The First 24, plus a little more  Monday, May 24, 2010, 3 pm: Arrive at The Park Central, and check-in with your discounted ABA-member rate. After unpacking, mosey down to the hotel lobby bar, and reconnect with bookseller friends. Then, grab a bite to fortify for the self-guided NYC bookstore open house tour.
6 to 9 pm: Pick up your map at the hotel registration desk or print from the BEA or ABA website, and visit all or many of the 13 stores participating in the NYC Bookstores Open House Self-Guided Tour, co-sponsored by the stores, ABA, and BEA. Enjoy the snacks at each stop, and then see where Frommer’s recommends for dinner. 9 to 12 pm: Return with ABA colleagues to the Park Central Times Square room to enjoy a post-dinner nightcap thanks to Random House Publishing Group, and meet some of their authors, including Justin Cronin (#1 Indie Next List title, The Passage).  Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 7:30 am: Arrive at Javits to begin the day. Pick up your show badge, if you haven’t already received one, at the BEA reg desk marked ABA Members, then come down to the E Hall to the ABA Members-only Lounge (E107) to get your Day of Education journal, Frommer’s Guide to New York City, and a special gift, courtesy of Other Press—a Who is Mr. Toppit? umbrella! (Then pray for rain.) It’s first-come, first-served for journal, book, and umbrella. The Lounge is open until 5 today.
8:30 am to 10 am: It’s time for the ABA/BEA Opening Plenary, the CEO Panel, in the Special Events Hall, featuring ABA’s Oren Teicher and other industry leaders discussing the value of the book. Not to be missed, to set the tone for show!  10:15 am to 4 pm: Get educated! Choose your sessions, from bookseller roundtables to Techniques and Tactics for website promotion to “It’s in the Payroll!” All sessions are in the Javits E hallway. 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm: Attend the BEA Editors Buzz in the Special Events Hall, and hear what’s new and exciting on the lists. This one is always packed, so be prepared!  5:30 pm to 8:00 pm: Be sure to visit the famous ABC Not-a-Dinner and (Mostly) Silent Auction at the Edison Ballroom (240 W 47th) and bid on fabulous, one-of-a kind children’s book illustrations. Proceeds go to support ABC programming.
6:00 pm: Are you a person who needs people? Barbra Streisand is speaking at BEA’s opening night event, in the Special Events Hall. Everyone is invited! Evening plans are yours to make! The Second 24  Wednesday, May 26, 7:45 am to 9:30 am: If you’re bringing your luggage to Javits and need a place to store it, come by the ABA Members-only Bag Check (Room 1E06) for safe-keeping, then hop over to the Special Events Hall for the Children’s Book & Author Breakfast. Of note for royal-watchers—Fergie is the MC!
9 am to 3 pm: Visit the ABA Members-Only Lounge and note the line-up of authors autographing there today and tomorrow. Autographing starts with Paul Harding, Pulitzer Prize-winner for Tinkers, at 10:00. Kate DiCamillo and Cory Doctorow will be there too! Early-birds get a taste of Nutella scones, courtesy of Stewart, Tabori & Chang and served by the cooks themselves, the authors of Baked Explorations. The lounge closes today at 3 pm, to allow members to go to the Town Hall and Annual Meetings (Room 1E10). Look for the sign-up to make Town Hall comments.  9 am: Trade show floor opens! — join the throngs and fill your bookbags with books.
12 pm to 1:30 pm: Eat, Mingle, and Admire at the Celebration of Bookselling Luncheon and Indie Choice Book Awards. All seven winners will be in attendance, and many of the honorees will be as well. Every table will host an Indie Next List author, so be sure to reserve online before this event is sold out (limit 2 per store). 3 pm to 5 pm: The ABA Town Hall and Annual Meeting will take place in Room 1E10. ABA staff needs and wants your comments and suggestions, to help guide our programs. So come! A NYC evening awaits! Time Out New York is a great place to see now what will be happening then.  Next week: 72 Hours in New York City, Part 3 | 
