Valentine the Porcupine Book Release and Dance Party!

Our favorite local bookstore, Gatsby Books, is hosting a book release and booksigning for Derrick Brown's Valentine the Porcupine Dances Funny, with illustrator Jenny Lewis, on Saturday, February 19th at noon.

Fun activities for the kids and a dance party(!) follow the reading.

After the Dance Party, 17 year-old Science Fiction/Fantasy author Kevin Liston will read from and discuss his new book, Legends of the Significants.

If you haven't been to Gatsby Books, you will be delighted at the collection of books Sean has acquired, and the great community he is cultivating through these wonderful FREE events.

I found this fascinating video on the process Jenny Lewis used to illustrate the book. Enjoy!

Acres of Books Revisited

If you are missing Acres of Books, like I have been, there is still an opportunity to walk down the aisles and remember the good old days, as well as take a few souvenir books and fruit crates for FREE! On Wednesday afternoons from 1:30-4, the back door is open to friends and well-wishers who would like to take a piece of Acres of Books home with them. I found a great midcentury illustrated book on houseplants and grabbed a few crates for Mr. Mod's office. Check it out - through February.

Happy New Year!

The view from the Seal Beach Pier - surfers waiting for a swell beneath the snow-capped San Gabriels.

Lyons at Night - Music and Live Art event - Sat, Nov 13th, 4-10pm

Corinna the Christmas Elf book reading at Gatsby Books - Saturday, Nov 13, at 12pm

I am excited that a friend from MOPS is having a book reading and signing event today. Author Suzanne Sumner Ferry will be reading "Corinna the Christmas Elf" at Gatsby Books, today at 12pm.

Gatsby Books is located at:

5535 E. Spring St.
Long Beach CA 90808
(562)208-9783
GatsbyBooks@hotmail.com

Refreshments will be provided.

Haute Dog Howl-o'ween!

It's been a tradition for us to attend the halloween dog parade. It is so much fun to see all the dogs (and their people) in their costumes. Good times!

Happy Halloween!

Oh what to do this Halloween?

I definitely recommend the free Community Carnival on Sunday at Grace Brethren Church. It has been our tradition to volunteer over the last several years, but this will be the first year for our kiddos, so we will be squiring them around until they eat too much candy and play too much Guitar Hero and insist on going to bed. This is a seriously fun event for kids - with a (literal) ton of candy to be passed out, bounce houses to enjoy, a skate park to be skated upon, and game booths galore. A special "pumpkin patch" area for the littler set to enjoy a quieter evening is a highlight as well.

We're hoping also to attend the Howl-o-ween Parade for dogs and their people friends at Belmont Shore, on Sunday, October 31, at 2:30pm. The start and finish of the parade is at Livingston Park, 4900 E. Livingston Dr. (at Park Ave). The vendor fair and pet adoption is in the park from noon to 5pm.

Dog in a pumpkin costume - yes, please!

And you can always count on Gregorio Luke to present a passionate and thoughtful lecture on any given subject - this one is on the traditions of Dia de los Muertos, at the Long Beach Playhouse on Thursday, October 28th at 9pm.