Poets House Is Where You’ll Find Downtown’s Best Back-to-School Vibes 

Even for those of us who’ve been out of school for more years than we were in it, autumn is undeniably full of back-to-school feels. If you’re yearning to relive your library years with a few hours in the stacks — or if you’re still a student and actually need a place to study — swing by Poets House, the neighborhood’s much-loved poetry sanctuary at 10 River Terrace.

Founded in 1985 by poet Stanley Kunitz and poetry advocate Betty Kray, Poets House is a library and meeting space that “invites poets and the public to step into the living tradition of poetry,” per its mission. Over the years, it has cultivated a 70,000-plus collection of poetry books, chapbooks and other related material that visitors can browse online and in-house. Poets House also holds writers’ workshops, classes, open mics, showcases and other events, which you can find out about through their events calendar or by signing up for their newsletter.

It’s also a beautiful space, outfitted with comfy seats, reading tables and big windows that reveal thickets of trees outside. You can curl up with a chapbook or anthology like you did in your academic glory days, or do some of your own writing if you feel inspired. There’s also a gorgeous outdoor area to sit in if the weather holds. Poets House is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; for memberships and more information, visit its website.