Have you ever gone to a Barnes & Noble event? It's kind of amazing that they're even offered. They're usually free, too (sometimes they make you buy the book of the author who's appearing, but that's still a sweet deal). I've only gone to a few of them, but haven't had a bad experience yet. You could meet a president! Anyway, if you're in New York City especially, you'd be a weirdo not to glance at their upcoming guests list every few months or so.