MAPSO Bookfest Events all located in Maplewood

Is this a so-called shared two town event? Who planned it? All the events except the one we have to pay for are in Maplewood. I'd be pissed if I owned a business in SO and couldn't get bookfest foot traffic.


I think it would be hard to have events spread over the two towns and to have a presence in all of the retail neighborhoods - Maplewood Village, Springfield Ave., SO center and Seton Village.

I suppose it depends what the intent is. If the intent is to bring people into S.O., then maybe it needs some rethinking. These things evolve, it's just the first year.


I was very excited about it actually until I saw the event venues. Very lopsided. Would have liked to walk to some of these very interesting book talks and then hang out at a local restaurant in SO.


Somewhere I read the organizer and founder saying, "We don't want to do anything too crazy large in just the first year. We'd rather be smaller and well-run than big and confused."


All venues on Saturday are in Woodland and Burgdorff, which are next to each other.  This makes it easy for attendees to move from one venue to another.  Since the event includes food vendors, I am not sure that the Village is going to get much foot traffic.


Yeah, it's basically between the two rooms of the Woodland and the two rooms of the Burgdorff, which has nothing in between. I'm semi-concerned that they're closing the Woodland parking lot for the exhibitors. Only semi-concerned, though, because I'm one of the exhibitors. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the organizers have put together for this, though. 


It's all very exciting,without question! My only concern is that if the intent is to showcase MAPSO as an arts/lit destination then it should have been titled the MAP Bookfest. I don't see where SO has any benefit or shine. Personally I invited friends from NYC and thought we could stroll on over to meet some authors. Now I'll be accused of selling out to the suburban car culture.


Seems like kind of a no-win the way you describe it. I'm not sure what real benefit either town really gets. Both towns already are in a crazy hot real estate market. Sounds like the founders liked the vibe of the Brooklyn Book Festival and wanted to bring something like it out here, and celebrate some writers and their work.

I suppose given that Maplewood has the bookstore and places that make sense as the venue, it could have been launched as the Maplewood Book Festival. Instead it seems they tried to be more inclusive, while stating that they wanted to start small and focused.

Consider the Montclair Film Festival, which has become more recognized over many years. It's still somewhat centralized in terms of venue locations. It's not their goal to drive traffic into every store and restaurant in their town, or to be walking distance for everyone.


Is there somthing Friday night as well?



^ There's a keynote speech (with fee) on Friday night at SOPAC, most of events are on Saturday in Maplewood

http://www.mapsobookfest.org/



annielou said:

Personally I invited friends from NYC and thought we could stroll on over to meet some authors. Now I'll be accused of selling out to the suburban car culture.

You could take the train from SO to Mplwd.  grin 



annielou said:

Personally I invited friends from NYC and thought we could stroll on over to meet some authors. Now I'll be accused of selling out to the suburban car culture.

You're friends sound like horrible people. I live in Maplewood and walk to South Orange all the time- it's doable. If SO Village is walkable for you, Maplewood Village is probably only another mile or mile and 1/2. 

You have the opportunity to attend an awesome event, with all these writers, talks, and events for kids that is probably at most 3 miles from your house, and you are complaining because it's not located exactly where you want it to be? Seriously? 



Well aside from the fact that we would be dragging 3 and 4 year olds to Maplewood, my original point is that the book fest, presumably a two towns event, is actually a totally Maplewood event. That being said, hopefully next year's book fest will include venues in South Orange as well.


The main event Friday night was at SOPAC, so people could eat in the village before and/or after. The organizer, a volunteer, should be praised for going to all the weeks of work of putting it together, with the goal of having entertainment for the two towns. Thank you, Robert Lasner, and may tomorrow be a great success!


The book fest is a great idea and, I would add, a perfect fit for this community. It is not unreasonable, however, for someone to make suggestions for future events that highlight the best of both towns. The actual main events, by the way, are tomorrow, free, and family oriented. 


Yes, that would be the solution, to have more events in South Orange next year, and try to alternate venues.  

annielou said:

The book fest is a great idea and, I would add, a perfect fit for this community. It is not unreasonable, however, for someone to make suggestions for future events that highlight the best of both towns. The actual main events, by the way, are tomorrow, free, and family oriented. 



Festival is well under way.  I attended three programs this morning and found each to be excellent.


Mary Roach at SOPAC last night was highly entertaining!




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