ASTORIA — Show your local bookstores some love this weekend.
Booksellers throughout the city will participate in Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, a nationwide event that encourages bookworms to visit and support their neighborhood indie shops.
More than two dozen independent bookstores in New York City will host events and offer special merchandise as part of the celebration, which started in California last year and was modeled after Record Store Day. It expanded this year to include shops across the country.
"I think that in many neighborhoods a bookstore is an inherent part of the community," said Lexi Beach, the owner of Astoria Bookshop, which opened at 31-29 31st St. in 2013.
"Having that kind of space where people can come together and collectively form a community around their love of books — I think is something that is still really important," she said.
Astoria Bookshop will be participating in Independent Bookstore Day with two events Saturday, including a game of pictionary for kids at 1 p.m. which will be led by graphic novelists Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman. The authors will give away their drawings after the event.
At 6 p.m., the store will host a round of literary trivia for grown-ups called "Wait, Wait…I’ve Read That!" where contestants can compete for prizes.
Events will be taking place at other spots across the city: at McNally Jackson, a bevy of writers will read the works of Langston Hughes, followed by a party with beer from Brooklyn Brewery.
La Casa Azul Bookstore in Harlem will debut its new exhibit featuring artwork from two books about prominent activists, while The Community Bookstore in Park Slope will host a party with appearances from authors like Paul Auster.
Participating stores will also be giving away a limited amount of special merchandise, including a signed book of essays by Roxane Gay and a signed print by artist Chris Ware.
A full list of locations and events can be found here.
SoHo's Housing Works Bookstore Cafe is celebrating the day too, offering a story time and sing-a-long for kids 3 and under, literary trivia for kids 8 to 12, and more.
"New York City has always and will always be a great home for independent bookstores," said Molly Quinn, director of public programming at Housing Works, in a statement.
"Local bookstores ignite communities and connect readers to authors, and this day will be a celebration and a chance for the whole city to connect."
