236 East 3rd Street Between Ave B & C
Reverend Pedro Pietri Way
New York City

Awards & Recognition

The Cafe has been continually recognized in all arenas for artistic excellence and community contribution.

The cafe has gained worldwide recognition through its publications:

• ALOUD: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe (capturing not only the "hiphop rhythms and in-your-face intensity" of the Cafe, but also managing to snatch the 1994 American Book Award)
• NUYORICAN POETRY: An Anthology of Puerto Rican Words and Feelings (a literary landmark that created a new tradition)
• ACTION: The Nuyorican Poets Cafe Theater Festival, an anthology of plays produced at the Cafe.

Awards from Our Community

Manhattan Borough President Citations:

• David Dinkins, recognizing the Cafe's creative and multi-cultural contributions to the City of New York.
• Ruth Messinger, in recognition of the Cafe's "Éemergence as one of the most important venues for the development and presentation of poetry in all its manifestations."
• City Lore, Token of Appreciation Award in recognition of the Cafe's significant impact on the community of Loisaida and New York City in general.

Artistic Recognition

• The Voice Literary Hits, Favorite Book Award for our publication of "Big Bank Take Little Bank", by Nuyorican poet, Paul Beatty
• The Bessie Award Nuyorican Board Members received a citation for making the Cafe "a vital center for multi-cultural poetry and performance art."
• Municipal Arts Society presented us with an award in recognition of the Cafe becoming "one of the most important venues for the development of poetry, music and theater in New York..."
• Zagat Award of Distinction, New York City Nightlife (several)

Poetry Slam Awards

• Best Spoken Word Venue, New York Press (several)
• National Poetry Slam Competition 1998. The Nuyorican National Slam Team won first place out of over 50 competing teams.
• Individual National Slam Poet Champion, 2001, Mayda Del Valle, who was also the 2001 Nuyorican Grand Slam Champion and a member of the 2001 Nuyorican National Slam Team.

Theatrical Awards

Our Theater Program has been honored with an OBIE Grant for excellence in theater. Theatrical productions at the Cafe have been honored with over 30 Audelco Awards through the years.

• "Julius Caesar Set in Africa" – 8 Audelco Awards
• "Don't Explain" – 7 Audelco Awards
• "Life During Wartime" – 5 Audelco Awards
• "Shango de Ima" – 11 Audelco Awards
• "Monk" – 2 Audelco Awards

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