Hello everyone!  You may not see me around in May or June.  Well – that’s because we are just about to have a baby!  Her official due date is May 7th, but she could be arriving any day now.  I just wanted to reach out and let you know just in case you were wondering where I’ve disappeared to!  For the next couple of months, I will be getting used to my new role as a mom.  I plan on returning to the store (with our new addition) in July.

Don’t worry, the shop will remain open!!  During the interim, my staff will be keeping the shop in tip-top shape and will be happy to assist you.  So, come on inside, get comfortable, and find the perfect book (or three).  I will miss you, but I will see you soon!

-Ann

Saturday, May 4th at 7 PM

We are happy to welcome the Beechwood Writers’ Workshop into the shop for their third reading.  The Spiral Bookcase is home to these wonderful authors.  The participants will be reading selections from their works-in-progress.  Refreshments will be provided.

Find out more about the Beechwood Writers’ here.  We hope to see you!

Friday, May 3rd, 6pm-9pm : Gallery Opening featuring Greg Ephermera Trout

Join us for First Friday in Manayunk, featuring the clever and eye-catching collage art of Greg Ephemera Trout.  Friday, May 3rd, we are hosting a reception to launch the month-long showing of Greg’s art at The Spiral Bookcase.  Opening night will feature brand new work for the show, and all pieces will be available for purchase.

Greg Trout was born in Elverson, Pa (Pop. 1225), and has resided in Philadelphia, Pa (Pop. 1,526,006) since 1992. After a lifetime of collecting arcane and mysterious printed matter, he is now re-assembling and re-assigning the images and creating new spirits and ideas. This is his second show at The Spiral Bookcase in Manayunk where he lives in his apartment studio with his beloved greyhound, Bettie.

Mark Your Calendars!

Manayunk Streat Food Fest Saturday April 13th, 2013 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Be sure to stop by the shop for some special goodies and promotions during the event!

Friday, April 5th, 6pm-9pm

For the next First Friday in Manayunk, we are happy to feature artist Bianca Bernier. We are hosting a reception to launch the month-long showing of Bianca’s modern and thought-provoking art at The Spiral Bookcase. Refreshments will be provided. Come on out and support local talent!

Bio: Bianca Bernier graduated from Kutztown University in 2010, earning her BFA in painting. She received the Karen L. Anderson Memorial Award for Excellence for the fine arts department on behalf of the entire graduation class. Her work has been in a number of juried shows, most notable the 25th International Juried Show Silver Anniversary at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Juried by Joan Young the Associate Curator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. As of recently, Bianca was also accepted into the “Formations” International Juried Exhibition for the Maryland Federation of the Arts. The online show will begin August 1st, 2012. Still portraying the same surrealist influence with fleshy appendages and obsessive detailing, the direction Bianca is exploring lately in her work is the concentration on drawing and mixed media with more vibrancy in the colour palette and intense lines to create drama. Bianca lives and works in Blue Bell, PA.

Book Signing with Nichole Bernier  Thursday, April 18th, 7pm – 9pm 

The Spiral Bookcase welcomes Nichole Bernier into the shop to share her first novel, The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D (Crown/Random House, 2012).   This bittersweet and beautifully written story of two women —their friendship, their marriages, private ambitions and fears — considers the aspects of ourselves we show and those we conceal, and the repercussions of our choices.  It was a finalist for the New England Independent Booksellers Award, and spent 7 weeks on the Boston Globe bestseller list.

During the event, Nichole will read excerpts from her novel and sign copies of her book.  Special guest Robin Black, author of If I Loved You, I would Tell You This, will lead an engaging Q & A session, providing an intimate look into the novel and Nichole’s writing process.  Books will be available for purchase at The Spiral Bookcase and light refreshments will be provided.

Bio:  Nichole Bernier is author of the novel The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. (Crown/Random House), a finalist for the 2012 New England Independent Booksellers Association fiction award, and has written for publications including Psychology Today, Salon, Health, Elle, Self, Redbook, Men’s Journal and Boston Magazine. A Contributing Editor for Conde Nast Traveler for 14 years, she was previously on staff as the magazine’s golf and ski editor, columnist, and television spokesperson. Nichole received her master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, where she received the 1993 award for literary journalism, and is a founder of BeyondTheMargins.com, a site with daily essays about the craft and business of writing. She lives outside of Boston with her husband and five children, and can be found online at nicholebernier.com and @nicholebernier.

WASHINGTON POST: “Why do we keep secrets from those we love most? Bernier’s excellent storytelling skills will keep you pondering long after the final page.”

BOSTON GLOBE: “In painting such vivid portraits of her two main characters, Bernier allows her readers to empathize with…that unique 21st-century feeling of working against some imaginary clock whose time is set to expire, unannounced, at any moment.”

We regret to inform you that this event has been CANCELLED.  We are working with the author to reschedule for the summer. 

Book Signing with Paul Gallender Wednesday, April 17th, 7pm-9pm 

The Spiral Bookcase welcomes Paul Gallender to share his biography of the extraordinary Sonny Liston: Sonny Liston – The Real Story Behind the Ali-Liston Fights. He introduces the reader to a man who, while not a saint, had a sense of fairness and depth of character that was acknowledged for the most part only by his family, friends, and children of all races

“Liston was arguably the most hated, feared and misunderstood athlete of the 20th century,” says Gallender. “Because of that, most of what the world knows about him has little basis in fact.”

During the event, Gallender will read excerpts from the book, answer audience questions, and sign copies of his book. We anticipate that this event will be well-attended. Please be aware that space is limited in the shop and attendees will be admitted on a first come, first serve basis. Books will be available to purchase at The Spiral Bookcase (pre-orders are recommended).

Liston was a lightning rod for racism when the Civil Rights movement was gaining steam. Among other things, Sonny was called an inferior Negro, less than human, slow-thinking, a primitive in a primitive profession, a latter-day caveman, a savage, glaring-eyed gorilla, a rogue elephant, a congenital thug, and strong than a yoke of oxen and just as dumb.

In meticulous detail, Gallender shows why the outcome of Liston’s two bouts with Muhammad Ali had more to do with what took place outside of the ring than in it. The shocking truth about their one-round fight in Lewiston, Maine, is revealed for the first time in his book. “When Sonny was forced to throw that fight, his reputation, career, and future went down with him,” says the author. “A largely white sporting press despised and feared Liston and was only too happy to demean and forget him after the Ali bouts.”

“Today, Liston is merely a footnote to the career of Ali. However, half a century ago Sonny was the best there ever was,” says Gallender. In 1964, Joe Louis called Liston the greatest heavyweight champion in history, while former light heavyweight champ Archie Moore described Liston as “something extraordinary with a pair of Everlast gloves.”

The Spiral Salon – Thursday, March 21st, 7pm 

Join us for our upcoming Spiral Salon featuring two local authors, a local performance artist, and a local musician!

We created The Spiral Salon to showcase a variety of talent and to create an enjoyable and inclusive space for like-minded folks. This casual gathering is a way for you to mingle and experience the creativity that this area has to offer. Light refreshments will be provided.

Our line-up includes:
Elise Miller – author
Eugene Hsue – poet
Puppet Master – performance artist
Bryan Miller – music

Elise Miller’s first novel, Star Craving Mad, was published by Warner Books. Her personal essay Forgive Me was published in the anthology Because I Love Her. Other personal essays chronicling her oversexed, under-supervised adolescence during the asymmetrical 1980s have been published on nerve.com, Papotage and Fresh Yarn. Excerpts from her latest novel were recently published on Northern Liberties Review, and Elephant Journal. Elise runs Beechwood Writers’ Workshop here at the Spiral Bookcase and can be found on the web at elisemiller.com.

Eugene Hsue writes poetry from the fabric of life. A licensed attorney, he works as a librarian who guides students and professors with their research. This is his first reading in the Philadelphia area.

Kris Rhood has been performing with her puppet Roki since 1990, but has only been performing as Puppet Master since the mid 2000′s [the name originated at the Five Spot]. Since then Puppet Master has performed at various places in and around Philadelphia.

Bryan Miller cut his musical teeth in Brooklyn playing for various hardcore, metal, ska/funk and Zeppelin cover bands before leading the Brooklyn Country band Miller’s Farm—back when there was no such thing as Brooklyn Country. An award-winning singer-songwriter, Bryan has had the honor of hearing his music played on an obscure NBC TV show.  Bryan lives on the Main Line with his family, where he plays in hospitals for Musicians on Call, at a coffee shop here, a club there, and occasionally plays with Miller’s Farm back in New York.

Saturday, Feb. 23rd, 5pm

Join us for a Book Reading and Signing with author Dana Bate. Dana’s new book, The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs, is a charming, romantic comedy. A perfect story to warm your heart during these cold February days. Books will be available to purchase. 

Make it a Girls’ Night Out and join us for this special event. Bubbly and sweet treats will be provided. Time to sit back and enjoy.

BIO: Dana Bate is a writer and award-winning journalist whose writing has appeared in numerous outlets, including McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Culinate, Table Matters, and Smithsonian.com. Her first novel, The Girls’ Guide to Love and Supper Clubs (to be published as The Secret Supper Club in the UK), will be published by Hyperion in February 2013.

These days, when she isn’t writing, she can usually be found in her kitchen, whipping up a new recipe from her extensive cookbook collection. She currently lives outside Philadelphia.