The Day: The Brooklyn Book Festival and a Runoff Election

Good morning, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.

Summer is still here in New York City a few more days, according to the National Weather service, which reports a high of 78 degrees today and sunny skies – a perfect lead-in to a weekend of outdoor activities around the nabe. But get in your outdoor fun quick – the chance of thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday could make some events a little soggy. No matter what you do, don’t forget to take some pictures of your weekend before the warm temperatures get washed away and post them in The Nabe’s Flickr group.

• The Fulton Area Business Alliance is celebrating the end of summer next week with its last FAB Friday of the season. Local residents can head down to Putnam Triangle Plaza, located at the intersection of Fulton Street and Grand Avenue on Friday, Sept. 27, for a range of free events. The day starts with a kid-friendly concert at 10 a.m., featuring The Rozz & Val Show, and more activities for kids that will run until 6 p.m. You can also support your local libraries while you’re there by donating used books to the Brooklyn Public Library’s Great American Book Drive. The fun continues into the evening with Brooklynites Fifth Nation taking the stage at 6 p.m.
• Bookworms, rejoice: Sunday is the Brooklyn Book Festival, the largest free literary event in New York City and the third-largest book festival in America. More than 300 writers will be in attendance this Sunday, and some big-name authors will be giving presentations. Booksellers and publishers from all over the country – including Fort Greene’s Greenlight Bookstore – will fill up the plaza around Borough Hall. The festival happens rain or shine from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Greenlight Bookstore will help kickstart the literary fun tonight with the fourth annual Brooklyn Indie Party, which starts at 7:30 p.m. at 686 Fulton Street.
  
• Bill de Blasio may have avoided a mayoral runoff, but voters will still be heading back to the polls on Oct. 1 for one between Council Member Letitia James and State Senator Daniel L. Squadron, according to The New York Times. Because the ballot lacks a Republican candidate, the race for public advocate between James and Squadron essentially decides who will be second-in-command to the mayor. The race in the primaries was tight between the Democratic candidates – James won the most with 36 percent of votes, just ahead of Squadron’s 33 percent. The run off will be costly to taxpayers, carrying a $13 million price tag – five times the annual budget of the public advocate’s office. Who will you be voting for and why? Let us know in the comments, locals.