The first time I went to the Friends of the Seattle Public Library Book Sale was the September after I moved to Seattle, on what turned out to be a date. (There are few ways to woo a lady that work better than a hangar full of cheap books combined with an afternoon in Magnuson Park in September.) While there, I watched a person in full clown regalia browse the self-help books, and I was pretty sure I’d end up staying in Seattle.
I ended up, that day, with a boyfriend I’d have for quite a while, and a bag full of books that I’ve still got. So, you know, I’m a fan of the book sale.

This is my way of pointing out that the first of two book sales for the year is this weekend, out in Building #30, from 9 am – 5 pm on Saturday, and 11 am – 4 pm on Sunday. There is a member’s preview sale tonight, with memberships sold at the door, at which you can buy up to 25 items. Most of the books are $1, and don’t look at me like that, because it’s not all Stephen King books with broken spines. My favorite find will always be a nice 1951 hardcover version of Sir James Frazer’s The Golden Bough. Yes, I realize just what sort of dork that makes me, but I’m a dork that got the book for $1. So there.

If for some reason books aren’t your thing, they also sell music and movies and software and posters. It’s a good even for people–and clown–watching, because the local booksellers all show up and hunch over the tables, ready to stab you with the stylus for their handheld book-checking device if you get in their way. Bring your own boxes to cart things home in, and possibly a hand truck to cart the boxes on. You’ll need it.