How to open a bookstore with a splash heard all over the country? Follow the example of Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY. Two women with a dream to own a bookstore found each other and crafted a thoughtful plan to make it work (okay, maybe I’m spending too much time watching Tim Gunn with my daughter). I wrote about them in detail on the Bookshop Blog the day of their official opening. Here they tell their own story:
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Well, actually it’s more than a week since it’s advertised to be November 15th to the 21st, but the launch party was on the 11th. Longer is better as far as I’m concerned. Launched by the Independent Booksellers of New York City, the week-ish long series of events is basically a marketing tool, but what a great marketing tool. By bunching together events and setting aside a week to highlight them, it caught my eye out here in LA and if I lived in NYC (or, even better, if the LA stores copied the idea), I would take a second look at my calendar and try to fit in a few extra events. Actually, who am I kidding, I’d be running all over town. There are several events every day, here are just some of the ones I’d try very hard to squeeze in:
- Paul Auster in conversation with Granta editor John Freeman at powerHouse Arena
- The New York Review Classics 10th Anniversary Party at Greenlight Books (see my guest post about Greenlight Books at Bookshop Blog). Jhumpa Lahiri and several other authors will be attending this free event; I’d like to note that I paid $40 to hear Lahiri last year, so if you can go for free, do it.
- Every day during the week of celebrations, Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks will be giving away free cookies, YUM!
- But the food doesn’t stop with cookies, on Sunday morning stop by Book Culture for a free Bagel Brunch.
- Unnameable Books will host a midnight release of Sarah Palin’s book and Vladimir Nabakov’s book at midnight Sunday night/Monday morning. Which book would you chose?
- In honor of the paperback release of State by State, WORD is offering a “Neighborhood by Neighborhood” essay contest. My kids still wear the t-shirts they received for winning an essay contest at our local bookstore and much to their embarrassment, I’m still bragging about it.
- The weeks festivities close with a reception at Book Culture where they will give out a 20% discount coupon.
And in the midst of all of it, the National Book Award winners will be announce on November 18th in New York City. Visit the stores, buy some gifts, and then don’t forget to reward yourself by entering our ABA gift card giveaway to spend on books for yourself!
Idlewild Books – A Traveler’s Paradise
Happy First Year Anniversary to Idlewild Books! This bookstore has received a lot of press for its unusual stocking method, full event schedule and beautiful location (check out the airport seating, old style). Instead of guidebooks, travel gear and Rick Steves’ luggage (nothing against his luggage, I own three pieces), all types of books are grouped by area. Going to Argentina? You’ll find guidebooks along with literature and non-fiction in the same place.
Ever since I started traveling as a college student, I have read literature and non-ficiton about the area or from the area both before I leave and during the trip. Idlewild Books makes the choice of what to read easy. If you want something more than a Michner novel for where you’re going (or on the off chance that he didn’t write about where you’re going), Idlewild Books scours small publishers of translated works, takes customer recommendations for books, and uses their own experience to hand-pick the best books for wherever you’re traveling.
Destination Kits
For those of us who don’t live in NYC, Idlewild Books offers a service called “Destination Kits.” Tell them where you’re going, what you like to read and you’re budget and they’ll suggest a variety of books. A girlfriend and I tested the Destination Kit service this week and it’s terrific. Dianne sent in an e-mail yesterday morning about her trip to Japan and Glen from Idlewild called back before lunch. Glen recommended two books for her daughter that were on the Japanese young adult bestseller list and a series for her younger son. For her, a guide that is part map, part paperback Read the rest of this entry »
Claire
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