Books & Co says: May the Fourth be with you! (we can’t help ourselves)

Happy May everybody!  May is chockfull of wonderful days, from Mother’s Day to Victoria Day, from Cinco de Mayo (which is being celebrated all week long by the Latino Canadian Association of Northern BC, check http://www.latinpg.com for events!) to National Missing Child Day (it’s a sad one, but something people should keep in mind on May 25), May isn’t just May Day! And Books & Company, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace have loads of wonderful events to keep you happy all May long!

TOMORROW! Thursday, May 3^rd ArtSpace has got the wonderful Finnessee Trio!  Tickets are only $15 for this awesome acoustic event! Don’t miss out!

And on Friday, May 4 (May the Fourth be with you), our Friday Night Mics series is extra special with a show from Quesnel’s own Karin Ellis!  Things kick off in Café Voltaire at 8:00 pm so arrive early to get a seat! As always this event is Free!

Did you know every Saturday morning at 10:00 am we’ve got a fantastic storytime?  Come in and browse (or have a coffee and a chat) while our booksters delight and amuse with the best in classic and contemporary children’s stories!

And a treat for local history lovers of all ages, a special preview story time of Mr. Huble Builds a House, the new children’s book to celebrate the centenary of the Huble Homestead.  There will be original art from the book on display and a sneak peak preview reading from the yet to be released book! Join us in ArtSpace on Sunday, May 6 at 3:00 pm for a reading from the book, a pioneer craft and loads of fun!

Letter Writing Night is back on Monday, May 7 at 6:30 pm in Café Voltaire.  Come in, enjoy a coffee or tea on us, and write a letter to anyone you like.  We’ll put a stamp on it and mail it for you!  It’s a great way to reconnect with distant (or close) friends and family!

Thursday, May 10 we’ve got the Prince George gathering for Reimagine CBC hosted by Richard deMontigny! The ReimagineCBC.ca local gatherings will bring supporters together in their communities to learn about the budget cuts, talk about the best ideas from the online forum, and share your thoughts about the future of the CBC. This event will help create a powerful citizens’ report that we’ll deliver to decision-makers.  So come out to ArtSpace at 7:00 pm and share your ideas about our National Broadcaster, the wonderful CBC!

Friday, May 11 we’ve got a real treat, literally, in Café Voltaire.  Adrienne Johnston, the author of No More Secrets: Recipes from Cow Bay Café will be in to sign copies of her wonderful cookbook from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and you can sample some of the treats found in the book because our Café Voltaire specials will be following the marvelous recipes!

Saturday, March 12 at 10:00 am drop by Café Voltaire for a book signing with Rob Bryce! Rob has revised and updated his wildly popular Hiking in North Central BC.  This edition includes an interactive DVD and over 100 different hikes!  Come in, get your book signed and talk to Rob about where you should spend some quality outdoor time this summer!

Don’t forget we’ve got tickets to the last Theatre Northwest Play of the season, Brighton Beach Memoirs, which has been held over until May 12.  Come by soon before all of the good seats are taken on the night you want to go!

Guess what?  Lauren Mann & the Fairly Odd Folk are back on Sunday, May 13 at 7:30 pm in ArtSpace! We could not be more excited to have this amazing group back!  Their last concert was a rocking good time and this one is sure to please!  Tickets are a steal at $10 and are on sale NOW at Books & Co.

We’ve also got tickets for Coldsnap’s cool night of music in May featuring Red Moon Road!  Make sure to mark your calendars for Monday, May 14^th because this is a concert you won’t want to miss!  Tickets are on sale now (only $20)!  This concert takes place in ArtSpace!

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 Cruelest Month” is almost upon us, but Books & Co isn’t worried

April starts on Sunday.  We’ve got a few more things packed into March, but for the most part, it’s on to what TS Eliot called “the cruelest month.” April is also Poetry Month here in Canada, it’s the month that hosts the prankster’s favorite holiday, April Fools’ Day, it has Easter (this year) and Earth Day on the 22^nd.  And, based on the last few days, it’s also hosting Spring! So, start hunting snowdrops and daffodils! But before you get too carried away, don’t forget we’ve got loads of fun things happening at Books & Company, ArtSpace and Café Voltaire!

You’ve only got a few more days to experience the wonderful Envisioning Change – Prince George Women Share their Experiences of Substance Use and Mental Health Photography Exhibition.  We’ve been proud to host this thought provoking collection of photographs since March 5 and on March 30 it’s going to be taken down, so head up and look around anytime ArtSpace is open!

TOMORROW (March 29, 2012), the Citizens’ Environmental Advocacy Group is showing the film On the Line in ArtSpace at 6:30 pm.  In the summer of 2010, filmmaker Frank Wolf and his friend Todd McGowan biked, hiked, rafted and kayaked the GPA track of the pipeline in order to uncover the truth about the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline proposal.  Through the voices of the people they meet along the way, their rough and tumble journey reveals the severe risks and consequences associated with this $5.5 billion mega-project.  Admission to this thought provoking film is free but a $5 donation would be appreciated!

This Friday, our Friday Night Mic is a Café Voltaire favorite.  We’ve got Tony Tabora and Co coming in to give us a fantastic night of live music.  So make sure to be in Café Voltaire at 8:00 pm on Friday, March 30. As always this event is free.

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!

Books & Company is very pleased that victim-advocate and addictions counselor Gail Pilgrim will be in ArtSpace sharing her very personal book Tightly Knit Secrets Unravelled: My Knitting Story.  When Gail found out her husband, a pastor and pillar of their church community, was a paedophile who had abused their own daughters, it turned her life upside down and unraveled the structure of her world.  Tightly Knit Secrets Unravelled tells the tale of her life, the good times and bad, and gives hope for survivors of trauma and abuse. Gail will be speaking at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 31.

Saturday, March 31 at 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) we’ve got a very dark evening planned for ArtSpace!  Embracing the Darkness features dark roast coffee, dark chocolate and dark comedy presented by the Nechako Community Theatrics Society! Tickets are only $20 and are available at Books & Company.  Seating is limited to pick up a ticket today!

On Sunday, April 1^st we’ve got a Special Easter Story Time and Crafternoon planned for ArtSpace at 3:00 pm.  So put on your Easter bonnet with all the ribbons on it and come out for a fun-filled afternoon of stories and crafts for kids!

Don’t forget, we’ve got Letter Writing on Monday, April 2^nd 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!

And, Monday, April 2^nd at 8:00 pm (note the later time) we’ve got award-winning author Hiromi Goto launching Darkest Light, the follow up to her fantastic YA novel Half World.  Come in to hear from one of British Columbia’s most talented authors!

Then on 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.

Books & Company and Café Voltaire are closed on Friday, April 6 for Good Friday! Hopefully our wonderful weather will hold out and you can spend your holiday hunting brightly coloured eggs outside!

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

Spring is in the air at Books & Company

Signs of spring are popping up (or, you know, sinking down in the case of gigantic potholes) all over Prince George!  Snow is melting, and I saw a couple of people wearing shorts the other day (I’m willing to go without my coat, but shorts seem a bit extreme).  The time change means it’s light out when the store opens and that the sun doesn’t go down before people head home from work.  A general feeling of well being has pervaded the bookstore and you can share that feeling if you drop in for one of the fantastic upcoming events at Books & Company, ArtSpace or Café Voltaire!

TONIGHT, TONIGHT there’s a party in ArtSpace! The Arrogant Worms are coming to ArtSpace on March 14! This is going to be a fantastically hilarious show from Canada’s funniest band and you can get tickets for only $30 each. There might be a couple left…maybe.

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.  Head up and look around anytime ArtSpace is open!

Join the Caledonia Ramblers in ArtSpace on Friday, March 16 at 7:00 pm for a fantastic slideshow by Sheila Page!  Sheila will be presenting a slideshow of her recent trip to Central Asia on the Silk Road!

It’s back people! OPEN MIC NIGHT is back this Friday, March 16 at 8:00 pm in Café Voltaire.  So start singing those scales and get ready to wow the crowd with your musical talent.  As always, this Friday Night Mic event is free!

Did you know 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!

The Sixth Annual Traveling World Film Festival rolls into PG on March 16! With films about social justice, the economics of agriculture, oil and general consumption and much, much more, this is a fantastic week of wonderful documentary film!  ArtSpace if pleased to host:

City of Borders at 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 18

Freedom Riders at 3:15 pm on Sunday, March 18

Vegucated at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, March 20

Urban Roots at 8:25 pm on Tuesday, March 20

Survival, Strength, Sisterhood at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 21

Raw Opium at 7:45 pm on Wednesday, March 21

Point Holmes at 7:00 pm on Friday, March 23

Rainforest at 7:20 pm on Friday, March 23

SpOil at 8:20 pm on Friday, March 23

A full schedule is available on the Books & Company website (www.booksandcompany.ca).  Festival passes ($30 for the whole week or $5 per day) are available now!

And we’re still running the Prince George Correspondents’ Club (That Letter Writing Thing)! Come in for coffee and a chance to catch up on your letters to friends, family and anybody else you think deserves to hear your thoughts (I plan on writing to my MLA about the teachers’ strike, and a few different MPs about saving both the CBC and Library and Archives Canada from significant funding cuts).  Monday, March 19 at 6:30 pm in Café Voltaire.  We’ve got stamps (and paper and pens and envelopes of you need them).

Drop in and see author Robert Mackay while he’s here signing his fantastic historical novel: Soldier of the Horse! Set during WWI and detailing the life of one of the few cavalry units in the war, Soldier of the Horse has been called a “grand gripping yarn” by the Vancouver Sun.  Robert Mackay will be in Books & Company from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 24^th.

In conjunction with Creekstone Press, Books and Company is really please to present a night of Resistance Poetry on Monday, March 26 at 7:00 pm in ArtSpace.  This wonderful evening features the launch of The Enpipe Line: 70,000+ kilometres of poetry written in resistance to the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines proposal.  The evening will feature readings from northern contributors Rob Budde, Al Rempel, Sheila Peters, Weston McGee & Charlene Mattson and special guests Sarah de Leeuw and Gillian Wigmore.

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

It’s February Folks, Celebrate the Shortest Month with Events at Books & Co

It’s February everybody!  We made it through January with flying colours and we here at Books & Co, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace are ready for everything that February brings!  And we’ve also got some fun, fun, fun events planned to celebrate our shortest month!

TONIGHT 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 tomorrow (Thursday, February 2) at 7:00 pm 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.

AND also tomorrow night (Thursday, February 2), we’ve got Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folks coming to ArtSpace 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.

Then kick up your heels with Sound of The North in Café Voltaire on Friday, February 3 at 8:00 pm. This Prince George and Fort Fraser band plays the best original folk, old-time and international tunes around!  Be ready for fantastic high-energy polkas and soulful harmonies.  As always, our Friday Night Mics are free, but you’ll want to come early to snag a seat (and maybe a polka partner).

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.

Red Cedar Readers’ Club meets again! Come into Café Voltaire at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, February 7 for a lively discussion of this week’s 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 starting on February 8, 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.  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.  For more information please email booksandcompanyevents@gmail.com or call 250-563-6637

Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 pm we’ve got a real musical treat in ArtSpace!  Brandon Isaak (Yukon Slim) is coming to town to unveil his new album Bluesman’s Plea. An eclectic mix of Delta blues, country blues, gospel and ragtime, Bluesman’s Plea is “about the 3 greats, great vocals, great musicianship and great songwriting” – John Vermilyea, Blues Underground.  Tickets are only $15 and are on sale now at Books & Co.

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.

Don’t forget Valentine’s Day on February 14^th!  We haven’t…but you’ll have to check our website, Facebook page and blog (and next week’s email) for more details on the romantic night we’ve got planned for Café Voltaire. 

That’s it for today folks! Sidewalks are treachery with all the ice, so why not stay in with a good 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

 

 

The lost art of letter writing – not so lost after all

Our little letter writing club has been getting a lot of attention.  There have been newspaper articles, television interviews and radio spots and lots and lots of people ask about it.  We’ve got a dedicated core of writers who come to every meeting and new writers every time we meet.

After three meetings of the new Prince George Correspondents’ Club (aka that letter writing thing we do in Café Voltaire a couple of Mondays a month) a couple of things have become clear:

1. Women write more letters than men, but there are some dedicated male letter writers out there. I’d say women out-number men about 4 to 1 when it comes to writing letters with us.  So gentlemen, if you’re looking for women with lovely penmanship who will definitely write you love letters, maybe drop by on a Monday night – some of them have got to be single.
2. Age does not really seem to be a factor when it comes to writing letters.  We’ve had writers ranging in age from high school seniors to senior citizens including a very young man whose father was teaching him how to write what is very likely his first letter.
3. Everybody loves a sparkly sticker; they just do.  It’s a universal truth along the same lines as a single man in possession of a good fortune being in want of a wife.
4. All of the attention the club has received has had some interesting, and unexpected results. Yesterday, I received a letter as a direct result of the letter writing club.  An inmate at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre wrote to me after seeing the CKPG news piece of TV.  He very politely asked if I’d write back to him or, if I were uncomfortable with that, if I’d pass his letter around at the next meeting and ask if anyone else would like to write him.  He assured me he replies to all letters, so a letter to him is guaranteed to result in a letter back.
5. Sharing stationary, or even just showing off your new stationary, is fun.  People will ooooooohhhhhh and aaaaahhhhh over delicate writing paper or whimsical envelopes in almost the same way they comment on a new baby and we’ve been trading internet suppliers in an almost clandestine way – psst…did you know you can get handmade, personalized paper on…
6. Do not ask to borrow my fountain pen.  Just don’t do it.  I did not realize how possessive I am about my pens and how strongly other people feel about their pens or pencils.  I met one woman who can only write in black gel ink and watched a lovely young woman use a variety of coloured pens to decorate her letters. This week I mailed letters with careful calligraphy on the envelopes and I’m pretty sure the writer would not have given up his calligraphy set to anyone.
7. Even if you don’t think you’ve got someone to write to, you’ve got someone to write to.  A few people have come to our letter writing nights expecting some kind of presentation about how to write a letter or a talk about the importance of writing letters.  But once they found out we’re just time and space to write letters they borrowed some stationary (and in some cases pens) and started writing.  I think they surprised themselves with the length of their letters!

So, despite the fact that some people see writing a letter as a quaint, outmoded form of communication along the same line as semaphore or the telegraph (oh, man I’d love to get a telegram stop they seem so urgent and special stop), it seems that there is life in letter writing yet.  People still want to send their thoughts through the post, want to send doodles and, of course, sparkly stickers along with their news.  As I told CKPG, there will always be love letters and those love letters will probably be covered in sparkly stickers.

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.

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