Literary Happenings NYC

Here's a selection of book related events happening over the next few weeks. Feel free to list any additional ones you might know about in the comments.

Silent Film Series: Rin-Tin-Tin in Clash of the Wolves
Sunday, March 4 @ BPL Central Library
Have you read Susan Orlean's Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend and wish you could see one of Rinty's original films? Brooklyn Public Library will be showing his ninth feature in this 1925 classic, which will be hosted by Ken Gordon.

Armchair/Shotgun
Monday, March 5 @ Greenlight Bookstore
With the advent of digital publishing, opportunities are arising for new and unusual formats, from 150-character short stories to not-quite-book-length articles. Brooklyn-based Armchair/Shotgun, a literary magazine available only on paper moderates this discussion on the changing shape of fiction and journalism from the writer’s conception of a piece to publication, distribution, and marketing.

New York Review of Science Fiction Readings
Tuesday, March 6 @ Soho Gallery of Digital Art
Created in 1989, these readings are held the first Tuesday of every month and have showcased some of the most prominent and upcoming authors in the genre. Their commitment is to provide a venue open to all works of speculative fiction, whether they be works of fantasy, magical realism, horror, or science fiction.

Edith Wharton and New York City
Wednesday, March 7 @ New York Society Library
Part of a series of lectures by Dr James Kraft and offered in conjunction with the current 2012 exhibition, this lecture traces Wharton's interest in New York City society through a reading of her principal New York books, a selection of her New York stories, and her autobiography. More great NYSL events here.

New York City Spelling Bee
Thursday, March 8 @ Housing Works Bookstore Cafe
Part of Geek Week NYC, this is a grownup spelling bee with all proceeds going to Housing Works, which benefits homeless New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.


McSweeny's Presents Diane Williams, Ben Marcus, and Deb Olin Unferth
Monday, March 12 @ Housing Works Bookstore Cafe
Diane Williams will read from her new book of stories, Vicky Swanky Is a Beauty, with Ben Marcus (The Flame Alphabet) and Deb Olin Unferth (Revolution).

Irish Arts Center Book Day 2012
Friday, March 16
Irish Arts Center will kick off St Patrick's Day weekend with their second annual Book Day. Keep an eye out for Book Day volunteers handing out 10,000 works by Irish and Irish American authors, free, at subway stops and transportation hubs across all five boroughs. If you're interested in volunteering, you can contact Jen Browne at voluneer@irishartscenter.org You can also read more about World Book Day here. 

Fading Ads of Greenpoint Walking Tour
Sunday, March 18 @ Word Bookstore
Get a glimpse into Greenpoint’s history with a walking tour, led by author and photographer Frank Jump. His book, Fading Ads of New York City, is a study of time and space, and of mortality and living, as Jump’s campaign to capture the ads mirrors his own struggle with HIV. During the walking tour and book-signing, Jump will offer a glimpse into Greenpoint's commercial advertising history through remnant fading ads.

Downton Abbey
Now through March 31 @ Mid-Manhattan Library
Through the end of March the NYPL Mid-Manhattan Library Picture Collection will have an exhibition on display inspired by the show, highlighted with memorable quotes. The Picture Collection has well over one million circulating images filed under 12,000 different subject headings.  Whether you are researching the sinking of the Titanic, British soldier’s uniforms from World War I, photographic depictions of "weekends", or the daily life of servants and the upper class, we can help you with all of your visual resource needs.