Brooklyn book lovers, this one is for you!
Bookstores boroughwide have come together to create a Bookstore Crawl, which will end with an afterparty to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on April 30.
To take part in the bookstore crawl, which can be done anytime between April 23 and April 30, book lovers can pick up a Bookstore Crawl passport at participating bookstores and collect signatures or stamps by visiting the stores throughout the week.
During the event, the stores will offer special exclusive merchandise, giveaways, activities ranging from author meet-and-greets, live music, cupcakes, scavenger hunts, kids events, art tables, readings, barbecues and contests. Those who get at least five stamps from different bookstores in their passports’ will receive a 25% off coupon that can be used at any of the participating stores.
Then, at 7:00pm on April 30 at The Center for Fiction, passports can be compared at the Bookstore Crawl Afterparty, where there will also be additional prizes for those who have racked up the most stamps or signatures on their passports.
Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give, and 2022 IBD author ambassador, indie bookstores were the heart of the industry and people must continue to support them in the same way that they support and champion boos. “With the immense impact that indie stores have made on my career, I couldn’t be more honored to be the ambassador for this year’s Independent Bookstore Day.”
The Bookstore Crawl was forced to take a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has returned as established bookstores are reopening for events and browsing, and new bookstores have taken root as well.
Inspired by other bookstore crawls nationwide, the one in Brooklyn celebrates the unique and vibrant bookstore culture of Brooklyn, known worldwide as a literary destination, The Center for Fiction says.
“From stores that have been serving their communities for decades to those that opened their doors just this year, each independent bookstore offers a unique experience for book lovers, and helps to create the fabric of a Brooklyn literary culture.”
On Independent Bookstore Day, April 30, The Center for Fiction will also be hosting an open house of its member spaces; a Family Day on the Plaza featuring a mobile book fair for young people and a performance of new works from the New York Philharmonic’s Very Young Composers program by the O Kwarteto Collective; several performances as part of the Bang On a Can Long Play Festival; and, finally, the afterparty.
For a map of participating stores, click here. Bookstores participating in the bookstore crawl include:
- Adanne
- Archestratus
- Bookmark Shoppe, The
- Books Are Magic
- Cafe con Libros
- Center for Fiction, The
- Community Bookstore
- Freebird Books
- Greenlight Bookstore (Flatbush)
- Greenlight Bookstore (Fort Greene)
- Head Hi
- Mil Mundos
- Pioneer Books
- POWERHOUSE Arena
- POWERHOUSE on 8th
- POWERHOUSE @ IC
- Quimbys
- Terrace Books
- The Word Is Change
- Unnameable Books
- WORD
