February 27, 2026 by Derby St Shops
Derby Street Shops presents Cocktails & Conversations, an intimate evening celebrating books, community, and connection, at bartaco, in partnership withRobbin Mangano, founder of Sunday Reading Book Club. The event brings together local authors and readers for a thoughtful and engaging discussion on why books and bookstores are having a major cultural resurgence.
The evening will feature a 30-minute moderated panel led by Mangano with local authors Tracy Sierra and Karen Winn, exploring what’s fueling the renewed interest in reading, how audiences can support authors and independent bookstore culture, and why reading has reemerged as a powerful form of escape, self-care, and connection in an increasingly digital world. Light bites, cocktails, andspecial giveaways will be included in the experience.
“There’s something special about bringing readers together in person, especially when we get to talk about why we love books so much in the first place,” said Robbin Mangano. “This evening is about celebrating the communities we build around stories, the empathy we gain from different perspectives, and choosing connection over endless scrolling. I can’t wait to have this conversation with Tracy and Karen, and to spend the night with people who get that reading isn’t just what we do in our free time. It’s how we take care of ourselves and stay grounded in what actually matters.”
“Writing can feel solitary, so there is nothing more gratifying than meeting readers and talking about the stories and threads that connect us. An evening that celebrates both books and community is the best kind of evening there is,” said Karen Winn.
“At Derby Street Shops, we see how reading brings people together and creates meaningful connection within the community,” said Caroline Hessberg, General Manager of Derby Street Shops. “With businesses like Barnes & Noble at Derby Street serving as a gathering place for readers through author signings, book clubs, and community programming, events like Cocktails & Conversations feel like a natural extension of that spirit, celebrating books, local authors, and a shared passion for reading.”
WHEN:
Tuesday, March 3, 6PM – 8PM
WHERE:
bartaco at Derby Street Shops; 94 Derby Street, Suite 217, Hingham, MA, 02043
TICKETS:
A limited number of $60 tickets are available via the Derby Street Insider App. A portion of proceeds will benefit Raising A Reader MA. Each guest will receive a complimentary book, a personalized gift, and one drink ticket. Learn more here.
ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS:
Robbin Mangano / Sunday Reading Book Club
Robbin Mangano created Sunday Reading Book Club after realizing something simple but life-changing: when she read more and doom-scrolled less, she felt better—happier, calmer, and more like herself. What began as a BookTok and Bookstagram hobby quickly grew into a vibrant community of readers who love a five-star binge, honest recommendations, and the magic of finishing the final page and immediately flipping to the author notes. A New Englander and devoted mood reader, Mangano champions books as a tool for empathy, connection, and well-being.
Karen Winn
Karen Winn is the author of two novels, The Society and Our Little World. Her short stories and essays have appeared or are forthcoming in Ploughshares, Hippocampus, Lit Hub, Writer’s Digest, and elsewhere. She earned her MFA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. For her undergraduate studies she attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she may or may not have belonged to a secret society. Before becoming an author, Karen had a career as a nurse. She lives in the charming Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston with her husband, two children, and their 100-pound Bernedoodle.
Tracy Sierra
Tracy Sierra was born and raised in the Colorado mountains. She is an attorney who currently lives in New England in a colonial-era home. When not writing, she spends time with her husband and two children. Nightwatching, her debut novel, was selected as a Fallon Book Club pick. Warning Signs is her second novel.