GENERATOR

Here Rachel Shockey and Brianna Kelly
performed a scene from Angels in America
that was very convincing for being on a
city street.
Then we were led
to the surprise spot
on the trip: The Poe
House, a red brick
building that Edgar
Allen Poe lived in
between 1844 and
1845. It was while
living here that Poe
began “The Cask
of Amontillado”
and published “The
Raven.” These were
significant statements
on the petition that
scholars signed to
save the house from
demolition. It has
thus been preserved
but is sadly only open
to the public for a few hours on Thursdays.
Cresci read Poe’s poem “Lenore” in front
of the house.
This was the last reading stop before
rest and relaxation in Washington Square
Park. The sun had become pretty hot
by 2:30, so we sat on the edge of the
central fountain, letting the wind spray
the fountain streams in our faces. I joined
the few who took off their shoes to feel
the cool, wet stone on our tired feet. The
park was packed with people, vendors, and
entertainers, so there was music and chatter
all around us. We got offered stickers in
exchange for our change and listened to the
sound of a piano that had been rolled in.
The sounds of “Smooth Criminal”
on ivory keys was amusing but
even more enjoyable were the
two men dressed in black and red
stripes that were dancing to the
songs the pianist played. At one
point one was spinning the other
on the top of his head.
“Washington Square Park’s
street performance, on that sunny
Saturday, made me forget about
the stresses of being a college
senior,” said Sweeney.
After an hour, we regrouped
and walked to our last stop,
The Strand. It’s like Barnes and
Noble on steroids and without a
Starbucks, but you don’t really
have time to waste on buying a $5
latte. I had to hurry through the
$1 books outside since we had
just about an hour to explore 18
miles of books and I wanted to go
home with something I was going
Photos Contributed
by Jennifer Sommer
Clockwise: The fountain in Washington
Square Park, LAS President
Kelly Gallucci at the Poe House, and
a llama that is much more colorful
in person
to read.
The giant shelves, the stacks of
books, the smell of paper and ink where
overwhelming, just the buzz around you
from so many literary brains in one place
can feel slightly oppressive, but very
exciting. I felt like I needed a full day to
appreciate the amount of books and find
something I really wanted to take home
with me. I did find a book for my sister and
a cheap copy of The Great Gatsby; but I,
and perhaps many others on the trip, felt
like we need to get back there again to
really appreciate it.
We left the city with bags of books,
stickers from strangers, photographs, and
sore feet but, most importantly, memories
and inspiration to use in our future writing
ventures.
“I’m so happy with how the trip went.
The best feedback I got was that members
had the chance to talk, to connect with one
another,” said Gallucci. It was about the
city and great writers of the past—but it
was more about bringing the club together.”
One can only hope that the club will
continue these trips to the city for new
members to enjoy and really feel like
they’re a part of a true literary arts society.
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