Housing Works Bookstore, typically teaming with people, lays sleeping on a quiet Sunday evening. When Amy flips the light switch the gentle hum reverberates through my ears, florescent bulbs flickering to life. The exclusivity of it is dangerous and exciting, as New York often can feel to a visitor. Always a new place to discover. What lies before me tonight is something quite impressive.

At first glance Housing Works may seem a typical Manhattan Bookstore, it's certainly grand. Rolling staircases, hardwood floors, and those exposed pipes and air vents that are just SO New York. One on every block, right? In fact, I have been to Crosby Street before, just over one year ago, and I did not recall feeling particularly moved by the place. How naive...to have overlooked this little slice of heaven.

Housing Works protects and fights for the rights and care of those suffering from homelessness and AIDS. Businesses such as the Bookstore Cafe and Thrift Shops support these efforts, while also providing employment opportunities to the community. They seem to have an endless amount of events, bringing the people together (AND fundraising all the while) over literature, politics, music, and great food and drinks. The place is constantly being rented; weddings, parties, Duracell commercials. It must change and adapt on a dime. And the (almost completely) volunteer-based staff is eager to help. The buzz of laptops and the smell of coffee fills the air, the space feels like Christmas morning, elves working furiously to set the stage for the next event. A kind of new-age Santa's workshop, making the impossible possible, one used book sale at a time. It warms me up, even on the chilliest of October mornings.

On this particular visit, Bobby and I are attending the Housing Works Story Time, hosted by our dear friend, Amy Virginia Buchanan and the lovely, Beth Edwards Kapsner. Within five minutes I've transformed into a snotty nosed toddler, singing as loud as I can and leaning over the edge of my seat, "I caaan't seeee." This is a DAMN good story time.

At 10:30, when the ladies of Story Time called for the fun to begin, there are at least 15 babies ready and waiting, with a smattering of moms, grandmas, and nannies who know the drill. As the music starts a second wave of little ones pour in...nearly 25 munchkins in all, eager to hear today's tales. In all my years of working as a nanny, I've never seen a story time come together with such ease and attentiveness. These babies are all in.

During a particularly riveting retelling of 5 Little Ducks, Amy pulls out a duck quack that would make Donald swoon. The babies and their chaperones erupt into laughter as the mother duck frantically flaps her wings, squawking for her lost kin.

The combination of Amy's bubbly music and Beth's calm and engaging voice is dynamite. After the show, Bobby overhears a group of mothers, clearly impressed by the day's performance. "She's just so BIG and reactive," one gushes, commenting on Buchanan's colorful performance. Another mom, a return Story Timer, chimes in, "She went to clown school last year." The women chuckle and agree, "yeah, I could see that." I swell with pride to see my fellow red nosed friend flourishing. And the people, loving it.

~ Kolleen

Check out Story Time with your little one! Wednesday mornings at 10:30...and all of the other exciting events at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe.

Learn more about Housing Works and clown school!

Housing Works: http://www.housingworks.org

The Bookstore Cafe: http://housingworks.org/locations/detail/bookstore-cafe/

Dell'Arte International: http://www.dellarte.com