Saratoga Reads kicks off year five with bookstore events

Saratoga Reads will launch its fifth year with events at two local bookstores?Borders in downtown Saratoga Springs and Barnes & Noble, Route 50, Wilton.

Both events will celebrate this year's Saratoga Reads book of choice, The Secret Lives of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. In addition, they will offer discounts to shoppers and raise funds in support of the community-wide reading program.

In celebration of the Victorian Streetwalk in downtown Saratoga Springs on Thursday, Dec. 4, Borders will feature a "10/10 Benefit Day" in support of Saratoga Reads. The store will offer a 10 percent discount on all purchases made with a Saratoga Reads coupon that day and in addition will donate 10 percent of the day's sales to Saratoga Reads. Saratoga Reads volunteers will be handing out coupons in the store all day.

The action will continue on Sunday, Dec. 7, with a Saratoga Reads Book Fair from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble. The day will offer activities for the whole family, including theater, dance, a magic show, and live music. Barnes &Noble will donate to Saratoga Reads a percentage of purchases made that day by shoppers who use the special book fair voucher. Vouchers and the book fair schedule are available at www.saratogareads.org.

"These two events are terrific outings for families and individuals?a great combination of entertainment, conversation, and books, all in support of an important community program," said Saratoga Reads board coordinator Tabitha Orthwein.

Saratoga Reads is a Skidmore-Saratoga collaboration that invites all members of the community to participate in conversation, events, and activities based on the shared reading of single book. The program builds upon resources available at Skidmore College and in the wider Saratoga community. Members of the community and local organizations are invited to develop and participate in public programs.

Schedule for Dec. 7 Book Fair at Barnes & Noble

11 a.m.
Family favorite Clifford the Big Red Dog will greet book fair guests off all ages.

Adults and children alike will enjoy To Bee or Not to Bee, a comic skit about the adventures of a bumblebee trying to board Noah's Ark. Presented by local children under the direction of Michelle Summerlin-Yergan.

11:30 a.m.
A quartet of talented women from Saratoga Soundtrack Chorus will sing everything from standards to contemporary tunes, as well as holiday songs.

Noon
Enjoy the dynamic sound of the Accents, an all-female a cappella group from Skidmore College.

2 p.m.
Step lively to the performers from the Rosemary Campbell School of Irish Dance, under the direction of Rosemary Campbell.

3 p.m.
Local favorite Alan Edstrom will amuse and amaze young and old with his interactive magic and illusion show.

4 p.m.
The Spa City Duo of Tania Susi, violinist/violist, and Demetria Konini, cellist, will perform, accompanied by several of their young students.

5-6 p.m.
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Nancy Walker and her husband, guitarist Larry Clyman, will perform their distinctive style of folk music, featuring songs from Nancy's CD, Layers of Rust and Time.