[Photo of Steve Cannon via Guest of a Guest]
Today, Two Boots Pizza is holding Save the Tribes Day, in which it will donate all proceeds of the day’s pizza sales — from all 7 of its Manhattan stores — to A Gathering of the Tribes. The Lower East Side arts institution founded 20 years ago by poet, playwright and novelist Steve Cannon is on the brink of losing its longtime home at 285 East 3rd St., as
the building is up for sale.
Culminating Save the Tribes Day, in connection with National Poetry Month, Tribes will host an open mic musical performance and poetry reading with special guests at 6:00 P.M. Admission is $5 and can be purchased at the door.
Steve Cannon bought the building housing A Gathering of the Tribes in 1970 and sold it in 2004 to help finance the organization’s programming. He has since paid rent to continue occupying the space, but recently found out that the building is being sold. So many of the artists, poets and musicians whose careers have been nurtured by Tribes — along with neighbors such as Two Boots — are rallying to help the organization keep its home. You can read more about the situation here.