It happens in the lobby of the Sorrento Hotel, seen here in 1909.

It happens in the lobby of the Sorrento Hotel, seen here in 1909. Courtesy of Sorrento Hotel

It’s the first Wednesday of the month! Which means the reading party is tonight. You know what it’s like at the reading party, right? (If you don’t, just click on those letters.) You know how relaxing the silent-reading party is, right? If not, listen to this radio show about it.

Paul Matthew Moore—he of the gentle and mellifluous piano playing, and gorgeous hair—is on piano from 6 pm to 8 pm in the Fireside Room. Don’t forget to tip him! I won’t be there tonight to remind everyone to tip him, so please take it upon yourself. The tip jar is on the piano.

For the uninitiated: You sit and read whatever you feel like reading (silently, to yourself), while live music plays and waiters bring you things. That’s it! The reading party happens here, it’s all ages, and it’s free.

Christopher Frizzelle was The Stranger's print editor, and first joined the staff in 2003. He was the editor-in-chief from 2007 to 2016, and edited the story by Eli Sanders that won a 2012 Pulitzer...