528 8060
Bloom Collective – Grand Rapids, MI
They have an infoshop and lending library with books, zines and videos, and a bulletin board. Open Mon, Wed, Thurs 3-7 and Fri/Sat 1-5. 1134 Wealthy St SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506.
Taos Peace House and Infoshop – Taos,NM
They have literature, DVDs, bumper stickers, t-shirts, workshops and educational events. Open Monday – Saturday 11:00 to 6:00 at 801 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571, 575-776-3880.
Santa Barbara Infoshop – California
They’re set to open the day Slingshot goes to the printing press! They have a lending library with books and zines, computer access, a tool library, meeting space and free box. They’ll host events and classes. Visit 421 N Alisos St. #A CA 93103, sbinfoshop@ gmail.com www.sbinfoshop.org
Wrench in the Works – Willimantic, CT
A member-run coffeehouse and social justice center with a lending library, space for workshops, meetings, performances, or just hanging out with a cup of fair-trade coffee or tea and browsing a small collection of radical books, ‘zines and other media. Open Mon, Wed- Fri. 3-7 and for events. 866 Main St, Willimantic, CT 06226. (mailing address: PO Box 254 Willimantic, CT 06226) www.wrenchintheworks.org
Unity infoshop – Denver, CO
They have a zine library, weekly copwatch trainings, monthly art shows (first Friday) and other community stuff. 1145 Santa Fe Drive, Denver CO 80204, 303 279-6348
Dirty Dove Infoshop – San Francisco, CA
They have a lending library, free box, sewing machines, workshops, movie nights, benefit concerts, cafes, language exchanges, discussions, skillshares, zines, a lounge space and internet. Open Wed 4-8 pm. Located at station 40 at 3030b 16th St., San Francisco, CA 94103. www.dirtydove.org/
Intertribal Frienship House – Oakland, CA
This is the oldest Native American community center in the nation. They recently fought off a threat from developers and a $30,000 tax debt. The two large halls, kitchen, office space and playground are dedicated to promoting cultural education and social justice. They have daily activities including bead classes, drumming, pow wows, movies, dinners and fundraisers. 523 International Blvd. Oakland CA 94606. 510-533-3204
Niebyl Proctor Marxist Library – Oakland, CA
This extensive socialist / labor / racial justice radical reading room / library has existed under Slingshot’s nose for a long time but somehow didn’t make it into the organizer. In 1996 they moved five blocks from our office at the Long Haul and have been hosting weekly speakers and meetings. Open Tuesday – Friday 10-4 pm. 6501 Telegraph Ave Oakland, CA 94609-1113 510-595-7417 www.marxistlibr.org
Camas Infoshop – Victoria, BC, Canada
They sell books, shirts and zines and have a kid’s space. They show films and have events. 2590 Quadra, Victoria BC V8T 4E2, 250-381-0585, camas.ca.
Lost Generation – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This residential bungalow was transformed into a community art space in 2004. They have art shows, performances, festivals, music shows, teach-ins and provide space for making art, video, silkscreening, banner making and information on local issues and events. No.11, Lorong Permai, Off Jin Syed Putra, Robson Heights, 50460 K.L. Malayasia 019-6838397
Centro De Cultura Libertaria – Bogota, Colombia
If you’re in Colombia, South America, check out this anarchist community space that hosts collectives, movies, discussion groups, dinners, meetings and a variety of DIY space-sustaining projects such as : estampando conciencia (silk screen workshop), ensalladero rojinegro (band practice room), malas pulgas (distro/store with independent music, organic cooperative raised/prepared foods and clothes and patches made by different local folks & collectives) and literature and video library. They are open Monday-Saturday 1pm-9pm at Cra 17 No. 61-28, Chapinero, Bogota, Colombia, culturalibertaria@gmail.com, www.anarcol.tk, 310-0810
Corrections to 2008 organizer
• The number for the Bookstore in a Barn in Liberty, TN is wrong: it should be 615-536-5022. Also, judy call it just “the barn” or “Fifth Estate Books.”
• The Velocipede Infoshop in Iowa City, IA has lost their space. They may re-organize and re-open, so watch this space . . .
• The address listed for the Third Space Infoshop is listed WRONG in the organizer: the real address is: 214 W. Eufaula St., Norman, OK 73069. (405) 310-2596
• The Rochester, New York Infoshop is closed.
• Mad Ratz Infoshop in Atlanta, GA has closed.
• The People’s Free Space in Maine moved an
d changed its name. It is now the Meg Perry Center at 644 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101 207-772-0680.
• Circle @ Infoshop in Barcelona is gone – in fact, we knew this when we published the 2008 organizer but we forgot to type it in during all the last minute madness. Sorry!!!