Upcoming Events at Friendly City Books
Presented in partnership with the Friendly City Books Community Connection, a special project of the CREATE Foundation
Book Club: The Macabre with Cursed Books
Cursed Books is our horror book club. April’s pick is The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson. Our club meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 pm at Friendly City Books, 109 5th Street North. See you there!
IDEA Book Talk: The Deepest South of All with Richard Grant (VIRTUAL EVENT)
This virtual event is hosted by MUW Fant Memorial Library.
Registration is required for this event. There are 20 seats available.
Visit https://libreserves.muw.edu/event/16250705 to register.
Richard Grant, author of the multi-award-winning Dispatches from Pluto and The Deepest South of All, is originally from London, England but spent several years living in a remote farmhouse in the Mississippi Delta, an experience chronicled in Dispatches from Pluto. He is a traveler, author of nonfiction books, a journalist, and a documentary film writer. His previous books include the adventure travel classic God’s Middle Finger: Into the Heart of the Sierra Madre and American Nomads, which was made into an acclaimed BBC documentary with Grant as the writer and star. Currently a contributor to Smithsonian magazine, Grant has published journalism in Esquire, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications.
Biographical information from https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Richard-Grant/40124613
Feminist Book Club: Women Don’t Owe You Pretty
Join us for Lessa Harvey’s Feminist Book Club! Lessa is an 1884 Fellow in the Women’s College at the Mississippi University for Women. She came up with the idea to host a feminist book club while working as an intern at Friendly City Books as part of The W’s Nancy Yates Community Engagement Program.
Join the group on April 22nd at 4:00 p.m. for a discussion of Florence Given’s Women Don’t Owe You Pretty.
The Feminist Book Club is free and open to the public and MUW students.
April’s meeting will be at the new Friendly City Books location of 109 5th Street North, right beside Coffee House on 5th!
Independent Bookstore Day
Join us at Friendly City Books’ new location at 109 5th Street North for our fifth annual Independent Bookstore Day celebration! We’ll have fun surprises and exclusive merch available for one day only. Don’t miss it!
National Youth Poet Laureate Commencement (VIRTUAL)
Mississippi will name its first Youth Poet Laureate on April 25 at a live virtual ceremony hosted by Urban Word’s National Youth Poet Laureate program. Tune into the livestream at 7 PM CT to find out who wins!
The Mississippi Youth Poet Laureate program is led by Mississippi Poet Laureate Ann Fisher-Wirth in partnership with the Friendly City Books Community Connection, the Mississippi Arts Commission, the English Department in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi, and Urban Word.
Book Banter: Twilight Tandem Read + Movie Screening
Join us as we sink our teeth into Twilight and Midnight Sun and experience the beloved story through both Bella's and Edward's perspective. During our meeting on April 27th we will also be hosting a screening of the film!
Book Club: Cold-Hearted Rake with Spice Girls
Spice Girls is our romance book club. April’s pick is Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas. Our club meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7 pm at Friendly City Books, 109 5th Street North. See you there!
Tales From the Crypt
Tales From the Crypt is an annual performance presented by the students of the Mississippi School for Math and Science. Each spring, students choose individuals buried in Columbus’s historic Friendship Cemetery, research their subjects, write scripts, source costumes and props, and perform monologues as their subjects during evening cemetery tours. Each year’s performances are unique - this is an incredible, immersive experience you don’t want to miss!
The tours are ticketed - see the QR code on the flyer or visit https://themsms.org/tales-from-the-crypt/ for more information.
Tales From the Crypt
Tales From the Crypt is an annual performance presented by the students of the Mississippi School for Math and Science. Each spring, students choose individuals buried in Columbus’s historic Friendship Cemetery, research their subjects, write scripts, source costumes and props, and perform monologues as their subjects during evening cemetery tours. Each year’s performances are unique - this is an incredible, immersive experience you don’t want to miss!
The tours are ticketed - see the QR code on the flyer or visit https://themsms.org/tales-from-the-crypt/ for more information.
Community Read Discussion: The Barn, Part IV (VIRTUAL)
Join us for a virtual discussion of this year's Community Read, The Barn by Wright Thompson.
Visit https://libreserves.muw.edu/event/15732674 to register.
Natchez Documentary Screening and Panel
Natchez explores the complex history and memory of the Mississippi town of the same name. Equal parts amusing and disturbing, we journey through an antebellum tourist destination at a crossroads as it grapples with a deeply troubled history so thoroughly ingrained in its present that we’re left to wonder if it’s actually past at all.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring filmmakers Suzannah Hebert and Darcy McKinnon, Tracy “Rev” Collins from the film, and local community leaders Laverne Greene-Leach and Chuck Yarborough.
This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
Tennessee Williams Tribute Presents the Annual Stella Yell
Save the date for a beloved Friendly City tradition: the annual Stella Shouting Contest!
Saturday, April 11th, in honor of Columbus’s own Tennessee Williams, sign up to scream “STELLLAAAAAA!!” in your best Brando impersonation - winner gets major bragging rights!
All In the Same Breath: Interview Poetry Workshop (Virtual)
Using poetry examples and interview style prompts, we will help each other explore our lives (real and imagined!) in a free-for-all poetry romp. We will read some autobiographical poems and use them, along with additional prompts, to write some wild and wonderful and maybe even true things! No charge. Registration is limited. Some digital materials will be sent to you in advance after you sign up.
RSVP required. Email spokenwordandarts@gmail.com.
For more information, visit https://allinthesamebreath.org/
Tales From the Crypt
Tales From the Crypt is an annual performance presented by the students of the Mississippi School for Math and Science. Each spring, students choose individuals buried in Columbus’s historic Friendship Cemetery, research their subjects, write scripts, source costumes and props, and perform monologues as their subjects during evening cemetery tours. Each year’s performances are unique - this is an incredible, immersive experience you don’t want to miss!
The tours are ticketed - see the QR code on the flyer or visit https://themsms.org/tales-from-the-crypt/ for more information.
Tales From the Crypt
Tales From the Crypt is an annual performance presented by the students of the Mississippi School for Math and Science. Each spring, students choose individuals buried in Columbus’s historic Friendship Cemetery, research their subjects, write scripts, source costumes and props, and perform monologues as their subjects during evening cemetery tours. Each year’s performances are unique - this is an incredible, immersive experience you don’t want to miss!
The tours are ticketed - see the QR code on the flyer or visit https://themsms.org/tales-from-the-crypt/ for more information.
Community Read Discussion: The Barn, Part IV
Join the community discussion of Part IV of Wright Thompson’s The Barn at Fant Memorial Library, located on the MUW campus. Visit muw.edu/read for more information.
Author Event: Catherine Pierce & Michael Kardos
Our friends Catherine Pierce and Michael Kardos are in town for a Friendly City Heist!
On Monday, April 6, we're taking over Bushy's Clubhouse for a friends and family get together. Kids and adults alike can play all the arcade games, and we'll have all of Katie and Mike's new books: Fun City Heist (Mike's novel), Foxes for Everybody (Katie's essays), Dear Beast (Katie's poetry), and Quick Change (Mike's short stories).
RSVP on Facebook to let us know you’re coming!
VERY IMPORTANT: Street parking only. Please do not block any driveways or park at the car wash or your car may be towed ... and that would not be a very Fun City Heist.
Book Banter: Twilight Tandem Read
Join us as we sink our teeth into Twilight and Midnight Sun and experience the beloved story through both Bella's and Edward's perspective.
Book Page Clothing Competition
Join us at the Columbus Arts Council for a special fashion show! Students will walk the runway in wearable garments they have created from book pages and newspaper. Come check it out and cheer for your favorite!
Feminist Book Club: Parable of the Sower
Join us for Lessa Harvey’s Feminist Book Club! Lessa is an 1884 Fellow in the Women’s College at the Mississippi University for Women. She came up with the idea to host a feminist book club while working as an intern at Friendly City Books as part of The W’s Nancy Yates Community Engagement Program.
Join the group on March 25th at 4:00 p.m. for a discussion of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower.
The Feminist Book Club is free and open to the public and MUW students.
March’s meeting will be at the new Friendly City Books location of 109 5th Street North, right beside Coffee House on 5th!
Book Club: I Married a Lizardman with Spice Girls
Spice Girls is our romance book club. March’s pick is I Married a Lizardman by Regine Abel. Our club meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7 pm at Friendly City Books. This month’s meeting will be in our new location at 109 5th Street North! See you there!
Author Event: Elise Smith at MUW
Meet Art Historian and Author Elise Smith, who will discuss her book Southern Women, Southern Landscapes: Cultural Reflections on the Garden, 1870-1970.
All are welcome to attend. Lunch will be provided to the first 20 attendees.
Visit https://libreserves.muw.edu/event/16244683 for more information.
Book Club: Trad Wife with Cursed Books
Cursed Books is our horror book club. March’s pick is Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer. Our club meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 pm at Friendly City Books. This month’s meeting will be at our new location of 109 5th Street North. See you there!
All In the Same Breath: Arts & Culture Exchange - Create & Connect (2nd session)
Participate as a presenter (5 minute time-slots) or as an audience member and join the discussion.
Friendly and welcoming environment, works in progress welcome.
All arts welcome, even ones we haven’t thought of yet – if it’s art to you it’s probably art to us!
Sign up for a time-slot or take your chances and just show up! :)
For more information, visit https://allinthesamebreath.org/
All In the Same Breath: Arts & Culture Exchange - Create & Connect (1st session)
Participate as a presenter (5 minute time-slots) or as an audience member and join the discussion.
Friendly and welcoming environment, works in progress welcome.
All arts welcome, even ones we haven’t thought of yet – if it’s art to you it’s probably art to us!
Sign up for a time-slot or take your chances and just show up! :)
For more information, visit https://allinthesamebreath.org/
Grand Re-Opening!
We’re reopening in our new location at 109 5th Street North on Saturday, February 28! Join us for the big celebration!
Feminist Book Club: What About Men?
Join us for Lessa Harvey’s Feminist Book Club! Lessa is an 1884 Fellow in the Women’s College at the Mississippi University for Women. She came up with the idea to host a feminist book club while working as an intern at Friendly City Books as part of The W’s Nancy Yates Community Engagement Program.
Join the group on February 25th at 4:00 p.m. for a discussion of Caitlin Moran’s What About Men?
The Feminist Book Club is free and open to the public and MUW students.
PLEASE NOTE LOCATION CHANGE: for this month only, the Feminist Book Club meeting will be held in the Gail P. Gunter room of Fant Memorial Library on MUW’s campus.
Book Club: Game Changer with Spice Girls
Spice Girls is our romance book club. February’s pick is Game Changer by Rachel Reid. Our club meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7 pm at Friendly City Books. This month’s meeting will be in our new location at 109 5th Street North! See you there!
All In the Same Breath: Arts & Culture Exchange - Interview Poetry Workshop
Using poetry examples and interview style prompts, we will help each other explore our lives (real and imagined!) in a free-for-all poetry romp.
RSVP required - maximum of 10 seats available.
For more information, visit https://allinthesamebreath.org/
Book Club: The Reformatory with Cursed Books
Cursed Books is our horror book club. February’s pick is The Reformatory by Tananarive Due. Our club meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 pm at Friendly City Books. See you there!
Author Event: Kimiko Hahn at MSU
The Mississippi State University College of Arts & Sciences and the Department of English are proud to sponsor an evening with poet Kimiko Hahn at Taylor Auditorium in McCool Hall. After a reading from her 2024 collection The Ghost Forest, attendees will have the opportunity for a Q&A and book signing.
Kimiko Hahn is the author of ten books of poems, including: Foreign Bodies (W. W. Norton, 2020); Brain Fever (WWN, 2014), and Toxic Flora (WWN, 2010), both collections prompted by science; The Narrow Road to the Interior (WWN, 2006) a collection that takes its title from Basho’s famous poetic journal; The Unbearable Heart (Kaya, 1996), which received an American Book Award; Earshot (Hanging Loose Press, 1992), which was awarded the Theodore Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize and an Association of Asian American Studies Literature Award.
Honors: New York State Poet, Guggenheim Fellowship, PEN/Voelcker Award, Shelley Memorial Prize, The Poetry Foundation’s Ruth Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award, The American Book Award
Biographical information from https://kimikohahn.com/
Bookstore Move Volunteer Days!
Sunday, February 15: Bring a friend to Friendly City Books and help us make a human chain to move our books around the corner to our new home! Meet at our current location at 423 Main Street at 2 pm.
Monday, February 16: Help us take down our shelves and reinstall them at the new location. Please bring power tools and/or a dolly or handtruck if you can! We’ll be in our current location at 423 Main Street starting at 10 am, and we’ll be in our new location at 109 5th Street North in the afternoon until 6 pm.
People pass books down a chain to help the bookstore October Books move to a new location on Sunday in Southampton, England. (NPR)
Author Event: Ralph Eubanks Book Talk & Blues Show
Save the date for a book talk with special guests W. Ralph Eubanks and C.T. Salazar, followed by a performance from Delta blues duo Edna Nicole and Rev. Slim. Join us on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 pm at the Columbus Arts Council at 501 Main Street for a night like no other — free and open to the public!
Ralph Eubanks will be in conversation with C. T. Salazar to discuss his new nonfiction book When It’s Darkness on the Delta: How America’s Richest Soil Became Its Poorest Land. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Click here to purchase online.
This event is produced in partnership with the Friendly City Books Community Connection, a special project of the CREATE Foundation.
Community Read Discussion: The Barn, Part III
Join the community discussion of Part III of Wright Thompson’s The Barn at Fant Memorial Library, located on the MUW campus. Visit muw.edu/read for more information.
Book Club: The Dragon's Bride with Spice Girls
Spice Girls is our monthly romance book club. January’s pick is The Dragon’s Bride by Katee Robert.
Spice Girls is a collaboration between Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System and Friendly City Books and meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7 pm at Friendly City Books. See you there!
Book Club: Crafting for Sinners with Cursed Books
Cursed Books is our horror book club. January’s pick is Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer. Our club meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 pm at Friendly City Books. See you there!
Public Reading of Letter from Birmingham Jail
All Columbus citizens are invited to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at “From Words to Work: Pressing Beyond the Dream” presented by the City of Columbus on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. Our third annual public reading of Letter from Birmingham Jail will take place immediately following the Prayer Breakfast at the Trotter Convention Center.
8:00 AM - Freedom Walk from the Municipal Complex to the Trotter Convention Center
9:00 AM - Prayer Breakfast at the Trotter Convention Center (upper level)
10:00 AM - Letter from Birmingham Jail at the Trotter Convention Center (lower level)
These events are free and open to the public, and free copies of Letter from Birmingham Jail will be provided on a first come, first serve basis thanks to the Columbus Lowndes Chapter of the NAACP and the Friendly City Books Community Connection, a special project of the CREATE Foundation.
