Featured Events in Westminster in October, 2024 (April Updated)

On Saturday, Oct. 26th, 4:30pm, Symposium Books will be hosting an exciting event on photography, culture, and philosophy. We will be joined by URI's Professor of Art Annu P. Matthew and URI's Professor of Philosophy, Vincent Colapietro. Annu's photography collection book, The Answers Take Time , is a selection of collage, photos, & other forms of art to creatively display different aspects of performative and innate cultural identity. Through wide scopes of geography, time, and belief, Annu paints a vivid picture of something very complex. Come to the store to see these two educators open this conversation up and consider the philosophical possibilities that Annu's work poses, as well as enjoy the visuals of her work. Information Source: Symposium Books | eventbrite

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by the New York Times, Joanna Biggs' memoir/criticism ties her own experience into the lives of nine phenomenal female writers of our time. Mary Wollstonecraft, George Eliot, Zora Neale Hurston, Virginia Woolf, Simone de Beauvoir, Sylvia Plath, Toni Morrison, and Elena Ferrante all share the spotlight alongside the trials and triumphs of Joanna Biggs' own life. Join us to hear Joanna speak on this vivid and moving collection & engage in a Q&A. Friday, October 18th. 6:30pm. Information Source: Symposium Books | eventbrite

Ethan Tapper's tender, fearless debut nonfiction work delves into the experience of caring for today's forest in the face of its many opponents- deforestation, climate change, and urban expansion. He writes, Only those who love trees should cut them. Our relationship with the natural world has shifted monumentally in our current society, and arguably for the worse as we become more and more detached. Come hear him speak on this insight and more on Wednesday, October 30th. At 4pm he will be joining us for a discussion, audience Q&A, and book signing. See you there! --- Ethan Tapper is a forester, author, birder, naturalist,and digital creator from Vermont. For over a decade, he has worked as a service forester and a consulting forester -- advising landowners, municipalities, conservation organizations, foresters and loggers and responsibly stewarding thousands of acres of public and privately-owned forests. Ethan has been named the Northeast-Midwest State Foresters Alliance’s Forester of the Year and the American Tree Farm System's National Tree Farm Inspector of the Year. For this event, he will be joined in conversation by Sasha Wiseman, of RISD's Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab. Sasha Wiseman holds a BA in Literature from Bennington College and an MFA from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was the Senior Fellow in Nonfiction Writing. Her work has appeared in publications such as Story, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and The Southampton Review, which nominated her for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. She currently serves as the Operations & Engagement Coordinator at the Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab at Rhode Island School of Design. Information Source: Symposium Books | eventbrite

Join us on Thursday, Oct. 3rd @6pm to dive into the thrilling new novel written by Rhode Island author Jessa Maxwell. Following her bestseller The Golden Spoon , her new release is called 'sly and addictive'. I Need You to Read This follows the story of an advice column journalist searching for answers on their predecessor's mysterious murder. Jessa will be available post-discussion to sign copies of her novel and engage in a Q&A. See you there! Information Source: Symposium Books | eventbrite

On Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6 the Gundam Base Mobile USA Tour is rolling into Westminster, CO to offer Gundam fans of all ages the ultimate GUNPLA experience. Attendees will immerse themselves with a FREE hands-on GUNPLA workshops where they can build the iconic RX-78-2 Gundam*, grab exclusive model kits* available to buy at tour locations, snap epic photos with a nearly 6-foot tall RX-78-2 Gundam Fighter, play the latest Gundam video games, and immerse themselves in a thrilling VR experience! Participants can also virtually enter the Gundam world with an exclusive photo opp that lets them select their background and receive a print or digital version of their pic.* *Eventbrite tickets do not guarantee entry to this event. All attendees are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis for activities and product sales. Information Source: Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America | eventbrite

Join us on Saturday, October 12th (6pm) with Wellesley Professor Ismar Volic as he discusses his objective view on the power of mathematical analysis on many of the processes of democracy that we witness every day. With concrete detail and practical confidence, Volic projects a more inclusive and comprehensive political future. RISD Center for Complexity's Jon Soske will be rejoining us to moderate this conversation. On 'Making Democracy Count': What’s the best way to determine what most voters want when multiple candidates are running? What’s the fairest way to allocate legislative seats to different constituencies? What’s the least distorted way to draw voting districts? Not the way we do things now. In this timely guide, Ismar Volić empowers us to use mathematical thinking as an objective, nonpartisan framework that rises above the noise and rancor of today’s divided public square. Information Source: Symposium Books | eventbrite

Join us in-store on Saturday, October 19th @5pm as fiction authors Sara Shukla and Elizabeth Gonzales James come together in conversation about their writing processes, thoughts on their most recent works, and a Q&A and book signing with the audience. Although very different, both of their beloved bestselling novels bring something interesting to the table. Sara's Pink Whales is described as 'A satisfying romp through a New England enclave that’s not nearly as idyllic as it seems.' Elizabeth's The Bullet Swallower , 'An utterly original, wild ride... that turns the traditional redemption narrative on its head.' Come to their event at Symposium Books to see how these lovely authors intertwine their stories in the name of narrative and creativity. Information Source: Symposium Books | eventbrite

Symposium Books' monthly Book Club is back for October! This month we are delving into Anna Lembke's Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence . This bestseller comes at a relevant time and forces readers to look deeply into what we consume for pleasure. Join us to pick apart this piece of nonfiction in a casual, round-table style. Seating will be arranged for evening ambiance. Copies are available in-store at Symposium as well as for shipping AND pickup on our website! Book Club taking place this month on Thursday, October 24th at 6pm. On Dopamine Nation : 'This book is about pleasure. It’s also about pain. Most important, it’s about how to find the delicate balance between the two, and why now more than ever finding balance is essential. We’re living in a time of unprecedented access to high-reward, high-dopamine stimuli: drugs, food, news, gambling, shopping, gaming, texting, sexting, Facebooking, Instagramming, YouTubing, tweeting . . . The increased numbers, variety, and potency is staggering. The smartphone is the modern-day hypodermic needle, delivering digital dopamine 24/7 for a wired generation. As such we’ve all become vulnerable to compulsive overconsumption.' Information Source: Symposium Books | eventbrite

Are you ready to unleash your inner artist and create a masterpiece unlike any other? Then join us for a paint pouring party that's sure to leave you with a canvas full of colorful and abstract art!Our expert artist, Karly Stein of K.Stein Creations, will teach you two mesmerizing paint pouring methods that are sure to dazzle and delight. With 13 vibrant colors to choose from, you'll have endless possibilities to express your creativity and make your own unique work of art.But that's not all - you'll also get to take home two 10x10 inch canvases and all the tools you need to make your painting dreams a reality. And if you're feeling particularly inspired, additional canvases or a pumpkin can be purchased for just $15 each.Don't forget to come prepared to support the brewery that's hosting us by purchasing a drink or some delicious food. And wear clothes that you don't mind getting a little paint on - after all, this is a messy and fun experience!While paint pouring is geared towards adults and kids, though the kids may need help from their parents.So what are you waiting for? Sign up now for just $50 per person and get ready to unleash your creativity at our unforgettable paint pouring party. And who knows, you just might discover your inner Picasso!Adress will be given out week of event, as it is a private residence. Information Source: K. Stein Creations | eventbrite

Jessica Hoppe's memoir, entitled First in the Family: A Story of Survival, Recovery, and the American Dream delves deeply into the complexities of identity, breaking cycles, and the overdose epidemic that struck us during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jessica will be joining us on Sunday, October 27th, in-store at 4pm, to discuss the stories behind this moving book. She will be available afterwards for an audience Q&A and book signing. Words on the memoir: In First in the Family, Hoppe shares her journey, the first in her family to do so, and takes the reader on a remarkable investigation of her family’s history, the American Dream, and the erasure of BIPOC from recovery institutions and narratives, leaving the reader with an urgent message of hope. Information Source: Symposium Books | eventbrite