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Tag: Nikole Hannah-Jones

  • Nikole Hannah-Jones Opens Literary Bar in Brooklyn

    Get ready for a renaissance in Brooklyn! Acclaimed journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Nikole Hannah-Jones is set to open The North Star + Bar, a unique Black-owned literary salon and bar, in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant. This exciting new venture aims to be a vibrant community space celebrating Black writers and culture.

    A Sanctuary for Writers and Readers

    Partnering with the husband-and-wife team behind Bed-Vyne Wine & Spirits, Rotimi and Ayo Akinnuoye, and DJ Johnson, owner of the renowned Baldwin & Co. bookstore in New Orleans, Hannah-Jones envisions The North Star + Bar as more than just a place to grab a drink. It’s designed to be a sanctuary that blends a bookstore, a bourbon bar, and a cafe.

    Hannah-Jones explained her motivation: “I’m very plugged into the writer community, I’m friends with a lot of great writers, and wanted to be able to bring those writers into our community.” She noted that major book events often bypass Black bookstores and neighborhoods, a gap she aims to fill in Bed-Stuy, promising that “People should expect all of their writing heroes.”

    Honoring Community Legacy

    The new establishment will occupy the space at 339 Macon Street, formerly home to Macon Hardware. This store was a long-standing Black-owned business in the community, operating for decades before closing in 2023. Hannah-Jones expressed her honor in continuing the legacy of Black ownership at this historic location, ensuring the building remains a community asset.

    The two-story building will feature a full bar and kitchen on the first floor, while the second floor is designated as an apartment for visiting writers. This unique setup will allow visiting creatives to lodge, host readings, and engage with the community all in one space.

    What to Expect

    The North Star + Bar plans to host a variety of events, including writing workshops, book clubs, and author talks. Patrons can look forward to enjoying Black-owned spirits while Black writers and creatives gather to “READ. DRINK. PLOT.” While an official opening date hasn’t been set, the doors are expected to open in early 2026.

    • A literary salon, bar, bookstore, and cafe.
    • Focus on celebrating Black writers and creatives.
    • Located in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.
    • Partnership with Bed-Vyne Wine & Spirits and Baldwin & Co.
    • Plans include workshops, book clubs, and author events.
    • Expected opening in early 2026.

    This initiative by Nikole Hannah-Jones promises to be a significant cultural addition to Brooklyn, fostering literary engagement and community connection.

    Are you excited about The North Star + Bar opening in Bed-Stuy? What kind of events would you love to see there? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

  • Nikole Hannah-Jones Opens Brooklyn Literary Salon

    Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and creator of the renowned “1619 Project,” Nikole Hannah-Jones, is embarking on an exciting new venture! She’s launching a literary salon in Brooklyn called The North Star Books + Bar, aiming to create a vibrant hub for Black writers and foster a strong sense of community within the literary world.

    A Space for Black Voices

    Located in a two-story brick building at the corner of Macon Street and Marcus Garvey Boulevard – a site that formerly housed the long-standing Black-owned Macon Hardware – The North Star Books + Bar is designed to celebrate Black literary talent, both established and emerging. The space will feature a first-floor café and bar, a dedicated book and event area, and upstairs micro-residencies for visiting writers.

    These visiting writers will lead workshops, readings, and engage directly with the community, enriching the literary landscape of Brooklyn. Hannah-Jones, a Brooklyn resident for nearly 15 years, has long hosted writer salons in her home and is now eager to bring that intimate energy to a public space for everyone to enjoy.

    Inspired by the Harlem Renaissance

    Hannah-Jones drew inspiration from the legendary Harlem Renaissance, envisioning a public salon that captures its spirit. She told Harper’s Bazaar, “I started holding these writers’ salons at my house within a year of moving to New York. I felt that young Black writers needed to have a place where they could be with their heroes, where we could do readings.” She recalled Ta-Nehisi Coates reading an early draft of his book on her stoop, highlighting the power of such gatherings.

    The North Star Books + Bar is set to become more than just a bookstore or a bar; it’s envisioned as “a space where creative folks can come together and exchange knowledge, ideas, literature, art.” This initiative extends Hannah-Jones’s commitment beyond journalism and education, focusing on cultivating cultural infrastructure within Black communities.

    Programming and Community Engagement

    • Opening planned for early 2026.
    • Activities will include author talks and community book clubs.
    • Partnerships with local schools and cultural institutions are planned.
    • Focus on deepening literary engagement in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood.
    • Aims to be a foothold for Black New Yorkers in a gentrifying area.

    While the official opening date is still being finalized, programming is expected to kick off in early 2026. This venture represents a significant step in anchoring literature, culture, and community in Bed-Stuy for the long term, offering a vital space for Black New Yorkers.

    What do you think about Nikole Hannah-Jones opening The North Star Books + Bar? Are you excited about this new literary space in Brooklyn? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

  • Nikole Hannah-Jones Opens Literary Salon in Brooklyn

    Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, known for her powerful work on “The 1619 Project” and her dedication to supporting Black journalists, is embarking on a new venture. She’s set to open a literary salon and bar in Brooklyn’s vibrant Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, aiming to create a space that celebrates Black writers across all eras and genres.

    The North Star Books + Bar: A Community Hub

    Partnering with local entrepreneurs Rotimi and Ayo Akinnuoye (behind Bed-Vyne Wine, Brew, and Cocktail) and DJ Johnson (owner of New Orleans’ Baldwin & Co.), Hannah-Jones is launching The North Star Books + Bar. This new establishment will occupy the former Macon Hardware space, a beloved community fixture that closed in 2023.

    The goal is to create a space where writers and readers can connect. “I wanted to be able to bring those writers into our community,” Hannah-Jones told Brownstoner. “Whenever you have big book events in the city, they’re not at Black bookstores and they’re not in Black neighborhoods, so I really wanted to bring that to Bed-Stuy.”

    Honoring History and Combating Gentrification

    The choice of location is deeply significant. Macon Hardware was one of Bed-Stuy’s longest-standing Black-owned businesses. Hannah-Jones expressed her honor in continuing that legacy, especially in a neighborhood facing the pressures of gentrification. The building was sold to her by Warren Hayes, whose family owned Macon Hardware for decades.

    “I’m very much aware of the history, and very much honored to keep the building Black owned, frankly,” she stated. The Hayes family, with a history tied to the store since Peter Hayes began working there at 12 years old, found comfort in selling to someone invested in the community’s well-being.

    A Space for Creativity and Connection

    The North Star Books + Bar is envisioned as more than just a bookstore and bar. It will be a cultural salon spread across two floors. The first floor will feature a full bar and kitchen, while the second floor will house micro-residencies for visiting writers. These writers will engage with the community through workshops, readings, and events.

    Inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and an Art Deco aesthetic, the space aims to pay homage to Black literary figures from Zora Neale Hurston and James Baldwin to today’s influential voices. Hannah-Jones, a nearly 15-year resident of Bed-Stuy, has long dreamed of creating such a space, wanting it to be a sanctuary for creative exchange.

    What are your hopes for The North Star Books + Bar? What Black writers do you hope to see featured? Share your thoughts in the comments below!