The Bookery Nook Blog

Rare Madonna Photographs to be Exhibited at The Bookery Nook

2011-02-17T07:32:00.000-08:00

The Bookery Nook is thrilled to announce an exhibition of rare photographs taken of Madonna in New York in 1979 - these photographs have only been seen by a small handful of people and this is the first time they will be shown publicly.

So - it is with more pleasure than I can hardly stand, that The Bookery Nook, Tom Macurdy and Gary Buehler proudly present for the first time ever:

Madonna: The Forgotten Images

OPENING RECEPTION

Wednesday March 2, 2011
7:00 PM

We're pleased to announce that the original photos will be
available for viewing during the opening reception.

Receptions sponsored by
DeVelo Magazine and others TBA

The Bookery Nook
4280 Tennyson Street
Denver CO 80212
(303) 433-3439

For more information about the photographs and the story of how this all came to pass, click HERE. Please note - Madonna is nude in the photographs, so they aren't safe for work.

Here is an interview with Tom Macurdy, conducted by Shannon Piserchio.

Author Event

2011-01-11T05:37:00.000-08:00

Author Event

"Fighters & Writers"
By John Rodwan

Tuesday March 1, 2011

6:00 PM

Fighters & Writers is neither a traditional sports book nor a conventional collection of literary essays. It does, however, explore how boxing inserts itself in writers' imaginations even when they write about other subjects. Essays on diverse topics such as book dedications, Orwell's Spanish Civil War memories, digressions, tattoos and losing weight reveal the close, if not always recognized, connections between fighters and writers.

"There's something special about boxing stories, Portland author John G. Rodwan Jr. argues. There's always more to them than meets the eye. Light heavyweight Jose Torres, for example, knew how to spin his tale of getting arrested for driving Norman Mailer's car. Muhammad Ali's career was often as much about spectacle as throwing punches. The greater part of Rodwan's essay collection Fighters and Writers" takes a hard look at boxers (like Ali, Mike Tyson and Joe Louis) and the authors (like Mailer, Philip Roth and Joyce Carol Oates) who find them fascinating. 'The exchanges between both literary and athletic combatants,' Rodwan writes, 'can be endlessly entertaining.' A frequent contributor to The Oregonian, Rodwan is a former correspondent for Fight News."

-- Katie Schneider - OregonLive.com

First Friday Art Walk: The Intention Project

2011-01-06T07:11:00.000-08:00

"You are what your deepest desire is.

As your desire is, so is your intention.

As your intention is, so is your will.

As your will is, so is your deed.

As your deed is, so is your destiny."

It all starts with a simple statement of your deepest desire and the pure belief that your destiny is tied to that
desire and that your destiny will be realized because you gave it energy and allowed it to happen.

Intentions are not resolutions.
Intentions - good, bad, or otherwise - become your destiny.
Intentions are serious business.
Intentions will change your life.

THE INTENTION PROJECT
I want to photograph as many people as I can holding their intention
(you can havemore than one - but only one intention per photograph).

Everyone who has their photograph taken must sign a release giving me permission to use their photograph.
I will also need a phone number and email address so that I can let you know when the project has been
completed and where you can see it - and to follow-up with you for Part 2 of the Project. I will create a
video out of the photographs - and will post it on my website, YouTube, The Bookery Nook website,
Facebook - and encourage everyone else to post it, share it, whatever they need to do to get it "out there"
- give it energy, ensure that all of these intentions are blown out into the world....

Then (Part 2)...

This time next year, I will reach out to all those who participated and photograph them
again - and see what happened as a result of them releasing their intention into the Universe.

It's my hope and belief that the lives of all those who participate in this project will
experience something profoundly wonderful over the course of the next year.

The next opportunity to participate is

Friday, January 7 from 6:00 to 10:00 PM
at
The Bookery NookThank you for participating -

Namaste,

Shannon

http://www.shannonpiserchio.com/

Winter Hours

2010-12-29T11:54:00.000-08:00

WINTER HOURS

Monday - Saturday

10:00 to 6:00

Sunday

12:00 to 5:00

Keep Wal-Mart Out Of North Denver

2010-12-16T08:15:00.000-08:00

Say it isn't so! North Denver is a vibrant, ecclectic, diverse, artistic, unique, and wonderful community; why in the world would someone want to come in and ruin it?

The North Denver Tribune ran an article yesterday saying that a 150,000 square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter was going to be built in the town of Lakeside (population: 20!); this will have a devastating impact on the entire north Denver community.

Please join our Facebook Group page "Keep Wal-Mart Out Of North Denver" - let's put our heads together and figure out a way to keep this from happening.

Thanks!
Shannon

A Good Book Is Always Within Reach

2010-12-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

Jingle & Mingle on Tennyson - December 1st thru 12th

2010-12-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

Come to Tennyson for our annual Jingle & Mingle!

Come visit Santa on Sunday December 12th at The Bookery Nook for storytime from 11:30 to 12.

SANTAAAA!! I KNOW HIM!!!

The 12 Days of Shopping - Wednesday, December 1st through Sunday, December 12th. Every purchase in a participating merchant over $5 makes you eligible to win a gift card. At the time of purchase, the merchant will provide you with the information for entering the drawing.

Saturday, December 11th and Sunday, December 12th Santa and carolers on Tennyson Street. Each store will have its own holiday cheer! And, much more!

First Annual Take Your Child To A Bookstore Day - December 4, 2010

2010-12-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

Bookstores hold a place in the hearts and times of our community. They are places to discover an author, a story, a life. Nothing affords the conversation and interaction among books and book lovers that a bookstore does. In the future, whether you download your story or pluck a volume off a shelf, a bookstore will be able to accommodate. But in order for bookstores to flourish and thrive, we must expose future generations to the unique pleasures they offer. On December 4th, 2010, take the child in your life to a bookstore. Watch his face light up as you give him free access, not just to a new book, but to tomorrow.

-Jenny Milchman

Thanks for visiting The Bookery Nook on this momentous occasion and, as our thanks, receive 10% off all childrens' books, toys and art supplies!

Shop Local Saturday - November 27 on Tennyson!!

2010-11-16T15:29:00.000-08:00

Hi! We know everyone reading this blog will be shopping locally for the holidays, but inform your friends to do the same. Tennyson can be kinda dead over the "Black Friday" weekend, so we're trying to get the word out to shop local that weekend to support your local economy and find great holiday presents! Tell your friends that if they buy from a local independent shop that $68 out of $100 stays in the community! If they shop at the mall, only $43 stays. And, of course, if they buy online, then no money is sticking around the community.

So help us get the word out for Shop Local Saturday - November 27th on Tennyson!!

Children's Book Reading - Saturday, November 13th at 3:30PM

2010-11-13T07:39:00.000-08:00

Children's Book Reading TODAY (Saturday, November 13th). Bring your kids by at 3:30 for a delightful reading of Billy Bob the Bullfrog by Rene Ellis.

Have you ever been made fun of? Billy Bob the Bullfrog from Marshy Bog has. He has a tongue so long it almost reaches the stars, but sometimes it gets in the way. Join Billy Bob as he learns how to cope with his problem.

It Doesn't Feel Like It, But...

2010-11-06T05:34:00.000-07:00

Betty assures us that, in spite of all the warm weather we're having, the holidays are, in fact, still coming.

We're stocked up with holiday cards, advent calendars, yummy candy canes and delicious

stocking coal from Hammond's, plus books, books, books!

Check out the latest additions to our tables:

"At Home: A Short History of Private Life"

From beloved author Bryson comes a fascinating excursion into the history behind the place people call home.

"Seeing Further: The Story of Science, Discovery, and the Genius of the Royal Society"

From the Royal Society comes a peerless collection of all-new science writing. Contributors include Margaret Atwood, Steve Jones, Richard Dawkins, James Gleick, Richard Holmes, and Neal Stephenson writing on subjects ranging from metaphysics to nuclear physics. Edited by Bill Bryson

"Great House"
Nicole Krauss pens a powerful, soaring novel about a stolen desk that contains the secrets, and becomes the obsession, of the lives it passes through.

"Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition, Volume 1"

The year 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain's death. In celebration of this important milestone, Twain's uncensored autobiography is available in its entirety and exactly as he left it; 743 pages in this fascinating tome - and it's only volume 1!

"Fall of Giants"Fall of Giants is Ken Follet's magnificent new historical epic. The first novel in The Century Trilogy, it follows the fates of five interrelated families-American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh-as they move through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women's suffrage.

Honestly, I don't even know where to begin with the new titles added to the children's section, but we are really proud

of the wonderful collection of titles we've amassed - due in large part to your awesome recommendations!

Come see for yourself, we think you'll be glad you did.

Need or want any title at all - and we mean any (as long as it's in print - but even then, we've been known to make miracles happen) - give us call (303) 433-3439, stop by (4280 Tennyson Street, Denver) or shoot us an email (BookeryNook@yahoo.com) and we'll get it for you at no extra charge. We can also ship anywhere in the world!

We may be small, but we can do the same things the big guys can do - plus we have Betty.

Happy Brink o' the Holidays!

Hot November Reads

2010-11-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

With cooler weather comes an inherent desire to snuggle up with a hot cup of something yummy and a great book. New and wonderful books are certainly plentiful this fall - the following is a very brief collection of current bestselling titles as diligently reported by independent booksellers across the country.

Thanks for keeping The Bookery Nook in mind when purchasing books:
Keeping it local - keeping it real.

Happy fall!

Shannon

Hardcover Fiction

"Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk"

by David Sedaris

Featuring David Sedaris's unique blend of hilarity and heart, this new collection of keen-eyed animal-themed tales is an utter delight. Though the characters may not be human, the situations in these stories bear an uncanny resemblance to the insanity of everyday life.

"Fall of Giants"

by Ken Follett

Ken Follett's World Without End was a global phenomenon, a work of grand historical sweep, beloved by millions of readers and acclaimed by critics. Fall of Giants is his magnificent new historical epic. The first novel in The Century Trilogy, it follows the fates of five interrelated families-American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh-as they move through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women's suffrage.

"Great House"

by Nicole Krauss

Krauss ("History of Love") pens a powerful, soaring novel about a stolen desk that contains the secrets, and becomes the obsession, of the lives it passes through.

Hardcover Non-fiction
"At Home"

by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson and his family live in a Victorian parsonage in a part of England where nothing of any great significance has happened since the Romans decamped. Yet one day, he began to consider how very little he knew about the ordinary things of life as he found it in that comfortable home. To remedy this, he formed the idea of journeying about his house from room to room to “write a history of the world without leaving home.”

"The Warmth of Other Suns"

by Isabel Wilkerson

In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life. From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the face of America. Wilkerson compares this epic migration to the migrations of other peoples in history. She interviewed more than a thousand people, and gained access to new data and official records, to write this definitive and vividly dramatic account of how these American journeys unfolded, altering our cities, our country, and ourselves.

"Autobiography of Mark Twain"

by Mark Twain

The year 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain's death. In celebration of this important milestone, Twain's uncensored autobiography is available in its entirety and exactly as he left it.

Paperback Fiction
"Cutting for Stone"

by Abraham Verghese

Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon. Orphaned by their mother’s death and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution.

"Little Bee"

by Chris Cleave

WE DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS BOOK. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know something, so we will just say this: It is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is horrific. The story starts there, but the book doesn't. And it's what happens afterward that is most important. Once you have read it, you'll want to tell everyone about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds.

"A Gate at the Stairs"

by Lorrie Moore

Twenty-year-old Tassie Keltjin, the daughter of a gentleman farmer, has come to a university town as a student. When she takes a job as a part-time nanny for a mysterious and glamorous family, she finds herself drawn deeper into their world and forever changed. Told through the eyes of this memorable narrator, A Gate at the Stairs is a piercing novel of race, class, love, and war in America.

Paperback Non-fiction
"Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know"

by Alexandra Horowitz

Alexandra Horowitz, a cognitive scientist, explains how dogs perceive their daily worlds, each other, and that other quirky animal, the human. Horowitz introduces the reader to dogs’ perceptual and cognitive abilities and then draws a picture of what it might be like to be a dog. What’s it like to be able to smell not just every bit of open food in the house but also to smell sadness in humans, or even the passage of time? How does a tiny dog manage to play successfully with a Great Dane? What is it like to hear the bodily vibrations of insects or the hum of a fluorescent light? Why must a person on a bicycle be chased? What’s it like to use your mouth as a hand? In short, what is it like for a dog to experience life from two feet off the ground, amidst the smells of the sidewalk, gazing at our ankles or knees? Horowitz examines the animal we think we know best but may actually understand the least. This book is as close as you can get to knowing about dogs without being a dog yourself.

"Traveling with Pomegranates:

A Mother and Daughter Journey to the Sacred Places of Greece, Turkey, and France"

by Sue Monk Kidd

Sue Monk Kidd has touched the hearts of millions of readers with her beloved novels and acclaimed nonfiction. Now, in this wise and engrossing dual memoir, she and her daughter, Ann, chronicle their travels together through Greece and France at a time when each was on a quest to redefine herself and rediscover each other.

"Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide" by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn

With Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn as our guides, we undertake an odyssey through Africa and Asia to meet the extraordinary women struggling there, among them a Cambodian teenager sold into sex slavery and an Ethiopian woman who suffered devastating injuries in childbirth. Drawing on the breadth of their combined reporting experience, Kristof and WuDunn depict our world with anger, sadness, clarity, and, ultimately, hope.

Children's Illustrated
"It's a Book" by Lane Smith

Playful and lighthearted with a subversive twist that is signature Lane Smith, IT’S A BOOK is a delightful manifesto on behalf of print in the digital age. This satisfying, perfectly executed picture book has something to say to readers of all stripes and all ages.

"Olivia Goes to Venice" by Ian Falconer

In her first brand new adventure in three years, Olivia takes her discerning eye for style to beautiful Venice on a family vacation that involves dodging pigeons in the Piazza San Marco, gorging on gelato, and barely staying afloat in a gondola.

Young Readers (middle/high school)
"Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

"The Heroes of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

After saving Olympus from the evil Titan lord, Kronos, Percy and friends have rebuilt their beloved Camp Half-Blood, where the next generation of demigods must now prepare for a chilling prophecy of their own:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,

To storm or fire the world must fall.

An oath to keep with a final breath,

And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Now, in a brand-new series from blockbuster best-selling author Rick Riordan, fans return to the world of Camp Half-Blood. Here, a new group of heroes will inherit a quest. But to survive the journey, they'll need the help of some familiar demigods.

One For The Books...

2010-11-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

The Sustainability Series - Part 9

2010-11-01T05:41:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the ninth and final installment of The Sustainability Series

Tuesday, November 2

7:00 PM

"Edible Landscaping: Designing a Biologically Sustainable Intensive Garden at Your Home" with Nicholas Gruber

Nick is with Produce Denver:

"We (Produce Denver) believe that healthier resilient communities rise out of healthy local food systems. We envision miniaturizing agriculture and localizing food production. Our goal is to produce and strengthen local food communities by utilizing physical and social resources through the establishment of edible gardens. Time, money, and knowledge are major barriers to individuals producing their own food and Produce Denver will help overcome these challenges by providing labor, resources, and know-how to cultivate urban homesteads."

Nick Gruber has over 17 years experience in landscaping. He received his Bachelors degree in Environmental Studies at at the University of Colorado at Boulder. His degree led to a professional researcher job in a study called "Growing Gardens for Healthy Communities". We interviewed over 1,500 households in Denver in order to explore the social, cultural and ecological experiences and values specific to gardening and how these factors can influence mental and physical health. The research led me to an opportunity to help promote neighborhood environments through increasing and ensuring access to fresh local organic food in Denver by working for Produce Denver.

Sustainability is more important than ever: Please join us and find out more about the many facets of sustainability and how you might get involved in the sustainability movement!

The Sustainability Series - Part 8

2010-10-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

"Food-Producing Animals in the City" with Sundari Kraft

Tuesday October 26

7:00 PM

Sundari Kraft is the founder of Sustainable Food Denver, an advocacy organization dedicated to promoting the keeping of Food-Producing Animals (FPAs) in the city. She also runs Heirloom Gardens, a Neighborhood Supported Agriculture project. Sundari teaches classes in backyard chicken and goat keeping, and has spoken on behalf on FPAs in local newspapers and on Colorado Public Radio. She lives in Northwest Denver with her backyard hens and two dwarf dairy goats.

Many people are becoming interested in producing their own food because of environmental, health, and food safety concerns -- not to mention the fact that homegrown food tastes better! However, homegrown food doesn't have to be limited to vegetables. There is a growing movement in this country of keeping small backyard Food-Producing Animals, like hen chickens and dwarf dairy goats. These animals can be kept cleanly and safely in a city backyard, and are a sustainable way for families to enjoy affordable and healthy food. Denver's current permitting process for obtaining these animals is expensive and complex, but there are groups working to change this.

Sustainability is more important than ever: Please join us and find out more about the many facets of sustainability and how you might get involved in the sustainability movement!

Children's Author Event - Saturday at 1:00 PM

2010-10-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY OCTOBER 16

1:00 PM

Children's author and Highland's Mommy, Nilufer Soucek, and her wonderful illustrator, Jennifer Jess,

would like to invite all moms, dads and caregivers to come to The Bookery Nook

for a reading of their soon-to-be-published book,

"Kissing Shoulders"

Nil and Jennifer are looking for thoughts and feedback before they send the final product

off to be printed, so thanks for bringing the kids by for a story and to

help Nil and Jennifer get started on the right foot!

Sustainability Series Part 6 - October 12 - Tuesday - 7 to 8 pm

2010-10-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

October 12 - Tuesday - 7 pm to 8 pm

Kate Armstrong presents

What it means to be a locavore

Why is the cost of organic food higher than non-organic food?

Kate Armstrong has been fortunate to live in several countries and travel to and through a handful more. She learned about sustainability in the "Great White North" and in the dry, hot deserts of the Southwest – after growing up on a small farm in the fertile Hudson Valley. She wants to share the comforting news that you can live well no matter what.

Author Event - Thursday October 7

2010-10-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

Author Event - Thursday October 7
7:00 PM

"The House on Durrow Street"

by
Galen Beckett

Galen Beckett is the author of the gothic fantasy novels "The Magicians and Mrs. Quent" and "The House on Durrow Street".

What if there was a fantastical cause underlying the social constraints and limited choices confronting a heroine in a novel by Jane Austen or Charlotte Brontë?

Galen Beckett began writing "The Magicians and Mrs. Quent" to answer that question - join us this evening to find out more!

“A charming and mannered fantasy confection with a darker core of gothic romance” is how New York Times bestselling author Robin Hobb described Galen Beckett’s marvelous series opener, The Magicians and Mrs. Quent. Now Beckett returns to this world of dazzling magick and refined manners, where one extraordinary woman’s choice will put the fate of a nation—and all she cherishes—into precarious balance.

"le spectacle" Art Exhibit at The Bookery Nook September 30

2010-09-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

"le spectacle" Art Exhibit
September 30 at 7:00 PM

at
The Bookery Nook

On Thursday, September 30, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, The Bookery Nook will play host to the art exhibit, “le spectacle”, a collection of photographic and painted works by Shannon Piserchio and Daniel Fraley. The Bookery Nook is located at 4280 Tennyson Street, Denver, 80212.

Photographer and artist, Daniel Fraley (a resident of Palmer Lake, Colorado), is popularly known for his original watercolor, "The Star of Palmer Lake". Shannon Piserchio, Fraley's daughter, is a Denver-based photographer; together they've created a collection of works inspired by both individual and shared projects that range from a study of nudes and the streets of Paris; the politics of war and the hope of peace.

The overarching theme of “le spectacle” is an artistic celebration of life - from stillness to madness and everything in between. “It was both fascinating and challenging to work with my father on this project; there were certainly moments of high emotion that we had to learn to push through,” laughs Piserchio. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for his work and his perspective as an artist so, ultimately, it was an invaluable and positive learning experience for me.”

In addition to the exhibit on September 30, Fraley and Piserchio will be the featured artists at The Bookery Nook during the Tennyson Street First Friday Art Walk October 1, 2010 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. A small collection from the exhibit will remain on display at The Bookery Nook throughout October.

Due to mature themes, the September 30 exhibit is open to guests 18 and older.

To find out more about “le spectacle”, please call (303) 433-3439 or send an email to BookeryNook@yahoo.com.

The Sustainability Series - Part 4

2010-09-28T14:44:00.000-07:00

"Advancing Sustainability through Collaboration"
with Zach Owens

September 28
7:00 PM
at
The Bookery Nook

Zach Owens works at the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado as an education program assistant helping to develop the 2010 regional sustainability roundtable meetings across Colorado.

Zach graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry from Regis University in 2009. While at Regis, he served as the first Director of Sustainability in student government, where he helped establish bus pass, recycling, and community garden programs on campus.

Zach spent three years working with the Greenpeace Student Network, and from 2008-2009 served as a Days of Action Coordinator on the first Greenpeace Student Board. As a board member, he assisted students at universities across the country with organizing environmental awareness campaigns and events on their campuses.

.....

Sustainability is more important than ever: Please join us and find out more about the many facets of sustainability and how you might get involved in the sustainability movement!

Dual Author Event - Bob Cooperman and Jared Smith

2010-09-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

Two great poets in one evening!

7:00 PM

Thursday, September 23

Robert Cooperman's two latest collections, hot off the presses, are "My Shtetl" (Logan House) and "Letters to Juliet" (March Street Press). "In the Colorado Gold Fever Mountains" (Western Reflections) won the Colorado Book Award in 2000. "The Ranch Wife" is forthcoming from Turning Point Books. Cooperman lives in Denver with wife, Beth.

Jared Smith is the author of nine critically acclaimed volumes of poetry, including "The S...elected Longer Poems of Jared Smith" (Tamarack Editions, PA, 2010) and "Grassroots" (Wind Publications, PA, 2010.) His work poems, essays, and literary commentary have appeared in hundreds of U.S. and overseas journals over the past 30 years, as well as being adapted to stage in New York's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and in Chicago. He is listed as a poet and researcher in Marquis Who's Who In America as well as having been listed in Poets & Writers Directory since its inception.

Don't miss this wonderful evening of poetry; you will be entertained, of this I'm entirely certain!

-Shannon

Sustainability Series - Part 3

2010-09-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

TWM No More...

2010-09-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

Hey kids, we gave it the old pre-school try, but due to the lack of little bodies of late, we're pulling the plug on "Tuesdays With Mommies". Frank is pretty bummed out, so we're going to sign him up for Zumba classes and super-secret ninja school to help take his mind off things for awhile.

Betty, on the other hand, is sitting in the corner with her feet up sipping a dirty martini overflowing with stuffed olives. Tart.

The Sustainability Series - Part 2

2010-09-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

"Foundations & Principles of the Sustainability Movement" with Dr. Richard Knaub

14 September 2010 at 7:00 PM

Shaped by the Colorado that declined to host the Olympics because of the environmental damage they would cause, Richard Knaub graduated from Colorado State University and went on to work in the deep South on sustainable development before it was called sustainable development.

A third generation educator and fierce advocate for his students, Richard is pleased to be teaching in the Renewable Energy program at Red Rocks Community College and working on developing Residential Energy Efficiency programs through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

...

Sustainability is more important than ever: Please join us and find out more about the many facets of sustainability and how you might get involved in the sustainability movement!

"Mucumber McGee" Children's Author Event

2010-09-08T06:58:00.000-07:00

Children's Author Event!

Saturday September 11 at 1:00 PM

"Where the rain falls and the wind howls, little Mucumber's stomach growls.

But what can he do when there's nothing to chew, like apples or crackers or porridge or stew?

wait—a hot dog!—albeit quite old . . . and wrinkled and lumpy and lonely and cold.

We all know it's true—food is better when new.

But if you were that hungry, what would you do?"

Come listen to

"Mucumber McGee and the Half-Eaten Hot Dog" and "Mucumber McGee and the Lunch Lady's Liver" - both written and beautifully illustrated by local author, Patrick Loehr:

"Patrick Loehr was born on the high seas.
He was raised on a diet of purple string cheese.
He grew up to oversee serious business.

He spends his spare time making pictures of weirdness.
He lives in a tree house down by the brook.
Thank you for reading his first children's book."

Seriously - bring the kids (4-8) - you won't want to miss this one!

The Sustainability Series - Part 1

2010-09-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

"The State of Food Sustainability in Colorado" with Lisa Rogers

Tuesday September 7 at 7:00 PM

The Bookery Nook

4280 Tennyson Street

Denver CO 80212

(303) 433-3439

Lisa Rogers created "Feed Denver: Urban Farms & Markets" to address the issues of food access, foodshed sustainability, and the creation of a local food production industry in the Metropolitan Denver area. She was inspired by Will Allen and his work at Growing Power as well as Michael Pollan’s writing, Alice Waters’ advocacy, and the International Slow Food Movement. In 2009, Feed Denver established its first Urban Agriculture Model Farms and Education Centers and became a Growing Power Regional Training Center (ROTC).

Through "Feed Denver" Rogers addressed the lack of language in the City of Denver’s zoning code by organizing with Denver’s Director of Sustainability to present what has become known as the Urban Ag Summit. Over 35 representatives from city offices gathered to learn about the urban agriculture movement. In July the city adopted a completely new zoning code, Blueprint Denver, which includes language addressing urban agriculture in residential, business, and industrial areas.

Rogers is a recognized leader in community placemaking for starting the Common Grounds coffeehouses. By creating unique businesses that reflect both the owners and the neighborhood the Common Ground coffeehouses became not only community centers but neighborhood icons and anchors to the main street business centers in each community.

...

Sustainability is more important than ever: Please join us and find out more about the state of food sustainability in Colorado and how you might get involved in the sustainability movement!

The 3/50 Project

2010-09-01T05:46:00.000-07:00

It's tough out there. This is the worst economic times of my generation. It's tough on the individual and it's tough on businesses. In particular (I bet you saw where this was going), it's tough on the independently owned shops in your neighborhood. We came across a website (and a movement) that's trying to educate people to the dangers for small businesses, but more importantly, on how each of us can make sure our favorite little shop is around this time next year. It's called:

The 3/50 Project

(click here to visit their website)

So what does 3/50 mean? Read on...

3 - What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared? Stop in. Say hello. Pick something up that brings a smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.

50 - If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. Imagine the positive impact if ¾ of the population did that.

68 - For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend at a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.

1 - The number of people it takes to start a trend... you.

Pick 3.

Spend 50.

Save your local economy.

Captain, the lifeforms appear to be undead

2010-08-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

What's more natural than Star Trek and zombies?

Um ... just about anything else. But the undead and the boldly going have come together in what Quirk Books (to, no doubt, try to avoid a lawsuit from Paramount) has tagged as a satire/parody. In their own words: "Night of the Living Trekkies reads like the strange lovechild of Galaxy Quest and Dawn of the Dead. Journey to the final frontier of zombie science-fiction satire!" And when you realize that this is the same publisher who brought such classics to life (or unlife) as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies ... it does kinda make sense. I gotta admit, the book looks cute (for brain-eating zombies). So since they're turning classics into monster fiction, can you take monster fiction and turn it into something else? Can you take Dracula and turn it into ... unDracula? But I digress.

So what's the book actually about? Also from Quick Books: "Our heroes are dressed in homemade uniforms and armed with prop phasers-but soon find themselves defending their hotel and convention center against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Suddenly, all of their useless knowledge about particle physics and old Star Trek episodes has genuine real-world applications! And while hotel employees and regular civilians are dying left and right, our Trekkies summon strength and courage by emulating their favorite starship-voyaging characters."

Beam into the The Bookery Nook and check out Night of the Living Trekkies.

- Gary

It's Mockingjay Time, People

2010-08-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

Yep, Suzanne Collins third book in the Hunger Games trilogy is almost out (hits the street on August 24th). Reserve your copy at The Bookery Nook today!!

- Gary

Summertime On Tennyson

2010-08-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

10 10 TENN

2010-08-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

We're excited to announce 10 10 TENN!

On the 10th of each month, receive 10% off* your entire purchase at The Bookery Nook when you mention "10 10 TENN"!

*Excludes consignment art and cannot be combined with other sales, promotions or the loyalty rewards program.

Anything They Can Do We Can Do Better

2010-08-05T07:27:00.000-07:00

Did you know that just about all the businesses along the Tennyson Street corridor are "Indies" (independently-owned)? Indies are cool for lots of reasons - we're quirky, unique, charming, offer personalized services; we recognize and greet you when you walk through the door, we're grateful for your business, and we're always looking for ways to serve you better.

We also have a direct impact on the local economy by keeping more of the dollars that you spend in the communities where you live.

If you've been in our shop, you know that we do more than sell books at The Bookery Nook. Just like the Wine Jester does more than sell wine and Mouthfuls does more than sell dog food - no indie business "just" sells stuff; we're all fibers of wonderful communities and we're incredibly proud to be able to be a part of them.

Indie business owners have a lot of skin in the game; as long as we can stay in business, we will help our communities grow and thrive. Thank you for remembering the indies in your community - wherever you may live. If you give them the opportunity to provide a product or service for you, you may very well find that they can do anything the big, corporate business can do - maybe even a whole lot better.

-Shannon

All My Friends Are Dead

2010-07-31T11:03:00.000-07:00

"If you're a dinosaur, all of your friends are dead. If you're a pirate, all of your friends have scurvy. If you're a tree, all of your friends are end tables. Each page of this laugh-out-loud illustrated humor book showcases the downside of being everything from a clown to a cassette tape to a zombie. Cute and dark all at once, this hilarious children's book for adults teaches valuable lessons about life while exploring each cartoon character's unique grievance and wide-eyed predicament. From the sock whose only friends have gone missing to the houseplant whose friends are being slowly killed by irresponsible plant owners (like you), All My Friends Are Dead presents a delightful primer for laughing at the inevitable." (IndieBound.org)

Posted by Shannon

UPDATE: We got this book in the other day and it's really cute (for, um, you know, a book about death and stuff).

- Gary

Author Event This Evening

2010-07-29T05:39:00.000-07:00

"Ophelia's Oracle" by Donna DeNomme and Tina Proctor

July 29 - 7:00 PM

The Bookery Nook

"Ophelia's Oracle: Discovering the Healthy, Happy, Self-Aware, and Confident Girl in the Mirror" is the delightful story of a 12-year-old girl who explores her emerging sense of self. Ophelia is told ancient feminine stories by caring and supportive women in her life, and through her own experiences, learns the importance of these stories today. She discovers her deep connection to the natural ...world and all people. She learns to love and appreciate her mixed cultural heritage. Ophelia’s Oracle is a heartfelt sharing of ancient feminine wisdom—a timeless understanding—the comfort and support that every girl (and woman) craves to welcome her to her fullest potential."

Donna DeNomme is an accomplished teacher, licensed spiritual coach, workshop facilitator and ceremonial leader. Voted Colorado’s “Spiritual Health Guru” by 5280 magazine, she has served clients and students with their healing, life enrichment, and spiritual development since 1987. Donna is also the award-winning author of "Turtle Wisdom: Coming Home to Yourself".

We Need Your Vote For The A-List!

2010-07-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

It's that time again - Channel 7's A-list! It's easy peasy lemon squeazy to vote - just click HERE then click on the big, yellow CAST VOTE button.

Or you can click on this handy dandy badge right here...

Or this one, if you're more of a pink kind of person...

Prefer round? We can do that, too...

Thank you for your continued support - we appreciate your feedback and your vote!

In the Book Where We Live

2010-07-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

This video of stop-motion animation from 4th Estate Publishers was made two years ago for their 25th anniversary (produced by Apt Studio and Asylum Films). Thanks to Juliet for the link.

This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.

-Gary

The Good Psychologist

2010-07-27T05:11:00.000-07:00

Shelf Awareness mentioned this new novel this morning; It's coming out August 3 and I've already added it to my "must read" list...

"Noam Shpancer's stunning debut novel opens as a psychologist reluctantly takes on a new client—an exotic dancer whose severe anxiety is keeping her from the stage. The psychologist, a solitary professional who also teaches a lively night class, helps the client confront her fears. But as treatment unfolds, her struggles and secrets begin to radiate onto his life, upsetting the precarious balance in his unresolved relationship with Nina, a married former colleague with whom he has a child—a child he has never met. As the shell of his detachment begins to crack, he suddenly finds himself too deeply involved, the boundary lines between professional and personal, between help and harm, blurring dangerously.

With its wonderfully distinctive narrative voice, rich with humor and humanity, The Good Psychologist leads the reader on a journey into the heart of the therapy process and beyond, examining some of the fundamental questions of the soul: to move or be still; to defy or obey; to let go or hold on." (IndieBound.org)

-Shannon

Were Hippos Really Boiled?

2010-07-23T17:10:00.000-07:00

The novel And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks was an early effort of Beat icons Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs. It's a fictional retelling of a murder that took place among the friends (Kerouac, Burroughs, et al) back in the early '40s, written in 1945 before either writer was "known." They couldn't get a publisher interested in it back in those days. But now it's out with an Afterword by James Grauerholz, who does a nice job of comparing the fiction of the novel to the real-life events of the murder.

Let me bottom-line it here: I enjoyed the novel. It's the type of book that I find interesting on a historical level (an early writing of big-time writers) and enjoy on a writing level (they use a style of jagged loose prose, with Burroughs's writing a leaner entry than Kerouac's). And there's no guessing about who wrote what. Each chapter is written by either Kerouac, who wrote the Mike Ryko chapters, or Burroughs, who wrote the Will Dennison chapters. The difference in the chapters (which weave together into the novel just fine) is one of maturity, which fits the characters. The Mike Ryko chapters have an immature finding-your-way quality to them while the Will Dennison chapters are about a man who's seen a few things.

If you're a Kerouac or Burroughs fan, then this is a must read, obviously. If you're not a fan, you can certainly enjoy this as an off-kilter noir-ish look at the '40s in New York. Is the writing a bit rough? You bet, but that's part of the fun. As for the hippos, well, the two Beat writers claim that there was a news story about hippos actually being boiled in their tanks during a fire, you'll have to read the Afterword by James Grauerholz to find out if it's true.

-Gary

A Dog's Purpose

2010-07-22T05:28:00.000-07:00

This trailer for W. Bruce Cameron's, "A Dog's Purpose" was in this morning's edition of Shelf Awareness. I came thisclose to crying (sniff).

-Shannon

It's A Book!

2010-07-20T15:08:00.000-07:00

This looks cute. And I'm not just saying that because I love books for a living.

Really.

-Shannon

Sweet, Sweet Summer

2010-07-17T05:33:00.000-07:00

It's been a long, hot week. The heat settled into your pores a little deeper each day and clung to you like a second skin; every movement felt more labored than usual. I felt it, too.

It's going to be hot again today but, because it's Saturday, it won't bother us as much: Few things in life are sweeter than a sunny, summer Saturday...

-Shannon

Photo: Shannon Piserchio

Best Thriller You Ever Read?

2010-07-16T05:48:00.000-07:00

Dracula? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? In Cold Blood?

NPR is looking for the 100 best thrillers of all time - they need you to vote! Click HERE to read the article and cast your vote.

Vote soon - the winners will be announced August 2.

-Shannon

Who Do You Write Like?

2010-07-15T05:18:00.000-07:00

I came across a fun writing analyzer on THIS website; all you need to do is paste a couple paragraphs of your writing into the analyzer and click the analyze button and *POOF* you'll find out whose writing style is most closely aligned with your own.

"I Write Like" is a brand new site and there's no information offered relevant to how the analysis is performed, so ya gotta take your results with a big, fat grain of salt (however, for grins, I plugged in a couple of paragraphs of "Ulysses" and the results did indicate James Joyce).

I tried a bunch of different samples and got different results each time. Ah, well - a mixed bag and completely without proof or merit - but a fun way to kill a few minutes.

-Shannon

"Woodsburner" by John Pipkin

2010-07-14T08:15:00.000-07:00

"Most men, even in this comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with the factitious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life that its finer fruits cannot be plucked by them. Their fingers, from excessive toil, are too clumsy and tremble too much for that." - Henry David Thoreau in "Walden"

Speaking of Thoreau, I came across "Woodsburner" by John Pipkin a few weeks ago and brought it into the shop. I must have missed history class the day they discussed the fire he set...

"Set against the backdrop of a devastating forest fire that Henry David Thoreau accidentally set in 1844, John Pipkin's novel brilliantly illuminates the mind of the young philosopher at a formative moment in his life and in the life of the young nation.

The Thoreau of 'Woodsburner' is a lost soul, resigned to a career designing pencils for his father's factory while dreaming of better things. On the day of the fire, his path crosses those of three very different people, each of whom also harbors a secret dream. Oddmund Hus, a shy Norwegian farmhand, who pines for the wife of his brutal employer; Eliot Calvert, a prosperous bookseller who is also a hilariously inept aspiring playwright; and Caleb Dowdy, who preaches fire and brimstone to his followers through an opium haze. Each of their lives, like Thoreau's, will be changed forever by the fire."

"Woodsburner" is the winner of the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and Texas Institute of Letters Award.

-Shannon

The Nook Club Book Club - August

2010-07-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

Please join our Facebook group to see and discuss what we're reading!

"Man On Wire"
August 12 - 7:00 PM

Recommendations

2010-07-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

We have four tables displaying books at The Nook. On the two Louboutin red tables in front, you will find the top-selling books in indie stores across the country.

The two tables in back are full of books we proudly recommend. Good, solid, entertaining reads...

And then there's Shannon's favorite section (anything to do with Paris!) ...

That book right there? "Parisians" - it's pretty darn entertaining; a must-read if you're a fan of the city or planning to travel there.

Summertime At The Nook

2010-07-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

Who Keeps Eating All The Cookies?

2010-07-13T20:09:00.001-07:00

Gary!

Would You Like Your Book Stamped?

2010-07-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

Shakespeare & Company (in Paris), was a huge inspiration to us when we decided to open The Nook. While we were visiting there in 2008, we noticed that they hand-stamped the books that they sold with their logo.

We thought it was a really cool and special thing to do, so we do it, too...

...if you ask us to!

General Info

2010-07-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

All of those stickers actually mean something and we really do welcome doggies into the store. We may even offer them a treat. And get down on the floor and roll around with them. Ahem...

In case you didn't catch our hours :) ...

Whatever you need or want (book-wise, that is), we can pretty much get it for you. No extra cost.

A lot of folks took advantage of this service during the holidays - we can even have your books gift-wrapped at no extra charge...

Need Suggestions?

2010-07-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

Each season we put out new suggestions for book clubs - thanks to our friends at IndieBound.org. In fact, the Summer 2010 list is out now!

Want to know what's new and hot? Each month, Betty serves up a fresh new Indie Next list; feel free to pick a complimentary copy up the next time you're at The Nook! The July issue is hot out of the oven - check it out!

We also carry OutFront, Westword and the North Denver Trib...

So, feel free to plunk down in one of these and skim through a paper or your next favorite read...

Or, there's always the window seat where you can take advantage of the view and free WiFi...

New Mommies

2010-07-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

Being a new mommy not exactly what you thought it was going to be?

Sometimes you just need a little levity!

Local Artists

2010-07-13T19:37:00.000-07:00

We love supporting our local artists!

Check out Molly McMorrow Originals - over 100 unique, hand-painted designs. True story - they are all one-of-a-kind and *so* beautiful!

Highlands Mommy, Alissa Hansen, hand-paints these gorgeous miniatures based on old family photos...

The Kids' Nook

2010-07-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

Frank's been getting a lot of attention lately - last we heard, he was getting an agent...

Books and blocks...

Plenty of art supplies (and Will Shakespeare hanging loose in the back)...

Lots of cool Melissa & Doug stuff - like this DIY rubber ducky...

We love Melissa & Doug!

Have you seen the new Star Wars scanimation book?

SO cool!

Proudly Serving Cobalt Coffee & Espresso

2010-07-13T19:26:00.000-07:00

...and chai lattes and regular lattes and hot chocolates (though probably not on a scorching hot day like today) and Americanos and cappuccinos and teas and...

Our Watchdog

2010-07-13T19:23:00.000-07:00

woof.

Literary Mags And Bookselling

2010-07-13T16:59:00.000-07:00

Only in the last few years have I succumbed to the intoxicating lure of the literary magazine. It started entirely by chance when I picked up one of Gary's copies of The Paris Review, then I found Five Dials, then Granta and, now, The Paris Magazine ("the poor man's Paris Review").

The discovery of this last one is bittersweet because it's of a particularly rare and fleeting breed: The first issue was published by George Whitman in October, 1967; the fourth issue, published by his daughter, Sylvia Whitman, in June, 2010.

Describing in that first issue how he came into bookselling, Mr. Whitman said:

"Like many of my compatriots I am something of a tumbleweed drifting in the wind. I drifted into bookselling for no better reason than a passion for books - except the classical reason of all booksellers who are self-employed - because they doubt if anyone else would employ them."

And, in this issue, Ms. Whitman offers her own sentiments on the subject:

"Having now drifted into bookselling myself...I often find myself being looked upon apologetically as a representative of the old world, someone who believes in the book as a living thing. But it's more than that. It's the spaces books inhabit, the people they attract and the characters they exude. As my father says, the book business is the business of life."

Only four issues with no fifth issue in the foreseeable future. That's a tough pill to swallow, indeed.

This magazine is particularly beautiful with offerings from writers both known and unknown - which is really quite marvelous, isn't it? Stripping away the notoriety of its contributors with the pure intent of celebrating the written word is a generous and masterful concept; one that gives hope to many a writer, I'm sure.

A brief word on literary magazines in general: Read them. They are the sweetest treat on the literary tray of delights. Bursting with such varied and intense flavors, they leave readers pleasantly sated and writers wildly inspired to create their own delicious treats.

There's something special about this fourth issue of The Paris Magazine, aside from the content that is - because I just happen to be in Paris the day it was put on sale and was able to walk over to Shakespeare & Company (our muse and inspiration for opening The Nook) to purchase my own copy from the craggy wooden bookshelf just inside the front door.

As excited as I am when my copy of The Paris Review arrives in the mail on the quarter, this acquisition was infinitely more magical. When I'm long past dead and gone and you should happen upon this artifact among the rest of the crumbs of my life, know that it was treasured deeply. More than just the words on its pages, it's a warm and loving tribute to the past wrapped up in all the possibilities of the future; a physical manifestation of the present which perfectly encapsulates a very special moment in time for me.

"Books and doors are the same to me - both must be opened. ...it is fine to love something and not know why you do. To say, 'I don't like this book/writer,' tells us only something about you, and nothing about the writer. And sometimes we have to say, 'This book/writer, not a fake, not a phoney, but I can't get anything from it.' The best thing always, ever, is to keep opening the books - reading, re-reading, seeing how we change over time, and how the books appear to change with us. There is always another door." -Jeanette Winterson, The Paris Magazine, June 2010

Sadly, The Paris Magazine isn't available in the States but, if you want to take a look at my copy, let me know and I'll bring it into the shop for you to peruse. As much as I treasure it, it would be criminal to keep it all to myself.

-Shannon

PS - Welcome to our blog!