72 Hours in New York City: Part 1

The First 24, plus a little more

Monday, May 24

3:00 p.m.: 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.

6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.: Pick up your map at the hotel registration desk or print it from the BEA or ABA websites, 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.

9:00 p.m. to Midnight: Return with your ABA colleagues to the Park Central's Times Square Room to enjoy a post-dinner nightcap, thanks to the Random House Publishing Group, and meet some of their authors, including Justin Cronin (The Passage, the #1 June Indie Next List Great Read).

Tuesday, May 25

7:30 a.m.: Arrive at the Javits Convention Center to begin the day. Pick up your show badge at the BEA registration desk marked "ABA Members," then come down to the "E" Hall to the ABA Members-only Lounge (1E07) 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 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.: 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 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Get educated! Choose your Day of Education sessions, from bookseller roundtables to "Techniques and Tactics for Website Promotion" to "It's in the Payroll!" All sessions are in the Javits "E" Hall.

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Attend the BEA Editors Buzz in the Special Events Hall, and hear what's new and exciting on the upcoming lists. This one is always packed, so be prepared!

5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.: Be sure to visit the famous ABC Not-a-Dinner and (Mostly) Silent Auction at the Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street), and bid on fabulous, one-of-a kind children's book illustrations. Proceeds go to support the Association of Booksellers for Children's programming.

6:00 p.m.: Are you a person who needs people? Barbra Streisand is speaking at BEA's Opening Night Keynote Reception, in the Special Events Hall. Everyone is invited!

Evening plans are yours to make!

Next week: 72 Hours in New York City, Part 2