Dearest readers,  In light of ongoing changes to the grant landscape, Taylor and I have been having some big conversations about the best way to sustain Blue Stoop for the long run.  While classes have historically been our primary source of revenue, we know we have to diversify our offerings to remain resilient in the face of NEA cuts and other economic shifts. To that end, we've developed an exciting new initiative that combines our most valued resources (a supportive community, amazing volunteers and board members) with our passion for the culinary arts.  Introducing…  |
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Bleu Stoop is an innovative new project that combines the two things writers love most: impactful literature and polarizing dairy products.  Conveniently located in the old Greyhound bus terminal, this multi-hyphenate boutique carries a diverse array of books, from contemporary fiction to canonical classics.  I know what you're thinking: Philly already has tons of great bookstores! Why add another into the mix?  Well, here's where things get really innovative. We're not just selling standard copies of popular books… we've tasked Blue Stoop volunteers and board members with rewriting the entire catalog, enabling us to offer never-before-seen versions of the books you know and love, each thoughtfully paired with a matching cheese: - East of Edam, by John Steinbeck
- A Room of One's Provolone, by Virginia Woolf
- Detransition, Babybel, by Torrey Peters
- I Know Why the Camembert Sings, by Maya Angelou
- All Queso on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque
- The Fetamorphosis, by Franz Kafka
- Labne in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel GarcĂa Márquez
- Big Swiss Cheese, by Jen Beagin
- The School for Gouda Mothers, by Jessamine Chan
- Lady Cheddarley's Lover, by D.H. Lawrence
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Manchego, by James Joyce
- Fondue Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
- Colby by Your Name, by André Aciman
- The Bell Jarlsberg, by Sylvia Plath
- War and Bries, by Leo Tolstoy
- Stone Butch Bleus, by Leslie Feinberg
And fear not, vegan friends, we've got something for you too! - As I Lay Daiya-ing, by William Faulkner
- The Kite Hill Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
- Oranges Are Not the Only Tofutti, by Jeanette Winterson
- These Violife Delights, by Chloe Gong
We can't wait to see you at the launch event on Wednesday, 4/1 at 2:30am!  |
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In case it wasn't abundantly obvious, that was an April Fools' joke. Please do not come down to the old Greyhound bus terminal in the middle of the night to buy cheese-themed books.  As for actually useful information, here's what remains in our spring class inventory: - “Writing Addiction: Crafting Characters with Substance Use Disorder” with Nikki Volpicelli. Stories about addiction are often stories about navigating grief, loss, and guilt. Even so, writers often overuse substance use, addiction, and mental obsession as stand-ins for drama and grit, inadvertently avoiding deeper character motivations. In this virtual 3-week prose workshop, we’ll read and discuss the work of skilled writers like Denis Johnson, Lucia Berlin, Morgan Talty, and Nami Mun to adopt transformative strategies for writing about addiction, alcoholism, and the effects substance use disorder has on individuals, loved ones, and communities. We’ll also read brief excerpts of each other’s work to explore what’s working and identify opportunities for telling stories infused with compassion, integrity, and hope. While the class focuses primarily on fiction readings, all prose writers are welcome.
- Registration closes Monday, 4/6 (or when the class is full)
- There are 4 (2 general admission, 2 financial aid) seats and 1 merit scholarship available, as of this email! Apply for aid/scholarships here.
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- “Other Worlds, Other Words” with Nicole G. Young. To build new worlds, we have to think of language in new ways. This in-person, 3-hour fiction intensive will dive into the language of immersive worldmakers like N. K. Jemisin, J. R. R. Tolkien, Leone Ross, and others to help us craft dialogue and vocabulary that feels authentic and deeply rooted in the galaxies you’re creating. Through close reading and linguistic experimentation, we’ll explore the elements that animate your speculative universe and craft vernacular that reflects the world you want readers to discover.
- Registration closes Friday, 4/10 (or when the class is full)
- There are 2 financial aid seats (general admission is sold out, but join the waitlist in case something changes) and 1 merit scholarship available, as of this email! Apply for aid/scholarships here.
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- “The Art of the Humble Brag: Self-Promotion for the Self-Critical” with Elizabeth Austin. For humble writers, writing bios, cover letters, grant applications, and social media content can be an excruciating endeavor. In this virtual 3-hour workshop, we'll tackle the unique challenge of writing about ourselves and our work. Through exercises, examples, and group discussion, students of all experience levels will explore what makes self-promotional writing effective (or off-putting), craft bios for a variety of contexts (from Instagram to residency applications), and develop language that authentically represents themselves without activating the inner critic. You'll leave with at least two polished bios, new strategies for describing your work with confidence, and a toolkit for future self-promotion that doesn't make you want to hide under your desk.
- Registration closes Wednesday, 4/15 (or when the class is full)
- There are 6 (4 general admission, 2 financial aid) seats and 1 merit scholarship available, as of this email! Apply for aid/scholarships here.
Be sure to check out our payment plan options if needed. (FAQ) Â |
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In soli-dairy-ty, Â Julian Shendelman
Co-Director |
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Got an event, organization, business, or book to promote? |
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- CREATIVE COWORKING, ONLINE: Our weekly, virtual coworking session is scheduled for 3:30-5:30pm ET on Wednesday, 4/1 — no pranks here though. Bring a work-in-progress, start something new, or catch up on some reading!Â
 - WHAT CHARACTERS WANT: This week's Thursdays on the Stoop skill share, “What the Character Wants: A Collaborative Intro to Playwriting” will be led by Rebecca Petchenik. In this free, virtual skill share, we'll explore the essentials of short-form playwriting, then work together to draft a collaborative dramatic sketch. Tune in Thursday, 4/2, from 4-5pm ET on Zoom.Â
 - REGISTRATION DEADLINES: Registration for “Writing Addiction: Crafting Characters with Substance Use Disorder” with Nikki Volpicelli and “Other Worlds, Other Words” with Nicole G. Young closes next week. Remember, sold out classes may still have financial aid seats available! Also, it's always worth adding your name to the waitlist, just in case.Â
 - NOVELS IN PROGRESS: Applications are still open for the next cycle of Novels in Progress. If you're a local writer with an unfinished novel and would like to share an excerpt with a live audience, apply here. No hard deadline, but sooner is better. Space is very, very limited but we'll keep all the applications on file for future cycles.
 - BENEFITTING BLUE STOOP: Blue Stoop founder and board member Emma Copley Eisenberg is donating the profits from her upcoming book release event to Blue Stoop. Join us at the Philadelphia Ethical Society on Thursday, April 30th, at 7pm for a night of literature, performance art, and community, in celebration of Emma's new book, FAT SWIM! Learn more and snag a ticket here.
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Event title Poetry Sharing Circle  Start time 4/1/2026 2:00pm EDT  Location 129 Park Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081  Description Can't stop thinking about that poem by Keats, Hayden, or Dickinson? Come to the Delco Writers and Friends Poetry Sharing Circle! Bring a printed copy of a poem that you love to read or learn one by heart to recite. The event will begin with featured poet Naila Francis reading one of her favorites and then sharing a selection of her own work. We will end with an open mic -- you are invited to sign up to read your own poem.  Link  Contact info info@thepac.center  Cost Free  ~~~  Event title Book launch and celebration, The Way Disabled People Love Each Other: Poems, by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha  Start time 4/2/2026 7:00pm EDT  Location The Wooden Shoe, 704 South St, Philadelphia PA  Description Come celebrate this long-awaited 5th book of poetry by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, written over five years of pandemic lockdown, a fierce crip reckoning with all the ways disabled people love each other, in all our complexity. A book that will speak to any kind of griever, but particularly disabled BIPOC queer trans ones sitting with the endless mass grief and possibility of this time, and those with violent family from whom we still yearn to claw out beauty from the trauma rubble. It’s a road map for survivors looking for something that’s neither a happy Hollywood ending nor a transformative justice fairy tale – not the healing we wished for, but the healing we find anyway.  masks required! air purifier. wheelchair accessible.  Link  Contact info llpsx@proton.me  Cost free  ~~~  Event title The Community Stage: Our Monthly Open Mic  Start time 4/3/2026 7:30am EDT  Location 2321 Emerald Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125  Description The Community Stage is our creative take on an open mic—music, poetry, storytelling & more in a welcoming space. Formerly called Monthly Open Mic, it’s the same inspiring monthly gathering with a fresh name. Perform or just enjoy the show—everyone’s part of the community. - Sign up at the door for a 4–6 minute slot (or step into the featured artist spotlight).
- We’ll draw names at random to keep things spontaneous and fun.
- Every month brings a new theme—bring your creativity and try something new!
This month theme, Staying Curious, celebrates the openness of not having all the answers, leaning into wonder, discovery, and the courage to keep asking why  Link  Contact info https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-community-stage-our-monthly-open-mic-tickets-1979357959941?aff=ebdssbdestsearch#organizer-card  Cost Donation $10-$20  ~~~  Event title One Book One Philadelphia Kickoff Event: A Conversation with Celeste Ng  Start time 4/7/2026 6:30pm EDT  Location Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189  Description Kick off the new season of One Book, One Philadelphia with an electrifying evening featuring bestselling author Celeste Ng! Dive deep into the themes, craft, and urgent questions at the heart of her work in an intimate, thought‑provoking conversation that brings readers together across our city. Expect big ideas, behind‑the‑scenes insights, and unforgettable moments that spark community dialogue—plus the shared thrill of launching a new chapter of Philly’s favorite reading tradition.  Link  Contact info 215-567-4341  Cost Free! |
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1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States |
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