Housing Works was packed last night as just about anybody with a literary sensibility showed up for the store's annual "Gin Mingle" (although much of the throng was content to sip beer). The loud music diminished the mingling opportunities somewhat, but I was still able to catch up with a few people as I bounced around the room. ICM agent Kate Lee chatted with me briefly about her upcoming mediabistro.com panel on bloggers with book deals, then said hello to fellow bloggers Lizzie Skurnick and Marie Mutsuki Mockett, discovered Jami Attenberg was back in town after an artist's residency in Nebraska, and managed to wave at Tin House editors Rob Spillman and Elissa Schappell from afar. And while all this was taking place, Housing Works staffer (and Smith contributor) Rachel Fershleiser held down the fort at the front door, collecting partygoers' donations.

Authors Sam Lipsyte, Gary Shteyngart, and Christopher Sorrentino hang out in a less densely packed corner of the store; I pose with Emdashes webmistress Emily Gordon.