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Friday, March 26, 2010

The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company

If you are a frequent reader of my blog you know I am a very proud life long resident of Brooklyn, New York, and that I always try to show this large and populous borough of the City of New York in a positive way, but even I was surprised to learn that Superheros like to shop here!  Are there really true Superheros in the world today?

 (all photos will enlarge when clicked on)

The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company store is located at 372 5th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, between 5th and 6th Street in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn.

If you click on to enlarge this photo you will read their supply list and a list of services. They advertise "one stop for all your foe battling needs."  Hmmm...I think that a service that even non superheroes could use!

Peeking into the window I saw cans of omnipotence, bravery, immortality and an alternate universe.

Curious, I decided to go inside. The signs in the photo mosaic above were prominently displayed in the lobby.  It all sounds so official!

This was the first view I saw of the store when I walked in.  Superhero capes and costumes were for sale, but I could see that this was not just a costume store.

They also had the supplies a Superhero and his, or her, sidekick might need! There were cans of things like gravity and anti gravity, x-ray vision, muscle, invincibility and intelligence.

There were boxes full of devices, such as invisibility detection goggles and night vision binoculars. There was even an evil blob containment capsule!

The economy sized plastic jugs of telekinesis, telepathy and e.s.p. seemed to be big sellers.

Need replacement parts for your cyborg robot?  Step right up and order them here!

During the time I was browsing in the store I saw two little Superheros use this special "devillainizer" wind chamber to make sure their capes were not corrupted.

Although all the items shown here are actually for sale, both at the store and through mail order from the web site, the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company is not just a novelty store, it is literally a front for the charitable non profit organization called  826NYC, with all sales going to the organization. 

 826NYC is dedicated towards supporting students ages 6 to18 to develop their creative and expository writing skills, and it also helps teachers to inspire their students to write.  826NYC provides free drop-in tutoring, after-school workshops, in-schools tutoring, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications.

  Inside the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company store there are "secret" rooms located behind the shelves, where free after school drop in tutoring sessions are held Sunday through Thursday, along with special after school and summer workshops ranging from playful to practical, and taught by volunteer writers, artists, educators and publishing professionals.

826 National was founded in 2002 by author David Eggers and co-founder Nínive Calegari, at the flagship location in San Francisco, known as 826 Valencia. It has since grown into seven more chapters across the country: Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Ann Arbor, Boston, and Washington D.C., several of which offer a unique storefront retail experiences as fundraisers, all with different themes.

826NYC's writing center opened its doors in September 2004. Since then their programs have offered well over one thousand students opportunities to improve their writing and to work side by side with community volunteers.

Do you want to learn more about the services of 826?  Watch this informative Youtube video.  Pay attention towards the end of the video and you'll see the secret passage to the tutoring room in the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store revealed.



So, are there true Superheros in the world today?  Yes!  Each and every 826 National volunteer and all the children who participate in literacy programs throughout the country are Superheros.  Hopefully, they will someday make the world a better place.



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41 comments:

  1. That is so quirky and fun--I LOVE that! haha... there is something for everyone, and a shop for everyone interest too... Who knew! Just catching up with you here, Pat! As you saw at my place, lots on with our Charlie and me getting over a cold. No signs of spring here yet, by the way... but soon--it's melting & thawing, so there's hope! Happy Weekend ahead, my friend :o) ((BIG HUGS))

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  2. That sure is an unusual shop. What a great charity to help kids write.

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  3. How cool is this!! My boys will get such a kick out of this! Great post Pat
    xoxo Pattie

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  4. Well you know I will be purchasing things from their website! How cool an idea is that...and how cool a cause!!

    This was a really fun and special post, Pat!!

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  5. What a wonderful place to take the grand kids who think that being a super hero is right up there with ice cream and cake for breakfast! Thank you! This was grand! Cathy

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  6. I LOVE it!!!
    Never know what I am going to find on your blog:))
    Such a fun and interesting place you live in!

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  7. There are always new and fun things to discover in NYC. Thankfully we've got you on the spot to unearth them.

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  8. My boys would LOVE that place! I can't wait to go back to NY, and before we do, I will have my hubs come on your blog so he can figure out all our new pit stops! Have a great weekend!

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  9. haha love it! I sat here with my mouth open speachless! This seems to be such a fun store to explore and all for a good cause. Amazing..Thanks for sharing always so much fun exploring with you. Grace xoxox

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  10. letters....letters...letters and more letters! WORDS, signage...a logophile nirvana! oh goodness me :)

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  11. what a great idea - and true super heroes indeed!

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  12. What a hoot!! Leave it to New York to have something quirky & fun!!
    Happy Spring!!
    Love,
    Marilyn
    xxoo

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  13. Hi

    What an absolutely brilliant shop and organisation! And what a fun way to fire up children's imagination and to encourage them to be creative and pro-active! I like their "Pluto is a planet" campaign! Poor Pluto indeed. The YouTube clip is excellent. The kids are so cute and so happy being part of this fab way to learn to read and write and just find the joy of learning and telling stories! And the volunteers are brilliant - all superheroes indeed. I hope 826NYC do expand and reach more and more kids!

    I'm still staring agog at the fantastic shop - I want, I want , I want! LOL!

    I must never visit that shop because if I do, I will never leave, really and truly!

    Brilliant post and pics as always

    Take care
    x

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  14. You know, I stopped reading your post and went to the website. Holy Cow! What a hoot! I sent the link to your post to a bunch of people because I think the cause is EXCELLENT!

    You take us to the coolest places!!

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  15. Well if anyone would know where the Super Hero store is it would be you. After all, I know you wear a cap and go around NY finding the best places. You are the NY Super Hero tour guide!

    I just wonder if you have several capes? One for the Super Hero Blogger, One for the Super Hero cook, One for the super hero grandma and one for the Super Hero Tour guide. :)

    Yes, In my eyes YOU are a super hero.

    Hugs,
    Joanne

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  16. That is such a fabulous program and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the video to learn more about it. What a fun way to get the kids learning and writing. The store front is just too funny, I'd have a ball looking at everything on the shelves:-) Yes, don't you know I always wanted to be a superhero?? hehe xoxo

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  17. Pat, I love, love, love this. And, who knew?!!! What a fantastic place and effort. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

    p.s. Of course there are superheroes - real and fantasy. And, I think they are great.

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  18. I'm loving this shop you've shared with us. How fabulous to get all your superhero (or heroine) needs met in this way. I so want to visit and discover my own super powers there. And you're so right about the real superheroes in the world.

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  19. At first I was thinking "OMGosh must be the best idea for a store on earth." And upon completing your post I knew it was. What a great way to inspire kids to develop their writing and creative skills. Talk about out of the box thinking....this bunch of people deserve an A+.

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  20. What a cool place! You definitely widen my horizons all the time, Pat, Brooklyn has so much, it really is such a fantastic place! I only knew about my little corner of it :)

    I agree with you on the Superheroes of the world!

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  21. Thanks Pat for the kind words.

    Looks like you have been in my shoes. I have been here with kittys but for some reason my little toy poodle, Buddy was different. This has shaken me to the very core. It has left me flattened. What a heartbreak. Just so sad and lonely. It happened March 3rd and I am just now BARELY beginning to function again. What a loss from my life. I know I can never replace him..he was a special boy...but what you said about knowing Buddy had the BEST LIFE EVER on this earth here in our family...well, that helped me alot.

    Thanks my friend. You are so kind. It makes me feel better knowing I have friends like you out there in this world.

    You're a dear to take the time.

    Love,
    Kary

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  22. I had no idea what that was going to be! Too funny..I like they help students as long as they don't try to influence them politically...
    I will have to watch the video..

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  23. What a great idea! I'm so glad there are groups focusing on writing - so important, and so often neglected. I loved seeing children actually writing on paper in the video, and not just using a computer. Great post Pat. laurie

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  24. Oh what a fabulous shop and cause, Pat.... I'm SO impressed.... Think about all of the creativity that goes into that shop... AND--the fact that they help kids is fabulous... I'm blown away... That is SUPER..... THEY are the SuperHeroes.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  25. Cute idea for the store front for the tutoring for the little super heros. I use of live in San Francisco but never heard of this organization. I am asking for prayers this week for my cousin Robert Salerno who was the young police officer shot in the Bronx on Monday. I am sure you saw this on the news and read it in all the papers.
    Joyce

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  26. Well, I never!
    When I first started reading this I thought, what in the world is this about.
    Absolutly fantastic, what a wonderful program this is. Isn't it amazing how we can help each other. You really have the best blog. After reading this it's a great day and a great world.
    yvonne

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  27. This is wonderful and a great cause. Forwarding this to my neighbor the Brooklyn transplant.

    Always a pleasure to visit!

    Cathy

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  28. Pat. This is amazing. I love this place. I am coming to visit you so we can go there together.

    This is absolute genius.

    Thank you for sharing this wonder with us.

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  29. This is great! Going to send link to son for his next visit to NY. It looks like his kind of place.

    Love the signs. . . do they sell them or are they just for display?

    Did you happen to notice whether they carried a Superwoman outfit in my size? Mine is wearing thin. (The suit--certainly not me!)

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  30. only in new york! :)

    what a super fun post!

    and thank you for telling me about
    your sweet palm sunday tradition.

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  31. That is such a cool way to combine retailing and a meaningful cause. What a special reading/mentoring experience!

    Have a great weekend!

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  32. For a minute I didn't know where this post was going....i was hoping you got out with your life...or with a "Super-Blogger Cape".....what a clever idea for a great cause....

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  33. What a wonderful shop! How inspirational and great that they do so much to inspire creativity in kids. Brilliant stuff!

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  34. Hi Pat,
    Sorry I haven't visited in a while but what a great post! Only Brooklyn would have a superhero supply store (lol). Thanks for another wonderful post!

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  35. Your story and pictures of this Unusual shop are really fun!

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  36. thanks for info. please visit my blog

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  37. This is so fabulous. My dearest friend in New Orleans is always trying to find superhero things for her grandson. I can't wait to tell her about this store!!! She is a mail order and internet shopping freak so this is right up her alley!

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  38. I just loved that!!! A very unusual place this is...I guess it's lot of fun. Very cool Pat, thanks for posting about it.

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  39. Pat, this is SO neat! I loved reading this. What a cool idea for a charity, and I enjoyed the tour very much.

    Thanks...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  40. So Pat, what did you buy at the superhero store?

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