An early heads-up that Ottawa’s favourite book fair is quickly approaching. Unfortunately due to an overbooked fall, the Bytown Bookshop won’t be there this year with a booth, but I plan to hopefully make it personally to support the other dealers (wink wink). Details below:
30th Ottawa Antiquarian Book Fair
24th October, Saturday 10:30am – 5:30pm
Tudor Hall – Conference Centre
3750 North Bowesville Road, Ottawa (near Riverside & Uplands)
For more information, please call or e-mail 613- 232-7495; benbooks@cyberus.ca
Last weekend France and I spent the majority of our time in the Dealer’s room at Can-Con 2010 and I must say that I have mixed reviews about the event. While I must applaud the efforts of the organizers to revive Ottawa’s sci-fi convention (one hasn’t been held in Ottawa for over a decade), many aspects of the event fell short of expectations, particularly from a dealer’s perspective.
The largest issue was the lack of advertising for the Con, both for the dealers (no program guide or any mention on the website of who the registered dealers were or where the room was) and the Con itself which saw maybe a little over 100 people attend was largely unpromoted and little details provided on the website until just days before. There was also very little communication with the dealers prior to the event (no dealers package) which caused some confusion with set-up times and tables. The room itself was very small and somewhat off to the side with little signage to direct people. Also, despite the website saying all the dealer tables were sold, there in fact was only 5-6 dealers and two tables were vacant (one of which we quickly expanded onto). Sales were therefore minimal with the low traffic (sometimes an hour would pass without a single person in the room) and I think that the more fortunate dealers managed to break even. This facet of the event could have been manage much better in my opinion.
On the bright side, Hugo award winning TOR editor David Hartwellmade a surprise visit from Northern New York and we ended up having a great chat on old sci-fi pulps and vintage classics the Friday night. The invited guest authors and illustrators, while all locals for the most part, were also very congenial and pleasant to chat with when they stopped by between talks. The Guest of Honour, Marie Bilodeau, was exceptionally friendly and encouraging to both budding authors in attendance and to the jewelry makers whose wares she particularly fancied.
Overall, while I do have my fair share of grumbles from a dealers perspective, I think that the event was at least a solid starting point to get a regular annual sci-fi convention going again in Ottawa. I do have to tip my hat to those who organized the event, and hope that they do try and make it an annual event once again. I believe that with a little more forethought, planning and volunteers the Con could truly grow into something great for Ottawa. I will certainly keep an eye out for it next year and think of taking a table once again.
RaiseIt.ca is a new online magazine, launched just last Monday, which is dedicated to covering, criticizing, supporting and elevating anything arts in Ottawa from the perspectives of local artists, promoters and community members.
To kick things off, you can meet the editorial team in person this Monday (July 5) at the Collection (56 Byward Market Square) with the first part of the evening being an informal information session about the website starting at 7pm followed by manicures, music, live art and poetry upstairs at the Mercury Lounge from 8pm until midnight.
This Saturday (June 26th) is the semi-annual SPAN-o Book Fair at the Jack Purcell Community Centre, and this year we’ve decided to take a table to see what we can sell from our selection of private press books and small press golden oldies. Should the experiment fail, it will still be a fun day getting to see what local small presses are creating and keeping in touch with local authors and printers.
Details:
the ottawa small press book fair, spring edition
Time and Place: June 26, 12-5pm. Jack Purcell Community Centre, 320 Jack Purcell Lane, Room 203
Web: robmclennan.blogspot.com/2010/03/ottawa-small-press-book-fair-spring.html
Email: az421@freenet.carleton.ca
exhibitors with poetry books, novels, cookbooks, posters, t-shirts, graphic novels, comic books, magazines, scraps of paper, gum-ball machines with poems, 2×4s with text
We just received a few copies of the lavishly illustrated book, The Star Weekly at War, highlighting the best of the Toronto Star war art covers and articles from the Second World War years. A truly amazing compilation of wartime artwork from the Star pulled together and skillfully selected by a local Ottawa collector. Here is just a small sample of what can be found in the nearly 250pgs of high quality reproductions inside.
We also picked up a couple more copies of Thistle Xpress’ previous book, Ottawa: The Golden Years, which is an illustrated history of Ottawa’s Victorian Years through the Second World War, as seen through decades of ephemera found and cherished by a local collector. Inside you will find 385 pages containing over 2100 reproduced illustrations of stamps, postcards, currency, advertising, music sheets, tobacco cards, books, magazine covers and more. Again, here are a few samples from this beautiful collection of reproduced Ottawa epherema.
Either book can be purchased directly from us for $80.00 (just send me an e-mail) or can be found at our booth in the Ottawa Antique Market (1187 Bank St.).
Another great Ottawa book sale coming up this weekend!
June 4-5, Devonshire will be holding its 24th annual book sale. Thousands of gently used books will be on offer; well organized and at bargain prices. The doors open on Friday at 3:30, and along with the books, there will be a silent auction, bake sale table and BBQ. Saturday morning, from 9am to 12pm, will be the book sale only. Devonshire Public School is located at 100 Breezehill Ave. N. (between Somerset and Gladstone, just west of Preston) in Hintonburg.
I posted about this great exhibition a few weeks ago and following up on a very successful opening May 6th, Exposure Gallery will be hosting a roundtable discussion of the Rare Book Series. Exposure Gallery’s curator, Carrie Colton, will lead the discussion about the origins of the Rare Book Series and Chrystia Mycyk will be in attendance to answer questions. Seating is limited, so RSVP quick!
Mycyk’s Rare Book Series: A Discussion!
Thursday, May 27th, 2010.
7 – 8PM.
Please RSVP at sterling.lynch@exposuregallery.info or 613-608-3096.
A great local Do-It-Yourself craft fair that seems to keep getting bigger and better each year. A wonderful variety of vendors ranging from papermakers and zines to potters and jewlry makers, with a guarantee that the majority of of items are under $20.00. A perfect way to send a Sunday afternoon & hope to see you there.
Ravenswing 2010 will be held Sunday, May 30th from 11am – 4pm, in Minto Park, located between Elgin & Carter (E/W) and between Gilmour & Lewis. Further details and vendor sign-up info can be found at www.ravenswingottawa.ca
The Second Annual SoGlad (South of Gladstone) community garage sale is happening tomorrow with a great bake sale and BBQ to follow. As this is basically in my backyard, hopefully a number of people in the community putting old books out so I can spend the morning trolling for goodies 
SoGlad (South of Gladstone) Sleep-in Community Street Sale
Arlington, Flora & MacLeod – from Bronson to Bank
Saturday May 15
9:00 – 12:00 (NO EARLYBIRDS, please!)
raindate Sunday May 16
Fundraising Bake Sale & BBQ in support of Arlington Park (between Bay & Lyon)
Come join in the fun and support a neighbourhood park!
An interesting photography exhibition is coming up next week at the Exposure Gallery. Running from May 6th to June 17th, Chyrstia Mycyk’s Rare Book Series features stunning portraits of rare books from The National Library’s impressive collection. The Vernissage for the exhibit will take place May 6, 2010 from 6:30 pm – 9 pm at the Exposure Gallery and may be well worth checking out.
“Books, like faces, display evidence of the passage of time.” If you’ve ever treasured a dog-earred book like a dear friend or if you’ve ever marveled at the history worn into the very fiber of a cherished book, this exhibit will fill you with awe and delight. Please attend the opening of this exquisite exhibit and share in the wonder and beauty of grand, old, and magnificent books.
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