Welcome back to Reading the City, a weekly newsletter of bookish events in and around NYC.
This is a bumper Christmas issue covering the rest of the month, as events thin out and don’t start back up again until 2024. So, here we go: we have holiday parties from #YeahYouWrite and Table of Contents, season finales from Franklin Park and Pete’s Reading Series, a bookish pop-up market from Bluestockings Cooperative, and the annual Christmas drag show at The Strand—not to mention book launches from Lee Matthew Goldberg and James W. Jennings.
With that, consider this the start of my restorative festive hiatus—happy holidays, and if I don’t see you at a bookish Christmas party, I’ll be back in the New Year!
Monday, December 11
The #YeahYouWrite Reading Series Presents: Holidaze on Mic
“Read your work, read from a banned book, sing a song, anything goes,” they urge, at this all-night open mic night hosted by #YeahYouWrite. Reservations are required to read and capped at 15; and reservations are required to listen, too. Also, there’s tacos. This all sounds great.
Free; 6.30pm; Tacovision, 244 E 53rd St, New York
Tuesday, December 12
Table of Contents
Serving three dishes inspired by the passages the authors read, this month TOC is back at Insa, with readings from Gina Chung (Sea Change), Tess Gunty (The Rabbit Hutch), and Megan Fernandes (I Do Everything I'm Told), followed by a conversation led by chef and TOC founder Evan Hanczor. Tickets include one complimentary cocktail from a list inspired by the authors and dreamed up by Cocktails In Color co-authors Olivia McGiff and Sammi Katz. Afterwards, the TOC annual holiday party takes place, which is always a blast: Expect karaoke. Suggested donations of $10 with RSVP here.
$35 inc. a cocktail and food; 6pm-8pm; Insa, 328 Douglass St, Brooklyn
Sally Van Doren presents Sibilance: Poems
Join Sally Van Doren for the launch of her fourth collection of poetry, filled with wordplay, and vacillating between the extremes of joy and despair. Sounds beautiful.
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Lee Matthew Goldberg presents The Great Gimmelmans
Lee Matthew Goldberg discusses his newest book, The Great Gimmelmans—a novel about a mild-mannered reform Jewish turned fugitives on the lamb in an RV—in conversation with Sara Lippmann (Lech).
Free; 7pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, New York
Thursday, December 14
James W. Jennings presents Wings of Red
James W. Jennings inventive and stylish debut, Wings of Red, is a clear-eyed, funny, imperfect, and observant work of autofiction that grapples with the absurdity of the New York City educational system as a substitute teacher. Jennings is joined in conversation with novelist, short story writer, and cultural critic Lynne Tillman.
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Friday, December 15
Drag Show: Christmas at the Strand Hosted by Kendall Knight
This special annual holiday drag show is hosted by the Strand’s resident queen Kendall Knight, with festivities including live singing, trivia, a raffle, and more. Every ticket, comes with a raffle entry. Expect performances from Lana Del Trey, Bertha Vanayshun, and Katie Silvernail. In partnership with the Drag Race production company World of Wonder, enjoy W.O.W. HOUSE OF LOVE Cocktails and HOUSE OF LOVE Mocktails for all the sober queens. I love everything about this.
$10; 7pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room, New York
Sunday, December 17
Bluestockings & Friends Reader's Wonderland Holiday Pop-Up
Nail your gift list with more than six bookstores and zines setting up shop for this bookish holiday pop-up, with stands from Village Works, Yu & Me Books, Close Friends Collective, Bluestockings, and Book Club Bar.
Free; 12-5pm; Bluestockings Cooperative, 116 Suffolk Street, New York
On September 21, 2021 Corey Bennet and Jon Lindsey posted a request for writing by survivors of suicide. Suicide: An Anthology, co-published by Cash for Gold Books and House of Vlad Press, contains some of the many responses. This evening will feature readings from some contributors including Allie Rowbottom, David Fishkind, Evan Cerniglia, Felicia Rosemary Urso, Nick Farriella, Gareth Miro, Sam Berman, and Lily Lady. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide please call 988 in the U.S. or for international help visit www.stopsuicide.com.)
Free; 6pm; The Red Room at KGB, 85 E 4th St, New York
Monday, December 18
Franklin Park Reading Series
(Postponed from Monday 11). Celebrate the season finale of this favorite series with readings from Gabriel Bump (The New Naturals), C Pam Zhang (Land of Milk and Honey), Megan Fernandes (I Do Everything I'm Told), John Manuel Arias (Where There Was Fire), and Tenacity Plys (Family Curse). As ever, the evening includes drink specials and a raffle to win the readers' latest books. Otherwise, books for sale from Unnameable Books.
Free; 8-10pm; 766 Franklin Avenue, 618 St Johns Pl, Brooklyn
Wednesday, December 20
Ditmas Lit
Hosted by Lena Valencia and Sarah Bridgins, Ditmas Lit is dedicated to showcasing a diverse range of emerging and established writers in all genres. It returns this month featuring readings from Mike Albo (Another Dimension of Us), Nat Mesnard, Sarah Wang, and Abigail Welhouse (Small Dog).
Free; 8pm; Hinterlands Bar, 739 Church Ave, Brooklyn
Thursday, December 21
Pete’s Reading Series
To close out the year, Pete’s Reading Series, curated and hosted by Temim Fruchter and Brian Gresko, will host a special YA event, featuring readings from Jenn Baker (Forgive Me Not), Jiordan Castle (Disappearing Act), and Patricia Park (Imposter Syndrome & Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim). Books for sale from Greenlight and sponsorship from from the Author’s Guild. Parents, teens are welcome to this one!
Free; 7.30pm; Pete’s Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn
NB. Please check all details before attending, the fact checker went awol.
I’m a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and teacher, and the author of No Way Home: A Memoir of Life on the Run (St. Martin’s Press) and Amphibian (forthcoming from Virago). I’m here and here on Instagram. Get in touch with any bookish events you’d like me to include!