In the coffeehouse, you'll find delicious fair trade, organic coffee and espresso as well as a selection of vegan and vegetarian food. In the bookstore, you'll find books and periodicals on a wide range of topics, with a focus on radical politics and culture. We also offer free internet access, both through our wireless network and our public internet terminals.
If you are looking for information about 2640, the community events space we run in conjunction with St. John's United Methodist Church in Charles Village, please have a look at the 2640 website .
We here at Red Emma's have been eagerly waiting for the release of Dave Zirins' third book on sports and radicalism, A People's History of Sports in the United States . Dave, our favorite sports writer gives us the often untold histories of those athletes, fans, and sports writers that pushed the other boundaries of politics, sexism, racism, homophobia and class. Dave examines sports not only as entertainment or as a way to make a buck, but as a playing field that challenges social barriers within the United States.
Today (August 6th) is the official release date for this second album from Baltimore's own Son of Nun (this time joined by DJ Mentos). We've been fortunate enough to have had an advance copy in the store for a few weeks now. Extremely fortunate. Any one who's been to a rally or a political benefit concert in the past year in Baltimore has probably heard Son of Nun perform a few of these songs already - but the album is a revelation, the same raw intensity and uncompromising lyrical radicalism, but coupled with polish and some amazingly tight beats. We've been waiting for this one for a long time - and it was worth it.
The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to quit school and get a real life and education
by Grace Llewellyn
The Teenage Liberation Handbook is a guide (it is full of practical information!) for children and young adults (and everyone!) about how to liberate themselves by taking their education into their own hands and refusing to be indoctrinated into obedience and servitude. One of Grace Llewellyn's main points is that mandatory schooling's primary purpose is not to educate but to teach obedience and other skills required to hold a job such as sitting still for extended periods of time and listening to someone tell you what to do.
Everywhere All the Time: A New Deschooling Reader
by Matt Hern
Over the course of the past decade, there has been a marked increase in skepticism toward current models for public and private schools, and a renewed interest in alternative models for education. Why? The simple answer is that many of our educational institutions fail to offer kids the skills they need to be healthy, self-directed life-learners. They stifle creativity, and encourage conformity of thought. They utilize draconian disciplinary measures and a one-size-fits-all approach to learning. And government control of, and corporate intrusion into education has been a further disaster for communities concerned with the welfare of their youngsters.
Get ready for the Radical Bookfair Pavilion at the Baltimore Book Festival!
From September 26th through 28th, Red Emma's is going to be hosting what's shaping up to be an amazing Radical Bookfair Pavilion at the annual Baltimore Book Festival in Mt. Vernon Square. With close to 20 tablers, and a full weekend of speakers including Amy Goodman, Dave Zirin, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Seth Tobocman, Michael Muhummad Knight, China Martens, Jessica Mills, MK Asante Jr., and more - all outdoors in the middle of the Book Festival - it's looking like a great weekend. Head over to the bookfair website for more info....
Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex!
What happens when the alltime foremost saxaphonist from Ethiopia teams up with one of the most awesome punk rock bands in existence? Madness, we're sure, which is why Red Emma's will probably all be at the Getatchew Mekurya and the Ex show at the Ottobar on August 14th. We've got a limited number of discount, $10 tickets available for the show down at the store - get them before they're gone.
Police infilitration and surveillance of Baltimore Activists
For the Red Emma's collective, these documents were especially interesting - the picture attached to this article shows the portion of the released material in which we found out that, at a January 2006 public informational event about the Death Penalty in Maryland we hosted at our storefront, an undercover agent from the Maryland State Police's Homeland Security and Intelligence Division was in attendance.
The police reports, which document surveillance of nonviolent protestors and organizers, show that the investigation was aimed at gathering intelligence regarding "anti-war terrorism" and "anti-government terrorism" (p. 36). For anyone who knows the activists who were victims of this program of state surveillance and infilitration, this could not be a more ridiculous concern, and we are deeply disappointed (although not entirely surprised) that the apparatus of "Homeland Security" is being used against constitutionally protected dissent.
If you're concerned about this situation, and would like to learn more, there's going to be a speak-out with some of activists named at 2640 on Thursday the 24th - see the events listing in the right column for more information.
Audio and Video from Bill Fletcher Jr.'s talk on Solidarity Divided
Films on Abortion: Coat Hanger Project and Abortion Democracy: Poland /South Africa
Come to a screening of two groundbreaking documentaries about abortion by filmmakers Sarah Diehl and Angie Young. Berlin-based Diehl's film, "Abortion Democracy: Poland/South Africa," compares and contrasts abortion policy in the two countries and argues for a liberalization of abortion laws. Young's "The Coat Hanger Project " focuses about the current state of the US pro-choice/reproductive justice movement 35 years after Roe v. Wade and specifically targets the post-1973 generation
Saturday Aug 30, 11:30AM @ 2640
Tearing at the Roots Festival
The Pink House Collective is an anarchist collective looking for autonomous beings interested in exploring the roots of domination and strategies for a reconnection with life. As anarchists, the Pink House Collective seeks to end all domination, and with the upcoming event Tearing at the Roots, we wish to explore how deep that domination goes. Tearing at the Roots seeks to understand the interconnected misery of civilization, capitalism, patriarchy, racism, the state and other forms of oppression, we are interested not only in learning about the existence of these repressive regimes but also seeking the destruction of them!
The first day of the festival will be held at 2640 St. Paul Street and will consist of varied speakers, workshops, presentations, discussions, tablers, and more. Current topics include eco-feminism, security culture, rewilding, primitive skillshare.
Confirmed speakers and presenters include John Zerzan, Kevin Tucker, Theresa Kintz, Amused (editor from Green Anarchy), A Longing for Collapse Press, D.L. Lobosof Warbound, Luke of Arson Zine, Spokes Distro, and more. A full list and schedule of events will soon be available at Interest in teaching a workshop or becoming involved with Tearing at the Roots can be done by simply contacting the organizers atferalthought@riseup.net.
It's a back-to-school brunch in every way, from the menu (think sloppy joes, taco salad, un-chicken nuggets, pudding...) to the music, courtesy of amazingly talented student musicians Dylan and John, whose band Everyman will be special-guesting!
As usual, doors open at 11 am, there'll be an open jazz set with Everyman at 11:30, an open mic for all kinds of performance & announcements around 12:30, and a final jazz set 'til 2. In addition to our lunchroom menu we'll have all your usual brunch favorites- including our famous vegan pancakes, bagels, fresh fruit, coffee & tea, and more. Admission is $7 - $10 sliding scale for the all-you-wanna-eat buffet, or just $4 for performers in the session or open mic. All proceeds support the 2640 Project's work with the St. John's congregation to maintain and improve the space!
Email 2640jazzbrunch@gmail.com if you have questions, comments, or would like to volunteer. Hope to see you there!
Saturday Sep 20, 12PM @ 2640
Baltimore Free Store: Free Market
The Baltimore Free Store is an all-volunteer organization collecting donated and salvaged items to make available to people without charge. The Baltimore Free Store’s forward looking focus is on establishing permanaent Free Market locations throughout the city.
“Give what you can, take what you need."
Take What You Want! Everthing Is Free!
It's not a gimmick, it's not a joke. We are giving out free stuff!
We take donated items and redistribute them throughout Baltimore City in order to promote community, reuse, and generosity.
Contrary to our plans last year or so, Red Emma's is not at the moment actively pursuing a new location for the bookstore and cafe. Instead, at least for the time being, we are concentrating our efforts on keeping the existing space thriving, but also on the 2640 project, a partnership between Red Emma's and St. John's United Methodist Church in Charles Village, where both parties are cooperating to restore the (beautiful) building at 2640 St. Paul St. and to put this building to work as a space for social justice organizing and independent culture. Like most big projects, this is going to take a lot of money and a lot of work - if you're able to offer either, please drop us a line at 2640 [at] redemmas.org.
800 St. Paul St. * Baltimore, MD 21202 * (410) 230-0450 * info@redemmas.org
Red Emma's is open Monday through Saturday from 10AM-10PM, and Sunday from 10AM-6PM. Our weekly collective meetings are Sunday at 7PM, and are open to anyone interested in the project.
Today (August 6th) is the official release date for this second album from Baltimore's own Son of Nun (this time joined by DJ Mentos). We've been fortunate enough to have had an advance copy in the store for a few weeks now. Extremely fortunate. Any one who's been to a rally or a political benefit concert in the past year in Baltimore has probably heard Son of Nun perform a few of these songs already - but the album is a revelation, the same raw intensity and uncompromising lyrical radicalism, but coupled with polish and some amazingly tight beats. We've been waiting for this one for a long time - and it was worth it. 
Over the course of the past decade, there has been a marked increase in skepticism toward current models for public and private schools, and a renewed interest in alternative models for education. Why? The simple answer is that many of our educational institutions fail to offer kids the skills they need to be healthy, self-directed life-learners. They stifle creativity, and encourage conformity of thought. They utilize draconian disciplinary measures and a one-size-fits-all approach to learning. And government control of, and corporate intrusion into education has been a further disaster for communities concerned with the welfare of their youngsters. 
