It is so refreshing to decorate for a “mad” event – and the always “quirky” (in the words of one customer today) bookstore looked right at home as a mad, mad tea party! Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate, and especially my helpers, Connor, Katie, and Autumn, and staff Jen, Kim and Lindsey who all stayed late. Flamingo croquet, Queen of Heart Tarts, Spiced Tea, and lovely Great Basin cookies made it a yummy tea party. And the meringue mushrooms apparently faked out a few people as real fungus, although no one grew or shrank noticeably. I had enthusiastic listeners, which makes me happy. Cody even put up with me reading The Cremation of Sam McGee, he’s a good kid. I get shivers reading it, but he said he wasn’t scared. Here’s a few pictures to share the fun.
Category Archives: Events
No Choo Choo Swapmeet for East Side this time
Sorry to all of you bargain hunters, I am unable to make the Choo Choo Swapmeet this Saturday. Please go out and support the Laws Museum fundraiser anyway, I am sure you can find other book bargains! Plus you can always come visit Jen at the store that Saturday.
Popcorn & Poetry Party Photos – 2012
Here are a few photos from our National Poetry Month Celebration – the Popcorn & Poetry Party. As you can see, we had a broad age range, but Shel Silverstein was the poet of the day, bar none!
A Few Minutes of Poetry
Every April since 1996, those with a love a poetry have banded together to remind the rest of us that we also have a love for this short form of expression. To celebrate this year’s National Poetry Month, I encourage you to take a moment out of your busy day and the watch two poetry performances posted below. I guarantee that you will be changed afterwards because that is what poetry does. It makes us experience the world in a whole new way.
If you have never seen a performance by the poet Rives, you are in for a treat. His poetry has been described as “extremely clever, creative, and intellectually alive.” He is part poet, part storyteller, and when you watch him, you can’t help but be ignited by his energy.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/rives_controls_the_internet.html
A good friend from college sent me the link to this TedTalk performance by two-time U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins. Collins is known for his wit and dry sense of humor, and what seem like simple observations, become deeply profound insights in the hands of Collins. Be sure to watch to the end so you don’t miss the reading of his poem entitled “To My Favorite 17-Year-Old Girl.”
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/billy_collins_everyday_moments_caught_in_time.html
Inspired to explore more poetry? You are in luck because East Side Books is hosting a Poetry and Popcorn Party this Saturday, April 28 from 5:00-7:00. Bring your favorite poems to share or just come to listen. All ages welcomed. Refreshments served. Questions? Call 760-873-6882.
Finding Fairies – Leprechaun Party Countdown
The first time I heard Washoe elders telling Waterbaby stories, I am sure I sat there with my mouth hanging open. Not out of disbelief, but in amazement at the universal aspect of “little people” stories, especially those who inhabit springs and specific locations. We were discussing land use planning, and the debate was whether the springs with known Waterbaby activity/presence should be protected differently than other bodies of water in traditional Washoe lands around Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley. We could have been discussing a saint’s spring in Ireland or the spirit filled waters of Germany. I grew up on those stories, and here I was hearing a completely familiar but new version. I don’t know the official anthropological explanation for these commonalities, and frankly don’t care, but I do love the storytelling aspect, and the whole notion that there is a lot to this universe we really can’t explain except with old stories.
Part of my motivation for the annual store Leprechaun Party is to remind kids that there are magical aspects to our world that are best explained in old stories, albeit with new wonderful pictures or a modern twist. I love the connection to our ancestors, and again, to the cultures worldwide that recognize small magical beings who have a role in the unexplained. Like the multitude of Cinderella stories from various cultures, the fairy folklore carries many common themes we can all appreciate, taking care of our natural wild places with the small things living there (even Dr. Seuss used that one!), not taking our superior size too seriously when matched to cleverness, and pay attention to the rules, or there are consequences!
Most of the best available read-aloud stories are from the English, Irish or northern European traditions, hence the multitude of Leprechaun stories. I am always looking for other examples, though, and would welcome suggestions. The book Finding Fairies by Michelle Roehm McCann and Marianne Monson Burton portrays an astounding plethora of world wide fairy activity, plus some easy activities to appeal to the little people, human and otherwise. It is a great resource, though lacking in read-aloud stories. I have stacks of fairy tale books covering Africa to Norway, but very few that make it to the good out loud pile. By next year, with your help, I hope to find a few more, maybe even a Waterbaby!
See you Saturday night!
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss
To celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2 is Read Across America Day. One way to get your kids excited about reading is to bring them into East Side Books and let them browse in our kid-friendly Children’s section.
We have a wide selection of picture books, early readers, children’s historical fiction, middle reader novels, and young adult fiction. We also have great resources to supplement school projects or homeschooling units. Our children’s books are an inexpensive treat, some as low as $1.
Our kid-oriented staff is happy to assist with reading suggestions. Kim and Jen are experienced homeschooling mothers, and can help compile resources for any kind of study course. Melissa taught junior high and high school English classes, and Lindsey worked with pre-readers. Diane is very knowledgeable in children’s illustrations and vintage children’s books. She can give you a wonderful tour of our excellent Children’s Collectible section.
We hope to see you and your family soon!
Community Reads Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Inyo County Office of Education has chosen 127 Hours, or Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston as the 2012 book to enjoy and share as a community…maybe enjoy is the wrong word to describe Ralston’s experience. Mr. Ralston will be here in Bishop to discuss his book and survival story in March, so you have plenty of time to pick up a copy and read it for yourself! East Side Books has a stack of new copies at discounted prices to get you going, and we will make sure any used copies get out as quickly as possible as well. We always have a stock of other climbing, survival and mountaineering stories as well in a similar vein. Let us know if you need special orders or have questions about the Community Reads events.
Happy Halloween! Haunted Bookstore Open House Pictures
Our Haunted Bookstore transformation to Hogwarts School of Wizardry was pretty successful, we were taken over by miniature witches and wizards, plus some pumpkins and a policeman…. Thanks so much to all of the store staff, family and friends who did an amazing job and were, as always, patient with me!
Thanks especially to Luna (aka Autumn) for keeping Herbology in line, Hagrid, (aka Matt) for reffing Miniature Quidditch, Hermione (aka Rachel) for helping her many serious students in Potions, Goblins Katie and Dana for running the Gringotts Treasure counter, Pansy (aka Lindsey) for protecting searchers in the Forbidden Forest, Cedric (aka Connor) and friends for expert cobweb installation and assistance throughout, and the good witches Kim and Jennifer for the front counter and feast preparations. Whew!
Field Trip to East Side Books
by Clara Place
My class got to go East Side Books for a Field Trip. We went there to learn more about books.
When we got there, we got a tour of East Side Books. Diane is the person who owns the books store, and she gave us the tour. We saw millions of books piled high. After the tour, Diane read us books in the Children’s Section. She read us cowboy books. We liked them so much. After Diane read to us, she gave us $4.00 certificates and we got to pick out one or two books to keep. While we picked out books, Diane gave us cookies. And more cookies. And more cookies.
My favorite part of the field trip was when Diane read us books and when we got to pick out books to keep. I like books, and that is why I like East Side Books! There is so much to read there!
Thank you so much, Diane from the First, Second, and Third graders at Bishop Adventist Christian School!