More and more, independent bookstores are becoming an endangered species, thanks to Amazon and some other factors. But last night, I had the pleasure of partaking in a reading at a great indie bookstore as part of the launch party for the new issue of Harpur Palate, in which my poem “After Work” appears. RiverRead Books in Binghamton is located at 5 Court Street, right in the downtown, and only minutes from the SUNY Binghamton’s campus, if you’re traveling by car. Each section of the store is fairly expansive, and they have a section dubbed “slightly used books” in which you can find some classic literature and also some more contemporary works for a cheap price.

From what I observed last night, RiverRead Books is also a vital part of the community, hosting several events beyond the Harpur Palate launch party. If you are tri-state area writer, I suggest trying to book a reading there with local writers. Last night, we had around 70 people at the reading, including many college students, but I think the bookstore also worked hard to promote the reading.  If you are in semi-close proximity to Binghamton, I recommend visiting the bookstore and supporting the local business.

You can learn more about RiverRead Books by visiting its website here. To check out Harpur Palate, click here.