Signing and Sighing

Dear Reader -  Well, it's been a week - a whole darn week - since (Ann) Revere Reed's books signing, and we're still having fun watching folks find her book, On a Dime: Senseless in Lewes. I've been wanting to share some photos with you, but, of course, I forgot my own camera and phone last weekend, so I borrowed Grace's, who was minding the shop that night (I was just the resident Pourer-o'-Spanish-Cava for the evening - Grace did all the work).

The night started out quietly, with a fan who had to leave early showing up in time to get her books signed before the crowd started arriving:

She bought five copies, so it took awhile to get them all personalized. Then a few minutes before 7:00, a few more folks showed up to meet and greet the author:

I enjoyed seeing Ann connect with friends and family, as well as other locals who'd read about her work in the Gazette and Countian. By 7:15, we had a nice little crowd going:

And then by 7:30, all happy h__ broke loose, as Rehoboth and Lewes descended on Ann and little biblion. As one guest who stopped in on Saturday put it, "What was going on in here last night? We walked by, but it didn't look like one more person could fit in this shop!" It was a very gratifying and supportive reception for a local author, and we were so grateful to help facilitate.

Ann signed several more copies, which are available at the shop (Mike stopped by just today to get a copy for the Lewes Historical Society's archives - so cool).

Jamie Schneider, whose locally-set novel, In the Shadow of Silver Lake, was a huge hit last summer, has released his second book: The Highest Burden of the Law. He dropped off several copies this week, and he's planning a signing here for early August (which, as it turns out, is dependent on Miss C's schedule - we'll confirm the date/time later).

And we have two other local-author signings on the back burner, awaiting final scheduling info from their publishers.

Sigh. While I love, love, love everything about used books, I am beyond thrilled to be able to have books by local authors be our only new titles offered here - it just seems to fit with the spirit of this little town and our little shop. This instinct received the warmest of confirmations last Friday, as I watched folks who'd grown up here with Ann and her family stop by to support her. Thank you, dear Reader, for joining us in supporting these authors, too.

Contentedly  - Jen

Reminder: Book release/signing today!

Dear Reader -  Hope you can drop by this evening to raise a glass and say "huzzah" to Revere Reed on her new book, On a Dime: Senseless in Lewes. She'll be at the shop from 7-9 p.m. See you then!  - Jen

 

The artists are coming! The artists are coming!

Dear Reader -  You may remember when I wrote about St. Peter's Art Show round about this time last year, as we were in the throes of the final preparations for the 45th annual event (see The Love of My Life post, if you're curious).

One of the many things that I gave up this year to spend more time with Miss C was chairing this event - after five years, it was time anyhow. Not surprisingly, a stalwart and committed group of volunteers has picked up the ball quite ably - 'cause that's what the folks at St. Peter's do.

A diverse and talented cadre of fine artists and fine crafters are due to descend on little Lewes over the next couple of days - some of them long-time participants, some of them brand-new. As you can see from this awesome photo that I picked up on the Internet (that's a whole other story, Reader - my hard drive has crashed - irretrievably - not a happy turn of events for an editor!), all 140 of them will be a stones throw from the shop, so we can't wait to stop by with Miss C and do our shopping!

It's one day only - running from 9 to 4; there's a free shuttle running constantly from Shields Elementary School to the show, so parking's not an issue; there's an huge silent auction, so bargains are to be had; there's an art project for the kids, as well as a face painter, so they won't go too insane; and the ladies of St. Peter's ECW are producing their Famous Turkey Salad lunch (available for eat-in or take-out), so it's easy to make a day of it!

Come out and join us! Vive la art!  - Jen

Small-Town-Americana Run Amok

Dear Reader -  Having a bookshop in Lewes is kinda like being an adjunct visitors-center-information-booth-public-safety-patrol-realtors-association-restroom-locator-restaurant-reviewer-town-ambassador-yadda-yadda-yadda - in short, whoever's working is Julie on the Loveboat. And one of the phrases that I'm heard saying about little Lewes over and over again that it's the quintessential small-town-American run amok. There is some sorta festival somthin' happening just about every week for locals and visitors alike to dive into.

Now no day embodies this reality here more than July 4. As Miss C'd say: it is so adorable.

The day kicks off around 9:00 a.m. with the Old Fashioned Children's Games:

  

We shut down Second Street and let kids loose on it for the entire morning to do every manner of goofy game - sack races, ice-block pushing - there even used to be a greased pole contest, but I think that had to be ca-bashed with the new streetscape a few years back. It's a blast and a half for everyone - the families who participate and those of us who just show up to goof on it.

(An Aside:  For years, the event was run by Larry McLaughlin and Gilbert Holt - two City of Lewes employees [Larry ran the Streets Department and Gilbert was at the Board of Public Works]:

They both loved the tradition and were fantastic about making it fun for us all - giving selflessly of their time and energy to bring it to life. Tragically, Larry was killed in an accident on the evening of July 4, 2010, and we mourned the loss of Gilbert this past year. Because of their efforts, the games are a tradition that is strong enough to survive their loss, but I can't help but feel a little bittersweet at the remembrance of them today.)

The next big thing is the boat parade down at the dock at 2:00 p.m.:

 

 

It's typically a whole lotta flags and a whole lotta waitin', but it's a whole lotta fun, too!

And then, late in the afternoon - at an -ish-ish kinda time around 5:30-ish, the most un-grandish of traditions commences - the Doo-Dah Parade:

 

 

Everybody and their dog (literally) shows up to be part of this ad hoc parade, that legend has it started as an adult beverage run from the Shockley's. The parade sports everything from the most organized of organizations to the last-minute-inspired-by-the-small-town-Americana-spirit visitor. It has become one of the most beloved of traditions for it's untraditional traditionalness. We love it.

So come on down to Lewes and get your own heapin' helpin' of Americana (and a little glass of somethin' while Doo Dah-ing with us this afternoon at biblion)!

Vive la Independence!

Amok! Amok! Amok!  - Jenny

P.S. And a couple perfect doses of that Americana tradition to close . . . 

Best Quote of the Day: June 30

Dear Reader -  Yesterday's quote of the day came from a young couple who were hanging with me during siesta-time, as we listened to Bombay Bicycle Club's _Flaws_ (the perfect siesta-time album):

"This is probably the coolest store I've ever been in," she said.

"Yeah," he replied.

Contentedly  - Jen