Baldwins at BookHampton
Heading into her first holiday season as the new owner of BookHampton in East Hampton, Carolyn Brody has planned a series of events intended, she said, “to share the spirit, bring people into the store, and build community.”
“We’re just trying to throw the doors open,” she said Monday.
Just as it did for many years before Ms. Brody bought the business, BookHampton will welcome Alec Baldwin, the actor, who lives in Amagansett, and his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, for children’s literature readings on the day after Thanksgiving.
He will read from the book “Black Beauty,” she from the Spanish-language book “Por Favor Senor Panda.” Their appearance is planned for 2 p.m., and the bookstore has room to accommodate about 100 guests on a first-come-first-served basis.
On Saturday, which has been dubbed Small Business Saturday in a nationwide campaign to encourage consumers to shop local, BookHampton will host Pat Kiernan, a morning television anchor with the station NY1, at 10 a.m. for a reading of his new children’s book, “Good Morning City.” Ina Garten will sign her new cookbook, “Cooking for Jeffrey,” from 3 to 4 p.m. that day.
On Dec. 3, BookHampton will hold an open house from noon to 4 p.m., including Christmas carolers and complimentary cookies and cider. Carrie Doyle, a local murder-mystery author whose titles include “Death on Windmill Way” and “Death on Lily Pond Lane,” will do a signing at 4 p.m. that day.
Several children’s story time sessions, book signings, and other events have been planned for later in December as well.
Ms. Brody said the staff has carefully decorated the store for the holidays and filled it with merchandise and books that people will love.
“What’s the perfect book for all the people on your list?” she asked. “We think, somewhere in the store, we’ve got it.”