"Independent bookshops are dangerous because they interrupt us. They do not optimise our curiosity. They derail it."
10.03.2026 15:51
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"Independent bookshops are dangerous because they interrupt us. They do not optimise our curiosity. They derail it."
"I walk in for a novel and walk out with a theory of the state, a pamphlet on housing struggles, a Palestinian poet I had never heard of. No “for you” page in an online store would have suggested it. The bookseller did."
Tonight!
Now's a great time to remind you that not only are my zines online (Etsy.me/3Ya6bXa), but this month you can also get them in person at @astoriabookshop.bsky.social in Astoria, NY!
I'm proud of my little #zine behbehs because they are just as weird & silly as I am. Let's have a laugh together!
Thursday: @thatames.bsky.social reads from her newest sapphic rom-com, IN HER SPOTLIGHT
astoriabookshop.com/events/45068...
Wednesday in store: Hidden Gems book club discusses Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor
astoriabookshop.com/events/46468...
Wednesday at the Thespis Theater: book launch for GET HOME SAFE by @ranafromqueens.bsky.social
astoriabookshop.com/events/43939...
Then Tuesday evening, @megjoneswall.bsky.social hosts our monthly Tarot meetup
astoriabookshop.com/events/46472...
Tuesday 2/24:
@amyshearn.bsky.social joins us for Caregiver Storytime
astoriabookshop.com/events/44991...
RANA ABDELHAMID in conversation with NOOR TAGOURI GET HOME SAFE: A Guide to Self-Defense and Building Our Collective Power Book Launch & Signing Weds 2/25 7-8:30 pm THESPIS THEATER 25-02 NEWTOWN AVE., ASTORIA TICKETS FROM $5.00 PRESENTED BY Astoria Bookshop
Astoria Bookshop presents Amy Spalding with Heather Hogan IN HER SPOTLIGHT by AMY SPALDING Thurs. Feb. 26, 7pm Astoria Bookshop 36-19 30th Street
Upcoming events! Plus: caregiver storytime, Tarot Tuesday, and Hidden Gems book club
eepurl.com/jzMutU
How did I feel when I opened the @astoriabookshop.bsky.social package with a copy of MOSES AND THE DOCTOR signed by @lukeepplin.bsky.social ? Roughly like this:
Thank you to everyone who attended our informal ICE watch teach-in! We have additional copies of the zine & flyers provided, as well as a stash of whistles -- ask at the register!
Friday January 30 Book and craft swap: all day Postcard writing/yell at your electeds: all day Teach in about ICE: 2-3PM
Join us tomorrow for a day of community and action in support of the national strike
astoriabookshop.com/events/45268...
Our final tally:
$975 donated to Community Aid Network MN
With the @mta.info advising New Yorkers to avoid unnecessary travel tomorrow, we'll be closed for the day to ensure the safety of our staff. Thanks for understanding, and stay warm! 💙
ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA AND EVERYWHERE In solidarity with folks striking, organizing, and protesting against ICE in the Twin Cities, we're donating 15% of Our Saturday sales to the Community Aid Network MN. We invite you to join Us!
We're still not sure about our Sunday hours but if you visit the Bookshop or our website on Saturday 1/24 you can help us raise funds for MN mutual aid!
eepurl.com/jxNqog
Heads up that if it's not safe for our staff to get to the Bookshop on Sunday, we will not open. So stock up on your snow day reads now! Quincy says you need one book for every inch of precipitation
I had a great time @astoriabookshop.bsky.social last night talking all things FAST & FURIOUS, but the true highlight was the trivia round featuring a “Draw Your Best Dom” challenge:
Attn NYC friends (and #family): I'll be alongside @tuck.bsky.social at @astoriabookshop.bsky.social this Tuesday eve for a special event marking the publication of Welcome to the Family: The Explosive Story Behind Fast & Furious. Bonus: F&F trivia with prizes! www.astoriabookshop.com/events/42946...
Astoria Bookshop HOLIDAY HOURS CHRISTMAS EVE (12/24): 10AM-3PM CHRISTMAS (12/25): CLOSED NEW YEAR'S EVE (12/31): 11AM-6PM NEW YEAR'S DAY (1/1): CLOSED
Holiday hours!
Wed 12/24: 10a-3p
Thu 12/25: closed
Wed 12/31: 11a-6p
Thu 1/1: closed
It also should be said that this proclamation honors the contributions of all the booksellers and storytime readers and event hosts and book club leaders who have helped build the Bookshop into what it is today, from 2013 to the present. 🤎
Mamdani is hard at work with his transition team (and also preparing to move to the UES) so the fact that he took the time to honor our store this month means so much to the entire team here.
A fancy framed gold embossed letter with a seal that reads: Whereas, Astoria Bookshop has served New Yorkers since its original location's grand opening in 2013; and Whereas, Astoria Bookshop is a small business that each day showcases the achievements of both the Queer Community and women entrepreneurs within our neighborhood and great City; and Whereas, Astoria Bookshop enriches the vibrancy of our community through offering a wealth of books frequently not found elsewhere including books on Astoria and Queens, Indigenous peoples and First Nations, banned books, and books written by LGBTQIA+ authors; and Whereas, Astoria Bookshop has encouraged community gathering and togetherness, hosting events for all Astorians to enjoy, including book clubs, Sunday storytime, and storytelling shows; and Whereas Astoria Bookshop has dedicated itself to community advocacy, striving to provide dignity for all New Yorkers; and Whereas, Astoria Bookshop dedicates considerable space and resources to uplift, promote, and sell the work of Queens-based authors, ensuring that words written in Queens can reach readers across the world, and Whereas, Astoria Bookshop has continued to open its doors despite periods of hardship, with its owners seeking innovative solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep Astorians safe, employed, and well-read: now, therefore, be it Proclaimed, that I, Assemblymember Mamdani, honor Astoria Bookshop for its service to Astorians and the 36th Assembly District.
We are fortunate to have wonderful customers say lovely things about us on a regular basis, but most of our customers are not currently an Assembly Member or a Mayor-Elect, so this proclamation we received today from @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social is really special.
We provide:
🎁 gift wrapping materials
💲a jar to collect tips
You'll provide:
👐 your gift wrapping skills
🪧 a sign letting customers know what charity you're raising money for
You'll be responsible for getting the cash donation to the charity you are supporting.
Do you like wrapping presents? Do you want to raise some money for the charity of your choice? If so, sign up for a shift using this calendar!
calendar.app.google/DQsgFuQ1foor...
Friends, we are still putting more books on our shelves every day, but 95% of our publishing vendors are just not shipping as fast as usual and NO ONE WILL TELL US WHY
The above gif is not to imply that we welcome nazis through the door at all! Lexi just loves this scene.
(Fake Scottish lords are ALWAYS welcome)
And if we don't have the specific title you were looking for, don't hesitate to ask our expert booksellers for alternative suggestions!
If you place an order and we know we can't get it by Christmas, we will do our best to communicate that to you before we take payment (if you don't need it on a strict timeline, feel free to tell us!)
Friends, we are still putting more books on our shelves every day, but 95% of our publishing vendors are just not shipping as fast as usual and NO ONE WILL TELL US WHY
