Summertime, and the living is easy at Books & Co, Cafe Voltaire and ArtSpace

Happy Pride Week, Prince George! There are some awesome things happening around the city this week including the fantastic Drag Queen Bingo in ArtSpace tomorrow and you can get tickets to all of the other fabulous Phoenix Pride events at Books & Co.  But that’s not all that’s happening at Books & Co, ArtSpace and Café Voltaire in the next couple of weeks, we’ve got fantastic and fun events for everyone all month long!

Drag Queen Bingo! Pride week is 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

And speaking of tickets, we’ve got – hot off the press – tickets to The June Bugs concert in ArtSpace on July 26^th! This night of fantastic vocal harmonies is not to be missed.  If you love blue grass, folk or gospel, you will love The June Bugs! Tickets are only $15 and are on sale now at Books & Co! 

We’ve also got our semi-regular OPEN MIC NIGHT for Friday Night Mics this week! Bring in your banjo and tune that trumpet because you’re on at 8:00 pm in Café Voltaire on Friday, July 6! 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!

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 2^nd and 4^th 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.

If you go into the woods today…well don’t go into the woods come to the Café Voltaire Patio at 3:00 pm on Sunday, July 15 for a Teddy (Berenstain) Bear Picnic! We will have a special story time of Berenstain Bear favorites and a craft! Bring your best stuffed friend (who doesn’t have to be a teddy.  Rabbits, piglets and stuff friends of all types are welcome).  In case of rain, we’ll meet in ArtSpace.

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 1^st and 3^rd Mondays of every month! The next meeting is Monday, July 16 at 6:30 pm.

Saturday, July 21 in ArtSpace you can learn The Way of the Bodhisattva from Buddhist monk Lama Tsewang.  You will learn special methods for transforming yourself from a person who acts only for your own interest into a bodhisattva, a being who have awakened into his or her inherent potential to e of benefit to all living creatures.  Lama Tsewang first became a Buddhist monk in 1977 and has practiced both the Theravadin tradition and the Tibetan tradition.  He acquired the title of lama or teacher after completing a three and a half year retreat under the guidance of Kalu Rinpoche, one of the Dalai Lama’s teachers.

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)!  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!

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!

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

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, not wait it’s just the long hidden sun over Books & Co, Cafe Voltaire and ArtSpace

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 4^nd to 8^th 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 1^st 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 1^st and 3^rd 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 2^nd and 4^th 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

A Summer of Hot Events Starts at Books & Co, Cafe Voltaire and ArtSpace!

Happy First Day of Summer everybody and Happy National Aboriginal Day tomorrow!  At least all the rain has been good for the gardens – my peas and radishes and carrots and kohlrabi are all growing vigorously despite their late start.  There are some wonderful things happening in the city right now, The Two Rivers Gallery is putting on the 10^th Artists in the Garden Tour soon, it’s almost Pride Week and the Huble Homestead has great events to celebrate their 100^th Anniversary all summer long.  Even though June is coming to an end and despite a rainy spring, we here at Books & Co, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace anticipate a hot summer full of hot events!

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!

You’ve still got a couple of chances to hear The PG Idol Preliminary Rounds!  TONIGHT, June 20 and TOMORROW June 21, we’ve got the best in Prince George’s undiscovered talent so come in for a great night of fantastic music! The list of performers is up on the Dawn Boudreau Music website (http://www.dawnboudreau.com/node/6995), so come out and cheer for your PG Idol! Tickets available at the door!

We’ve also got our regular Friday Night Mics at 8:00 pm in Café Voltaire on Friday, June 22!  This week we’ve got the fantastic song stylings of PG favorite Dawn Boudreau!  Dawn’s back in town for a few days and we can’t wait to hear her sing again! 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 Star Wars books and crafts!

Tickets for Sweet Serenade – Summer Edition (Saturday, June 23 at 7:30 in ArtSpace) brought to you by Dawn Boudreau Music are still available!  This amazing night of musical excellence features Olivia Johnson, Victoria Gabriel & Alyssa Gould with special guests Lorna Jane Simmons, Mackenzie Clarke & Sophia Egan.  Tickets are only $10!

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, June 26 at 6:30 pm and meet other word addicts.  Bring your own board (if you’ve got one).  Scrabble club will meet on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays 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!

ArtSpace has a great concert on Thursday, June 28! 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!

And in honour of Pride Week (which runs from July 4^nd to 8^th 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 7:00 pm on Saturday, June 30 and tickets are by donation at the door.

And Books & Co has tickets to the 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 (on $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

Books & Co, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace are CLOSED on Sunday, July 1^st 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 1^st and 3^rd Mondays of every month!

Books & Co also has tickets to some of BC’s best 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

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

Summer is just around the corner (really, it’s just behind that thundercloud) at Books & Co, ArtSpace and Cafe Voltaire

It’s the middle of June and summer is just around the corner (really it is, I can see it behind that huge thundercloud).  Everyone is thinking about their summer holidays and whether it’s a simple get away to a lake or a destination more exotic, you should drop by for some great summer reads! Nothing beats a sunny day, a cool drink, a deck chair and a great novel (but don’t forget your sunscreen, melanoma isn’t cool people). So come in for advice on what to read while you unwind this summer. And if you’re looking for something to do in PG on a sunny or not so sunny day, nothing is cooler than the things happening in ArtSpace, Books & Co and Café Voltaire!

We’ve so excited that Sheila Peters is going to be in Café Voltaire TONIGHT, Wednesday, June 13 at 7:00 pm to read from her brand new (and very first) novel The Taste of Ashes! This wonderful new novel sees two unlikely worlds collide in a story of redemption and the resilience of the human spirit.  David Carpenter (a fantastic, award winning author from Saskatoon, who you can trust because I know him personally and he wouldn’t lie to you) says “Peters presents life at the ragged, angry and passionate edge of things and the result is a deeply felt love story.  What an impressive first novel.”

Looking for a concert that will defy expectations?  Well, we’ve got just the thing.  TOMORROW, Thursday, June 14^th at 9:00 (doors open at 8:30) we’ve got renowned Hamilton comedic musician B.A. Johnston and the psychedelic garage rock sounds of Ketamines! If you think there aren’t enough songs about poutine, B.A. Johnston is your man! Tickets are $10 and available at the door.

Are you concerned about Bill C-38? Well, you’re not alone! The Citizens’ Environmental Advocacy Group is facilitating the Our Canada, Our Budget meeting for Prince George in ArtSpace at 7:00 pm on Friday, June 15! The meeting will provide an overview of Bill C-38, followed by invited speakers, and discussion.  Results from the meeting will be used by Opposition House Leader Nathan Cullen to oppose the bill as it moves through the House and Senate!

We’ve also got our regular Friday Night Mics at 8:00 pm in Café Voltaire on Friday, June 15!  This week we’ve got the guitar and fiddle tunes of Tom Young. Tom will have your toes tapping and your fingers snapping with his fantastic sound!  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?  And this week is Star Wars Storytime! Come in and browse (or have a coffee and a chat) while our booksters delight and amuse with Star Wars books and crafts!

And we’ve got another great concert on the way! Willy Blizzard will be in ArtSpace on Sunday, June 17 (a great outing for your Dad this Father’s Day) at 8:00 pm.  The music from this country folk group is never clichéd and always filled with Canadiana!  If you love folk, blue grass and a good old fashioned time, you need to come to this concert! Tickets are only $15 and are on sale NOW!

Monday, June 18 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 event 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, but I really think it’s time to write to some MPs about what’s happening in Ottawa.  Are we really happy with the budget?  Who wants an oil pipeline through pristine forest? Really, back to work legislation for everything? Or if you like what’s happening, give them a pat on the back.  The PGCC meets on the 1^st and 3^rd Mondays of every month!

The PG Idol Preliminary Rounds are in ArtSpace June 18 to 21! We’ve got the best in Prince George’s undiscovered talent and these are great nights of fantastic music! The list of performers is up on the Dawn Boudreau Music website (http://www.dawnboudreau.com/node/6995), so come out and cheer for your PG Idol! Tickets available at the door!

Every Tuesday starting June 19, members of the Sea to Sands Conservation Alliance will be in Café Voltaire from 7:00 to 8:30 pm 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!

Tickets for Sweet Serenade – Summer Edition (Saturday, June 23 at 7:30 in ArtSpace) brought to you by Dawn Boudreau Music are now available!  This amazing night of musical excellence features Olivia Johnson, Victoria Gabriel & Alyssa Gould with special guests Lorna Jane Simmons, Mackenzie Clarke & Sophia Egan.  Tickets are only $10!

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, June 26 at 6:30 pm and meet other word addicts.  Bring your own board (if you’ve got one).  Scrabble club will meet on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of every month!

And in honour of Pride Week (which runs from July 4^nd to 8^th 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 7:00 pm on Saturday, June 30 and tickets are by donation at the door.

Books & Co, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace are CLOSED on Sunday, July 1^st 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!

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!

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