We have got a PACKED newsletter and blog for you this week with a lot of new details on the events happening in April at our “bigger on the inside” 65 James Street bookstore!
First of all, ABSW is happy to announce that we will be once again supporting Worcester – The City That Reads book drive. By the register, we will have a box where you can donate your new or gently used books appropriate for students from kindergarten to eighth grade. We will have the box through April 30, and if you buy a book just for donation, we will take an additional 10% off.
Also this month, everyone at our store is happy to see our neighbor, the diner Sisters on Stafford Street, is finally open again after a vehicle crashed into their building. To celebrate, we’ve purchased two ten-dollar gift certificates and anyone who buys $5 or more from our store can be entered to win one of the gift certificates! (If your purchase is just under, consider buying a children’s book for Worcester – The City That Reads book drive!) The drawing will be held on May 1, at the end of during our weekend-long celebration of Independent Bookstore Day – Vintage Book Event. Winners do not have to be present to claim their prizes—but keep reading to see why you might not want to miss the party.
As for events… wellllll… there are a lot!
THIS WEEKEND we have quite a few fabulous events going on!
THIS SATURDAY, April 16, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM, we have author Jo Page presenting Preaching in My Yes Dress.
Lutheran pastor, Jo Page shares her humorous and sometimes irreverent memoir of her long journey to her vocation. Comical, provocative, and heartbreaking, Preaching in My Yes Dress tells several stories: of a child’s need to cleave to the very God who instills mortal terror; of the shape-shifting that a public “pastoral identity” entails; of the power of ritual and the weight involved in presiding over it; and of the rise of the religious right and the patriarchy endemic to both scripture and faith traditions. Join us for a reading, signing, and Q&A.
The later THIS SATURDAY, April 16, FROM 6:00 – 8:00 PM, the Rainbow Readers of Massachusetts discuss The Color Purple. Join our growing LGBTA book club as we read and discuss books and stories by and/or about people and issues in the queer community.
And then THIS SUNDAY, April 17, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM, we have local author and activist Scott Schaeffer-Duffy presenting Nothing is Impossible.
Scott Schaeffer-Duffy and his wife, Claire, founded the Sts. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker House in Worcester. They have dedicated their lives to the Catholic Worker movement and its ideals of prayer, voluntary poverty, care for the forsaken and protestations of injustice and violence, and in 2008, the couple was awarded the Isaac Hecker award from the Paulist Center of Boston. Scott graduated from Holy Cross College in 1980 with a religious studies degree, thinking he would go into the priesthood, but found his calling as a Catholic Worker. He also writes for the National Catholic Reporter. Nothing is Impossible shares the stories of his activism.
And NEXT WEEK is school vacation week, where we have quite a bit planned for our community.
Monday, April 18 and Tuesday, April 19 – April Vacation Fun!
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Singalong featuring favorite children’s songs
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Storytelling featuring William Joyce’s Guardians of Childhood Series
Man in the Moon, Nicholas St. North, Jack Frost, The Sandman
2:00 – 3:00 PM: Crafts – Build a telescope or create your own moon
Wednesday, April 20, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Maddison’s Mission.
A little dog is on a mission to bring big smiles wherever she goes…
And while not necessarily for the same audience, but happening in the same week, we’ve got…
Thursday, April 21, 7:00 – 8:00 PM – Doctor Who Discussion Group. Talk continues on the Doctor’s Companions, focusing on the Fourth and Fifth Doctor.
Friday, April 22, 7:00 – 8:30 PM – Worcester Storytellers brings their regular open mic, this month featuring Catherine Reed.
UPDATED LISTING AND LINK: Saturday, April 23, All Day – Poets Assemble!
Join us for an all-ages, day-long crafting event where we create and decorate poets to join us on adventures! April is National Poetry Month, and the third Friday in July is Take Your #poettowork day, as created by TweetSpeakPoetry.com – We just want to extend the fun!
Monday, April 25, 7:00 – 8:00 PM – Free People’s Artists Workshop
And last, but not least, to round out our month, we have this SPECIAL EVENT!
NEW LINK, TOO: Saturday, April 30 – Sunday, May 1 – Weekend Long Independent Bookstore / Vintage Book Event!
ABSW has a great collection of vintage and antique books that we normally only sell online, but to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, we are opening our collection to the public to browse! At 1:00 PM on Saturday, owner Patty Cryan will give a set of collected readings on “Books about Books” and on Sunday at 1:00 PM, she will talk about her adventures in bookselling and handling vintage books. Throughout both days, we’ll have other surprises for everyone.
For your convenience, here’s a list of our regular events!
Spinning Yarns Craft and Audiobook Social, every Monday 7:00 PM (except for when the Free People’s Artists Workshop meets the last Monday of the month). Bring a craft and enjoy an audiobook or audio drama with other crafty booklovers!
Worcester Storytellers, the fourth Friday of every month from 7-8:30 PM. April’s featured reader is Catherine Reed. For the complete updates and schedules, follow Worcester Storytellers on Facebook! Next meeting on April 22.
The Free People’s Artists Workshop, the last Monday of each month from 7:00-9:00 PM. Networking and feedback from other artists and creators of all types. Co-sponsored by the Worcester County Poetry Association. Next meeting on April 25.
Doctor Who Talks, the third Thursday of every month from 7:00 – 8:00 PM. Join us for a discussion of our favorite science fiction serial. Every month will have a different topic! Next meeting on April 21.
The Rainbow Readers of Massachusetts is an LGBTQA book club that will meet once a month on third Saturdays from 6:00-8:00 PM. The book will be The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Next meeting on April 16.
Rainbow Readers Youth of Massachusetts is an LGBTQA book club specific to teens, meeting once a month on first Fridays from 7:00-9:00 PM. The book will be George by Alex Gino. Next meeting on May 6.
As always, keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.
May your world be filled with wonderful words!
Annie's Book Stop of Worcester 