Two nostalgia-fueled book fairs are set to bring literary magic to St. Pete’s Grand Central District this March. Book + Bottle and Pistil House (2533 1st Ave S) kick things off on March 14 with a Jazzy Book Fair, followed by Tombolo Books and Good Intentions (1900 1st Ave S) hosting a community-driven book event on March 24.
A jazzy night of books and beautiful flowers
Book + Bottle’s book buyer, Dominic Howarth, will transform Pistil House into a haven for book lovers from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Attendees can enjoy live jazz from The House Cat Music while browsing a curated selection of books paired with fresh flowers.
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“The partnership was a no-brainer for us,” said Howarth. “Pistil House has such a unique energy, and with their New Orleans roots and love of jazz, a Jazzy + Boozy Book Fair just made sense.”
Howarth has meticulously researched the meanings behind different flowers to create book pairings that match their symbolism.
Find your perfect literary match at Pistil House
“For example, chrysanthemums have a rich history in East Asia and represent positivity and joy,” he explained. “So, we’ve brought in cozy, uplifting translations that perfectly complement them.”
Beyond book pairings, Howarth emphasized the importance of bringing books to people in new spaces.
“I believe books are like natural bodies of water—if you’re around them, your quality of life improves,” he said. “Independent bookstores have the power to bring books to people where they already gather, and that’s something really special.”
This event also leads into Book + Bottle’s fifth-anniversary celebrations. The festivities continue on March 16 with a DJ and bubbles from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by an after-hours anniversary party on March 17 featuring author Kristen Arnett. If you’ve never been, this book and wine shop is located at 17 6th St N. 
A boozy book fair at a local vegan restaurant
On March 24, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tombolo Books teams up with Good Intentions for another nostalgic literary event. Guests can sip cocktails, browse a handpicked book selection, and shop from other local vendors at the vegan restaurant’s location at 1900 1st Ave South.
“Audrey Dingeman, owner of Good Intentions, originally brought up the idea of a book fair for adults,” said Kelsey Jagneaux, Tombolo Books’ Events Coordinator. “We both loved the idea of leaning into the nostalgia of the Scholastic Book Fair and recreating that excitement for adults.”
A curated lineup of books in honor of Women’s History Month
The selection will span multiple genres, with a special focus on books by women in honor of Women’s History Month.
“Our bookseller, Rachel Knox, has curated an incredible lineup,” Jagneaux said. “If you know Rachel’s reading habits, you know it’s going to be top tier.”
Beyond books, the event will feature book-themed merchandise reminiscent of childhood book fairs.
A new way for the community to connect
“Half the fun of the Scholastic Book Fair was spending your parents’ money on journals, bookmarks, and random pens,” Jagneaux joked. “We wanted to make sure that element was part of the experience.”
As for the future of the Boozy Book Fair, Jagneaux sees potential for it to become a recurring tradition.
“People want spaces to connect over books and be in community,” she said. “There’s already been talk of a family-friendly version, but we’ll see how the first one goes and take it from there.”
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