Related: Our 10 favorite independent bookstores in New York City

WORD
126 Franklin Street
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
Web site

Situated on certifiably hip Franklin Street in Greenpoint, this cheery store is fully stocked, but somehow not overwhelming—maybe due to the helpful and passionate employees. Browse the latest literary fiction and nonfiction, plus an array of literary journals, and books by small independent presses you’ll be grateful to have discovered.

WORD also hosts a slew of fun literary events several nights per week, including readings by notable authors (past events have featured names like Kate Christensen and Maud Newton), several different book clubs covering everything from Russian literature to David Foster Wallace, and a new series hosted by blogger David Gutowski delving into the influence of music on writing.

Greenlight Bookstore
686 Fulton Street (at South Portland)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
Web site

Fort Greene has no shortage of literary prowess—authors like Colson Whitehead, Jhumpa Lahiri and Richard Wright have called the neighborhood home—and since October 2009, local residents have had a cool and quirky bookstore to call their own.

The shop is located on bustling Fulton Street, and owned by Rebecca Fitting and Jessica Stockton Bagnulo, two friends with decades of publishing and bookstore experience between them. The spacious, well-lit community meeting spot hosts compelling events and readings by local poets and nationally renowned authors every week.

powerHouse Books
37 Main Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Hours: Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Web site

Not all bookstores strive for quaint, and in fact, some fly directly in its face. In DUMBO, powerHouse Books occupies an airy and modern space, all white and brightly lit, with sculpture and modern art on display throughout. In addition to a thorough selection of fashion and art titles published by powerHouse Books, the store holds plenty of mainstream and independent fiction and non-fiction, plus an irresistible selection of colorful children’s books. Events like art openings, readings and performances are held in the mezzanine area.

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But the city also presents a less formal, burgeoning art gallery scene. To plan your own Prague gallery-hopping excursion, and to keep up with openings and ongoing exhibits, take advantage of the following resources:

Art gallery listings

Prague’s galleries are clearly marked on the annually released ArtMap, available online as a free PDF and at most tourist kiosks and galleries throughout the city. The ArtMap also includes listings of gallery shows by month, with brief descriptions of each show in Czech and English, plus gallery hours and addresses.

A complete and oft-updated list of Prague galleries and current exhibits is also provided on PragueTV, an invaluable Web site for visitors. Both gallery and non-gallery events are listed on this site.

Not all of Prague’s galleries are so easily located, however, as Evan Rail explained in a 2009 piece for The New York Times. According to Rail, Prague is still “trying to recapture an artistic vibrancy it possessed 70 years ago,” and it seems much of that energy can be found outside of the main tourist center.  So don’t forget to pack your map when you head out in search of some free exhibits.

Here are a few galleries not to miss:

Hunt Kastner Artwork, a “gallery for contemporary and emerging art,” is situated in the Holesovice district, a working-class neighborhood on the north side of Prague. Check the Web site for current and upcoming exhibitions.

DOX Center for Contemporary Art is housed in a former sheet-metal plant. The striking building, with various floors housing smaller galleries, is reason enough to visit. Exhibits by local, regional and international artists are displayed, and run the gamut from futuristic photography to vintage sci-fi posters. Exhibits and events are listed on their website.

Karlin Studios holds 17 different studios occupied by Czech and international artists of varying ages and persuasions. The sprawling renovated factory is located in Karlin, or what the Times piece calls “the neighborhood probably closest to developing into an arts district” in Prague.

Karlin Studios is also home to the Foundation for Contemporary Art, where “an extensive archive” of progressive works by contemporary Czech artists is held. Learn more on the Karlin Studios site.

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