The Big Idea Bookstore
Your friendly neighborhood radical bookstore!
Home
The Big Idea is a cooperative radical bookstore that utilizes a directly democratic, anarchist model. We strive to provide literature that is multicultural, women-positive, queer-positive, class-conscious, anti-militaristic, and that promotes a sustainable world and community.
We also hope to serve our community by providing a safe space for all individuals to explore radical and alternative ideas. We are a volunteer-run, not-for-profit, non-capitalist establishment.
The Big Idea Bookstore
504 Millvale Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
412-687-4323 (412-OUR-HEAD)
Starting Feb. 17, the Big Idea and the Thomas Merton Center are teaming up to host a new bi-weekly film series of political documentaries. Every other Tuesday night at 7p.m., you can find radical docs on the reel at 5125 Penn Ave. in Pittsburgh. Also included: free popcorn!
A Radical Film Series
Feb. 17 @ 7pm
DOS AMERICAS: THE RECONSTRUCTION OF NEW ORLEANS
and DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Dos Americas
Post-Katrina reconstruction is still in progress throughout the Gulf Coast, with much of the City of New Orleans still in ruins. This documentary focuses on those rebuilding this city through interviews with some of the estimated 100,000 Latino migrant laborers who have converged in this area over the past two and a half years. Despite terrible working conditions, massive fraud, a housing crisis, severe harassment by law enforcement, and very limited resources, New Orleans' Latino community has mushroomed since the storm and is establishing an infrastructure proportional to its size.
Down But Not Out
In early August 2006, almost one year after the disaster, survivors sit down and talk about their experiences of fighting for survival in the days following Katrina, and how their lives have progressed since returning to New Orleans. Providing accounts of living in a city whose populace has largely been forgotten, the survivors give a stinging description of a slow reconstruction process that is ignoring the human cost of rebuilding. Down But Not Out shows the people directly affected by the fallout from Hurricane Katrina, and lets those who experienced it tell the stories themselves.
We're in The Nation!
Check it out! The Big Idea was selected as one of the country's notable radical spaces in The Nation Guide to The Nation. Thanks, Nation secret shoppers, whoever you are!
And the City Paper too!
Bill O'Driscoll wrote a little piece about us in the Books section this week.
New Volunteer Training
On Sunday, February 8th at 11AM, we will hold an orientation for anyone interested in volunteering.
A volunteer orientation is the first step towards becoming a collective member or volunteer at The Big Idea, Pittsburgh's only volunteer-run radical bookstore. (One of a dwindling number of independent bookstores and infoshops in the rustbelt region, sadly.)
Meet some of the collective, learn about the space and find out how you can participate. By the way, did we mention that collective members get a 20% discount off everything in the store, in addition to all that radical street cred?
Collective members cover two shifts a month or, barring that, give their time and talent to other projects like flyering, organizing events, tabling at conferences or helping to build/refurbish the space. If you aren't able to commit this much time, become an occasional volunteer and participate when your schedule allows. New volunteer orientations take place at the storefront at 11AM on the second Sunday of each month. We will only run a training if we have enough folks signed up. Please email or call to let us know you'll attend!
2009 Slingshots have arrived!
30 different colors! Two handy sizes
$12 for large spiral bound, $6 for small pocket sized
New Posters From Syracuse Cultural Workers
Hundreds of New Books
Hundreds! Now all the used books are upstairs, and the new books are downstairs. If you haven't been in for a while, now's a great time to come on back and browse. Plus, now you can buy all your holiday gifts at your friendly neighborhood radical bookstore. Who could ask for more?
New Big Idea T-Shirts
We've got a bundle of Big Idea T's emblazoned with the "classic" Big Idea beehive illustration. Lots of colors in S, M, L!
Tons of Stickers, Buttons, and Patches
Yup! Winter's here, and it's time to hold those clothes together with some radical accessorizin'!