Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.

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The brainchild of literary wonder boy Dave Eggers, this "costume shop" has a second, secret identity�like any good superhero. Beyond the platform on which young and old alike test capes while being blasted by a high-powered fan, and behind the shelves stocked with grappling hooks and invisibility paint is something infinitely less silly but no less stupendous: the headquarters for 826NYC, a not-for-profit writing program that focuses primarily on kids ages 6 to 18. Encouraging writing in any and all forms�comics, fables, poetry, essays, songs, short stories, novels, and even teleplays�the organization seeks to help young people express themselves creatively and confidently through the written word. The agency (accessed via a trick bookshelf) offers free after-school one-on-one tutoring on a drop-in, first-come-first-served basis, as well as weeknight and weekend workshops and help with school publications. They'll also host class trips to 826 and help teachers with in-class, writing-based projects. — Mira Ptacin

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