Five Ballard bookstores are teaming up later this month for the inaugural Ballard Book Crawl, a three-day event featuring bookstore visits, themed activities, and prize giveaways.
The crawl runs from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24, and includes participating businesses Ballard Books, The Ink Drinker, Secret Garden, Swoon City, and Twice Sold Tales.
Participants can visit each location during the weekend to collect stamps on a passport for a chance to win more than $300 in prizes. Organizers say prizes include a grand prize of $150 in gift cards, two tickets to the Ballard Cocktail Trail valued at $110 each, five totes, and commemorative bookmarks for people who complete the full passport.
Each bookstore is also planning a separate event or promotion during the weekend:
- Ballard Books (5416 20th Ave NW) will host a 20% store-wide sale.
- The Ink Drinker (2050 NW Market St) will offer new merchandise and host a free reading from a Portland-based novelist on Saturday evening.
- Secret Garden (2214 NW Market St) will offer a free ARC with minimum purchase while supplies last.
- Swoon City (1716 NW Market St) will host a free book bedazzling activity with the purchase of a new book.
- Twice Sold Tales (1708 NW Market St) will offer discounts on banned books.
Organizers say Ballard has seen growth in book-related businesses over the past three years, including general interest, secondhand, antiquarian, and romance-focused bookstores, along with the opening of a book-themed bistro.
“Indie bookstores have come roaring back in recent years, up 70% since 2020, and Market Street, alone, has seen an explosion in a variety of book-related businesses,” organizers said in the announcement.
“I think folks have been looking for more human connection,” said Shelle Yusuf, owner of The Ink Drinker. “When you get recommendations from a local bookseller, you’re getting their passion, their thoughtfulness. And no one geeks out with you quite like a fellow book lover can.”
Yusuf also spoke about the role books play in daily life.
“Books teach patience. They reward you most when you pay close attention,” Yusuf said. “So many things are designed to steal our focus these days, but books are content to wait.”
Participating locations and hours
- Ballard Books, 5416 20th Ave NW — Wednesday-Saturday noon to 6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- The Ink Drinker, 2050 NW Market St — Friday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Secret Garden, 2214 NW Market St — Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Swoon City, 1716 NW Market St — Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Twice Sold Tales, 1708 NW Market St — Wednesday-Sunday noon to 7 p.m.
Photo: Nils Dickmann, owner of Ballard Books