I like to celebrate nontraditional holidays. Natural events like the first day of spring are favorites, & it brings me joy to observe events promoting equity, like the International Day of Transgender Visibility & Juneteenth. Random food holidays are a great excuse to cook. National Enchilada Day falls on Cinco de Mayo. National Surf & Turf Day only happens once every four years, on February 29th. This year I even bought a National Holidays Calendar to broaden my options.
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| Here's May 1st, just to give you an example. |
But there's a biggie coming up this weekend that I've been really looking forward to: Independent Bookstore Day! It always falls on the last Saturday of April. Participating bookstores mark the occasion by throwing parties, or sales, or other kinds of events to raise awareness & draw in new customers. In the past there have been challenges for book lovers, such as visiting every participating bookstore within so many miles. Given the challenges of COVID-19, however, this year they're doing things a little differently in my neck of the woods.
The challenge: ten bookstores in ten days, & a purchase at each store.* Go alone. Take your friends. Go on Tuesday, which is usually the slowest day for any business. Or go virtually. And blog & tag & read & chat & read & tweet & read & read & READ!
If you live in the U.S., here's a hand-dandy map to help you find participating bookstores near you. I already know where I'll be starting, I have a couple favorites I've been missing for awhile.** But I'm also looking forward to discovering new stores--places I've wanted to visit, but somehow never found the time. Kind of like making chicken cordon bleu...so delicious, yet I never make the time...unless it's National Chicken Cordon Bleu Day, which happened on April 4th. Guess I'll have something else to look forward to next year.
*Yeah, that last part is going to be dangerously easy! Don't tell my wallet!
**Ahh, Third Place Books...surely you didn't think I'd forgotten you? And Brick & Mortar, we've only hung out online since the pandemic started, but you know I've just been waiting for an opportunity to get together! And BookTree, it was so nice to run into you that one time! I'm quite looking forward to getting to know you better.