We're # 1 - For now !

Wow, you, our fans, are amazing. Last week I asked if you would vote for us in the PhillyHotList, PHL17 contest for best bookstore of Philadelphia. Little did I know that you had to log in, give them your email, and then vote. Sorry about that. But, in spite of that, a whole bunch of you voted and we went from #13 to Number 1 ! That is amazing and heartening. Thanks if you already voted. In order to stay, #1 we probably need more voters - we did find an easier short cut by going to http://ctvr.us/walkacrooked   - if you are up to it, we'd love the support.

Concert with RUNA -Celtic Music -next WEDNESDAY (not Thursday)

Our next concert is with Runa, composed of Philadelphian Shannon Lambert-Ryan, Fionan de Barra from Dublin, Ireland and Cheryl Prashker of Canada. RUNA brings a contemporary and refreshing experience to traditional and more recently composed Celtic material. Check out their sound at www.runamusic.com. This is an outdoor concert, bring chairs and or blankets and a picnic. Rain date is Thursday August 12. Questions, call 215-242-0854.
 

My daughter's wedding is next Saturday -we're closed Friday and Saturday

     I am delighted to announce that my lovely daughter, Jesse Sharp-Williams is marrying a wonderful guy, Dan James, from Chelsea, England on Saturday and we're going to be partying all weekend. So we'll be closed Friday August 13 and Saturday August 14th. We'll be back in the saddle on Monday, August the 16th and will have a full week, including a yard sale on Saturday August 21. But then Cynthia and I and my sisters and their husbands are going on a vacation on a cruise ship to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Ahhhhhhhhh. We may be open somewhat during that week-stay tuned.

A really BIG show this Thursday, July 22

 

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<![endif]-->We have 8 wonderful singer/songwriters from the Philadelphia Area Songwriters Association each peforming a short set of their original music from 7-9 p.m. this Thursday July 22 from 7-9 p.m. This wonderful evening of music will be hosted by our friend and frequent performer here, Sharon Abbott. Rain date is Friday July 23 from 7-9p.m. Call 215-242-0854 if  in doubt. 

Performers include Janet Bressler, Drew Calvin, Tom Chirip(bottom right), Lori Citro(Left top), Brent Ellison(Left bottom), Tim LaBorie(Right top), Rob Lincoln(Right bottom), and Nathan Surles(bottom left).

Visit us this weekend at Chestnut Hill Book Festival

      Though the shop will be open Friday till 6:30, Saturday Ellen will open only from 9-2 and I'll be at the Chestnut Hill Book Festival. I'll be there from 4-8 on Friday, and 11-7 on Saturday and Sunday. I'll have a booth along the driveway of the Stagecrafters Theater on Germantown Avenue right next to Bredenbecks. Yum !  I'll have all sorts of show stock with me and also have two book signings. Amy Ignatow, a Mt Airy artist/cartoonist who lives just a few blocks from here, will be talking about her best-selling book, THE POPULARITY PAPERS, and we'll be selling copies for her to sign. The book got a wonderful review in the New York Times, " a first novel written and illustrated by the hugely talented Amy Ignatow, invites us to enter the world of two best friends, Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang, through a scrapbook they create together over the course of fifth grade. It details their 'very brilliant plan' to observe the popular girls in junior high. 'Then, when we have enough information about the popular girls, we'll know what it is that they do to be popular and we'll try to do the same things to see if we become popular as well' - for example conducting an experiment to see if a given article of clothing can help 'improve social standing.' The girls research leads them into zany adventures, memorialized in notes, poems and doodles that capture the fun of an underground correspondence."   Amy will be in the booth from 1:30-3:30 on Saturday and Sunday.

John Tordoff is a young friend of mine who recently graduated from Chestnut Hill Academy and is headed to Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the fall. John loves strange, fun facts and has been sharing them, on a daily basis, for some time with his friends. He decided to compile them into TORDOFF'S FUN FACT and has self published the volume and we'll be having him at our booth from 4-6 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Come and meet this young Merriam Webster and offer him some fun facts of your own for the second volume of his book.

By the way, the painting on the train station continues and we're starting to see some improvement. C.C. is supervising from the as yet unimproved section of wall but she is a talented supvisor and we expect the results will prove her work to be worthwhile. Come and see for yourself. They'll be painting this weekend, even around the closed up front door so we expect big changes when we reopen on Monday.

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            A Rockin' 4th !

The Rockin' Malaaka's are the next performers in the Mount Airy Train Station Free Concert Series. This series, supported by the friends and neighbors of Walk a Crooked Mile Books, will be on Thursday July 1 from 7-9 p.m at the Mt. Airy Train Station, 7423 Devon St. The Rockin' Malaakas are a high energy rhythm, blues and rock n' roll band that will light up a summer night. Watch for dancing in the street. On the off chance of bad weather, the concert will be on Friday, July 2, from 7-9. Questions, give us a call.

       We wish a happy 4th of July. We will be open usual hours on Saturday July 3 but closed on Sunday July 4 th and MONDAY July 5th for a little R & R. See you on Tuesday.      

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Enjoy Father's Day weekend with a free concert and/or yard sale

I'm looking forward to talking with my own daughter, who presently is in Taiwan, via Skype, on Sunday and celebrating the gifts of being a father. My congratulations to all the fathers out there. If any of you are still looking for a last minute Father's Day Gift please consider a Bookstack from us. Details are in the box to the right.

Our concert this Friday, June 18th is with a perennial favorite, Art Miron, who loves performing as much as we love hearing him play and sing. Art will feature finely crafted music from the country, folk, and pop traditions. He'll be accompanied by Millard Brown on electric guitar and vocals. 7-9 p.m., outdoors, bring a picnic. (I can't get a picture of Art to work here -see the calendar listing.)

On Saturday, starting officially at 9 we will have our regular Umpteenth Mount Airy Train Station Yard Sale. We're still getting sign-ups but I would guess we'll have 15 or more different dealers selling their treasures on the bridge on Gowen Avenue, along the sidewalk on Devon St., and on either side of the driveway coming down to the bookstore. There's still room for vendors so give us a call if you want a space for a mere $10. The rest of you come on out and find that je ne sais quoi (did I spell that right?) that you didn't even know you needed. Weather looks great.

Our Weekend Plans (and a link to Us in the News !)

We're pleased to welcome back for a free concert, this Friday June 4 from 7-9 p.m., local singer/songwriter Drew Calvin. He's a terrific composer - several of his songs have special places in my heart. He also has a grand baritone voice and is a splendid fingerpicking guitarist. As usual, we are out under the stars so bring chair, blanket and (perhaps) BUG SPRAY.  If'n the weather looks threatening give us a call but we haven't been rained out yet, knock on wood.

     On Saturday, June 5 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Greg will be taking the show on the road and will set up his travelling bookstore on Germantown Avenue just below Mt. Pleasant in front of the Presbyterian Church as part of the Mt.Airy Art Jam. There will be music behind us (and at several other points on the Avenue, kids activities and artisans showing their wares. Also check out the local businesses and restaurants.

PHILLY BOOK FAIR RETURNS!

Dear Folks, First let me thank you for your support of our events this weekend. In spite of very threatening skies and weather reports, Phillip Bennett and Friends played on and we ignored the few drops that fell and ejoyed some great music and raised $300 for Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network. Saturday, we had a good crowd of sellers and buyers and everyone seemed to go away happy. Yahoo!

BOOKS OF THE MONTH FOR MAY

If you're stuck for ideas for the mother who has everything, consider ordering a Bookstack from us. You tell us how much you want to spend, what kind of books your mother likes, and we'll pick them out and have them ready for you to pick up at your convenience, tied with a nice ribbon and a card. If we end up picking a book your mother has or doesn't take a fancy to, she can come by and exchange it for another book of equal value. 

And, since we're in our 30% off sale, the value of your gift goes up considerably and you look like the last of the big spenders, a trait your mother will appreciate.  
Lastly, if your mom would like to pick out her own books, we can also offer a gift certificate in any amount, with any flowery language you would like, and, if your mom is a smart shopper and she comes and redeems the certificate before May 22 when our sale ends, she gets extra value and loves you even more, if that's possible.

Dear Friends,
Walk a Crooked Mile Books might have to close it doors soon. We have been open for fifteen years. Our knees have and backs have aged through those years but we hoped to stay open a few more. But the recent economic situation has led to mounting debts to our landlord Septa and to the IRS for employee withholding taxes. If these are unpaid, we will have to close.