Golden Week Ending

We are headed towards the end of Carolyn's Golden Week, which began with Valentine's Day, usually has Lunar New Year in the middle (but not this time 'round -- Year of the Rabbit began on 3 Feb 2011), as well as a few personal time markers and ends with Presidents' Day.

For the older of us, February always had two presidents' birthdays as holidays: Abraham Lincoln was born on 12 February and George Washington was born on 22 February.  I guess Americans wanted to celebrate more presidents without actually having more separate holidays, and thus, the third Monday of February became Presidents' Day (oh, how we love our three-day weekends, those of us who actually get a paid holiday on the third Monday of February, the percentage of employers offering it being only 33%).  Our display of Presidents' Day titles was dominated by those on or by Ronald Reagan, this being his Centennial Birthday (if he were alive to mark a 100th birthday anniversary), but there are many other wonderful books that we have for both young and old, those just a little curious and those very interested in our American presidency.

This year, we celebrated some of Golden Week in Chicago, taking in a world premier play at the Victory Gardens Theater, "The Boys Room" by Dixon native Joel Drake Johnson.  Today, Sunday, 20 February, was unfortunately the last day of its run, but Johnson, now the Playwright Ensemble Member of VG, has had many  plays directed by Sandy Shinner and there is promise of more.  "The Boys Room" has such a contemporary yet universal feel to it that I hope other theaters will consider including it in their season lineups soon.  For locals, there is the delight of a mention of the Peoria Avenue Bridge and Rock River, albeit briefly and in context of a good place to contemplate suicide.

Will You Be My Valentine?

Valentine's Day is next Tuesday.

For our Brenda and many customers, holidays always mean books for the children. So, be sure to come in and see our wide selection.  This includes You're My Little Love Bug which may actually be for adult loved ones as well as little ones, because the heart-shaped cut-out is for a photo or picture of your (my) little love.

We have some wonderful adult offerings for the Day of Love or in Japan, Red Day, at which time women give chocolates to the significant men in their lives -- father, brother, husband, co-workers, teacher, greengrocer, garbageman,...

The image cannot do justice to I Love You: An Anthology of the Most Romantic Poems Ever Written, a lavish collection of beautiful English-language poetry by Omar Khayyám, Percy Bysshe Shelley. Elizabeth Barrett Browning, among them, and reproduced artwork including Gustav Klimt on the cover as well as Dudley Tennant, Edmund Dulac, Leon Kroll, among others.  Some poems are familiar, others could be newly discovered favorites.  Much of the artwork comes from magazine covers and advertisements, which is very surprising, but delightful.  The main reason why I say the image cannot do the volume justice is that is comes in its very own gift box, much more elaborate and sturdy than the book itself, with two front panels held closed with a round disk that's weighty enough to close with a satisfying click.  Perfect for the lover who loves not just you, but also art and verse.

 We have a host of other appropriate books, like Pablo Neruda's Love Poems (a perennial favorite since the film "The Postman"), and while we did have Nick Robinson's Very Naughty Origami, we have one copy left and it's a little difficult to bring back in, so come in quickly!  (We also carry origami paper but not chocolate-flavoured.)  And, we can offer you Susan Quilliam's and Dr Alex Comfort's The Joy of Sex: The Timeless Guide to Lovemaking.

Happenings...

Good Monday Morning!!

This Saturday we'd like to welcome back the "Honorable Outlaws" playing their bluegrass/folk rock sound, to Books on First ~~ playing from 7-9 p.m. After you take your sweetie out for Valentines dinner, stop in for coffee and a brownie for dessert.

Don't let the previous snow fall stop you from shopping in Downtown Dixon. The street department did a wonderful job of cleaning our streets up.

This Saturday is "Second Saturday" in Dixon. Visit http://www.second-saturdays.com/ for more information.

Have a beautiful week!!

From your friends at:

-Books on First – Sauk Valley's Premier Bookstore/Coffeehouse
 202 West First Street
 Downtown Dixon, IL  61021
 815-285-BOOK (-2665)
 www.booksonfirst.com

Our Hours Are:
Mon-Thu 7am - 6pm
Fri            7am - 9pm
Sat          8am - 9pm
Sun        10am - 4pm

Dixon Main Street's Martini Gras!

Dixon Main Street's Annual Dinner, this year themed Martini Gras!, is just a week away on Saturday, 12 Feb at the Post House Ballroom.

The evening will begin at 6 pm with cocktails and will feature Dixon Main Street's Volunteer of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Cornerstone Award presentations, as well as New Orleans-inspired food and entertainment featuring fortune tellers and a caricature artist.

There will also a live auction with Kevin Considine on the mic, offering cakes, drink trays, a gift basket of Downtown Dixon goodies and Blackhawks tickets.

Tickets are just $35 per person or a table of 8 for $250. Don't miss this great event that supports Dixon Main Street!

Speaking of martinis, in our Humor section, check out Christie Mellor's The Three-Martini Family Vacation which follows The Three-Martini Playdate.

Snowbound

As Chicago emerges from its third deepest snowfall in recorded history with nearly 20 inches (1967 -- 23", 1999 -- 21") and 50 mph winds which caused major drifting (so, the snow was barely 3 inches high in some spots and 4 feet high in others), Books on First also emerges from one of the few days in its history to be closed unexpectedly, maybe the first.  Larry was snowbound in our Walton abode 12 miles south of Dixon and his favorite employee Brenda said she had a 4' drift right in front of her home.  I remember our first months on the job.  We were determined to be open.

On Saturday, 2 January 1999, we began at 5am driving back from Chicago in fierce wind and snowfall to arrive just after 8:30am to a fully "handled it" Dixon with mounds of snow in the middle of downtown streets (which I think makes perfect sense as it allows people still to get into driveways).  We opened our doors only 45 minutes late and proceeded to wait until around 10am for our first "customer" who was Michael, wanting a free glass of water.  At other times when two-lane Route 26 between Dixon and Walton was dangerous to travel (due to snow squalls and drifting), we stayed at Comfort Inn or Presidential Inn in order to be in town to open the store.

Now, we have a trusted employee in town, but we still would not ask her to take on more than she can handle (like getting through snow drifts).

Speaking of snow (were we?), Snow White Bakery has closed its retail doors, a sad loss for Downtown and all of Dixon.  I heard that owner Catherine Benon still will be baking to order, so try giving her a call.