Tonight: Celebration for Ben Greenman’s What He’s Poised To Do!

Monday, June 21, 7:30 PM Multi-author, multi-media celebration for Ben Greenman’s What He’s Poised To Do

The author Ben Greenman (Superbad, Please Step Back) will celebrate the publication of his new book, What He's Poised To Do, and its sister blog, Letters With Character, by reading from the work and hosting a series of other readers affiliated with organizations such as The L Magazine (Jonny Diamond), Significant Objects (the actress and performance artist Okwui Okpokwasili), Underwater New York (Nicki Pombier Berger), and Opium Magazine (an internet Transatlantic reading by Todd Zuniga). Refreshments provided by Bulldog Gin and The L magazine.

RSVP on Facebook (optional)

Tonight: Arthur Nersesian & Kevin Holohan!

Friday, June 18, 7:30 PM
Arthur Nersesian reads from Mesopotamia
With Kevin Holohan

Brooklyn writer Arthur Nersesian is the author of nine novels, including the cult-classic The Fuck-Up. His latest novel Mesopotamia, published by Brooklyn independent publisher Akashic Books, is a satiric thriller that takes an amusing view of America's predilection with the superficial over the relevant, and celebrity excitement over real news. Joining Nersesian will be local Fort Greene Irish author Kevin Holohan, who will read from his forthcoming novel (also from Akashic), tentatively titled The Brothers' Lot.

RSVP on Facebook (optional)

Tonight: Steamboat with Samantha Bee, Steve Hely, and Simon Rich!

Thursday, June 17, 7:30 PM
Steamboat: A Literary Humor Series
Hosted by Bob Powers and Jason Reich
Featuring Samantha Bee, author of I Know I Am, But What Are You?
Steve Hely, author of How I Became a Famous Novelist
Simon Rich, author of Elliot Allagash

On the third Thursday of every month, join Bob Powers (author of Happy Cruelty Day) and Jason Reich (former writer for "The Daily Show"), as they welcome the city's best humor writers for a night of wine-addled text-based hilarity.

In her new collection of personal essays I Know I Am, But What Are You, Samantha Bee turns the spotlight on her own imperfect yet highly entertaining life as relentlessly as she skewers hapless interview subjects on The Daily Show.

Narrated by an unlikely literary legend, Steve Hely’s novel How I Became A Famous Novelist tells the horrifying, hilarious tale of how a trashy novel became the most admired and reviled novel in America.

Simon Rich debuted his absurdist sense of humor in his hilarious collections Ant Farm and Free-Range Chickens; his debut novel Elliott Allagash explores the strangest, most twisted, and comically fraught terrain of them all: high school.


And don't miss Steamboat on the FABfest mainstage, this Sunday June 20 at 4 PM!

Tonight: Lauren Belfer reads from A Fierce Radiance!

Wednesday, June 16, 7:30 PM
Lauren Belfer reads from A Fierce Radiance

New York author Lauren Belfer is the author of the critically acclaimed bestseller City of Light, her debut novel. In her new second novel, A Fierce Radiance, is at once a thriller, a love story, a family saga, and a window into American history, evoking the New York in the tumultuous early days of World War II. The story of a young reporter who finds herself drawn into the intrigues of the secret efforts to develop penicillin for medical use, the novel evokes a time when individuals clung fiercely to their loved ones, because no one could predict what tomorrow would bring.

Lauren's book is a Greenlight staff favorite, and we're looking forward to hosting her tonight!

RSVP on Facebook (optional)

Tonight: Ron Hogan and Glen David Gould discuss Sunnyside!

Monday, June 14, 7:30 PM
Blogger/Author Pairings:
Glen David Gold reads and discusses Sunnyside
With Ron Hogan of Beatrice.com

Our monthly Blogger/Author Pairings series features a noted local blogger interviewing an author that they are passionate about. This month, series curator Ron Hogan, founder of pioneering literary blog Beatrice, interviews one of his favorite authors, Glen David Gold. Hogan describes Gold’s most recent novel Sunnyside, now out in paperback, as “a novel of ideas that still delivers on narrative delight”; the story of how Charlie Chaplin weathered the blows to his public image during the First World War, the novel takes on the strangeness of fame and the cataclysmic changes of the early 20th century.

RSVP on Facebook (optional)

Today at Greenlight: Six-Word Memoirs, Book Making, Whiskey Tasting & More!

Fulton Street in Fort Greene will be closed to all car and bus traffic for a different kind of Street Festival. It's called FABfest and is hosted by the FAB (Fulton Area Business) Alliance. FABfest celebrates local Brooklyn businesses, arts groups and cultural organizations with music, food, games, crafts, and activities for children, dance parties, environmental demonstrations, and more... all with a local connection to Fulton Street in Clinton Hill and Fort Greene.

Greenlight Bookstore will provide a host of literary programming during FAB FEST, all with the goal of interacting with the community, highlighting local cultural organizations, and adding book-related fun to the festival. The bookstore will be open all four Sundays, with some programming inside; interactive activities will take place on our sidewalk throughout the day. Here's what's going on today!

12:00 - 6:00 (on the sidewalk): Write your own Six-Word Memoir!
The six-word memoir format has become a genuine phenomenon since its launch on the Smith Magazine website in 2006, spawning several books and thousands of stories.

Rachel Fershleiser, co-editor of the Six-Word Memoirs series, offers passers-by the chance to write their own six-word memoir of our community, to be displayed in front of the store.


12:00 - 6:00 (on the sidewalk): Free Book Making Class with Esther Smith!
Esther Smith creates handmade books and letterpressed ephemera the old-fashioned way with her husband Dikko Faust at Tribeca studio Purgatory Pie Press. Their typography designs are a special favorite of Greenlight Bookstore: Esther and Dikko designed our bookstore’s logo!

Esther is also the author of three wonderful books on bookmaking and paper crafts: How To Make Books, Magic Books and Paper Toys, and The Paper Bride.

Today at FABfest, Esther offers an ongoing FREE bookmaking workshop, with all materials provided. Stop in to Greenlight Bookstore to pick up any of her books, and let Esther teach you the joys of bookmaking at this great streetside class!


3:00 PM: Walking Tour of Historic Fort Greene with Adrienne Onofri, author of Walking Brooklyn
Enjoy a tour of historic Fort Greene with Adrienne Onofri, author of Walking Brooklyn. Meet at the statue of General Fowler, Civil War hero, at the triangle park named after him... Fowler Square. The tour will end at Greenlight Bookstore, where Adrienne will sign copies of her wonderful book.

Please Note: Adrienne Onofri will lead three different tours of Fort Greene during FABfest, with a different tour on June 6 and yet another one on June 20. Feel free to come and take all three!


3:00 PM (in the store): Greenlight and Greene Grape present Max Watman, author of Chasing The White Dog: An Amateur Outlaw's Adventures in Moonshine, in conversation with Gable Erenzo, distiller of Tuthilltown Spirits.
Tasting to follow, 4:00 PM at Greene Grape Wines & Spirits
White whiskey, sometimes known as “moonshine” is having a revival: the New York Times recently ran a feature on the new craftsmen of this traditional spirit, including the Hudson Valley’s Tuthilltown Spirits, which included commentary by journalist and amateur distiller Max Watman. Max and Tuthilltown's distiller Gable Erenzo talk about Max’s book and the new distillery culture at Greenlight this afternoon, then walk across the street to taste Tuthilltown’s offerings at pioneering local wine & spirits shop The Greene Grape.

Tonight: Greenlight As Gallery: Photography by the Students of Metropolitan Plus High School

Friday, June 11, 7:30 PM
Greenlight As Gallery: Photography by the Students of Metropolitan Plus High School

Metropolitan Diploma Plus High School is a transfer high school located in Brownsville, Brooklyn, which offers students the opportunity to reconnect to school and get back on track to graduation. Metropolitan recently expanded its arts program by collaborating with Symphony Space teaching artist/photographer, Rose Pearlman; during a 12-week course students have learned about using photography as a means of self-expression and communication of thought. Greenlight is proud to showcase student photography at this one-night gallery exhibit, with commentary by Pearlman.

RSVP on Facebook (optional)

Tonight: Full Spectrum presents THE BLOOD HISTORIANS

Thursday, June 10, 7:30 PM
Full Spectrum presents The Blood Historians: A discussion with four creators who unearth their families’ hidden history

The Full Spectrum Panel Discussion Series explores complex social issues through a prism of arts and culture. The Blood Historians panel asks: Should family secrets stay buried? Join us when documentary filmmaker Doug Block, journalist/author Paula Bernstein, writer Leah Carroll, and journalist/TV producer/author June Cross discuss the ideas and experiences behind their work, and the risks of uncovering family secrets. Moderated by reporter/author Erin Einhorn.

For more info, visit www.fsexperience.com.

RSVP on Greenlight's event page or Full Spectrum's event page (optional)

Tonight: Reading & Launch Party with Jennifer Egan!

Our neighbor Jennifer Egan's novel is a huge staff favorite, and we can't wait to celebrate its release this evening -- join us!

Wednesday, June 9, 7:30 PM
Jennifer Egan, author of A Visit From The Goon Squad
Reading and launch party

Internationally acclaimed Fort Greene-based author Jennifer Egan (author of The Keep and National Book Award-nominated Look At Me) raises the bar with her hugely ambitious new novel A Visit From The Goon Squad. Playing through interconnected scenes in New York City in the 1990s, the Los Angeles music scene in the 1970s, the American desert in the near future, and myriad times and places in between, the novel takes on the biggest issues of family, regret, exploitation, time, love, art, and culture with power and humor of a novelist at the top of her form. Greenlight is proud to host the launch event for a wonderful writer and neighbor; join us for wine and celebration.

RSVP on Facebook (optional)

This Weekend: Lyle on Saturday, FABfest on Sunday!!

This is looking like a hugely exciting summer weekend on Fulton Street! On Sunday we've got one of our all-time favorite children's book authors presenting his brand new book. And on Sunday we've got activities going on ALL DAY for FABfest, and a StoryCorps event at 3:00 PM! Read on for lots of details and links to RSVP, and join us for a wonderful Brooklyn weekend at the bookstore!

Story Time at Greenlight
Saturday, June 5, 10:30 AM
Bernard and Paulis Waber read from Lyle Walks the Dogs
After a twelve-year hiatus, Lyle the Crocodile is back in Lyle Walks the Dogs! The beloved reptile, first introduced nearly fifty years ago in The House on East 88th Street, has a new job walking dogs. All kinds of dogs - frisky, happy, sniffy, or snappy - and Lyle is in charge of making sure they all walk together in harmony. With his winning smile and gentle ways, Lyle is more than capable of getting the job done. Young children will enjoy walking the dogs - and counting from one to ten - with Lyle, as well as playing the matching activity on the back cover of the book.

Bernard Waber, author of the original Lyle the Crocodile books and other classic picture books, teamed up with his daughter Paulis to create this new story for Lyle (after lots of research in the dog runs and parks of New York City)! Paulis and Bernie will talk about working together on the book and will read Lyle Walks the Dogs to the audience, and will also "draw" Lyle with the kids. Join us as father and daughter introduce Lyle to a new generation of readers!

RSVP for Lyle Walks the Dogs on Facebook (optional)

Sunday, June 6, 12:00 - 6:00 PM
FABfest!
Fulton Street in Fort Greene will be closed to all car and bus traffic for a different kind of Street Festival. It's called FABfest and is hosted by the FAB (Fulton Area Business) Alliance. FABfest celebrates local Brooklyn businesses, arts groups and cultural organizations with music, food, games, crafts, and activities for children, dance parties, environmental demonstrations, and more... all with a local connection to Fulton Street in Clinton Hill and Fort Greene.

Each day kicks off with a salsa dance party at 12 noon and the fun continues until 6:00pm, rain or shine! The idea is to take back the streets on each Sunday in June with a festive atmosphere of activities for adults and children, to introduce people to all that Fulton Street has to offer, and to have fun! The FAB Alliance is partnering with the many businesses and arts organizations that make Fort Greene and Clinton Hill special, ranging from local churches to BAM to StoryCorps to Cake Man Raven. Friend FAB Fulton on Facebook or visit the FAB website for updated information on the wealth of activities happening all four Sundays on our street.

Greenlight Bookstore will provide a host of literary programming during FABfest, all with the goal of interacting with the community, highlighting local cultural organizations, and adding book-related fun to the festival. The bookstore will be open all four Sundays, with some programming inside; interactive activities will take place on our sidewalk throughout the day.

ON THE SIDEWALK AT GREENLIGHT TODAY:
- StoryCorps information and listening station (see event at 3:00 for more about StoryCorps)
- Activities and giveaways for kids: Play in Maisy’s house, dress up with Fancy Nancy, and pick up a goodie bag with buttons, stickers, posters, and other book-related giveaways! Giveaways change each week – check back for what’s new.
- Streetside Mad Libs game for all ages!

ELSEWHERE AT FABfest:
3:00 PM: Walking Tour of Historic Fort Greene with Adrienne Onofri, author of Walking Brooklyn
Enjoy a tour of historic Fort Greene with Adrienne Onofri, author of Walking Brooklyn. Meet at the statue of General Fowler, Civil War hero, at the triangle park named after him... Fowler Square. The tour will end at Greenlight Bookstore, where Adrienne will sign copies of her wonderful book. Please Note: Adrienne Onofri will lead three different tours of Fort Greene during FABfest, with a different tour on June 13 and yet another one on June 20. Feel free to come and take all three!

RSVP for FABfest on Facebook (optional)

IN THE BOOKSTORE:
3:00 PM: Listening Session with StoryCorps
StoryCorps (based right around the corner from Greenlight at 80 Hanson Place) is an independent nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives – largely through one-on-one recording sessions in which people interview their loved ones. Today at Greenlight, StoryCorps staff will talk about the mission and successes of the StoryCorps project, and play several of their best interviews over our in-store PA system. The staff will be on hand to answer questions afterward, and Greenlight will have copies of StoryCorps collections Listening is an Act of Love and Mom: A Celebration of Mothers From StoryCorps for sale. Join us for what is always a moving and enlightening listening experience.

RSVP for StoryCorps Listening Session on Facebook (optional)

Tonight: Losing My Cool!

Thursday, June 3, 7:30 PM Thomas Chatterton Williams reads and discusses Losing My Cool: How a Father’s Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-Hop Culture With media & culture writer Troy Patterson

Thomas Chatterton Williams grew up in New Jersey in the 1990s in awe of rap stars, and with his friends did his best to create a “thug life” persona – but at home his father, who grew up in the segregated South, encouraged Williams to read and educate himself. In Losing My Cool, Williams describes how he managed to juggle these two disparate lifestyles--"keeping it real" in his friends' eyes and studying for the SATs under his father's strict tutelage. Williams talks about the complex issues surrounding the effects of hip hop culture on his generation with Troy Patterson, who is a book critic for NPR, TV critic at Slate.com and the film critic at Spin magazine.

What is FABfest?

FABfest is a new kind of street fair in Fort Greene, hosted by our new BID, the FAB (Fulton Area Business) Alliance!

Fulton Street from Fowler Square to South Oxford will be closed to traffic each Sunday in June, as we celebrate local Brooklyn businesses, arts groups and cultural organizations with music, food, games, dance parties, environmental demonstrations, crafts and activities for children, and more. Each day kicks off with a salsa dance party at 12 noon and the fun continues until 6:00pm, rain or shine!

Greenlight is delighted to be involved in FABfest, with events on the street and in the store each Sunday in June. Click any of the links below to go to our Facebook event page for more information about Greenlight's FABfest programming, or stop by the store to pick up a flyer about FABfest. (There will be more authors and activities added, so check back on Facebook for updates.) And visit FAB Fulton on Facebook for more about all the great stuff going on at FABfest. See you out in the street!

June 6:
All day:StoryCorps listening station, activities and giveaways, and streetside Mad Libs
3:00 PM: Listening session with StoryCorps staff

June 13:
All day:Six-Word Memoir Writing, activities and giveaways, and streetside Mad Libs
3:00 PM: White whiskey (moonshine) reading and tasting, co-hosted by The Greene Grape

June 20:
All day:Activities and giveaways, streetside Mad Libs, and information from New York Writers Coalition
2:00 - 6:00: Main Stage performances by Steamboat, Urban Word, Toure, Nelson George, and others
4:00 PM Free all-ages writing workshop from NYWC

June 27:
All day:Literary trivia contest, streetside Mad Libs, activities and giveaways, and literary magazine giveaways
5:00 PM: Literary magazine celebration with A Public Space, Armchair/Shotgun, BOMB, and Electric Literature

Tonight: Celebrate The Art of the Novella with Melville House!

Monday, May 24, 7:30 PM
Greenlight celebrates Melville House’s Art of the Novella Series
Introduction by publisher Dennis Johnson
Featuring Lore Segal, author of Lucinella
Alejandro Zambra, author of Bonsai
Margarita Shalina, translator of Chekov's The Duel
Ian Dreiblatt, translator of Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilych

Brooklyn-based independent publisher Melville House Publishing has been pushing boundaries and winning awards since it was founded by Dennis Johnson and his wife Valerie Merians in 2001. MHP’s beautifully produced Art of the Novella series celebrates a renegade art form (too short to be novel, too long to be a short story) and its practitioners with titles that are, in many instances, presented in book form for the first time. Authors and translators from both the Contemporary and Classic sides of the series will read at Greenlight this evening, christening the bookstore’s wall display of the entire Art of the Novella line.

Tonight: Steamboat!!

Thursday, May 20, 7:30 PM
Steamboat: A Literary Humor Series
Hosted by Bob Powers and Jason Reich
Featuring Rebecca Barry, author of Later, at The Bar
Allison Castillo, stand-up comedian
Teddy Wayne, author of Kapitoil

On the third Thursday of every month, join Bob Powers (author of Happy Cruelty Day) and Jason Reich (former writer for "The Daily Show"), as they welcome the city's best humor writers for a night of wine-addled text-based hilarity. Rebecca Barry’s debut story collection Later, at the Bar chronicles the lives and loves of the regulars at a small-town bar. Allison Castillo is a stand-up comedy veteran of Comedy Central's Premium Blend & HBO's Aspen Comedy Fest. Teddy Wayne’s novel Kapitoil is told in the voice of a young Middle Eastern financial whiz attempting to live the American Dream in New York City.

RSVP on Facebook (optional)

Tonight: Emily St. John Mandel reads from The Singer's Gun!

Monday, May 17, 7:30 PM
Emily St. John Mandel reads from The Singer’s Gun

Brooklyn author Emily St. John Mandel follows up her electrifying novel Last Night in Montreal with her new book The Singer’s Gun, a spellbinding story of international crime, false identities, the depths and limits of family ties, and the often confusing bonds of love. From the sinister warehouses of Williamsburg to the soulless shining office towers of Manhattan to the sun-kissed ennui of the island of Ischia, Emily St. John Mandel traces the fortunes of would-be ex-criminal Anton and his associates through moving and astonishing interludes. A staff favorite and a Number One Indie Next Pick, The Singer’s Gun promises a compelling evening’s reading from a rising literary star.

RSVP on Facebook (optional)