826 National

826 National is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. The brainchild of Dave Eggers (yes, that Dave Eggers), the workshops are in select cities coast to coast, and each has more than than just guest speakers and special programs:

826 Boston: The Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute for unexpected urban yeti.

826 Chicago: The Boring Store, not offering the latest in secret agent and espionage gear.

For Sale: Periscopes, trench coats, and night-vision goggles; disguises of all kinds (n.b. this is not by any means a store for spies).

826 Los Angeles: Convenience and supplies in The Echo Park Time Travel Mart. For Sale: Dinosaur eggs and princess hats; robot-emotion upgrades, dodo chow, and scarlet letters; time-machine parts; coffee.

826 NYC: Home to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.
For Sale: Capes, masks, and grappling hooks; muscles, antimatter, and secret identity kits; suction cups.

826 Seattle: More than Tang at The Greenwood Space Travel Supply Store.

For Sale: Rocket fuel, air, assorted ray guns; intergalactic peace treaties, travel cups, spaceship accessories.

826 Valencia / San Francisco: Everything for the landlubber at The Pirate Supply Store.

For Sale: Hooks, flags, and message bottles; rat traps, peg legs, and pirate perfume; wax seals, dice, and lard (for bartering, not sale).

And open this weekend, 826 Michigan!
For Sale: Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots, Mega Mech, The RoboPanda, Robot Emotion Upgrades & First Aid kits, Positronic brains, The Is Your Little Sister a Robot? Test Kit .