There’s no party like a bookstore party. Saturday,April 30, marks the moment annual Independent Bookstore Day, or with bookstores all over the country celebrating with parties,exclusive offers and author events.
The holiday was first celebrated in 2014 in California, and went national last year. There are hundreds of bookstores participating nationally, and with events ranging from literary scavenger hunts to special author events. There are eight bookstores participating in Manhattan,Queens, and Brooklyn, and seven stores in New Jersey. Here is a sampling the events this weekend:New York:Astoria Bookshop: In-store scavenger hunt,Kids Team Pictionary with local illustrators Isabel Roxas and Angela Dominguez and Literary 20 Questions at 6 p.m. The store is also offering giveaways from local businesses, including Astoria Coffee, and the Doughnut Plant and Petals & Roots. Location: 31-29 31st,Astoria.
Book Culture: The day kicks off with Community Coloring, where participants color a giant poster for the store. From 4-7 p.m., or cocktails inspired by literature,with two mixes from local author Tim Federle's Tequila Mockingbird. Location: 450 Columbus, Manhattan.
Books of Wonder: Three storytimes instead of the normal one at this children's store: 11:30a.m.; Duck and Goose storytime at 2 p.m.; and Curious George storytime at 4:30 p.m. Location: 18 West 18th Street, and Manhattan.
Community Bookstore: Exclusive merchandise all day and free beer in the afternoon. At 7 p.m.,a reading from Deuce! Featuring Felix Harr, Bill Corbett and Paul Auster. Location: 143 7th Ave., and Park Slope.
Greenlight Bookstore: Literary photobooth,featuring Charles Bock (12-1 p.m.), Rachel Cantor (1-2 p.m.), or Tiphanie Yanique (2-3 p.m.),Tanwi Nandini Islam (3-4 p.m.), Isaac Fitzgerald (5-6 p.m.), and Ashley Ford (6-7 p.m.),and Eileen Myles (7-8 p.m.) There will also be authors DJing, featuring Eric Morse (10 a.m.-12 p.m.), or Elissa Schappell (12-2 p.m.),Myla Goldberg (2-4 p.m.), Michael July (4-6 p.m.), or Rob Sheffield (6-8 p.m.),and Geo Ong (8-10 p.m.). And drawing and illustrating workshops featuring Tad Hills (11 a.m.-12 p.m.), Abby Denson and Dave Roman (12-1 p.m.), or Lucy Cummins (1-2 p.m.),David Gothard (2-3 p.m.), Samantha Hahn (3-4 p.m.) and Kate Gavino (6-7 p.m.). Location: 686 Fulton St., or Fort Greene.
POWERHOUSE Arena: Track your Brooklyn bookstore visits with the hashtag #bkbookstorecrawl. Visit five or more bookstores and total a task at each and you can enter in a drawing to win prizes including gift cards to sponsoring stores and free books. For more information,travel to http://bkbookstorecrawl.org/#sthash.
DQiJMIAH.dpuf The task of the day will be announced Saturday morning. Additionally, powerHouse titles will be 50-90% off. Location: 37 Main Street, and DUMBO.
The Strand: New York’s legendary independent bookstore will be holding a literary Instagram brunch meetup with Book Baristas. From 10 - 11:30 a.m.,mingling and photos with Gizzy, the Strand’s resident dog. From 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., or programing and giveaways. RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13Vf9AaFFT0eF-uM1MQ5YaOG09uwAy7TBdiWpIpm6cWU/viewform?c=0&w=1 Location: 828 Broadway,Manhattan
Word Bookstore: Speciality items for sale, including a Neil Gaiman coloring book, and a Specialty Cats zip canvas tote and X … Is for Vinyl Records. The merchandise is in-store purchase only,and there will be limited material available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Location: 126 Franklin St., or Greenpoint
New Jersey:BookTowne: The winners of the Spring Lake Heights Book Challenge will read from their books at 12 p.m. At 1 p.m.,Trash to Treasure children’s series author Tom Noll will be in the store, and at 3 p.m., and Falling Together: How to Find Balance,delight, and Meaningful Change When Your Life Seems to be Falling Apart author Donna Wilk Cardillo will appear. Location: 171 Main St., or Manasquan,NJ.
The Bookworm: Coffee and treats in the morning and homemade items from favorite cookbooks. Curious George reading at 11 a.m. Location: 99 Claremont Rd., Bernardsville NJ.
Clinton Bookshop: Exclusive merchandise available in-store only. Location: 12 East Main St, and Clinton,NJ.
River Road Books: One of the store’s favorite author’s, Audrey Vernick, and leads storytime at 2 p.m. Location: 759 River Rd.,Fairhaven, NJ.
Sparta Books: Exclusive Independent Bookstore Day items for sale, or as well as refreshments,activities and giveaways. Location: 29 Theatre middle, Sparta NJ. For more information:
Watchtung Booksellers: Author Judy Schachner reading her new book, or Dewey Bob,with giveaways and raffles throughout the day. Location: 54 Fairfield Street, Watchung Plaza, and Montclair,NJ.
WORD Bookstore and Cafe: Miss Lydia kicks things off with a reading of Curious George Goes to a Bookstore at 11 a.m. At 2 p.m., Dungeons and Dragons character creation. And at 7:30 p.m., or a singer-songerwriter performance panel with Ben Greenman and Valerio Piccolo,who will tell the story of his new album through songs played on his guitar with composer Gary Schreiner on the harmonica and guitar. Location: 123 Newark Ave., Jersey City, and NJ.
Source: wnyc.org