So last night we made it over to Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene, where there was a party to celebrate the indie presses of Brooklyn complete with plastic cups of red and white wine, pretzels, Oreo cookies, and plenty of hard to hear conversation.
The bookstore, located on Fulton Street at South Portland Place in Ft. Greene, is glorious: spacious, attractive bright and filled to the gills with everything you ever wanted to read and more. It was my first visit and I was duly impressed (even floored).
Today there are more “Bookend events” leading up to the festival on Sunday.
Making Books Sing: A Warm-up for the Brooklyn Book Festival. In 1929, New York’s first Puerto Rican librarian, Pura Belpré, transformed her East Harlem library into a welcoming community center for all. Through a blend of storytelling, music, and puppetry, young audiences will learn about Puerto Rican folklore and the library’s important role in the community. Kids sing along and become puppeteers as Pura’s stories unfold. Followed by a bookmaking workshop.
Location: Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza (at Flatbush Ave.)
Time: 11 a.m. €– 1 p.m.
Price: FREE
Books to Film for Children. A series of short films based on children’s books for ages 2–6, followed by Q&A with Brooklyn Book Festival participants Jon Scieszka (with the film The True Story of the Three Little Pigs) and Chris Raschka (with the film Yo! Yes?).
Location: BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave.
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Tickets: $12 (adults) / $9 (children under 13)
Robin Hood: Prince of . . . MONSTERS! Mainspring Collective and the Irondale Center present Monster Literature, written and conceived by Daniel John Kelley, an action-packed and hilarious live theater series that celebrates great works of children’s literature that kids can read now. For details and advance tickets, visit www.monsterliterature.com.
Location: Irondale Center, 85 S. Oxford St.
Time: 2 & 4 p.m.
Price: $5 (advance) / $7 (door)
The New Brooklyn Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from 31 Restaurants That Put Brooklyn on the Culinary Map. Join authors Melissa and Brendan Vaughan for a panel discussion and cocktail hour at The Brooklyn Kitchen, North Brooklyn’s leading hub of home culinary exploration, and the best place to learn how to make restaurant dishes in cramped apartment kitchens. Panelists will include the chefs, farmers, kimchi makers, and beer brewers who make this borough delicious!
Location: The Brooklyn Kitchen, 100 Frost St.
Time: 2–4 p.m.
Price: $65 (includes advance copy of book)
Talking to Girls About Duran Duran. Author Rob Sheffield reads from his latest work and chats about new wave music, adolescent love, and John Hughes movie soundtracks. Rob is the best-selling author of Love Is a Mix Tape and has been a music journalist for over twenty years. Talking to Girls About Duran Duran is a poignant tour of his 1980s upbringing, as told through the music of that decade. Stick around afterward and enjoy Rob and other DJs spinning the tunes highlighted in the book. For details, visit www.thebellhouseny.com.
Location: Bell House (front lounge), 149 7th St. (between 2nd & 3rd Aves.)
Time: 8 p.m.
Price: FREE
Genre Busters. Freebird Books & Goods presents a ninety-minute revue show with artists and authors who work in a genre to turn it on its head. Includes readings, slideshows, short lectures, video, Q&A, trivia prizes, and snacks.
Location: Freebird Books & Goods, 123 Columbia St.
Time: 8 p.m.
Price: FREE