Welcome back to Reading the City, a weekly newsletter of bookish events in and around NYC.
Brought to you this week from far-away Wales, where I’ve been at the gorgeous Hay Festival. I’m missing a bumper week in NYC book land with events featuring Colson Whitehead, Questlove, and Maggie Smith, as well as Pride celebrations at the Rally Reading Series and After Hours at the NYPL. Also, a shout out to RtC readers Michael Waters, for the launch of his brilliant new book, and Lilly Dancyger, back in NY from book tour and in conversation with Chloe Caldwell at Book Club Bar.
As ever, send me details of events, say hi, tell me what I’m missing! And please share the love with your bookish friends.
Monday, June 3
#YeahYouWrite Reading Series
#YeahYouWrite, hosted by Lisa Amico Kristel and Robin Luce Martin, is an evening of literary cocktails, a rapid-fire Q&A, and an open mic, as well as readings from Abraham Chang (Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers), P. Djèlí Clark (Abeni's Song), Austin Grossman (Fight Me), and Carol LaHines (The Vixen Amber Halloway). Email lisa@yeahyouwriteevents.com for a spot.
Free; 7pm; Someday Bar, 364 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn
Michael Waters: The Other Olympians
Michael Waters celebrates the launch of The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports—the story of the early trans athletes and Olympic bureaucrats who lit the flame for today’s culture wars—in conversation with writer and curator Hugh Ryan (The Women's House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison).
Free; 7-8pm; The Invisible Dog Art Center, 51 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed
The Parlor
An occasional literary salon in Ditmas Park, the Parlor is organized by Emily Roese, Andrea Abello, and the Brooklyn Artery, and this iteration’s theme is “revel, edge, and fable.” Encouragement to dress to theme. Readings from Gerardo Sámano Córdova (Monstrilio), India Lena (Fox Woman Get Out!), Melissa Lozada-Oliva (Candelaria), Olivia Wolfgang-Smith (Glassworks), and Julia Specht.
Free, but donations encouraged for the writers; 7.30pm; Brooklyn Artery, 1004 Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn
Khashayar J. Khabushani: I Will Greet the Sun Again
Khashayar J. Khabushani celebrates the launch of I Will Greet the Sun Again—a tender novel, staring down the brutality of being a queer kid and a Muslim in America, about a young man lost in his own family, his own country, and his own skin—in conversation with Porochista Khakpour (Tehrangeles).
Free; 8pm; Book Club Bar, 197 East 3rd Street, New York
Jennifer Romolini: Ambition Monster
Author, editor, speaker, podcast host, and media consultant Jennifer Romolini launches her new memoir Ambition Monster—an anti-girlboss tale for our times—in conversation with New Yorker staff writer Naomi Fry.
From $8; 7-8pm; Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway 3rd Floor, Rare Book Room, New York
KGB Bar Monday Night Poetry Series
The season 54 finale with featured readers Jessica Cuello, Matthew Lippman, and Elisabet Velasquez. 21+.
Free, but two drink minimum; 7-9pm; KGB Bar, 85 East 4th Street, New York
Creative Lives
A film series in memory of the late David Burr Gerrard, a brilliant writer and the most generous and inspiring friend, as well as an avid cinephile. The programming explores the agonies and ecstasies of life as an artist, starting with Sunset Boulevard, presented in 35mm, followed by a Q&A with film critic Sheila O’Malley.
$11; 7pm; Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville, NY
Tuesday, June 4
Maggie Smith: You Could Make This Place Beautiful
Poet Maggie Smith (Good Bones) discusses her memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful—exploring the disintegration of her marriage and her renewed commitment to herself—in conversation with Isaac Fitzgerald (Dirtbag, Massachusetts).
Free, with registration; 7-8pm; Central Library 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
J. Nicole Jones: The Witches of Bellinas
J. Nicole Jones (Low Country: A Southern Memoir) discusses her debut novel, The Witches of Bellinas—a dreamy California Gothic about a woman who moves to the mysterious town of Bellinas to save her marriage, only to be swept up in a hedonistic cult that isn’t what it seems—in conversation with Temim Fruchter (City of Laughter).
$5, redeemable in store; 7pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, New York
An Afternoon with Hanif Abdurraqib & Kaveh Akbar Benefiting Doctors Without Borders
A special event featuring Hanif Abdurraqib (There's Always This Year) and Kaveh Akbar (Martyr!) benefiting Doctors Without Borders. Starting with a book signing from 3 to 4pm, then a lecture from each of the authors followed by a Q&A. Guests can donate to attend on a sliding scale.
From $5, sliding scale; 3-5pm; Brooklyn Poets, 144 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed
Gabriel Smith: Brat
Gabriel Smith presents Brat—a hilarious and haunted novel featuring an unlikable protagonist grappling with grief, inheritance, and the ghosts of his past—in conversation with Kiara Barrow.
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Wednesday, June 5
Colson Whitehead: Crook Manifesto
Colson Whitehead, the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and author of Harlem Shuffle, continues his Harlem saga with Crook Manifesto, a powerful and hugely-entertaining novel that summons 1970s New York in all its seedy glory.
$10, redeemable in-store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson: We Refuse
Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson (Force and Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence) presents We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance—a radical reframing of the past and present of Black resistance, both nonviolent and violent, to white supremacy—in conversation with Kaitlyn Greenidge (Libertie). Wine reception to follow.
Free; 7.30-8.30pm; Greenlight bookstore, 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Questlove: Hip Hop Is History
In an exclusive one-night-only event at BAM, Questlove shares stories from Hip Hop Is History, mixing a scholar’s encyclopedic knowledge, a true fan’s passionate devotion, and an insider’s unparalleled access to illuminate how hip-hop became the cultural force it is today. He is joined in conversation by scholar, author, and television personality Marc Lamont Hill.
From $45; 8pm; BAM Harvey Theater, 651 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Thursday, June 6
Chloe Caldwell & Lilly Dancyger
A reading and conversation to celebrate the re-issue of Chloe Caldwell's cult-classic novella, Women, that intimately explores one young writer’s whirlwind and whiplash affair as she falls deeply in love with a woman for the first time, and the publication of Lilly Dancyger’s poignant essay collection First Love, which treats women’s friendships as the love stories they truly are.
Free; 8-9pm; Book Club Bar, 197 East 3rd Street, New York
Rally Reading Series
The Rally Reading Series, created by Ryan D. Matthews closes out their season by celebrating Pride with readings and action featuring the work of Matt Ortile (The Groom Will Keep His Name), Denny Agassi, and (I’m Never Fine), with Brian Gresko guest-hosting.
Free; 7pm; Pete's Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn
Essie Chambers: Swift River
Former film and television executive-turned-author Essie Chambers presents her debut novel Swift River—a sweeping family saga about the complicated bond between mothers and daughters, the disappearance of a father, and the long-hidden history of a declining New England mill town—in conversation with Dawnie Walton (The Final Revival of Opal & Nev).
$10, redeemable in-store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Michael Azerrad and Guzman: Family Values: Kurt, Courtney, & Frances Bean
Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love consented to a rare photoshoot for Spin magazine with their newborn, Frances Bean. Only 5 images were originally published; the rest of the photoshoot is seen here for the first time. Guzman, the husband-and-wife photographer duo Constance Hansen and Russell Peacock, and Michael Azerrad (The Amplified Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana), who wrote the introduction, come together to celebrate the launch of Family Values.
Free; 7-9pm; Powerhouse Arena, 28 Adams Street, Brooklyn
Sally Wen Mao: Ninetails
Poet Sally Wen Mao (Oculus), launched her debut story collection Ninetails—a fabulist re-imagining of the nine-tailed fox spirit of Asian folklore—in conversation with Kat Chow (Seeing Ghosts: A Memoir).
$5 for RSVP, redeemable in-store; 7pm; McNally Jackson Seaport, 4 Fulton St, New York
Friday, June 7
The Library After Hours: Pride
Celebrate Pride at the Library, with after hours access to the Rose Main Reading Room with a performance by Be Steadwell, a special collections display, 16mm films curated from the Reserve Film and Video Collection, NYC Trans Oral History Project listening stations, librarian-led book matchmaking, and more. Music by DJ Mike Borowski. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. 21+.
Pay what you wish, with suggested donation of $15; 7-10pm (final entry at 9pm); Astor Hall, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York
Brooklyn Poets Reading Series
Featuring poets Saba Keramati (Self-Mythology), Trace DePass (BOOTless), and Joy Priest (Horsepower). Wine reception begins at 6pm and readings follow at 7.
Free; 7-9pm; Brooklyn Poets, 144 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed
Saturday, June 8
Lyrics, Lit & Liquor
Music. Lit. Trivia. Hosted by Amanda Miller.
Free; 5pm; 399 Rugby Road, Brooklyn
Anna Akbari: There is No Ethan
Anna Akbari discusses her newest book, There is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America's Biggest Catfish—part memoir, part explosive window into the mind of a catfisher, a thrilling personal account of three women coming face-to-face with an internet predator and teaming up to expose them—in conversation with Bradley Tusk, owner of P&T Knitwear, author, venture capitalist, and host of Firewall podcast.
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). I’m here and here on Instagram. Get in touch with any bookish events you’d like me to include!
