Silent Reading Nights @ Hugo House

Silent reading nights have been cropping up all around town, inspired by the OG at the Sorrento Hotel. It’s not hard to see why: they combine the pleasures of reading with those of human contact, not to mention the relaxation that comes from trading your own environs for a place where you have nothing to do but be — and read.

Hugo House’s monthly Silent Reading Night returns with a theme that invites you to slip into other worlds: Fantastical Realms. Whether your current read involves dragons, portals, spellcraft or simply a little everyday magic, bring it along and settle in for an evening designed for book lovers who appreciate both quiet company and imaginative escape.

The night kicks off with a relaxed mix-and-mingle over tea, plus a chance to browse offerings from this month’s community partner, Haunted Burrow Books. (The delightful new spot on 15th Ave. specializes in “moody books” — think dark fantasy, sci-fi, occult tomes and some cozy reads, too.) Once everyone’s settled in, the room shifts into shared silence at 6:30 p.m. — pages turning, minds wandering — punctuated by a mid-evening reading break where you can stretch, chat with fellow readers or wander out to the lobby to meet local artists and makers.

That’s where this silent reading night is a little different than most: It’s also a wee craft fair, and December’s vendor lineup leans fully into the theme. Explore the candy-colored worlds of Stephanie Mai Designs, discover scents inspired by lit, pop culture and mythology from Nerdwax Candles, admire handmade book arts from Wrought and Bound, or savor fantasy-forward blends from Friday Afternoon Teas. Think of it as a mini market curated for the whimsically minded, and perhaps a chance to pick up a few gifts while you treat yourself and your mind.

Here’s the full schedule:

            • 6 p.m. mix & mingle

            • 6:30 p.m. silent reading begins

            • 7:30 p.m. reading break! Chat with a neighbor or explore local makers in the theater lobby

            • 7:40 p.m. silent reading resumes

            • 8:30 p.m. social time & book chats

            • 9:00 p.m. event ends