Thursday, Oct. 10 @ 7 pm
Bluestockings Books, 172 Allen Street between Stanton and Rivington
Reading + Discussion: Cathryn Swan’s "Tales of Washington Square Park (and a few other places)"
The official release for "Tales of Washington Square Park (and a few other places)," a book/zine written by Cathryn Swan, the editor of the Washington Square Park Blog, featuring some of her favorite stories from the blog. The event will feature a reading by Swan, conversation about the famous Greenwich Village park and more, and discussion of New York City’s privatization of public space.
Swan is the founder of the Washington Square Park Blog, an independent website which began in 2008, just as the park’s controversial redesign construction began. She also writes articles at the Huffington Post and is writing a book "The B-girl Guide to Living Your Life in Earth, Animal & People-friendly ways."
Why was the fountain moved 23 feet east to line up with the Arch at Fifth Avenue after 137 years in its previous location?
Did cars really run through the Arch?
Why did Henry James hate the Arch?
Answers to these questions and more!
From Eleanor Roosevelt, Jane Jacobs, Bob Dylan to today, the park remains the heart of Greenwich Village. It is a constant reminder of the magical commons in the midst of the privatized city.
Find the event page here.
Saveourvillage.org is a project rooted in love and respect. When you feel such a deep connection to what you love, you take responsibility for it. Responsibility leads to action.
Many of us have left our home, we are either unable to afford to live in Our Village or no longer feeling the inspiration to create. Many of us are artists in exile, awaiting the dream in belief that one day we will be able to return to our home.
We were joking that we want to form a provisional government
This project has been a return to our roots, understanding what we have been given and that it is now our responsibility to stand up and protect what we love.
The root of why we are taking a stand now is that we recognize that each of us would not be the people that we are without the magic of The Village and we want others to continue the tradition of creativity that we have received.
Only from researching the historic evolution of art and culture here, do we stand to understand the fountain of wisdom that we are so luck to be a part of.
We think that the above — selling naming rights to the Washington (Square) Arch — could never happen… but if this privatizing path that we’re being led on continues, is it really that improbable?
