Upcoming 25: Events around NYC (Aug. 25 – Sept 25, 2009)

Been browsing at indie bookstores to snag a break from the heat this summer? Thanks for your browsing and book buying too! Summer’s not over just yet, but anticipation for fall literary happenings is mounting. Heck, there’s great events scheduled for this week and through Labor Day too – so let’s get to it. Check out the plethora of fantastic programming planned for the next month at indie bookstores around NYC – literary readings, book launch parties, concerts, workshops, children’s storytime hours + more — like these two art exhibits that kick off our latest Upcoming 25 listing:

at SKYLINE BOOKS: a new ArtWall at the shop offers local artists in NYC a unique venue to exhibit their art. The first in a series of exhibits is now on display – Sean Hanratty shows pieces from his series Photosynthesis (like the one shown above)

at MELVILLE HOUSE BOOKSTORE: September 1 through October 9 (opening Sept. 10th 6-8 PM) – The Philosophy of Travel: New Paintings by Ayad Sinawi

TODAY! Tuesday, August 25: at IDLEWILD BOOKS – 6 PM: Launch party and fundraiser for New Orleans – celebrate the launch of Josh Neufeld’s graphic novel A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge with a fundraising party & live music.

Wednesday, August 26th: at BLUESTOCKINGS – 7PM: Eileen Myles reads from The Importance of Being Iceland

Upcoming 25: Special Book Expo America Edition

It’s that time again – another roundup of great programming taking place at (or in partnership with) indie booksellers in New York City. Why the special edition this time? Book Expo America (BEA), is a huge industry conference for bookselling and publishing professionals that begins next week in NYC. As a gift for all the folks who will be visiting NYC for the conference, we’ve prepared a special version of the Upcoming 25 — MOST of the events listed will happen during BEA. We’ve also included ongoing events that have already begun, a few taking place during Memorial Day weekend, and one special fair happening in early June. There are lots of literary possibilities for the last ten days of May and beyond, so let’s get to it – enjoy!

Ongoing: Right now at URBAN CENTER BOOKS: Unpacking My Library, an exhibition of New York architects and their books. The first of ten in a series, the exhibition documents Peter Eisenman’s relationship with books by combining an interactive exhibit visually scanning the bookshelves, with a video interview, and more. With a different architect every month, the exhibition continues through 2010. A catalog of the exhibit will be published by Yale University Press in October 2009.

Ongoing: Right now at RIZZOLI BOOKSTORE: A vast selection of deeply discounted illustrated books on art, architecture, photography, fashion, interior design, pop culture, and more. Most sale books are at least half price, if not better, with some as low as $1 & $5. Through June 15.

Ongoing: Right now – visit MORNINGSIDE BOOKSHOP, which is slated to close at the end of May. There are efforts underway to keep the space open as a bookstore, and donations are being accepted – they have raised $60,000 in pledges in the past few weeks. Pledges can be made via email at info@morningsidebookshop.com, or pop in and visit, show your support while this great general interest indie bookstore is still here!

Upcoming 25: Events Around NYC (April 25 – May 25, 2009)

Here’s our latest highlight of upcoming literary and cultural events. We’ve listed 25 events happening at or in collaboration with 25 different indie booksellers around New York City! Lots of great programs coming up:

Saturday, April 25:

at East Harlem Cafe, sponsored by LA CASA AZUL BOOKSTORE : 12 NOON – 2 PM – “Dia del Niño/Dia de Libro” is a local party that promotes reading, literacy and bilingualism to children of all backgrounds. Children’s authors Lissette Norman and Annette Perez will be reading and signing books. FREE but RSVP suggested: lacasaazulbookstore@gmail.com

Sunday, April 26:

at DESERT ISLAND: 4 PM – Mark Newgarden & Megan Montague Cash will sign books and celebrate Bow-Wow’s Colorful Life and Bow-Wow 12 Months Running. FREE & featuring: cookies!

Monday, April 27:

at PARTNERS & CRIME: 7 PM – Dr. John Elefteriades, chief of cardiac surgery at Yale, reads from and signs copies of his new techno thriller, Transplant. FREE

The Upcoming 25 – Events at Indie Bookstores Around the City (March 25 – April 25, 2009)

Here’s the latest list of programming highlights from independent bookstores around New York City. Be sure to visit the websites of individual stores for more information:

Wednesday, March 25:

at BLUESTOCKINGS: 7 PM – Luke Bergmann reads from Getting Ghost, which documents the lives of two young drug dealers in Detroit, “…an eloquent, narrative account of the lives of those trapped in a deindustrialized city.” FREE

Thursday, March 26:

at 192 BOOKS: 6:30 PM – Felix Rohatyn discusses his new book, Bold Endeavors: How Our Government Built America, and Why it Must Rebuild Now. FREE but you must call for reservations: 212-255-4022.

at EAST WEST BOOKS: 7 PM – Book signing with Brad Warner, author of Zen-Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate: A Trip Through Death, Sex, Divorce and Spiritual Celebrity in Search of the True Dharma. FREE

at MORNINGSIDE BOOKSHOP: 7 PM – Enjoy jazz music with Ken Wessel and Joe Fitzgerald. Refreshments too. FREE

The Upcoming 25 – Events at Indie Bookstores Around the City (Feb 25 – March 25, 2009)

It’s time once again for a look at what’s coming up at indie bookstores around New York City. Here is a list of scheduled readings, film screening, sales, book clubs, writing workshops and more:

at URBAN CENTER BOOKS: NOW through Sat., Feb 28 – Proprietors Reserve Sale – 40% off selected titles at the bookstore of the Municipal Art Society.

Wednesday, February 25:

at BROWNSTONE BOOKS: 7 PM – Russell Goings, author of The Children of Children Keep Coming

Thursday, February 26:

at MORNINGSIDE BOOKSHOP: 7 PM – Lena Roy leads a writing workshop: “In the spirit of our new president, and YES WE CAN! come prepared to discuss choosing HOPE OVER FEAR in your writing!”

Friday, February 27:

at REVOLUTION BOOKS: 7 PM – Black History Month screening of Trouble the Waters, an Oscar-nominated documentary about Hurricane Katrina.

at CEMI UNDERGROUND: 7 PM – Afro Latino music and poetry night featuring: Chance, Infinite, Majestik Originality, Nastasya Rose and Brkn Sylance.

The Upcoming 25 – Events at Indie Bookstores Around the City (Jan 25 – Feb 25, 2009)

Here’s a Friday afternoon treat for independent bookstore fans and folks who enjoy literary events — below is a collection of  twenty-five unique and original programs taking place at twenty-five DIFFERENT indie bookstores around the city in the next month, beginning with some theater-themed events happening this weekend! Enjoy:

Sunday, January 25:

at DESERT ISLAND: 4 PM – Paping presents Pop-up Theater; A Puppet show in 3 acts; suitable for all ages FREE! (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)

at THE DRAMA BOOK SHOP 12:30 PM – in association with the Shakespeare’s Sister Company, The Drama Book Shop presents a staged reading of Edna O’Brien’s award-winning stageplay Virginia in honor of Mrs. Woolf’s 127th birthday. The Arthur Seelen Theater is located on the ground floor of the bookshop. Free to the public with a suggested $10 donation in support of the Shakespeare’s Sister Company. (Manhattan)

Monday, January 26:

at MCNALLY JACKSON: 7 PM – Beautiful Children’s Charles Bock speaks with his editor and fellow author David Ebershoff about the bright lights of Vegas and literary fame. (Nolita, Manhattan)

Tuesday, January 27:

at HUE-MAN BOOKSTORE: 7 PM *TICKETED* – Steve Harvey signing for Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. Call the store to get specific rules and information on ticket-buying process. (Harlem, Manhattan)

at 192 BOOKS: 7 PM – Stacey D’Erasmo reads from The Sky Below. (Chelsea, Manhattan)

Support Independent Businesses: America Unchained Day

This Saturday, November 22, choose to shop outside the chain. America Unchained Day is a nationwide initative to promote awareness of and support for independent businesses. The choice of where you buy your coffee, your prescription, your books, your lightbulbs, or your dinner might seem like just a matter of convenience. But when you choose to shop at a locally owned independent business rather than a chain store, you’re making a choice for what kind of city, and what kind of world, you want to live in.

The IBNYC invites you to visit independent bookstores and other locally-owned businesses throughout the city on Saturday, to show your support for neighborhood businesses, and to help inject some valuable dollars into the local economy. Learn more about America Unchained here, and find independent businesses in your community at Indiebound.

Special events or sales happening at IBNYC stores this Saturday:

Bauman Rare Books: Open House Intro. to Rare Book Collecting from 11 am – 2 pm.

Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks: Home-made chocolate-chip oatmeal cookies!

Book Culture: 10% off most items in the store and 20% off select Random House titles. Join us for a holiday showcase from 2-4 pm with reps. from Random House, who will talk about their favorite titles.

Housing Works: 10% discount on all books, music and movies for the entire day.

PowerHouse Arena: 50 Photographs book signing with Jessica Lange from 4-5:30 pm. 50 Photographs gathers Lange’s impressive portfolio into her first-ever photography monograph.

Thanks for supporting IBNYC bookstores and other independent businesses, this Saturday – and always!

America Unchained Day – November 22

The choice of where you spend your money makes a big difference to your community. Spending your money with locally-owned independent businesses puts it to work directly helping your local economy. By using goods and services of other locally-owned independent businesses– money is re-circulating locally – in your community – about 3.5 times longer than if you spend it at a chain store. This creates greater community health and prosperity.

Imagine the impact on your community if everyone shopped at locally owned independent businesses. You can stop imagining and help make it a reality:

On November 22, communities around America will be urged to “unchain” for just that one day-to maximize the impact of their dollars and inject potentially millions more into the local economy through joining other residents to do their shopping, dining out and other business only with locally-owned independent businesses.

Several IBNYC stores will be celebrating America Unchained in a variety of ways. Here are a few events we already know about; stay tuned for more announcements next week:

Paperback Dreams Event at McNally Jackson on Nov. 14th

WHEN: Friday, November 14, 2008 at 7 pm

WHERE: McNally Jackson Books (52 Prince Street)

WHAT: Paperback Dreams is a documentary film that tells the story of two landmark Bay Area independent bookstores – Cody’s Books and Kepler’s Books – and their struggle to survive.

Join the IBNYC for a screening of the film at McNally Jackson. The screening will be introduced by producer/director Alex Beckstead, and followed by a panel discussion with the owners of some of New York City’s own landmark bookstores: Chris Doeblin of Book Culture, Jo Steffens of Urban Center Books, Susie Lupert of HousingWorks and others.

The event is hosted by the Independent Booksellers of New York City (IBNYC), a new alliance of independent booksellers working to promote New York City’s rich bookstore culture.