This Saturday: Authors (famous and underage) in Fort Greene Park!

We love our neighborhood. Not only is it home to some of the most exciting writers working -- including Colson Whitehead, Toure, and Nelson George, among many others -- but it's also a place that values education and community. They're putting it all together this weekend with the 5th Annual Fort Greene Park Literary Festival, hosted by the New York Writers Coalition.

The Festival is the culmination of a series of writing workshops for young people, and a chance for them to showcase their work at an event that, as the Fort Greene Park page puts it, "brings several generations of writers together to build on the rich literary traditions of the neighborhoods surrounding beautiful Fort Greene Park." Seriously, this makes me kinda choke up. What could be better or more important?

Starting at 3:00 tomorrow, Saturday August 22, writers ages 7 to 18 will be reading from their work. Around 4:00, the big names will take the stage: Colson, Toure, and Def Poetry Jam alum Staceyann Chinn. Rumor is there will even be free milk and cookies from local restaurant Rice.

Bring a picnic or some cold drinks, and enjoy the best of what Fort Greene has to offer, for free. I'll be there -- hope to see you.

Today's the day!

... and I'm just trying to keep my head from exploding from anxiety, trying to remember everything, and complete and total joy.

Tonight's bookstore kickoff party at the BAM Harvey is going to be so off the hook (if I'm allowed to use that phrase as a card-carrying nerd). Food. Booze. Raw, sexy space. Colson Whitehead. Jennifer Egan. Kate Christensen. (Maybe) Jhumpa Lahiri. Fort Greeners. Book industry bigwigs. Friends. Loved ones. Supporters. Surveys to find out what YOU want from your bookstore.

And mad, mad media coverage. We've got Brooklyn 12, the Daily News, the Observer, New York Press, and yes, the New York Times herself coming to take photos and get the scoop. I am sure that I will look totally goofy; I hope they just listen to my words instead.

AND -- tonight is the night for a big announcement that will push the bookstore forward by a giant leap. I've hinted about it to some of you -- some of you know the secret -- and the rest of you will find out. This something (or someone?) is stone cold kick ass, and you're going to love love love.

Okay, I have to get back to work for a couple more hours before I start getting too excited and using more inappropriately street phrases. Can't wait to see you all tonight!