What’s that in the sky? The hot, bright thing? Oh, it’s the sun. It’s been so long – not as long as in the marvelous Ray Bradbury story “All Summer in a Day” but still a long, long time – since we’ve had some uninterrupted sun and, if you’re like me, your pasty northern flesh isn’t used to it. Why not take a time out on Stay Out of The Sun Day (July 3) and pop into Books & Co or Café Voltaire for a break? Or, stay in the sun with a treat and a book (and lots of water and sunscreen) on our patio. ArtSpace, Books & Co and Café Voltaire have also got some awesome events to keep you cool all summer long!
Are you an insane and slightly masochistic individual who occasionally dallies in the written word? Then the 3 Day Novel Support Group wants you! If you’re planning on attempting the 3 Day Novel Contest this year and want to meet other PG writers just as crazy, we’re the place to be. For more information email Kayli at pyschopencils@hotmail.com. There will be meetings throughout the summer up until the big weekend in September!
TOMORROW, Thursday, June 28, ArtSpace has a great concert! Doug Koyama, the fabulous singer and improviser will be in with special guest Benedict Beattie! Come out and experience a night of unique music! Tickets will be sold at the door on a sliding scale of $5 – $10 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)! Doors open at 6:30 pm and the fun starts at 7:00 pm!
In honour of Pride Week (which runs from July 4nd to 8th with events all over the city) ArtSpace is excited to be the venue for a Pre-Pride Open Mic/Literary Karaoke! Come out for a fantastic night of readings and music. Things kick off at 6:00 pm on Friday, June 29 and tickets are by donation at the door.
We’ve also got our semi-regular OPEN MIC NIGHT for Friday Night Mics this week! Pop in with your pan pipe and warm up your washtub bass because you’re on at 8:00 pm in Café Voltaire on Friday, June 29! Or simply keep your clapping hands ready for all of this great local talent. As always, this event is free!
Hey Moms and Dads, 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 books and crafts!
Books & Co, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace are CLOSED on Sunday, July 1st for Canada Day so you’ve got a chance to go to the Huble Homestead’s Dominion Day Celebrations! Celebrate Canada the old fashioned way with contests, prizes and cake! Events run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and a family admission is only $10! (We like to give the Huble Homestead a shout out once in a while, their office is just off ArtSpace and they’re great neighbours) Don’t forget the fantastic children’s book Mr. Huble Builds a House (illustrated by another ArtSpace neighbour, June Swanky Parker) is available at Books & Co NOW!
Monday, July 2 is the latest installment of the Prince George Correspondents’ Club (that letter writing thing we do). Come in and write a letter to whomever you want (seriously, it can be anybody) and we’ll give you a coffee or tea and stamps. We’ll even mail your letters at the end of the night! So, whether you’re a regular writer or want to start writing, come and visit us! We encourage all kinds of correspondence, personal, professional, recreational, everything! The PGCC meets on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month!
And every Tuesday, members of the Sea to Sands Conservation Alliance will be in Café Voltaire from 7:00 to 8:30 pm to help people put together their Joint Review Panel presentations. If you’ve registered to make an oral presentation and want some help polishing your thoughts and keeping to the time limits, they are the people to see!
Drag Queen Bingo! Pride week will be in full swing and we’re super excited that ArtSpace is going to be the site of Drag Queen Bingo on Thursday, July 5 at 6:30 pm! Hosted by the Northern Pride Centre Society, this showcase of fantastic Drag Kings and Queens will take on Bingo and Karaoke! Sing your heart out, win cool prizes and support the Northern Pride Centre Society’s work on the UNBC Campus. Entrance by donation.
And Books & Co has tickets to the other fabulously, fantastic Phoenix Pride Week Events! Drop in and pick up your tickets to Pride Bowling Night on July 4 (only $12), the How Rude Drag Show on July 6 (only $15), the giant Pride Celebration Party on July 7 ($20) and the Pride Brunch on July 8 ($20) or you can get tickets to everything for $60! Details and a complete list of all of the Pride events are available on the PG Pride website: www.pgpride.com
Scrabble Addicts Unite! Do you know all of the 2 letter words for Q, X and Z (qi, ax, ex, xi, xu and za)? Are you always playing Scrabble on your phone or Facebook? Do you do a little dance when you get a Bingo? Then we want you! Books & Co is starting a Scrabble Club (because a lot of us here are spending a lot of time playing Scrabble online and we want some human contact). Come out on Tuesday, July 10 at 6:30 pm and meet other word addicts. Bring your own board (if you’ve got one). Scrabble club will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month!
And PG Idol is back in ArtSpace for the semi-final rounds on July 11 and 12! Come in and support your favourite local talent! It’s a great night of fantastic music so come out and cheer for your PG Idol! Tickets available at the door.
Don’t forget to pick up your weekend passes to the fantastically fantastical ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art! The festival runs August 3 – 6 (in Wells of all places) and if you get your passes before June 30 you get a great discount so drop in before Saturday! If you just can’t wait to experience the wonderful world of Wells, we’ve got copies of Susan Safyan’s new book All Roads Lead to Wells: Stories of the Hippie Days, a fabulous book of tales that tell how a group of hippies in the 1960s and 1979s turned Wells into a renowned arts-based community.
Books & Co also has tickets to some of BC’s other amazing music festivals! Hurry in for your ticket to the Robson Valley Music Festival (August 17 – 19 in Dunster) if you buy your tickets in advance they’re only $85 for all three days of spectacular music! For a complete list of the acts visit: http://www.robsonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com And, we’ve also got tickets to the spectacular Music On the Mountain (MoM) Festival (August 24-26 in Ft. St. James). Early bird tickets (you’ve got until July 31) are only $60 and your weekend pass includes camping! For a list of performers and activities visit: http://momfestival.com. If you get tickets to everything, your August weekends will be marvelously musical!
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 atbooksandcompany.wordpress.com
Books & Company 