Concerts, a summer sale and other fantastic things are happening at Books & Co, ArtSpace and Cafe Voltaire

What a wonderful summer we’ve having! The hot sunny days are so wonderful and make the Café Voltaire patio the perfect place to read with a cool drink in hand (we have new blended ice coffees, did you know that? And Italian sodas).  We’ve also got some great concerts coming up (The June Bugs and Fish & Bird, you should go to both), a fantastic sale on summer reads, and some great events at Books & Co, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace!

More great summer reads have arrived at Books & Co! All Touchwood Mysteries including Always Kiss the Corpse on Whidbey Island – An Islands Investigations International Mystery, the Opposite of Dark – A Casey Holland Mystery, Death as a Last Resort – A Margaret Spencer Mystery, The Vanishing Track – A Cole Blackwater Mystery, and Seaweed on the Street are 30% off!  These fantastic Canadian mysteries (most are even set in BC) are the perfect read for a hot summer day at the beach, in the park or with an iced coffee on the Café Voltaire Patio!

Smithers’ own Non-Prophet Society is back in Café Voltaire for Friday Night Mics this week! Be ready for a rocking night of blues-rock-funk-fusion starting at 8:00 pm in Café Voltaire on Friday, July 20! Non-Prophet Society nights are always awesome, so come out and be ready to rock along! 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?  This week is extra special because we’ve got Guest Storyteller Owen Lubbers!Come in and browse (or have a coffee and a chat) while Owen delights and amuses your young ones with books and crafts!

CANCELLED (well postponed to an unknown date) Saturday, July 21 at 1:00 pm 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. This event is free.

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 24 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!

Please join the Sea to Sands Conservation Alliance (www.sea2sands.ca) at 7:00 pm in ArtSpace on July 24 for a chat with Kim Slater who is currently running the length of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline in order to promote dialogue about alternative energy ideas, the hazards of the pipeline and thoughts about the direction that we, as Canadians, want our economy to be going.  Running nearly a marathon a day, Kim is a true symbol of the drive and creativity needed to stop this pipeline in its tracks. For more information about Kim and to follow the course of her inspiring run please visit www.bandtogetherbc.com

Café Voltaire is very excited to be hosting a reading of Ashoona Daughter of the Winds: An Inuit Woman’s Journey by Yvonne Harris on Wednesday, July 25 at 7:00 pm.  Based a true story told to the author by an Inuit Elder on Baffin Island, Ashoona Daughter of the Winds is the compelling tale of a woman who comes of age during a time of great upheaval in Canada’s most remote, Northern regions.  It gives a glimpse into a different world, and illuminates a part of Canada few people know much about through the lens of one woman’s life in this difficult landscape.

The June Bugs are back 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!

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! The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 31 at 4:30 pm.

We’ve also got tickets to one of the hottest concerts this summer, Fish & Bird are back in ArtSpace on Thursday, August 2 at 8:00 pm! This fantastic night of music is not to be missed so hurry in and get a ticket (only $15) right away! (We suggest getting tickets to both The June Bugs and Fish & Bird, you can’t go wrong with either concert!).

Books & Co, Cafe Voltaire and ArtSpace will be CLOSED for BC Day on August 6.  So pick up your long weekend reads on Saturday, August 4 or Sunday, August 5 (I heard we’ve got some great mysteries on sale).

If you wish ArtsWells lasted more than a long weekend (don’t forget you can pick up your ArtsWells weekend passes at Books & Co), you need to read Susan Safyan’s All Roads Lead to Wells: Stories of the Hippie Days.  In the late 1960s and ’70s a small group of idealistic young women and men, self-described as “volunteer peasants,” moved to the tiny town of Wells in British Columbia’s Central Interior.  All Roads Lead to Wells tells the story of these young settlers, their migration, their values, the unexpected friendships forged between the town’s old-timers and newcomers and the inevitable clash—occasionally violent—of generations and cultures. Susan Safyan will be reading from and signing this fantastic book of local history on Tuesday, August 7 at 7:00 pm in Café Voltaire!

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! Because of the holiday, we’re closed on the first Monday of August but that doesn’t mean you should stop writing letters. The next meeting is Monday, August 20 at 6:30 pm.

There’s still time 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!

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

May is coming to an end, but our events never stop at Books & Co, ArtSpace and Cafe Voltaire

Have you got your garden in? Nope, me either (I’d planned on planting yesterday but the rain kept me from doing it, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it), but there’s still time to get things done in May.  Or you know you could always put that off by coming to some of the fabulous events we have planned at Books & Co, ArtSpace and Café Voltaire.

May 25 is International Towel Day, the one day a year set aside to honour the cultural icon that was Douglas Adams, author of the many incarnations of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.  Café Voltaire (and the patio if it’s nice out) is going to be the site of a small Hitchhiker’s Read In. Bring your copy of any of Douglas Adams’ books (or buy one here) and read them from 4:42 pm (don’t panic) to 6:42 pm. Make sure to have your towel so you too can be “a hoopy frood who really knows where his towel is.”

Friday Night Mics? This week Café Voltaire plays host to another wonderful Open Mic Night! Bring in that banjo and dust off the dulcimer because the Café Voltaire Stage is calling once again.  Things kick off at 8:00 pm and 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 the best in classic and contemporary children’s stories!

Outdoor safety expert Mike Nash is back in Café Voltaire on Saturday, May 26 from 11 am to 1:00 pm to sign copies of his vastly informative and extremely useful Outdoor Safety and Survival.  Mike’s book is packed with all the things you need to know to stay safe in any of BC’s wonderful back country!  From seashores to mountaintops and everything in between (including our small desert), Outdoor Safety and Survival is a book you should not be without.

Ed Zaruk is back on Wednesday, May 30 to tell you all about The Bush Pilot: Our Canadian legend and to launch Ontario Central Airlines: The Kenora Years.  If you love to fly, or if you know someone who loves to fly, this is a must for your bush pilot collection!  Ed’s got a fantastic presentation planned with rare footage of historical bush pilots and all kinds of spectacular information!  The evening takes off at 7:00 pm!

June 1^st is Doughnut Day! And no that’s not just a holiday made up by Tim Horton’s to sell more donuts.  During WWI, Salvation Army “Lassies” provided comfort, aid, and doughnuts to soldiers in the trenches and in 1938, the Salvation Army in Chicago thought honouring those brave volunteers would be a great way to raise some money. This idea quickly spread because people love war heroes (and doughnuts).   So, to honour Doughnut Day 2012, Café Voltaire going to make fresh doughnuts (baked not fried so they’re slightly, very slightly better for you and there are rumours there will be a gluten free option).  All proceeds from doughnuts sold on June 1 will be donated to Prince George’s Salvation Army! So pop in for a doughnut, coffee and that feeling that comes from doing something good (and eating something delicious).

Friday, June 1 at 7:00 pm Western Buddhist nun Gen Kelsang Delek, resident teacher of Tilopa Kadampa Buddhist Centre in Vancouver will be in ArtSpace to talk about and read from How to Solve our Human Problems: an introduction to Buddha’s Four Noble Truths.  Come out and discover how Buddhism addresses the modern problems and gain some insight into your own spiritual life.

Cod Gone Wild are back in ArtSpace on Saturday, June 2 at 8:00 pm This modern world Celtic band from Vernon is always a fantastic show and we can’t wait to have them back! Make sure to pick up your tickets soon! Tickets are $20 and worth every penny.

Then, Sunday, June 3 at 1:00 pm ArtSpace has got a Princess Party (for kids 3+) hosted by Miss Teen Prince George – World Kristie Gerard! There will be beading, friendship bracelet making and crown decorating.   Tickets are only $10 and all proceeds will go to Free the Children.

Monday, June 4 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 just want to get a jump on Father’s Day, come and visit us!

We’ve got a really interesting event for BC history buffs on Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00 pm.  Brendan Lillis will be in to talk about his new book Atlin’s Anguish, the true and tragic story of the crash of Taku Air Flight 2653.  On September 27, 1986, pilot Theresa Bond and five passengers took off on a routine flight from Atlin, BC, in her beloved de Havilland Beaver. After an uneventful eighty minutes, the plane crossed the edge of Dease Lake, turned south and descended for landing. But something went tragically wrong in those last few minutes of Flight 2653. According to eyewitnesses the Beaver nosedived into the lake at full cruising speed. As the plane sank into the icy depths of the lake, only pilot Theresa Bond managed to escape. All five passengers drowned. Atlin’s Anguish is Theresa Bond’s brother’s journey to understand what happened that fateful day on Dease Lake.

Thursday, June 7 at 7:00 pm in ArtSpace we are ridiculously excited to be hosting the world premiere of the PG produced movie My Unwanted Guest.  This tragic story of one man’s quest to reconnect a final time with his soul mate is fraught with peril.  On the way to his soul mate’s funeral, Daniel finds himself stranded at the bottom of a cliff where his very survival – let alone his chance of getting to the funeral on time – is not assured. Tickets are only $8 (and include pop and popcorn) and are available now at Books & Company!

And if that’s not enough entertainment for you, your favorite (and ours) indie-rock-folk-art band is back on Friday, June 8 at 8:00 pm in ArtSpace!  Victoria’s own Fish & Bird is back with their fabulous old-timey art-folk sound and we’ve got tickets (only $12) on sale at Books & Co RIGHT NOW!

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

April Showers Bring May Flowers, and Events at Books & Co!

Well, since April showers bring May flowers, after the last couple of days we should be in for some lovely blossoms next week.  Even though National Poetry Month (to celebrate, why not pick up a fresh, recently released copy of Dirt of Ages by Northern BC poet Gillian Wigmore) is coming to a close, we’ve still got some hot events happening at Books & Co, Café Voltaire and ArtSpace!

On Thursday, April 26 we’ve got a real musical treat in ArtSpace! Maureen Washington will be here to give us an incredible jazz performance with Karel Roessigh, Joey Smith and Damian Graham. It’s going to be be a night to remember!  Tickets are only $25 and are available NOW.

Doug Koyama is going to be here for our Friday Night Mics this week!  Don’t miss his exciting show.  Things start at 8:00 pm in Café Voltaire on Friday, April 27.  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!

And on Saturday, April 28 at 5:00 pm the BC Book Prize Northern Tour stops in Books & Co for a reading featuring Charlotte Gill reading from Eating Dirt and Pamela Porter reading from I’ll Be Watching. Come out for a fantastic reading from some wonderful books!

ArtSpace is hosting a screening of award-winning documentary The Sludge Diet on Saturday, April 28! Come out and discover the truth about “Fertile Residual Material” (Biosolid Sludge) and why the idea of spreading it around Salmon Valley is so problematic!

Books & Company and Café Voltaire are really pleased to be hosting one of the events for the 3^rd Viva Lo Caliente Festival!  On Monday, April 30 at 7:00 pm join members of the Latino Canadian Association of Northern BC for A Brief History of Latin America: How Exhumations bring Closure to the Victims of the Armed Conflict in Guatemala presented by Cristan M. Zuniga, International Liaison Coordinator of the Peruvian Forensic Anthropology Team! For more information about the other wonderful things happening during this week long public festival that celebrates Hispanic culture and traditions, visit http://www.latinpg.com! Don’t forget, Books & Co is selling tickets for the ¡Viva Lo Caliente! Latin Dinner & Dance Party presented by the Latino Canadian Association of Northern BC on May 5 (Tickets are only $40).

Join local author B. Heather Mantler for the launch of her latest novel For Wealth and Glory on Tuesday, May 1 at 7:00 pm in Café Voltaire.  For Wealth and Glory continues the story of Prince Proster, whose status as second son virtually guarantees he’ll never be king.  Instead of joining the church, he takes up arms, trains his friends and develops an elite private army that conquers a neighbouring kingdom, against the wishes of his father! Now he’s got everything he always wanted, except the acceptance of his father.

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 a special treat for local history lovers of all ages, the launch of Mr. Huble Builds a House, the new children’s book to celebrate the centenary of the Huble Homestead.  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!

As always, Books & Co could be renamed Tickets & Co because we’ve got loads of tickets for fantastic events all over our fair city! We’ve got 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 The Celtic Sessions featuring Out of Alba and the Prince George Youth Orchestra on Sunday, May 6!

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)!

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

We Love April and April Events at Books & Co

I love April.  April means (usually) no more snow, and the return of birds and bees and buds – I saw some pussy willow buds the other day, I love pussy willows – and it’s got loads of interesting days in it.  It’s National Poetry Month (check out our Facebook page for a featured poet, and our Twitter feed for a quote about poetry everyday) and April 10 was Siblings Day.  We had Easter this year, the fourth week (which starts on Sunday) is Arts and Culture week here in BC and April 22 is Earth Day.  We love April and we’ve tried to make that clear through the events at Café Voltaire, Books & Company and ArtSpace!

The Caledonia Ramblers are in ArtSpace on Friday, April 20^th at 7:00 pm for their Spring Annual Meeting and a wonderful slideshow (starting at about 7:45)detailing Carolyn Ibis’s fantastic bicycle journey from Prince George to Vancouver via Jasper! “The Adventures of Squirrel and Bunny” details her trip from volunteering as a sweep on the Tour de Jasper to riding a fully self-supported tour to Chilliwack with fellow rider Jim, adventure was found around every corner!

Our Friday Night Mics are really fun this week!  We’ve got Dave Parsons & Joey Onley coming in to give us their fantastic musical stylings! Things kick off in Café Voltaire at 8:00 pm and 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!

Cinema CNC is BACK and Books & Company has got tickets!  Saturday, April 21 at 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm is the breathtaking documentary, Pina, about choreography and artistic genius. Make sure to drop in and get your tickets right away for these two fantastic films! (As always, Cinema CNC is held in Rm. 1-306 on the CNC campus).

And on Sunday, April 22 at 3:00 pm come celebrate Earth Day! We’ve got a Special Story Time and Crafternoon planned!  Come out for stories, crafts and the chance to plant something you can take home for your own garden!

Tuesday, April 24 at 7:00 pm, Mike Nash will be in ArtSpace for an Outdoor Safety Presentation and to launch his new book Outdoor Safety and Survival! Come out and see Prince George’s back country, learn how to navigate it safely and talk to Mike about all of your outdoor safety concerns!

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.

And on Saturday, April 28 at 5:00 pm the BC Book Prize Northern Tour stops in Books & Co for a reading featuring Charlotte Gill reading from Eating Dirt and Pamela Porter reading from I’ll Be Watching. Come out for a fantastic reading from some wonderful books!

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