Photos and text by Stacie Joy
When we last checked in with Chris Santana, the bookseller of Astor Place had just released a rousing Christmas song.
It's unseasonably cold out the next time we see him.
"I set up the stand when it's 45 degrees or above and the wind isn't whipping," he says.
He has been at it now for two years at the start of this spring here on the corner of Third Avenue and Astor Place underneath the sidewalk bridge of Cooper Union's Foundation Building.
"Cooper Union has been nice about it, and as you know, my First Amendment rights include selling literature or art without the need of a license," Santana says. "The hardest part of the whole gig is going all over the city digging for books, although there's a certain thrill involved. But the main thrill is making people happy when they get a book that we both think they'll really dig."
There's one constant at his stand.
"I have an ongoing hand in the dissemination of The Urantia Book, and I’ve been at it for 40 years," he says. "It's a very challenging book, and it takes a degree of cool along with enthusiasm to introduce it. The last thing I want to do is come off as proselytizing when it comes to such an important book, and the bookstand has proven the best way I’ve found to introduce as casually as whoever is interested allows."
He also has a copy of his book, "The Drunken Tourist" ...
Santana has no set schedule for the corner nor a social media account with any updates.
Regardless, he's always a welcome presence. "See ya 'round campus," he says.
Great guy.
ReplyDeleteGood books.
We are lucky to have him♥️🥊🥊🥊
He has a resemblance to the late newspaper columnist, Pete Hamill
ReplyDeleteTerrific books. Terrific person
ReplyDelete"...my First Amendment rights include selling literature or art without the need of a license," Santana says.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, what????
Maybe he should read a book on the constitution.
Does he take donated books and, if so, are there certain ones that he is interested in?
ReplyDeleteI have bought a ton of books over the years from East Village Books and they refuse to take them back (for free), which is weird to me since they could double their money.
Housing Works will take your books. There is also a "Little Free Library" in Stuyvesant Square Park on 16th Street just off Rutherford Place. Look for the little box up on a stand.
DeleteWith regard to the comment "...my First Amendment rights include selling literature or art without the need of a license...", Santana may be oversimplifying, but is is true that New York City does not require a General Vendor License for thise who sell (in non-store public places) books, newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, written material, and artwork. And the reason New York City law makes that licensing allowance may well have arisen from free expression considerations.
ReplyDeleteAs Anonymous @1:10 PM, I guess I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteMaybe *I* should go read a book...
La Plaza Cultural has two free lending libraries along the fences on Avenue C and Ninth Street. Residents are welcome to drop off books and pick up a few in exchange.
ReplyDeletePS
There may still be one outside the 11th Street Community Garden between Avenue A and First Avenue.
Way to go better news then a new place for vegan pressed yak milk for yuppies more news like this
ReplyDeletethanks for this - its stories like these that keep me coming back to evgrieve! I think I just found my new favorite book"store"!
ReplyDeleteHi, it's Chris and I'm setting up this weekend for sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the nice comments.
Finding the Urantia Book there would be a momentous day! Thank You Chris from Colorado! Lynn of 606
ReplyDeleteAt 1:11 PM, Anonymous said:
ReplyDeleteI have bought a ton of books over the years from East Village Books and they refuse to take them back (for free), which is weird to me since they could double their money.
I've been bringing them my used books since before the pandemic; the guy never refuses them, because the ones they can't sell are donated to prison reading programs. That's how I've understood it, anyway. Anyway, I bring them in during business hours—although there's a drop box outside for when the store is closed.
Love this guy and his selection. Miss all the street booksellers around NYU…
ReplyDelete