NYC Arts: The Complete Guide to Art and Culture

The Nuyorican Poets Café offers audiences spoken word and music performances five days a week. Tuesday is filmscript reading night, which has presented readers such as Norman Mailer, Cyndi Lauper and Peter Coyote. Wednesday is the open-mic night for poetry. Thursday through Saturday guest artists are featured, and have included Amiri Baraka, Ntozake Shange and Pedro Pietri. Late night specials include the infamous Poetry Slam on Fridays and live Afro-Caribbean jazz on Saturday.

• Directions: Subway: F to Second Avenue (use First Avenue exit) or F or J, M, Z to Essex/Delancey Station