Elliott Bay Book Company’s booksellers have been slinging books at your head (figuratively speaking) for four decades now, and they’re celebrating with a mini-festival of gigantic local talent. Ryan Boudinot, Jim Lynch, and Maria Semple will honor a cornerstone of Seattle’s world-class literary scene. But more than marking an arbitrary number, the fact that Elliott Bay is doing better than ever since it moved from Pioneer Square to Capitol Hill three years ago is the best reason I can think of to throw a party, so let’s get to it. (Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, elliottbaybook.com, 7 pm, free)