Our Mission

Symposia Community Bookstore, Inc. is a PUBLIC BENEFIT nonprofit corporation in Hoboken NJ, organized and operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes. Specifically, we operate a thrift shop consisting of books and offer our shop location to be used as a community center.
Address:
510 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030.

For more information call 201 805 1739

The specific objectives and purposes of this organization are:

– to help make books and reading as inviting and accessible to as broad an audience as possible

– to offer a venue to serve as a community center and a place for educational and community activities

– to support other charities through the use of the thrift store’ space to raise funds and run programs

– to offer support for emerging local artists through exhibitions and other projects

– to develop new community projects

– to engage in other activities related to the development of the social capital of our community

Symposia: A chat room without a computer!

Upcoming Events

Symposia Writing Group- Saturday, March 11th, 5 P.M. 

Symposia’s Writing Group held its first meeting on October 16th, 2021 with five authors in attendance. The group has met monthly since then and has grown to eight members. We meet on the second Saturday of the month and critique two submissions at each meeting.
Ours is an eclectic group, with some writing short fiction and others writing essays and plays. There’s always lively discussion about the works submitted, with our authors getting and giving valuable and constructive criticisms. 
If you’re interested in joining us, you can contact the facilitator Marie Castronuovo at mcastronuovo@msn.com
A membership fee of $5 per meeting includes a free book of your choice, as well as critique and feedback from the other members of your submitted work.

NEW  “Symposi-Ha!”- Friday, March 17th and 24th, 8 P.M. 

Come see our bookstore’s first-ever live Stand-Up Comedy Show! The show is produced by Hoboken comedian Matt Pena and will feature comedians from all over New Jersey and New York. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will go towards supporting the store as well as supporting the performers!
Please follow “Symposiha” on Instagram for all news and updates and grab your tickets on eventbrite.com by searching “Symposi-Ha”. 

*Bring your own beverage and snacks to enjoy the show!

New! “Philosophize This” – Conversation Group based on Stephen West’s podcast with the same name – Tuesday, March 21st, 7 P.M. 

This deeply engaging series introduces listeners to thinkers and ideas upon which our society is based, but in a way that is easy for non-philosophers to digest and understand. Our discussion group will create a safe environment where we can gain knowledge while also sharing personal experiences as they relate to the topics presented in the podcast. 
Listening to episodes 3,4, and 5 of the podcast is strongly recommended if possible. The fee is $10. 
*For more info or to register, contact us at 201-805-1739 or symposia.bookstore@gmail.com

American Mahjong Club: Wednesdays, March 1st and 15th, 6:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. 

Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, and luck. If you are feeling up for a friendly challenge, please join our Mahjong Club which will meet twice a month at Symposia Bookstore. It takes place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. 
No experience is needed. Beginners welcome. Age: 14+. We will limit the number of people to 12 due to space and see if we are able to fit another table in. No experience is needed. Beginners welcome. So, if you reserve a spot, please be kind to let me know beforehand if you are unable to attend so that I can give your seat to someone else. 

*$5 fee that goes to Symposia Bookstore for the use of their venue and this entitles you to a free book from their shelves.

*BYOB event. 

* For more information, please contact Anel Laurens on 917-488-9336 or anel@laurens.com

Fundraiser for Symposia Bookstore: “Beaded Jewelry Making Workshop”- Sunday, March 19th, 12 P.M. to 5 P.M. (Pop-in sessions)

Cost: $30 per person- bookings required in advance. 
Proceeds will go to Symposia Bookstore, after deducting a small amount for materials. 
RSVP: For more information, please contact Anel Laurens- anel@laurens.com or 917-488-9336. 
If you have any broken or unwanted (beaded) jewelry or beads to DONATE to this very worthy cause, please drop it off at Symposia Bookstore or contact me directly. 

Hoboken Book Club: Monday, March 13th or 20th, 6:30P.M. to 8:30P.M. 

We host the Hoboken Book Club at Symposia Bookstore. We meet twice a month to discuss the same book at both of these meetings. Members of the book club choose which of the 2 dates suit them best to attend. We limit the number of attendees to 12 people per meeting, to make sure that everyone gets a fair chance to contribute to the discussion. Our March 2023 book is “Black Flowers, White Lies” by Yvonne Ventresca.

*$5 fee payable to Symposia Bookstore for the use of their venue which entitles you to one free book from their bookshelves

*BYOB

*For more info, contact Anel at anel@laurens.co or 917-488-9336

Open Mic Night: Tuesday, March 14th, 7:30P.M. to 10P.M.

Link to Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/3mDPjVvPP
“If everyone was happy in their relationship, there wouldn’t be any good music.” – unknown
Come sing a love song, or maybe a breakup song. Read us a love poem, or tell a few relationship jokes. Or not… just come share your talent. 
This inclusive, encouraging environment is the perfect place to practice what you’ve been working on at home. Original material and covers are welcome (songs, poems, readings, comedy). Not sure you’re ready for the stage, no problem. come be part of the audience and applaud others as they take the stage. The event is open to all ages, therefore we ask that all material be clean and family-friendly. 

*Suggest donation $5/attendee to support Symposia (non-profit bookstore). 

*Some simple snacks will be provided but feel free to BYO drinks/snacks. 

Hoboken Hookers and Knitters: Thursdays, March 9th and 23rd, 6P.M. to 9 P.M. 

If you love knitting or crochet, come join us for a relaxing evening. Bring your own project or come and learn how to knit or crochet, there is always someone who is willing to show others the rope. It takes place on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. 

*$5 fee payable to Symposia Bookstore for the use of their space which will entitle you to a free book from their bookshelves. 

*For more info, contact Anel at anel@laurens.co or 917-488-9336

La Leche- New Moms Support Group- Friday, March 31st, 10 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.  

Come join us for this support group where you can share and learn from other moms. La Leche League is an international volunteer-run support group open to all families interested in lactating or providing human milk to their babies. 
La Leche League was founded over 60 years ago when the founders (a small group of mothers) found that families were most successful when supported by their peers and it has continued with the premises of providing non-bias support to local families.  
*For more info, contact Tiffany at lllofjc@gmail.com
 

Puppetonia

Looking to reconnect with your inner child? Puppetonia can help! Our shows are guaranteed fun for the whole family, young and old! The little ones will love our adorably mischievous puppets - and so will you! (Lucky for you, we only charge for the kids:)

Newsletter

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Check Out Our Amazon Store

Rent Our Place

Symposia Bookstore space can be rented for workshops, community groups, artistic events or birthday parties organized through Puppetonia. The store has tables, seating for about 40 people, a large screen and amplification system available upon request. The store has been used for shootings by independent movie companies, by musicians for concerts and visual artists for exhibitions.

To inquire about holding your event at Symposia Bookstore, please call at (201) 963-0909 or send an email at info@symposia.us.

We do not provide catering, but you are welcome to bring food and drinks for your event.

Symposia hopes that everyone is staying safe and well read!  

As you may have noticed, we are very excited to start our in-person events! Come participate or visit us during our opening hours 12 pm to 5 pm 7 days a week! 

We are looking for VOLUNTEERS to shelf books and/or help customers. 

Flexible hours, great environment, free books! 

Other Ways to Help Symposia

DONATE YOUR BOOKS!  Symposia stays in business by selling donated books online. 

Donate your used shipping supplies: In an effort to stay environmentally friendly, Symposia Bookstore welcomes donations of used clean shipping materials like bubble wrap and bubble mailers/envelopes. 

BUY FROM SYMPOSIA!  Need new reading material? Peruse Symposia’s inventory with over 2,500 titles on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/s?me=A2K6ZNUTSJAUFX&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0D 

MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION! Our non-profit bookstore can only stay alive through the generous support of our community.  Consider supporting our mission by making a contribution today through 

Any donation will help make an impact as this is a nonprofit organization that serves as the only used-bookstore in the area and community center for locals. Thank you so much in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to our community. It is our pleasure curating the best books for our customers thanks to your donations.