Something special happens when you make a place for reading on a stretch of sidewalk for a week. You become a conversation-starter, a neighborhood meeting place. Life histories are told. Long-time or newly budding interests are revealed—say in ships, or photography.
When Tribeca Pediatrics, a 2014 sponsor of the Uni, suggested a week-long residency in front of their office at 409 Grand St, we knew we had to try it. Tribeca Pediatrics knows neighborhoods; they serve 17 of them around the city. Grand St is home to families as well as the elderly and it has a mix of languages and income-levels. The fruit vendor on the corner has been there 20 years.
See photos of our remarkable week below, and more images from our first day here. We were honored to host several classes from Manhattan Charter School and many other kids from the neighborhood. And we were pleased to offer our reading room as a part of national Screen-Free Week, of which we were a featured event.
A heartfelt thanks to our sponsor, Tribeca Pediatrics, and our host, Frank Durant and staff at the 50+ year-old Seward Park Housing Coop. Keep reading, Lower East Side!
The Zoetrope, hand-powered animation, is always a major attraction on the sidewalk.
Staff from Tribeca Pediatrics supported us all week—thanks to our sponsors!
8th graders from George Jackson Academy helped staff the reading room, reading to themselves and other kids, and posting book recommendations. Look for more GJA boys at the Uni all summer!
When the crowds cleared for a moment, there was time for minor repairs to our pop-up book collection.
This book is part of a curated collection from the NY Hall of Science.
Writing our mini-book reviews. So many reviewers we nearly ran out of paper.
Students from Manhattan Charter School presented us with a book they created, thanking us!
The view from inside the waiting room of Tribeca Pediatrics at 409 Grand St, our host and sponsor.
Just as we were leaving, a light rain came in, but the Uni was already folded up. Thank you Lower East Side—see you soon!