On Saturday, April 30th, Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts and the Historic Districts Council hosted Yorkville: A Celebration of Home at the Bohemian National Hall, an individual New York City landmark. The audience assembled in the Hall's stunning Grand Ballroom, and Majda Kallab Whitaker of the Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association provided a fascinating overview of the Hall's history and careful restoration. This year, Yorkville was selected as one of the Historic District Council's "Six to Celebrate" neighborhoods, and the event celebrated the melting pot of German, Czechoslovakian, Hungarian, Irish, and other immigrants who have shaped Yorkville into the vibrant neighborhood it is today.  

The symposium featured an oral history panel, moderated by Alexandra Kelly of the New York Public Library, with panelists Thomas Pryor, Peter Walsh, Irene Mergl, and Edward Kasinec. The wonderful panelists shared colorful stories of growing up in Yorkville and what makes the neighborhood special to them. Other highlights included a demonstration by Vit Horejs of the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, where he showcased his 200 year old puppets that he discovered in the attic of Jan Hus Presbyterian Church on 74th Street.