It's About Time!

That is what I have been hearing from, of all people, he who must not be named and Master Barista -- Larry.

Congratulations, Books on First, on the official Books on First page on facebook. Brenda was 12 hours ahead of me. We may actually have been working on something at the same time, but while I was sticking my toe in the water (establishing a personal facebook account just so I can see the Fans of Books on First on facebook wall), she went ahead and created a Company facebook page. This time, the proprietors will need to insist on access to administration.

In any case, if you are a facebook member, check it out.

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.

Gratitude, Books on First Style

Read about one of Brenda's favs

I write this today, as you all know we have limited access to internet.  "Limited" includes time, space, inclination, money, and other resources, although there is the philosophical argument that none that I have named are resources.

Thank you, Kelly Dunphy, for continuing to keep us in the loop on family, friends, and even what's happening in Dixon & environs.  I thank her for all those years ago nonchalantly giving us a used KitchenAid mixer (ostensibly because she got a new one) with three attachments (of which I use one extensively), so that I have been able to bake.  Baking has given me a sense of organization, peace and purpose that is rare in the world (are those resources?).  The exercise has also given Larry and me a lot of carbs, albeit delicious ones.  I am not good enough a baker to go commercial, so the only cookies or teabread (un)lucky Books on First customers would be able to have are free (and sometimes burnt) offerings.

Thank you, Larry's siblings and cousins, especially Bridget Barry, Pat Dunphy, SC ("Young Charlie") Dunphy,  Mike Blackburn and James Romeo Blackburn, for helping us out at the farmette and for keeping us in the loop on the other end of the Dunphy family, and thus, keeping Carolyn Chin feeling like she's in the Dunphy family.  Larry is not the most reliable conduit of relaying what's happening, but I have the good feeling most of the time and that's what counts.  We still have a freshly killed and dressed heritage (Spanish Black) turkey for sale if anyone's interested.

Thank you, All the Customers of Books on First, but especially some -- too numerous and in some cases, too shy, to be named, in Dixon, Amboy, Sterling, Polo, Grand Detour, Centralia, Franklin Grove, DeKalb, Rockford, Chicago, Oregon (the town and the state), Iowa, California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Germany,  Ireland, Kenya, and beyond -- who have supported us even as factories closed and taxpayers voted down school budgets.  I have always maintained that wonderfully brewed coffee and professionally made lattes with delicious baked treats -- some imported from Chicago (e.g., Swedish Bakery in Andersonville, D'Amato's on Grand & May, Middle Eastern Bakery on Foster) are affordable luxuries, and it is gratifying that so many of you agree.  BUT most of all, BOOKS are Everything that anyone can want (or give) in Entertainment, Enlightenment, Enjoyment, Education, Engagement, but to name a few.  We happen to sell the printed, bound kind and will continue to promote reading in all its forms (especially if you buy it from Books on First).

Thank you, Authors, Researchers, Poets, Illustrators and Other Writers and Artists, for continuing to do what you do, for whatever motivations.  We must include established book publishers in our appreciation, however misguided they have been on how to sell a book, because history will show that writing is extremely important for preserving history, documenting ideas, sharing experiences, fueling imagination, but writing is nowhere without being published.  And, a hardcopy printed bound book still beats out when there's no clear line of sight for the satellite dish, when the power runs out, when you're hunting down an old favorite read to give to your favorite reader, when you want to stretch out in the bathtub or the beach, or when Books on First with free wi-fi for its customers is closed.  
 

Thank you, All you other creative types, finding solutions to fit this world so that there will be a world for our grandchildren and their grandchildren.  My question has always been why don't we take care of situations before they reach crisis proportions?  (Yes, yes, I know the answer: when weighing cost-benefit, we're not at the tipping point yet!)   Take the nutria, for example.  Using this rodent's fur for fashion (again) as we attempt to eradicate the swamp rat only makes sense, from popularity in our grandparents' time to being "Righteous Fur."  I'm hoping it can totally replace sable from the geographic area of Russia/Mongolia which remains one of the few animals whose fur is prized yet is unable to be raised in captivity. Or, the "Asian Carp" (actually 8 kinds of fish, but mainly, the silver carp, rebranded silverfin) which has been taking over rivers and canals in the United States, and our response when DNA had been found near (and thus, threatening) Lake Michigan, has been poison, dynamite, electrocution, wringing our hands, and appointing a czar to wring our hands for us.   It seems like catching, cooking and serving the fish as food (actually raised in aquafarms in Vietnam and elsewhere) is a natural solution.  In a different, but related vein, is a new kind of aquafarm cum hydroponic vegetable farm, growing lake perch and arugula energy efficiently and water sustainably. So much creative solutions to our world which is growing both in population and demands on the environment.  Especially here in the United States of America, with Manifest Destiny, we should and will be the ones to pioneer forth and shape our own future for the better.

Thank you for reading (and thanks to Sinead O'Connor for this great song which I have heard numerous times while participating in NIA.  Happy Thanksgiving.

"Ten Years Feel Like 100"

8 September 2010 marks the decennial point of "Larry's Favorite Employee" Brenda Spratt time with Books on First and we will celebrate with chocolate-frosted marble sheetcake from Snow White Bakery, beginning at 7am on Friday, 9 Sep.  Come one, come all to assist in the celebrations. 

Brenda and Kevin Spratt have come to be an important part of the Books on First family.  Each brings an invaluable facet to the character of our place and Larry could never do without either of them.  We so much appreciate both of them (and no doubt about it, they are a package deal, Thank the Lord) and hope for many more years together in our endeavor as a great place to visit in Dixon, IL.  

In Contemplating Lent, College Basketball and the First Day of Spring

It is snowing right before the first day of Spring here in Dixon.

Yet, the promise is there.

NCAA basketball playoffs are in full swing, already in the 2nd round, with a couple of upsets, although the record of the first seed prevailing against the 16th remains unbroken. 

Additionally, Nichole Miller is coming up to one year of teaching NIA with her white belt at Dixon's Traditional Wellness Center, and will be teaching her latest acquired routine, "Passion," soon.

There are kids and lambs in the barn and we are all contemplating chicks (from McMurray's Hatchery) as well as Hampshire gilts (first-time pregnant sows) and piglets.  Larry has me reading this book from the Englishman Philip Hashieder.  The photos of the pigs are adorable, and the book has me wondering if every English garden also has a little pig grazing in it.

And of course, we are in the Lenten season, working up to Easter.  Brenda has brought in a lot of Easter books, but as the Cardinal preached, we cannot "trivialize" Easter down to bunnies and coloured eggs.  Nevertheless, Spring and rebirth go hand in hand.  And, besides churches, Catholics are really good at sacrifice, which goes hand in hand with Lent.

If you need to know more, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything has been a big seller.
I wonder how many people are buying it as a gift?

And, Chicago Vassar Club will have its Annual Scholarship Benefit on 10 April, which means I will be missing another Second Saturday in Downtown Dixon.

Music at Books on First

We may not be able to help with single MP3 downloads, but Books on First does still sell a CD or two (and we can order Mp3 music albums and audiobooks for you).

We currently have Merlin's new album "Freddy Garcia's Van" (I thought it was named "merlin," but that shows how much I know about the van, which apparently needed no introduction) at cost -- $7.

Je Pense Bien a Toi

(If somebody can show me how to put French letters on a blog...)

Yes, we're back in the U. S. of A. We spent a lot of time in the airport due to weather on our side and heightened security measures on the Canadian side.

Toronto is a good place to visit, probably even a better place to live, but we are glad to be back. We have a lot of catching up to do, besides Carolyn's manic attempt to close Books on First's fiscal year properly.

A certain person who shall remain nameless but not faceless has read all about privacy issues online (along with privacy issues of a full body scan -- what is that compared to being patted down and your purse manually searched before reaching your gate?) and has declared that he does not want to be mentioned at all in this blog. "But, but, but, you are the FACE of Books on First!" Apparently, he will leave that all to the boss of us, Brenda Spratt.

Just a quick run through of Toronto points of interest:

• The Rex Hotel on Queen Street W-- live music from 3pm to closing, no cover until 9:30pm
  
• Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at Royal Ontario Museum (which has reciprocity with Art Institute of Chicago) -- too bad we did not have opportunity to see Part I and now Part II ends on 3 January 2010
• Exhibit on Vanity Fair magazine at Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) -- I was very interested to discover that it did not exist for about a half century, merging with Vogue in 1935 due to decline in ad revenue (after all, it was the height of Great Depression) and re-emerging in 1981. Annie Leibovitz, more closely associated with The Rolling Stone magazine, has been with the periodical since 1983 and was a significant influence on its look in the new incarnation, but is not the only famous or talented photographer associated with Vanity Fair. Of course, in the old incarnation, readers may remember that Edward Steichen is closely associated with Vanity Fair, also, after he was already renowned for his paintings and fine art photographs.
  
• Distillery District -- the only designated Historic District in Toronto, which represents the old Gooderham & Worts (G&W Whiskey) mill, distillery and acetone factory (yes, let's think about that for a moment)
• Marjolyn van der Hart who has a studio in the Case Goods Warehouse at the Distillery which houses many artists' studios, both visual and performing, whose work we discovered and loved on sight
• "The Bay" -- Hudson Bay Trading Company founded in 1670, on Queen Street, focus of protests against fur trade, not far from the
  
• Old City Hall
  
• Rodney's Oyster House on King Street W -- the most incredible oysters on a half shell, some knowledgeable staff (one named Rodney), and not far from the Spadina cable car stop
• mass transit system including subway, buses and electric cable cars
  
• The Biggest Bookstore in the World just off Yonge St in shopping area near Eaton Centre -- reminds us why we (Books on First) exist
• "Chinatown" that is massive, looks to be larger than Hong Kong with green grocers selling an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables which tempted us with good looks and not-bad prices
• Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) which currently has the travelling King Tut exhibit, but also has a special exhibit on Alexander Calder (including the circus film) and on Edward Steichen (with the same film clip of his working as a Vanity Fair editor that the ROM has for the Vanity Fair exhibit).
  

At my weekday gig (Fantasy Diamond Corp), while we have shop shutdown between Christmas & New Year's (known in Toronto retail terms as "Boxing Week"), many of the office personnel (customer service, accounting, sales & marketing, operations, IT) would still be around, so I had warned colleagues that my mobile would be turned off as I would be out of the country. People expected I'd be in Cabo, Mexico, or London, not what one of my bosses called "the 51st State." While the tendency is to see Canada as an extension of the USA, especially in most parts in which a form of English is the main spoken & written language, there are some signs which point directly to "Not in Kansas Anymore."

The ADA -- Americans with Disabilities Act -- has not reached Canada. The public washrooms are located usually one flight down a dim & narrow stairway in the basement, and very, very clean. Some are "spotless," as Larry would say, and all have adequate amounts of toilet paper (not something I can say of a few fairly "upscale" bars & restaurants in Chicago). We began judging just how handicapped inaccessible a restroom is. We had gone to a very large brewpub, which had three levels and a number of dining areas which the establishment can close off or open up as patronage demanded. On the first floor, there were just a number of signs that read, "Washrooms Upstairs." Larry returned from the men's with the comment, "They really outdid themselves here. You have to go up not one but two flights before going down another set of stairs to get to the restrooms." In order not to embarrass the other restaurants, we will not name that one here on this blog, although you can probably guess, if you know anything about the brewpubs located in Toronto (I believe there are three, and we visited two).

In order to combat wastefulness, inadvertent pollution and who knows, widespread choking of polar bears, the City of Toronto, if not some larger governmental agency, requires that an establishment charge 5 cents for a plastic bag, even accompanying a purchase. That's not generally a problem for us (Carolyn of the 'reduce, reuse, recycle' notoriety), but the one time that we said, we're going to have to ask for a plastic bag, the shop does not even have any plastic bags to offer us.

Also, it seems like almost every eatery in Toronto must offer wings on the menu, by the pound. I do not kid. And, that "lb" is not uniform. One waiter said that a pound of wings means eight wings and another one said, a pound is equal to ten wings. Of course, I don't expect all wings to be the same size; it just makes ordering a little difficult. What if you had 5 people sitting down for some appetizers? Do you go to where the kitchen believes a pound of wings means ten and order pounds of wings, so that everyone may get an equal number? We do want to mention a ten wings/pound place on College called Duff's which is actually an American import from Buffalo, NY, which on its menu has it the other way around: "10 Wings (one pound)."

Also, while people were hardpressed to tell us about true Canadian/Toronto fare, I did note that almost all menus with wings also had poutine. This example of local delicacy is described as fries with cheese on top smothered with brown gravy. In the spirit of taking one for the team, despite my rather strict (per Larry) low cholesterol diet, I ate as much as I could stomach at the Toronto Pearson Airport when Larry decided to agree with me that we had to have some before we left and bought me a paper plate piled high with poutine a mere ten minutes before our boarding the plane for the flight home. I suppose though it's similar to having a Philly cheesesteak sandwich at the Phillies stadium (to save time, I won't research the true name -- isn't/wasn't it called Memorial Stadium?), you can't judge a poutine by one you get at the airport. I still don't know how to pronounce the name and Larry said he just mumbled something like "pontoon" and the woman behind the counter seemed to know what he wanted.

Message from Brenda on Respect & Civility

Good afternoon!

Just sending a clip of a nice story that was on the Today Show this morning about a deli worker named Ed, from Winnetka, IL. At about 40 seconds into the clip you see Larry’s daughter, Kelly -- (she’s blonde and she says “Thanks, Ed!”) So besides Larry’s daughter making major morning television, watch the entire story, because it’s very inspiring!

Here’s the link:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/33117861#33117861

Have a great day!

Just a For Your Reference, I don't know about anybody else, but Larry's children have always been civil and Kelly is a great example of a Larry adnascentia (Save the Words!) or acorn not falling far from the tree -- she is not only civil and respectful, she's sensitive to people's needs (whether they be strangers, acquaintances, friends or family) and a darn hard worker. Thanks, Kelly!

And, we'd like to take the opportunity to highlight the civility and respect you will find from all of us at Books on First. Thank you, Brenda, Antoinette and Bri.

Want to get more of Brenda's e-messages? Join our e-list.

After 11 Sep

In the collective consciousness of this nation and most of the world, "9/11" has a certain significance. For each of us as individuals, though, it takes on a different meaning for different reasons. And, while we commemorate those who are gone and mark the first time since Pearl Harbor that there has been an attack on U.S. soil, life (and death) marches on.
Today, we want to mark one year since the passing of Charles Francis Dunphy. Larry and I miss him very much. He was a great lover of reading literature, watching baseball, discussing politics and current events, telling jokes (which he called "stories") and playing cards. Larry said he could quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet. He loved gathering the family together ("any reason for a party"). He had flaws and made mistakes, yes, but he also had the wisdom of years and experience which he generously shared and an indomitable spirit. Even blinded in one eye due to a cataract surgery gone awry, he continued to enjoy books through his wife Frances's reading. She pre-deceased him by one month (see our August blog).

And, we would like to mention the passing of Agatha Tyne, mother of Margaret -- one of Dixon's strongest supporters and a good friend since we met upon opening of Books of First and grandmother of Courtney, one of our early PT employees. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the family.

Just shared some time with Shelly Franz who loves mysteries and reads mainly with an EZReader, which she says is better than a Kindle. She has little use for smell of a book or feel of turning pages. She is of the argument that as long as we are all reading, why not electronically. Ahh, yes, we are in agreement there.

Let me tell you a little about our time back east Down East. Sunday before Labor Day, we flew (on a plane -- no arm-flapping necessary) out of Chicago O'Hare to Boston Logan. Met by Carolyn's maternal aunt & uncle Mary & Allan Tow, we went to the Union Oyster Bar for some great Cherrystones and Little Necks raw on the half shell. The fried clams were delicious. A lot of history within its walls, including Attorney Alan's -- after every trial, win or lose, he came to this restaurant. Having a meal here meant, "it is done." Mary very gamely played tour guide and recent historian as we walked along North End (not very much changed), the waterfront (unrecognizable except for the New England Aquarium), the Rose Kennedy Greenway (new over the Big Dig which was also before my time -- reminds me a bit of Lower Wacker Drive in Chicago) and Chinatown (quick walk-through). We stayed at the Omni Parker House (great Labor Day price via internet price shopping!), also full of history (Larry loves this stuff), but best of all, very centrally located.
We also managed in the next 24 hours to walk through the Boston Commons, Beacon Hill, Fenway Park, MFA, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Northeastern University/Huntington Ave, Copley Square, Newbury St and Back Bay...
I had hoped to eat at No Name, having fond youthful memories of arriving with co-worker Lisa Tuttle et al. at the end of a Friday night after finishing work at the now defunct lawfirm McCabe/Gordon P.C. and buying some California sparkling at the Store24, eating, drinking, flirting with and helping the Greek waiters re-fill ketchup bottles and salt shakers. However, a bartender we asked had never heard of the place and it wasn't on any tourist map -- which probably merely means the restaurant did not pay for any advertising. Having done no prior research, I conceded that the place may have gone out of business and did not want to drag Larry all over the docks in the dark, looking for the real Boston. I do believe, though, that that would have made for an interesting story (and we all know how Larry -- not unlike his father -- enjoys being able to tell a good story). However, as you can see, I found it on the internet with recent (conflicting) comments, so, it will be a destination for next time.

Onward to Gloucester, MA, where we spent much time reading the names of all 5,800+ fishermen who died through the years, including those featured in The Perfect Storm, which occurred in 1991. You can tell that ocean fishing had become relatively safer, fishermen were taking less risks, etc, by the number of names by year on the memorial -- 1623 up through 2001. I couldn't tell if there haven't been any deaths since 2001 or no one has updated it in 7-1/2 years.
There appeared to be a miniature museum in every shanty in town, but we restricted ourselves to 1-1/2 and managed to finish the visit with a beer from Cape Ann Brewing Co for Larry and a lobster roll (my one and only on the entire trip) for me.
In Portland, ME, a wonderful city, we visited another brewpub Gritty McDuff just a couple of blocks from the harbor, supported live music by a local artist and a number of other Maine microbreweries' offerings at Andy's Old Port Pub, visited with a bookseller of used volumes Cunningham Books in Longfellow Square. Proprietor Nancy has two storefronts (like we have our West Wing) but is cutting back to one. We wish her the best of good luck.

There is at least one, maybe more, coffee roaster in Portland. We dropped by a branch store of Coffee by Design. It was a fun space on Congress, right between Longfellow Square and the art museum. I noted that beans were being sold for average $10.75/lb, not much different from our smaller selection, offered for sale 100 miles from the roaster. Their dark roast on that day was quite good, but we were a little disappointed in the double espresso.

We also stuffed in a few hours at the Portland Museum of Art which currently has a wonderful exhibition: Call of the Coast -- Art Colonies of New England. Atop that, while the permanent collection might be modest compared to other art museums, the works are well-displayed.

The crown jewel of our visit was going to Rockland, ME, where Melissa Kelly's Primo was our destination, as featured in Michael Ruhlman's The Reach of the Chef. We stopped by the Rock City Coffee & Bookshop to check it out plus confirm directions. Melissa is a good friend of our daughter Kelly Dunphy (well, ok, Larry's daughter -- see August blogs on Frances and me). She graciously led us around the compact homefarm hehind the restaurant named for Melissa's maternal Italian grandfather, housed in a 130-year old renovated & now expanded house, where they raise everything from Tamworth and Large Black hogs to butcher to honeybees to hens producing some 90 eggs daily to herbs, vegetables and flowers all used in the incredible dishes in a daily changing menu. We returned for dinner at 7:30 after checking into The Ledges by the Bay, an old-fashioned motel with rooms featuring decks overlooking the water, and had a lemon drop martini made with house-made lemoncello, great local oysters with nasturtium butter, handmade pasta with wild boar ragout, house dry-cured beef, wonderfully prepared local tuna and halibut (with a zucchini risotto that Larry practically licked the plate to finish), a tisane of fresh picked herb leaves like lemon balm accompanying housemade grapefruit & Campari sorbetto.
We sincerely thank Melissa and co-owner Price Kushner for the generosity of their time. It was a great visit.

While we were getting ready to go to dinner, we discovered our FT (position: "Larry's Favorite Employee") Brenda had attempted to call Larry at least twice in a half hour. So, we kept the mobile on after reaching only her VM and lo, and behold, she was full of exciting news: ABC network television was coming out again to follow up after dropping by approximately a year ago to get the pulse of those in Ronald Reagan's boyhood home. Again, neither Larry nor Carolyn would be present. However, we all know Brenda Spratt, who celebrates 9 years with Books on First this month, is the boss of us, anyway. We hope there'll be a moment with her on air. We believe the segment with David Muir will air on Tuesday (15 Sep) night's ABC World News with Charles Gibson.