No matter what Mother Nature Says, it’s Spring At Books & Company…

Well despite the fact that we had a blizzard yesterday, it is indeed April, which means Spring – in all its gravelly, gritty glory – here in Prince George. April is also National Poetry Month so when you come by Books & Company, Café Voltaire or ArtSpace for one of the fantastic events we’ve got all month long, don’t forget to pick up a collection of poetry (might we suggest The Enpipe Line: 70,000+ kilometres of poetry written in resistance to the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines proposal, available in store now!).

TONIGHT (Wednesday, April 4) at 7:00 pm the Toastmasters are back in Café Voltaire! Come find out how one of Prince George’s 8 toastmasters groups can help you grow into the business and community leader you were meant to be.

The Huble Homestead is having its Annual General Meeting at 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 5 (Tomorrow) in ArtSpace.  The Huble Homestead turns 100 in 2012 and new members are invited to attend and find out more about this historic anniversary!  If you need more details please contact Krystal Leason at either 250-564-7033 or admin@hublehomestead.ca

Books & Company and Café Voltaire are closed on Friday, April 6 for Good Friday! Hopefully the wonderful weather from last weekend will return and you can spend your holiday hunting brightly coloured eggs outside!

Did you know we’ve got a Spectacular Story Time Every Saturday Morning at 10:00 am! Our expert storytellers provide spice (and excellent scary, funny and weird voices) to classic and modern tales! So drop in with your youngsters and enjoy a coffee while they listen to stories and make crafts!

And the good folks from the Anthropology Department at UNBC are back on Tuesday, April 10 with another installment of their popular lecture series: Anthropology in Our Backyards.  Stay tuned for more details!

Don’t forget, we’ve got Letter Writing on Monday, April 16^th at 6:30 pm.  Drop into Café Voltaire for a quiet place to write that letter that will reconnect you with a long lost friend, or help you reestablish your relationship with your estranged brother. Coffee, stamps and stationary are available!

We’ve already got tickets for the marvelous Maureen Washington show which will be in ArtSpace on Thursday, April 26^th at 7:00 pm.  Don’t miss this amazing jazz performance! Maureen will be performing with Karel Roessigh, Joey Smith and Damian Graham and it will be a night to remember!  Tickets are only $25.

Books and Company is also selling tickets for the Spring Showcase of Singers presented by Lyn Vernon on April 28 (tickets are $15 each), AbracaDAZZLE, Canada’s Favorite Magic Show, with John Kaplan on April 28 (tickets are $10 for both the matinee and the evening performances) and ¡Viva Lo Caliente! Latin Dinner & Dance Party presented by the Latino Canadian Association of Northern BC on May 5 (Tickets are only $40).  Come in and pick up your tickets to one or all of these fantastic community events!

And don’t forget we’ve got tickets to the last Theatre Northwest Play of the season, Brighton Beach Memoirs, which runs from April 19 to May 6.  Come by soon before all of the good seats are taken on the night you want to go!

That’s it for this week folks, for more information about upcoming events or just the cool things that happen here, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter and did you know we’ve got a blog?  Well we do, find out our thoughts on all things books related at booksandcompany.wordpress.com

In Like a Lion – We’ve got Loads of March Events at Books & Co!

In like a lion, out like a lamb? In like a lamb, out like a lion? All the snow is fluffy like a lamb, but I’ve got to say the cold is a bit leonine.   But don’t let March’s changeable temperament keep you from enjoying all of the wonderful events we have planned at Books & Co, ArtSpace and Café Voltaire!

The countdown has begun! The Arrogant Worms are coming to ArtSpace on March 14! That’s only 7 days away people! This is going to be a fantastically hilarious show from Canada’s funniest band and you can get tickets for only $30 each. Tickets are going fast and it’s going to be a sold out crowd, so pick yours up TODAY! (This concert is so important I had to put it first!)

TODAY (Wednesday, March 7) is World Read Aloud Day!  So take some time and read aloud to your child, your friends, your family or yourself.

And TONIGHT, Wednesday, March 7 at 7:00 pm, members of the Prince George Toast Masters are back to talk about Leadership! Our families, organizations and communities could all benefit from more effective leadership! Learn leadership insights from local leaders and share your own knowledge of this sought after skill. For more info contact Greg Jonuck at thejonuks@shaw.ca or to register go to www.pgtoastmasters.ca (registration is free).

On Thursday, March 8 at 7:30 pm in ArtSpace, we’ve got another (and very timely) Anthropology in Our Backyards Lecture.  This time Professor Charles Menzies will be speaking on Abolone, Pipelines, and Aboriginal Rights – Making Sense of Coastal Opposition to the Northern Gateway Project. Battle lines have been forming for several years now but with the start of the public hearings on the Northern Gateway pipeline and tanker project the charge has begun! Leaving aside the spurious claims about foreign intervention, this presentation examines the cores issues that undergrid coastal First Nation concerts and opposition to the tanker traffic through traditional territory.

From March 5 – 30 we’re proud to be hosting the Envisioning Change – Prince George Women Share their Experiences of Substance Use and Mental Health Photography Exhibition.  Opening Night is Friday, March 9, but you can always go up and look around!

This Friday Night Mic is not to be missed.  We’ve got The Wingdawn Ramblers – Bob Campbell & Murray Boal coming in to delight us with their musical stylings.  As always, this event is free and things kick off at 8:00 pm on Friday, March 9 in Café Voltaire.

The 16^th Annual Cinema CNC Film Festival runs March 9 – 11 at the Prince George Playhouse and we’ve got tickets! Festival Passes (for all 8 fantastic films) are only $48 (other ticket pricing is available for individual days and films).

And we’ve got a Spectacular Storytime Every Saturday Morning at 10:00 am! Our expert storytellers provide spice (and excellent scary, funny and weird voices) to classic and modern tales! So drop in with your youngsters and enjoy a coffee while they listen to stories and make crafts!

Saturday, March 10 ArtSpace is super pleased to host the Northern Women’s Centre’s Jezebel’s Jam 2012! Come out and celebrate International Women’s Day with music and entertainment! Doors open at 7:00 pm and tickets are already on sale for only $10.

And on Sunday, March 11 at 7:30 pm in ArtSpace we’ve got a Night of Acoustic Alternative with Windborn! This event also includes Nathan Kelly, Darby Yule & Mike Houg!  This lively and lovely concert is going to be a lot of fun.  Tickets are already on sale at Books & Co and only cost $10!

And don’t forget, we’re holding the launch of SubTerrain Magazine’s Prince George Spotlight Folio!  This event, hosted by the redoubtable Rob Budde, will feature readings from Alex Faktor, Josh Massey, Adrienne Fitzpatrick, Al Rempel, Justin Foster, Irene Fyvie & Darcie Smith! So come out to ArtSpace on Monday, March 12 at 7:00 pm for some fantastic poetry and a really good time.

But that’s not it for Monday, March 12!  Downstairs in Café Voltaire, NDP Leadership Candidate Brian Topp will be answering all of your questions about why he should lead our official federal opposition from 7:00 – 9:00 pm!

Red Cedar Readers’ Club is once again meeting for a fun and informative evening of book chat and crafts on Tuesday, March 13 at 6:30 pm in Café Voltaire.  This week we’re going to be discussing Zoobreak and making puppets, so bring your ideas and an old sock! Come out and chat with other young readers and get ready for the Red Cedar Battle of the Books later this year!

And upstairs, on Tuesday, March 13 at 7:30 pm in ArtSpace, Dr. Angèle Smith will be speaking on Globalization, Culture and Politics of Identity in Ireland and the Isle of Man: Field School Reflections as part of the Anthropology in our Backyard Lecture Series.

March really is film season in Prince George, because not only is the Cinema CNC Film Festival happening this weekend, but the Sixth Annual Traveling World Film Festival rolls into PG on March 16 and runs through spring break all the way to March 24! Make sure to catch some of the incredible films on offer that week (ArtSpace is hosting several of them).  Festival Passes are on sale now at Books & Co!

That’s it for this week folks, for more information about upcoming events or just the cool things that happen here, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter and did you know we’ve got a blog?  Well we do, find out our thoughts on all things books related at booksandcompany.wordpress.com

 

Use Leap Day to Get Ready for all the Events March Has in Store at Books & Co

Happy Leap Day Everybody! It so nice that we’ve got one more day of February this year. We’ve got loads of stuff happening at Books & Co, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace in March, so it’s nice to have a day of breathing room before all the fun starts!

Did you know The Arrogant Worms are coming to ArtSpace on March 14! That’s only two weeks away! This is going to be a fantastically hilarious show from Canada’s funniest band and you can get tickets for only $30 each. Tickets are going fast and it’s going to be a sold out crowd, so pick yours up TODAY! (This concert is so important I had to put it first!)

Freedom to Read Week runs from February 26 to March 3^rd this year!  Did you know that books by the great Canadian authors Margaret Atwood, Margaret Laurence, Timothy Findley, and Alice Munro have all challenged or censored?  For a complete list of books challenged or banned in the last few years, check out: http://freedomtoread.ca/docs/challenged_books_and_magazines_february_2012.pdf. Then come in, pick up a banned book and see what all the fuss was about!

This week’s Friday Night Mic is a real treat! Non-Prophet Society, from Smithers, is here for some good ol’ rockin’, bluesy fun!  This trio is amazing so don’t miss out on this fantastic night of music, Friday, March 2 at 8:00 pm in Café Voltaire.  As always this event is free!

And we’ve got a Spectacular Storytime Every Saturday Morning at 10:00 am! Our expert storytellers provide spice (and excellent scary, funny and weird voices) to classic and modern tales! So drop in with your youngsters and enjoy a coffee while they listen to stories and make crafts!

Bring your kids to Dr. Seuss Day on Sunday, March 4 at 3:00 pm in ArtSpace.  We’ll be reading some of the best of Seuss, doing Seussian crafts and having some general Seussian silliness! Everyone welcome!

“To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart” – Phyllis Theroux.  Lost Art Of Letter Writing Evening, Monday March 5 at 6:30 pm.  Come by Café Voltaire and write letters to your loved ones.  We’ve got stamps and coffee (and we’ll lend you pens and give you paper if you need them).  Help prove that letters aren’t an anachronistic remnant of a bygone era and write!

And while you’re here, check out the new photography exhibition upstairs in ArtSpace.  From March 5 – 30 we’re proud to be hosting the Envisioning Change – Prince George Women Share their Experiences of Substance Use and Mental Health Photography Exhibition.  Opening Night is Friday, March 9, but you can always go up and look around!

Red Cedar Readers’ Club is once again meeting for a fun and informative evening of book chat and crafts on Tuesday, March 6 at 6:30 pm in Café Voltaire.  This week we’re going to be discussing Zoobreak and making puppets, so bring your ideas and an old sock! Come out and chat with other young readers and get ready for the Red Cedar Battle of the Books later this year!

Wednesday, March 7 is World Read Aloud Day!  So take some time and read aloud to your child, your friends, your family or yourself.

Then, on Wednesday, March 7 at 7:00 pm, members of the Prince George Toast Masters are back to talk about Leadership! Our families, organizations and communities could all benefit from more effective leadership! Learn leadership insights from local leaders and share your own knowledge of this sought after skill. For more info contact Greg Jonuck at thejonuks@shaw.ca or to register go to www.pgtoastmasters.ca (registration is free).

On Thursday, March 8 at 7:30 pm in ArtSpace, we’ve got another (and very timely) Anthropology in Our Backyards Lecture.  This time Professor Charles Menzies will be speaking on Abolone, Pipelines, and Aboriginal Rights – Making Sense of Coastal Opposition to the Northern Gateway Project.

And on Sunday, March 11 at 7:30 pm in ArtSpace we’ve got a Night of Acoustic Alternative with Windborn! This event also includes Nathan Kelly, Darby Yule & Mike Houg!  This lively and lovely concert is going to be a lot of fun.  Tickets are already on sale at Books & Co and only cost $10!

And don’t forget, we’re holding the launch of SubTerrain Magazine’s Prince George Spotlight Folio!  This event, hosted by the redoubtable Rob Budde, will feature readings from Alex Faktor, Josh Massey, Adrienne Fitzpatrick, Al Rempel, Justin Foster, Irene Fyvie & Darcie Smith! So come out to ArtSpace on Monday, March 12 at 7:00 pm for some fantastic poetry and a really good time.

That’s it for this week folks, for more information about upcoming events or just the cool things that happen here, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter and did you know we’ve got a blog?  Well we do, find out our thoughts on all things books related at booksandcompany.wordpress.com

Only 7 days left in February, but they’re a busy 7 days at Books & Co

February has just flown by!  It’s hard to believe there’s only 7 days left (and really it’s only 7 because we’ve got an extra day this year).  But those 7 days are just filled with fun and exciting events at Books & Co, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace!

Did you know The Arrogant Worms are coming to ArtSpace on March 14! It’s only a few weeks away! This is going to be a fantastically hilarious show from Canada’s funniest band and you can get tickets for only $30 each. Tickets are going fast and it’s going to be a sold out crowd, so pick yours up TODAY! (This concert is so important I had to put it first!)

This Friday, February 24^th at 8:00 pm, our Friday Night Mics series is pleased to present singer-songwriter extraordinaire Scott Lapointe! Come out for a rousing good time and as always, this event is free!

Books & Co also has tickets to the Burns Lake Tragedy Fundraiser Dance happening at the Kinsmen Hall on Friday, February 24.  Things kick off at 8:00 pm. There will be live music by Sound Addiction, a silent auction and a late night snack, so get your dancing shoes on and support our neighbours!

We’ve got a Spectacular Storytime Every Saturday Morning at 10:00 am! Our expert storytellers provide spice (and excellent scary, funny and weird voices) to classic and modern tales! So drop in with your youngsters and enjoy a coffee while they listen to stories and make crafts!

And while you’re here for storytime, drop by ArtSpace for Antique Appraisals hosted by the Huble Homestead.  Antique experts will tell you what your object is, what it’s worth and how to keep it in tip top condition for years to come. Tickets will be available at the door and will be $10 per object (with no limit on the number of objects you bring in), or you can just come and see what other people have squirreled away in their attics and sheds. All proceeds go to the support of the Huble Homestead Historic Site!

February is Black History Month and Books & Co has tickets for the CNC Black History Month Main Event Celebrations! There will be education, entertainment, guest speakers and a lite meal Saturday, February 25, 6:00 pm to Midnight.  Tickets are only $15 for Adults and $7.50 for children and going fast!

Freedom to Read Week runs from February 26 to March 3^rd this year!  Did you know that books by great Canadian authors Margaret Atwood, Margaret Laurence, Timothy Findley, and Alice Munro have all challenged or censored?  For a complete list of books challenged or banned in the last few years, check out: http://freedomtoread.ca/docs/challenged_books_and_magazines_february_2012.pdf. Then come in, pick up a banned book and see what all the fuss was about!

Red Cedar Readers’ Club is once again meeting for a fun and informative evening of book chat and crafts on Tuesday, February 28^th at 6:30 pm in Café Voltaire.  This week we’re discussing The Prince of Neither Here nor There and making your very own amulets! Come out and chat with other young readers and get ready for the Red Cedar Battle of the Books later this year!

And the Anthropology in Our Backyards Lectures Series is back on Tuesday, February 28 at 7:30 pm in ArtSpace! This time Dr. Anne Keeleyside will be speaking on Life in an Ancient Greek Colony: A Bioarchaeological Study of Human Remains from Apollonia Pontica.  You’ll learn the results of an analysis of over 500 skeletons excavated from a necropolis associated with the ancient Greek colony of Apollonia Pontica (active during the 5^th to 3^rd centuries BC), located on the Black Sea cost of Bulgaria.  These remains provide important insights into the lives of the individuals who once lived there!

And bring your kids to Dr. Seuss Day on Sunday, March 4 at 3:00 pm in ArtSpace.  We’ll be reading some of the best of Seuss and doing Seussian crafts!

“Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company” – Lord Byron.  Lost Art Of Letter Writing Evening, Monday March 5 at 6:30 pm.  Come by Café Voltaire and write letters to your loved ones.  We’ve got stamps and coffee (and we’ll lend you pens and give you paper if you need them).  Help prove that letters aren’t an anachronistic remnant of a bygone era and write!

And while you’re here, check out the new photography exhibition upstairs in ArtSpace.  From March 5 – 30 we’re proud to be hosting the Envisioning Change – Prince George Women Share their Experiences of Substance Use and Mental Health Photography Exhibition.  Opening Night is Friday, March 9, but you can always go up and look around!

Then, on Wednesday, March 7 at 7:00 pm, members of the Prince George Toast Masters are back to talk about Leadership! Our families, organizations and communities could all benefit from more effective leadership! Learn leadership insights from local leaders and share your own knowledge of this sought after skill. For more info contact Greg Jonuck at thejonuks@shaw.ca or to register go to www.pgtoastmasters.ca (registration is free).

On Thursday, March 8 at 7:30 pm in ArtSpace, we’ve got another (and very timely) Anthropology in Our Backyards Lecture.  This time Professor Charles Menzies will be speaking on Abolone, Pipelines, and Aboriginal Rights – Making Sense of Coastal Opposition to the Northern Gateway Project.

That’s it for this week folks, for more information about upcoming events or just the cool things that happen here, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter and did you know we’ve got a blog?  Well we do, find out our thoughts on all things books related at booksandcompany.wordpress.com

The Deep Freeze is Over and Just in Time for More Events at Books & Co

The deep freeze is over and just in time!  I don’t think anybody wanted to be housebound much longer and there are so many things happening in PG that cold or no cold we were going out anyway! And there’s many, many more things happening at Books & Co, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace in the next couple of weeks, too.

Just because the cold snap is over, doesn’t mean Coldsnap is over!  We’ve still got tickets for the rest of the fest and tonight (January 25) ArtSpace is hosting the FolkFest Reunion of Gordie Tentress and John Wort Hannam, the singer-songwriters who were crowd favorites back with Coldsnap was a summer festival!

Thursday, January 26 at 7:30 pm we’ve got the second Anthropology in Our Backyards Lecture!  This time it’s Dr. Mark Nuttall talking about Sheep Rustling and Cutting Slate: Genealogy & Movement Across, Within & Below a Welsh Mountain Landscape. Dr. Nuttall will be exploring family experiences of social upheaval and transition in late 19^th and early 20^th century Northern Wales.  The presentation talks about identity, storied landscapes and pathways, and about how slate only understands Welsh.

This week’s Friday Night Mic is a real treat provided by Eric Tompkins, Brad Hawke and Bruce Baycroft.  Come out for an evening of jazzy blues and bluesy jazz with this wonderful local trio!  Things kick off at 8:00 pm on Friday, January 27 and as always, this event is free!

Kick off the Red Cedar Readers’ Club (and the Year of the Dragon) in style with a chat about Timothy and the Dragon’s Gate!  Come into Café Voltaire at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, January 31 for a lively discussion of this Red Cedar pick and an art project related to the book! The Red Cedar Book Award is BC’s young readers’ choice award for students in grades 4 through 7.  It was launched by the Young Readers’ Choice Awards Society of BC in 1996 to encourage children to read, develop their ability to judge the quality of published works and create an awareness of the works of Canadian authors and illustrators.  Each year, 2 awards are given – 1 in the fiction category and 1 in the information book category.

And Wednesday, February 1 at 7:00 pm is the first in a 3 part series presented by the Prince George Toastmasters! This month’s workshop is on Communication. Communication might be the most important competency to master for your success.  Enjoy educational sessions on the art of communication & contribute to the conversations: Fred Punko, CGA and business owner, will be speaking on how to prepare and deliver an effective PowerPoint presentation; Laura Honeyman, employment councilor will be sharing with us how to manage nerves to communicate confidently; and Tom Ireland, Toastmaster leader and mill worker, will offer insights in how to begin a presentation effectively to wow and gain the attention of an audience. This session is the first of a 3 part series intended to raise the communication and leadership abilities of participants to make Prince George a better place to live.  To register: http://goo.gl/VBphp.  For more info, visit: www.pgtoastmasters.ca or 250-564-5191.

The Prince George Photographic Society will be in Café Voltaire at 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 2 to talk about who they are and what they do and to show us some of the wonderful photographs taken by their members on recent PG Photographic Society day trips and personal photographic expeditions.

Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folks are coming to ArtSpace!  On Thursday, February 2 at 7:00 pm join us for a fantastic concert by the captivating Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folks.  The energetic and authentic performance of their extraordinary indie folk-pop melodies will leave you enraptured.  You’re sure to be drawn into their music!  Tickets are $10 and are on sale now at Books & Co.

And on Saturday, February 4 at 11:00 am local author and retired teacher Glen Sargeant will be in to sign copies of his thrilling young adult mysteries: Slalakum and Finders Keepers.

The Lost Art of Letter Writing, Prince George Correspondents’ Club Meeting, is meeting again on Monday, February 6 at 6:30 pm in Café Voltaire.  Our letter writing club is booming, but we could always use more writers so come in (bring stationary, extra to share or trade if you want) and just write.  We don’t care who you write to, or what you write (and we won’t judge your handwriting) we just want people to start writing and sending (and hopefully receiving) letters again.  We’ll have coffee (free for letter writers) and stamps available (also free for letters sent to Canadian recipients) and we’ll make sure your letter makes it to a Canada Post mailbox.  We’ve had a request for pen pals from an incarcerated gentleman, so if you don’t have someone to write to, you could always write to him.

Books & Co also has tickets for An Evening of Musical Comedy starring Dawn Boudreau & Guests and hosted by Carter Horie on Saturday, February 18 in ArtSpace.  Tickets are only $15.

And starting in February, ArtSpace will be hosting Graphic Novel Writing Workshops for kids and teens!

Teen Graphic Novel Writers’ Workshops – Understanding Icons & Visual Shorthand, Facilitated by Nicole Larson.  In ArtSpace on Wednesdays, February 8, 15, 22 and 29.  6:30 – 8:00 pm.  Join other graphic novel writers and artists aged 13 to 16 to improve your understanding of the process of graphic novel creation and discuss how writing a graphic novel is different from other kinds of creative writing.  Both writers and artists are welcome and we will be doing collaborative projects and exercises every week. Each week we will explore what makes graphic novels compelling and discuss why writers might choose the graphic novel genre to tell their stories.  There will also be time to work either collaboratively or independently on original stories.  The cost of this workshop is $50 and space is limited to 12 participants.  Please sign up at Books & Company before February 1^st.  For more information please email booksandcompanyevents@gmail.com or call 250-563-6637

Young Graphic Novel Writers’ Workshops – What Makes a Graphic Novel? Facilitated by Nicole Larson.  In ArtSpace on Thursdays, February 9, 16, 23 and March 1.  6:30 to 8:00 pm.  Join other graphic novel writers aged 9 – 12 to improve your understanding of the process of graphic novel creation and discuss how writing a graphic novel is different from other kinds of creative writing.  Both writers and artists are welcome and we will be doing exercises and projects every week.  We will be discussing popular graphic novels for kids including Jeff Smith’s Bone series and we’ll talk about the parts of a graphic novel and how they fit together to tell complete stories. There will also be time to work either collaboratively or independently on original stories.  The cost of this workshop is $50 and space is limited to 12 participants.  Please sign up at Books & Company before February 1^st. For more information please email booksandcompanyevents@gmail.com or call 250-563-6637

That’s it for today folks! Get out and enjoy the snow then come in and enjoy a book.

You can find us on Facebook and Twitter and did you know we’ve got a blog?  Well we do, find out our thoughts on all things books related at booksandcompany.wordpress.com

 

 

Combat the Dark Days of January with Events at Books & Co

Did you know January is National Soup Month?  We didn’t either, but it makes sense.  It’s usually cold and dark and soup is one of the best ways to combat the cold, dark days of January!  Another great way to combat the cold, dark days of January is coming out to one of the great events held at Books & Co, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace!

Friday, January 13 at 8:00 pm we’ve got another fantastic Open Mic Night as part of our Friday Night Mics series.  If you’ve been waiting to sing in public, this is the week for you!  Break out the banjo, dust off the dulcimer and get ready for your chance to impress on the Café Voltaire Stage.  Or if you’re still not ready, simply sit back and enjoy the best of Prince George’s local talent.  As always this event is free.

The first in the exciting series of lectures Anthropology in Our Backyards kicks off with Jose Pablo Baraybar the Executive Director of the Peruvian Forensic Anthropology Team (Equipo Peruano de Antropologia Forense) will be speaking on “Forensics, Memory and Development: An Eclectic View from the Antipodes.” This will be a truly amazing lecture on how forensic science can be used as a means of discovering how human rights violations are committed!  Everything kicks off at 7:30 pm, January 17 in ArtSpace. There will be a new Anthropology in Our Backyards lecture in ArtSpace every other Tuesday night this winter!

Then on Wednesday, January 18 come in to Café Voltaire for the launch of Real Estate Expert Trevor Bolin’s new book Take Charge and Change Your Life Today!  Trevor will let you in on the business secrets that took him to the top of his field and give you advice on how to become successful in every part of your business life.  Take Charge and Change Your Life Today! has received a number of awards including the Editor’s Choice in September and the prestigious Rising Star award in October.

Thursday, January 19 at 7:30 pm in Café Voltaire, Mel McConaghy is back to officially launch his exciting memoir My Life Through a Broken Windshield.  It’s the perfect book for anyone who drives for a living or who wants to drive for a living.  Filled with stories from the road, and told in Mel’s signature style, it’s a great read!

It’s that time of year again, the annual Books & Company sale is just around the corner! From Thursday, January 19 to Saturday, January 21 you can come in and pick up all of those books you wanted and didn’t get for Christmas at 25% off.  Even bargain books! So make sure to stop in and take advantage of our yearly sale!

And Sunday, January 22 at 3:00 pm in ArtSpace bring your little ones in for a Storytime and Crafternoon celebrating Family Literacy Day (Officially celebrated across Canada on January 27).  Come in for a storytime and crafts and take home some ideas on how to keep reading and writing forefront in your home!

Have a good week folks, and if the January weather is getting you down, come in for a bowl of soup and a book.  That always makes me smile!

What’s Happening at Books & Co in the New Year? I’m Glad You Asked…

It’s 2012! Happy New Year! It’s been said that “April is the cruelest month,” but clearly T.S. Eliot never spent a winter in Canada.  With Christmas behind us and cold, dark days still ahead – although the rain this week is reminiscent of April – we’ve all got to find ways to keep warm and cheerful through to Spring.  And Books & Company, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace can help with that!

Right now all calendars are 50% off! It’s like getting half the year for free.

Friday, January 6 at 8:00 pm our wildly successful and always fun Friday Night Mics are BACK with an Open Mic Night! Dust off that guitar and start humming those scales, because we want to see you on our stage come Friday night! If you’re not ready to take the stage, then simply drop by and listen to some of the best talent Prince George has to offer!  As always, this event is free!

The 2^nd meeting of the Prince George Correspondents’ Club (our new letter writing club) is on Monday, January 9 at 6:30 pm in Café Voltaire.  Come in and do your part to resurrect the lost art of letter writing by writing a letter to whomever you wish.  There will be free coffee and stamps (for letters mailed to Canadian addresses).  Bring in stationary to trade and share and just write for a couple of uninterrupted hours.  Since it’s just after Christmas it might be nice to write thank you letters for all of your lovely Christmas books (and other presents) but you can write whatever you want!

UNBC’s Anthropology Department kicks off their Anthropology in Our Backyards series with the talk: “Forensics, Memory and Development: An Eclectic View from the Antipodes” by Jose Pablo Baraybar the executive director of Eqipo Peruano de Antropologia Forense (EPAF) Peruvian Forensic Anthropology Team.  This fascinating look at how forensic science can be used as a means of addressing more than just the ‘hard facts’ of how human rights violations are committed starts at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, January 17 in ArtSpace! More Anthropology in Our Backyards talks are scheduled for every other Tuesday until the end of April.

On Wednesday, January 18 at 7:00 pm we’ve got local author and business leader Trevor Bolin coming in to talk about his new and highly acclaimed book Take Charge and Change Your Life Today.  Trevor Bolin, Chairman and CEO of Bolin & Co. International Training, has been leading the Real Estate industry for over a decade.  Using advanced selling skills, out of the box marketing techniques and the BCi fundamentals through the “Secret” to sales Trevor continues to have his best years no matter what the market conditions may be.   Take Charge and Change Your Life Today gives insight into Trevor’s techniques and skills and will help you reach the top 1% of you industry, no matter what industry you’re in.

Then on Thursday, January 19 at 7:00 pm in Café Voltaire, Mel McConaghy is back to officially launch his new book My Life Through a Broken Windshield, a collection of truck driving tales from our very own wild and rugged BC!  If you’ve ever been a truck driver, have ever known a truck driver or are thinking about making truck driving your profession, Mel’s book is a must read!

Don’t forget to pick up your Coldsnap Tickets! One surefire way to keep warm and cheerful this January is to attend one or all of the fantastic concerts and workshops available at the Coldsnap festival!  Books & Co has tickets for all of the concerts!  Drop in and pick some up today!

And starting in February, ArtSpace will be hosting Graphic Novel Writing Workshops for kids and teens!

Teen Graphic Novel Writers’ Workshops – Understanding Icons & Visual Shorthand, Facilitated by Nicole Larson.  In ArtSpace on Wednesdays, February 8, 15, 22 and 29.  6:30 – 8:00 pm.  Join other graphic novel writers and artists aged 13 to 16 to improve your understanding of the process of graphic novel creation and discuss how writing a graphic novel is different from other kinds of creative writing.  Both writers and artists are welcome and we will be doing collaborative projects and exercises every week. Each week we will explore what makes graphic novels compelling and discuss why writers might choose the graphic novel genre to tell their stories.  There will also be time to work either collaboratively or independently on original stories.  The cost of this workshop is $50 and space is limited to 12 participants.  Please sign up at Books & Company before February 1^st.  For more information please email booksandcompanyevents@gmail.com or call 250-563-6637

Young Graphic Novel Writers’ Workshops – What Makes a Graphic Novel? Facilitated by Nicole Larson.  In ArtSpace on Thursdays, February 9, 16, 23 and March 1.  6:30 to 8:00 pm.  Join other graphic novel writers aged 9 – 12 to improve your understanding of the process of graphic novel creation and discuss how writing a graphic novel is different from other kinds of creative writing.  Both writers and artists are welcome and we will be doing exercises and projects every week.  We will be discussing popular graphic novels for kids including Jeff Smith’s Bone series and we’ll talk about the parts of a graphic novel and how they fit together to tell complete stories. There will also be time to work either collaboratively or independently on original stories.  The cost of this workshop is $50 and space is limited to 12 participants.  Please sign up at Books & Company before February 1^st. For more information please email booksandcompanyevents@gmail.com or call 250-563-6637