This summer, Lamplighter Brewing Co. in Cambridge launched a monthly Brewery Book Fair with Book Ends, an independent bookstore in Winchester.
It began in July as the brainchild of Book Ends co-owner Lauren Tiedemann, a Cambridge resident and member of the brewery’s membership club. She was inspired to host a book fair at Lamplighter because of the “more social atmosphere” that breweries offer compared to the “traditional bookstore browsing experience,” which tends to be quiet.
“I feel like breweries are becoming a really wonderful third space,” Tiedemann said. “It’s a great place to hang out, to buy a drink, to eat some food.”
Each month, Tiedemann selects books that focus on seasonal themes and local authors. In addition, she plans to invite local authors to attend book fairs so they can talk to attendees about their work and sign books.
On a Sunday in late August, around 100 attendees browsed a varied selection of books at Lamplighter’s Broadway back taproom. Everything from recent bestselling novels to local books about the greater Boston area were laid out on tables, in addition to bookish gifts and games.
Cambridge-based author Brian Hoefling was the writer on tap that day. An author of four books about cocktails and spirits, Hoefling chatted with attendees about his latest book, “Dryads: Spirits of the Trees,” a book about spirits distilled from tree saps around the world. In conversations suited for the space, Hoefling shared drink recipes and taste profiles from his book “Cocktail Seminars” and debunked drinking myths from another, “Distilled Knowledge.”
Here for the vibes
At the event, people drank craft beer while perusing the diverse array of books. Some chatted with friends about books they read, while others sat down on the couches and read a book.
“I’m here for the vibes,” attendee Audrey Iocca said. She learned about the event through the Lamplighter’s Instagram account and brought her friend to the event. As an assistant editor for Candlewick Press, Iocca enjoys attending literary events to learn more about new books.
Nicole Reddig also came to the event for its laidback setting. She ended up purchasing four titles – two children’s books for a baby shower gift, and two books that her friends recommended. “It’s nice to have a pop-up afternoon,” Reddig said.
It’s not the only literary offering at the brewery. In addition to the book fairs, Lamplighter also has monthly book club meetings in collaboration with the Cambridge Public Library on the first Wednesday of each month.
“We know Cambridge is a literary city,” Lamplighter Events Manager RileyMcLaughlin wrote in an email to Cambridge Day.
McLaughlin considers the pop-up book fair to be a “perfect fit for our taproom” because of the fair’s focus on Cambridge-based authors and community.
Lamplighter plans to continue partnering with Book Ends to host pop-up book fairs every month, with the next on October 25.
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