Bytown Bookshop » Local Stuff

Upcoming Book Launches

Richard — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:29:47 +0000

Here is the info for a couple of upcoming book launches from local mystery authors:

Peggy Blair’s The Beggar’s Opera

Thursday, 16 February, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
The Orange Art Gallery, 233 Armstrong Street, Ottawa, Ontario

There will be live Cuban music with the terrific Cuban duet of Caridad Cruz and César Ricardo. Cuban food will be served and the wonderful photographs of Havana by David Barbour will be on display. Thanks to Beau’s Beer, Domaine Perrault & Blue Gypsy Wines, there will be beer and wine. There might even be mojitos!

Contact Peggy Blair at pjblair@rogers.com for an invitation (space is limited).

R. J. Harlick’s A Green Place for Dying

Tuesday, 28 February, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Heart and Crown Pub in the Market, 67 Clarence St., Ottawa

R.J. Harlick is launching the fifth title in the acclaimed Meg Harris mystery series. Free for anyone to stop by and enjoy the evening.

Five Fabulous Workshops!

Richard — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:35:54 +0000

Mixed media and book artist Holly Dean will be hosting a series of weekend workshops starting the second Saturday in February at her studio in Merrickville. Workshops range from how to incorporate text into your artwork to creating hand-bound muse journals, all with the goal to help you learn new techniques and approaches to your artwork. Details and registration for the Workshops can be found on Holly’s website here: http://www.hollydean.com/the_rest/holly_dean_workshops.html

Human Library Day at the Ottawa Public Library

Richard — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:19:02 +0000

Saturday, January 28, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m at various libraries throughout Ottawa

The concept

An individual accepts to take part in the event as a Book
Book reservations for specific time slots will be available the day of the event, at each site
Books get “checked out” for 20 minutes by a Reader
Talk to the person one-on-one about their diverse experiences.

Participants that can be “checked out” range from OC Transpo drivers and CBC journalists, to spiritual advisors and sex workers. There will also be a special set of participants at the War Museum also participating in the event. Details can on the Human Library Day can be found here.

CBBAG Book Coming Soon!

Richard — Tue, 31 May 2011 03:02:47 +0000

Hope to see everyone there!!

Small Press Book Fair – Spring 2011

Richard — Tue, 17 May 2011 01:01:21 +0000

spring 2011 edition
Saturday, June 25, 2011
12 – 5pm
Room 203 of the Jack Purcell Community Centre (on Elgin, at 320 Jack Purcell Lane).

contact rob at rob_mclennan@hotmail.com to sign up for a table.

The 16th Annual Mammoth Used Book Sale

Richard — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 13:25:10 +0000

When: Saturday, April 16, 2011, 10am to 5pm and Sunday, April 17, 10am to 3pm
Where: Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue, Hall F.
Admission and parking are free.

More than twenty thousand books of all types are available at bargain prices (most paperbacks will be $1 and most trade and hardcover books will be $2).

For more information call 613-580-2424 ext. 41060, email jasmine.ball@biblioottawalibrary.ca, or go to http://www.ottawapubliclibraryfriends.ca/

CBBAG Ottawa Valley now on Groupspaces

Richard — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:45:22 +0000

Interested in the book arts? Curious as to what book binding courses may be happening in the Ottawa area? Want to know more about how you can get involved in the local books arts community?

Look no further than the new CBBAG Ottawa Valley Site on Groupspaces.com for all your News, Events, Member Information and a Who’s Who of local book art talent. A handy resource whether you’re curious how to get involved in the books arts community or to simply trying to remember when the next meeting will take place.

CBBAG-Ottawa Book Arts Show and Sale

Richard — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 01:31:21 +0000

Mark your Calendars!

The Future of the Book

The 2011 CBBAG Book Arts Show and Sale
Saturday, 11 June 2011, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington St., Ottawa, Ontario.

Open to the public and admission is free.

Future of the Book is the theme for this year’s CBBAG Book Arts Show. An impressive array of book artists and artisans are coming together to look at this intriguing question.

***Also note that the Bytown Bookshop will have a booth in the Dealers Room at the Fair.***

In Search of Content: The joys and challenges of creating in the book form

Richard — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:01:05 +0000

What looks to be a very interesting talk on the design and creation of books is coming up soon at the Library and Archive. Best of all, it’s free!!!

The Details:

When: 26 January 2011, at 7-9 p.m.

Where: Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St, Ottawa, Salle (Room) A

Like an engineering project, a book is complex three-dimensional design made up of many parts. Content is the central idea of the design and narrative is how the story is revealed. Our goal as bookmakers is to intentionally integrate all aspects of the design to strengthen the structure, form, and content of our works. In this illustrated talk, Nancy Leavitt will discuss her rigorous yet playful method of researching, compiling, developing, and realizing materials for her manuscript books.

Nancy Leavitt - Nancy Leavitt is a calligrapher specializing in creating hand lettered and painted and bound books.

Memoirs of a Bookshop Girl

Richard — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 14:08:51 +0000

Memoirs of a Bookshop Girl is a wonderful little chapbook written by Heather E. Thomson, one of the friendly faces often found behind the counter at Patrick McGahern Books. I picked up a copy of the chapbook last weekend (from Heather herself, who was gracious enough to sign it for me), and a few days later read it in one sitting by the fire with a cup of tea (as all good biblio treasures should be read).

The book revolves around the McGahern’s impending move in early 2011 from the Glebe after 40 years residency, but covers a range of topics from the place of biography in a bookshop and the intoxicating smell of books*, to Heather’s days spent in the store and the McGahern rules of engagement for the myraid of ”interesting” clients she would face. The book’s candid and playful tone guide the reader through the books meandering topics and reminiscences, reminding me very much of Christopher Morley’s style of whimsical musings of books and those they impress their will upon. It is a lovely little peek at life behind the counter of a used bookstore and a fine little keepsake for those who often haunted the shelves of Patrick McGahern Books.

Memoirs of a Bookshop Girl can be purchased for $10.00 at Patrick McGahern Books in the Glebe until they close the doors on that location in the New Year, or directly from the author at heather_e_thomson@bell.net. Already in its second printing, this little book is well worth a cup of tea by the fire for Ottawa residents who will remember the McGahern’s shop fondly or for any book lover who enjoy a taste of life on the other side of the counter.

*(As for the science behind what gives a book that intoxicatingly warm sweet smell, I leave that up to you to discover between the pages of Heather’s little memoir.)