Bards Alley is a woman-owned independent bookstore located in the heart of Vienna, VA.
Focused on new books, Bards Alley is a general interest store with adult and kid's titles, from general fiction, to history, to sci-fi/fantasy and horror, we hope to appeal to all readers with our curated shelves and knowledgeable staff. The store hosts authors on-site and off-site year-round, with new, free events posted frequently on our website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Bards Alley will be moving in January 2027, just up the street to 103 Church St. NE - updates and dates to be added to our website and social media.
Upcoming Events
Author Bill Schweigart will be in conversation with author and bookseller Alice Scott to discuss his litRPG crime novel DIRTY 20. A book signing will take place after the discussion. The event will take place at Bards Alley on Saturday, September 19 at 7pm. Free to attend, registration required.
Original Pete the Cat writer and musician Eric Litwin will be presenting at Haymarket Gainesville Library. Meet the author as he performs interactive songs, stories, and has attendees get involved in creative movement with an emphasis on positivity and resilience. This event is great for grades pre-K through 3rd. Some of Litwin's books will be available for purchase and a signing will follow the event. Free to attend, more info here.
Kick off Banned Books Week with a silent reading event on Sunday, October 4th from 10AM until 12PM. Silent reading will last from 10:30AM until 11:30AM. Attendees may also write their own banned books shelf talker for display in the store through the month of October! Free snacks/drinks available. BYO chair/blanket recommended (Bards Alley's are not the most comfortable!) and attendees may bring their own book or purchase on at the store before silent reading begins. Tickets required to attend. Ticket cost may be used as a deposit for any purchase made at Bards Alley that same day. All attendees will receive a free Libro.fm audiobook code for Banned Together or How to Defend Books and Why.
In The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, horror icon Stephen Graham Jones unspools an American Indian revenge story told through transcribed interviews of a Blackfeet named Good Stab. His tale unveils a Blackfeet massacre and the haunting, immortal search for justice. Jones is the author of over thirty novels, novellas, comics, and more; his forthcoming novel Off the Reservation returns to the Blackfeet reservation exploring another dark corner of this nation’s history involving the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Jones is the recipient of numerous honors, including four Bram Stoker awards and three Shirley Jackson awards, and has been named a finalist for the World Fantasy Award. Dani Trujillo will moderate this conversation. Sponsored by George Mason Friends. Free tickets are required for this event. Reserve yours starting on September 10 at 7:30 p.m. Max two per person. Copies of Jones' books will be available for purchase at the event and a book signing will follow. Copies of Off the Reservation will be for sale ahead of its pub date (10/13/26) this evening only.
Enjoy an evening with world-renowned author Celeste Ng as she discusses the suspense, drama, and beautifully complex interpersonal relationships that appear in her writing. Ng is the author of Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere, which was adapted into a Hulu limited series starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. In her latest New York Times bestseller, Our Missing Hearts, Ng tells the story of twelve-year-old Bird living in a near-future version of America on a quest to find his political dissident mother. Be sure to reserve your free ticket on Eventbrite. Tickets are required for this event. Sponsored by Friends of the Reston Regional Library and Friends of City of Fairfax Regional Library. Books will be available for purchase at the event and a signing will follow, This event is part of the Fall for the Book Festival, which runs October 6-10. View the full schedule here: https://fallforthebook.org/schedule/
Join us for an author story time event as Pat Tanumihardja reads her brand new picture book Fried Rice Surprise! Take part in an interactive reading perfect for ages pre-K through 3rd, and a book signing will take place after the reading. A joyful celebration of food, friendship, and culture, Fried Rice Surprise shows how a little bit of this and a little bit of that can create something magical! Free to attend, no RSVP required.
Relive your Scholastic Book Fair childhood at Books 'n Brews, an adult-leaning book fair at Caboose Tavern in Vienna! This one will be full of fantastic new releases, staff picks, and unique titles perfect to add to your fall TBR and prep for Halloween 👻 While most books will lean toward adult readers, the event is family friendly; Caboose offers a fantastic kid's menu, so bring your family or friends and hang out after shopping books 📚 Caboose will also be offering their happy hour menu during the event: $1 off food, $2 off cocktails & wine, and $3 off beer!