Trident Booksellers & Cafe has been a staple of Boston’s Newbury Street since its opening in 1984. Located on 338 Newbury St., it serves as a restaurant, a bookstore and an event space. Trident recently opened The Stacks, a private event room hidden in a false bookshelf wall. It blends into the space, offering a somewhat secret door to the various events held for patrons. From trivia nights to speed dating, the store has plenty of options to explore throughout December.
Poetry Open Mic kicks off the month on Dec. 1. The sign-up sheet opens at 6:30 p.m., where poets can sign up to perform their work in front of other patrons starting at 7 p.m. Seating is first come, first served, and each performer gets about three minutes of stage time. It’s a great opportunity to share one’s work in a supportive environment — memorization is not required, and neither is formality. Readers of all kinds are welcome.
Friday Night Trivia occurs nearly every week of the year, but the first December meeting takes place Dec. 6. Teams of up to six people can sign up to participate in seven rounds of trivia for the chance to win prizes. The line opens at 5:30 p.m., and the tables are first come, first served in the upstairs cafe starting at 6 p.m. Food and drinks will be available in the cafe, so teams can kick back and have fun with lighthearted trivia.
The Silent Book Club and Write Night occur on the same evening, Dec. 9, and both at 7 p.m. The Silent Book Club is a great event for those who are looking for a quiet space to get some reading done, and patrons can also meet new people. There are no assigned books; patrons can bring any book they want. The night includes two 30-minute socializing periods at the beginning and end, with an hour of reading in-between. Participants can have a nice balance of mingling and individual time.
Write Night is a drop-in writing group where members can enjoy individual writing time followed by the chance to share their work with other writers in the room. It’s a good way to get feedback for their work and support like-minded writers. All genres of writing are welcome, and dinner, drinks and snacks will be available for participants.
Trident’s LGBTQIA+ Speed-Friending event is open to all ages, although it is tailored to those in their 20s and 30s. Taking place Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., the event is a place where people can safely share details about themselves and make more friends, especially queer people looking for peers to talk to. Guest comfort is treated as the most important thing. Conversational topics will be provided, and a specific structure will ensure guests get to talk to as many people as possible. Food and drinks will be provided as well, so participants can enjoy a meal and meet new like-minded friends.
Trident serves as a space that is open and accepting of everyone, and these events prove that it is an asset to the community. This is just December’s list, but the store has plenty of events happening all year — and all of these events occur at least once a month at the store. Anyone is welcome to come in and enjoy the fun, even if it’s just to visit the bookstore or have a cup of coffee. It’s the perfect cozy spot for everyone.
