Midtown Scholar Bookstore

09/19/2026

Bring all your Vatican questions! On Tue. 10/6 at 7PM, we are delighted to welcome the host of NPR's "All Things Considered," SCOTT DETROW, and NPR Senior Editor of Religion & Spirituality, DANIEL BURKE, to the Midtown Scholar Bookstore, to celebrate the release of their eloquent, absorbing new book, AMERICAN POPE.

More info and free RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/scottdetrow

This Mainstage program is part of our 2026 programs in honor of America's 250th. https://www.facebook.com/events/1612727473569945



ABOUT THE BOOK:
The authors won an Edward R. Murrow Award for their coverage of the 2025 papal conclave, where they reported live from St. Peter’s Square. Upon returning home from Rome, Burke and Detrow realized there was much more to report about Pope Leo XIV and his surprising election. Who, exactly, was this first-ever American pope, who right up to the moment of his election, was largely unknown outside church circles? The result of Burke and Detrow’s rigorous reporting, extensive research and tireless curiosity is AMERICAN POPE: Leo XIV’s Road from the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City—the first comprehensive, revelatory biography of the man now known as Pope Leo XIV. Join us in celebrating the book's release date at the Midtown Scholar!

09/18/2026

Eric and Cathy arrive at the Culinary Institute of America with 18th Century British cookbooks in tow! Tune in if you’re curious about how to make puffed pastry, the original recipe for ketchup, or the proper way to preserve fat for an ocean voyage!
Plus: Gelatin wonders of the 50s and 70s
Tune in next week to hear about some American cookbooks of years past...
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Have old books of your own to part ways with? We hold open book buying hours in every Thursday from 2pm-6pm at our main store (1302 N. 3rd Street).

09/17/2026

*** This Event Has SOLD OUT ***

Join DIARY OF A WIMPY KID Author (and Host) JEFF KINNEY, as he celebrates the release of his latest book with a knock-out, interactive stage show, set to EGGSPLODE with fun for the whole family!

*MONDAY* October 19, 2026 *6PM* at the auditorium of the SCOTTISH RITE CATHEDRAL at 2701 North 3rd Street in Harrisburg, PA.

For audience members who aren’t too chicken, they may be a contender in the ring on stage for a series of hilarious, head-to-head challenges. Expect feathers to fly, funny jabs to be thrown and maybe a fowl or two!

What are you waiting for? Scramble to get your tickets before the final bell!
https://www.simpletix.com/e/book-party-with-jeff-kinney-author-of-the-tickets-291802

09/15/2026

FREE! On Friday evening, Sept. 18th, join us for a book party with Penn State professor and poet SHARA MCCALLUM, author of BEHOLD. She will be in conversation with author/poet and editor CAREY SALERNO, executive director and publisher of Alice James Books.

More info and free RSVP here: https://www.simpletix.com/e/celebrating-the-publication-of-behold-by-p-tickets-293352

This Mainstage program is part of our Third Fridays Authors Series and our 2026 programs in honor of America's 250th. https://www.facebook.com/events/3147589082298530



From Jamaica and born to a Jamaican father and Venezuelan mother, SHARA MCCALLUM is the author of seven books of poetry, published in the US & UK, including BEHOLD. Awards for her work include a Guggenheim Fellowship, Musgrave Medal, NEA Fellowship, Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for No Ruined Stone, OCM Bocas Caribbean Poetry Prize for Madwoman, Agnes Lynch Starrett Prize for The Water Between Us, among others. McCallum teaches at Penn State University and from 2021-22 served as the Penn State Laureate.

Born of the poet’s longstanding love of painting, BEHOLD is a bold new collection about what it means to be seen in art—and in the larger world. BEHOLD meditates on colonization, race, and the body’s place in the world, reflecting Shara McCallum’s intentio

09/11/2026

The Lisbon Enlightenment - Lisbon Books Part 2

In the final installment of the Libson adventures, Eric shares a few books that show the impact of the Lisbon earthquake on the Age of Enlightenment.
Plus: Men of letters
Music by Denis Pavlov
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Have old books of your own to part ways with? We hold open book buying hours in every Thursday from 2pm-6pm at our main store (1302 N. 3rd Street).

09/07/2026

Our fall drinks are here! Brewed up by our baristas, you’re sure to find a special that sends shivers down your spine. Enjoy while you browse, or take them to go!

09/04/2026

Eric is back from Portugal and has some interesting books to share. This week, he focuses on books (and tiles) that revolve around Lisbon’s most devastating tragedy: the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755.
Plus: a good book for jetlagged travelers.
Music by Sergii Pavkin
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Have old books of your own to part ways with? We hold open book buying hours in every Thursday from 2pm-6pm at our main store (1302 N. 3rd Street).

09/03/2026

Part four of Eric’s favorite bookstores in Lisbon is Livraria da Travessa ! To see more intriguing Lisbon bookstores, check out the most recent Buy Day on our YouTube channel.
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Have old books of your own to part ways with? We hold open book buying hours in every Thursday from 2pm-6pm at our main store (1302 N. 3rd Street).

09/01/2026

Part three of Eric’s favorite bookstores is Livraria Sa De Costa! To see more intriguing Lisbon bookstores, check out the most recent Buy Day on our YouTube channel.
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Have old books of your own to part ways with? We hold open book buying hours in every Thursday from 2pm-6pm at our main store (1302 N. 3rd Street).

09/01/2026

Join us Tuesday 9/8 at 6pm for a behind-the-scenes look at investigative journalism. "Matter of Fact: Meet the Whistleblowers" is a FREE public discussion hosted by Spotlight PA on the Midtown Scholar's MainStage. Limited seating! RSVP today - https://tinyurl.com/08Sept2026-matter-of-fact