STATEN ISLAND, NY — Every Thing Goes BookCafe is marking its 20th anniversary with a four-day celebration featuring live music, poetry, and interactive activities.
Since opening in 2005, Every Thing Goes BookCafe has served as a community hub for Staten Island’s North Shore residents and visitors from other boroughs, states, and countries.
“We do serve a really wide range of people. It’s just because of the neighborhood we’re in and because we also serve the tourists who come off the ferry,” said Katie McCarthy, the owner and manager. “They appreciate, the sort of non-corporate, relaxed environment, and they often say, ‘Oh, this reminds me of where I came from, this reminds me of home.’ I think it’s because it’s alternative and unique, has a warm, welcoming feeling.”
The venue, which features three rooms and a garden, combines a cafe, which serves organic coffees, with second-hand books and records. They also offer what it describes as a “neighborhood stage” that has hosted hundreds of events, including poetry readings, theater productions, and craft workshops.
“A lot of people really value having a used bookstore in the neighborhood,” said McCarthy. “Used books are very affordable, varied, surprising and treasures to be had.”
The BookCafe was ahead of its time in promoting secondhand goods. They operate under a philosophy of “reduce, re-use, and recycle” and partners with local, cooperative, and socially responsible businesses. According to McCarthy, this falls under their mission to encourage and support the community and young people to enjoy the written word.
The Bay St. venue started off their celebrations with displays of memorabilia from the past 20 years that showcase the venue’s history and an open mic “marathon” with four distinct events led by popular local emcees.
The open mic schedule began on Wednesday, Oct. 8, with MC Maya da Poet, followed by Thursday, Oct. 9, with MC Jahtiek Long.
The celebration will continue on Friday, Oct. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. with MC Phoebe Blue, and Saturday, Oct. 11, from 7 to 11 p.m. with MC Jonathan Bricklin.
Beyond the open mic events, the celebration includes several special activities.
On Thursday, Oct. 9, Mary Campbell led a “Book Cafe Memories Mail Art Exchange Workshop” from 3 to 5 p.m., where participants created postcards based on their favorite BookCafe memories. That same evening, a John Lennon birthday singalong ran from 8 to 10 p.m.
Saturday’s festivities will feature Beth Gorrie leading a Staten Island OutLOUD reading of Allen Ginsberg’s “HOWL” from 2 to 4 p.m. in the venue’s backyard garden.
These events also coincide with Banned Book week. Visitors of the BookCafe who buy a book during this national awareness campaign will receive a free poster.
All events are free to the public, with donations welcomed. Participants in the open mic can sign up in advance at the venue or simply show up.