Bookish Events: November Edition

November has more going for it than turkey and discount deals. It’s jam packed with literary events all over the city, and when I say jam packed – I mean so many events that I’m going to need two posts to cover them all. Check out the list below for some of my top picks this month.

Thursday, November 1^st

NaNoWriMo Write-In!

When you’re at home trying to churn out the 50,000 words suggested by the National Novel Writing Month challenge, it’s easy to get distracted and turn on Netflix. That won’t happen if you’re surrounded by other authors ferociously punching out the daily 1,600 words they need to stay on track. Get started at the first write-up of the month.

Whole Foods Tribeca, Greenwich Street
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Tickets: Free! You can buy yourself some dinner at the Whole Foods.

Pulitzer Surprises

“According to the Pulitzer website, anyone can nominate anything for a Pulitzer Prize.” Based on this concept, the comedians of this show perform their own Pulitzer proposal ideas. The audience then votes on which proposal they’d like to submit as a real entry for consideration. This month’s show guest stars Pulitzer prize-winning author Michael Moss (SALT SUGAR FAT: How the Food Giants Hooked Us).

Caveat, 21A Clinton Street
9:00 PM
Tickets: $8

Friday, November 2^nd

Literati: A Comedy Show About Books and the Idiots Who Write Them

“[…] a night of comedians in character performing hilarious readings.” Enough said.

Caveat, 21A Clinton Street
8:30 PM
Tickets: $8

Saturday, November 2^nd – Sunday, November 4^th

PoetryFest 2018

Hosted by the Irish Arts Center, come out for a weekend of “literary revelry” as you hear recitations from poets on “both sides of the Atlantic.”

Irish Arts Center, 553 West 51st Street
All Day
Tickets: Free – $40

Saturday, November 3^rd

Convenience Store Woman: Meet Author Sayaka Murata

Renowned Japanese author Sayaka Murata will discuss her English-language, debut novel. Murata was chosen asVogue Japan’s Woman of the Year in 2016, and this will be an interesting opportunity to hear from a prominent foreign figure. If you need more of a reason to go, the discussion will be followed by a book signing and a “Japanese convenience store themed reception.”

Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street
2:00 PM
Tickets: $15

Monday, November 5^th

1000 Books to Read Before You Die

I need a book like this, so I thought you might need one too. The price of admission includes a signed copy.

The Strand, 828 Broadway (& 12th Street)
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Tickets: $15 – $35

If a Tree Won’t Grow in Brooklyn

Okay, you got me. Despite the name, this isn’t really a literary themed event. However, last week our National Treasurer Christine Sikule challenged WNBA members to help make #agenda2030 a reality. Attending this discussion on climate change and deforestation may help us understand some of the obstacles we’ll face when reaching for those goals.

Brooklyn Brewery, 79 North 11th Street
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Tickets: $20

Tuesday, November 6^th

Election Fever: Midterms Live

I know — this isn’t really a literary event either, but it does take place at a bookstore — so that counts, right? Come share in a sense of civic comradery as you watch the results of the midterm elections unfurl. And if things go south? A complimentary beer is included with the price of admission.

Housing Works Bookstore Café, 126 Crosby Street
6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Tickets: $8

Saturday, November 10^th

WNBA-NYC Scavenger Hunt

An event I am particularly looking forward to (no, they didn’t pay me to say that), the WNBA Scavenger Hunt will take participants through a series of literary and female-driven establishments. Organized by Search Party Hunts, it’ll be a great way to learn more about a local NY neighborhood. So come, solve clues, pretend you’re Sherlock Holmes, and enjoy a free drink!

2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Lower East Side/Various Locations
Tickets: $10 Members; $15 YPG Members; $20 Non-members

Check back next week to see what else November has in store!

Have you been to any of these events before? Let us know!

By Rina Mody

Rina’s a Metadata and eBook Distribution Specialist at Thieme Medical Publishers. She’s an avid traveler and loves to go to new places – both real and fictional.