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Ray BENNETT (????-2014?)
"Precious Memories of Elmswell" by Ray BENNETT,
as told to Maggie Bushell, October 2014
This month I was delighted to meet with one of our older members of the village and hear his recollections of what life was like growing up here.
Ray Bennett came to Elmswell from Hopton when he was nine years old and first lived in a house opposite the Baptist Chapel. His father had been a ploughman, working with horses. It was a hard job and he had had to get up at four o'clock in the morning, working in all weathers, and walking miles during the course of the day for not much pay. His own parents were also in farming, having been tenant farmers over in Thetford. When Ray's father moved to Elmswell he worked for Nunn's Agricultural Engineers, driving a steam engine which was used to plough the fields in place of the horses.
Before they had electricity, they used an oil lamp on the table when they got up in the morning, and had to get drinking water from a pump. When they had electricity put in, they all stood round the electric kettle, watching it boil, the first time they used it. Ray also said how his mum would turn the electric lights on and off. Cooking, however, was still done on coal fired stoves. Later on, they got an electric copper. However, when his father changed his job, they moved to Hawk End Lane and his mother used a copper in a shed to do the washing. When they moved to one of the cottages opposite the Methodist church, they paid a rent of 7/6d a week (10 shillings was the equivalent of 50p now). They discovered electric wires running along under the eaves and, when they asked about this, they were told that Mr. Bird, from Albatross garage, had a generator which provided electricity for some of the houses in the village.
When he was young, Ray had a paper round and he knew everyone in the village – at least by name. As we drove around, he was able to point out many of the houses that were originally there and identify where different businesses were. At that time, Church Road had very few houses. Also he remembers being told that, during the First World War, only three people in the village had cars. One of them was Reverend Sayer, who used to encourage sport in the village, particularly the football, taking the team around in his car and letting the children play snooker and table tennis at his house. Mr. Pye also helped by letting people play sports and even have sports days on one of his meadows when it wasn't being used for cattle or horses.
We had a look around the centre of the village as Ray explained how the Pharmacy had been a coal shed. Trucks came off the siding, the coal came through the windows and was bagged up. By the notice on Crown Green was the building which belonged to the Albatross garage. After the garage was closed, the other building they owned was used for the Fire engine during the war and, when the fire station was built, the dustcart was kept there, which his dad drove. It was the first dustcart in the village. There was a dirt road by the side of the railway which went to the mill and had an opening to the garage. During the war, the mill made semolina. Baker's mill had a hedge alongside it behind which was a weighbridge, which would take a small lorry. There was a diesel engine in the mill, which was later preserved in a museum in Norwich.
Ray remembers how busy the station was. A road went round the Fox, past the Station Master's house, to a timber yard and there was also a coal yard. There was a crane where they could load and unload goods. At the goods shed there were two lorries which were used to distribute the goods. There was also a line to Woolpit brick factory. Hawk End Lane originally ran all the way to the Hall and was also known as Hall Lane. Workers at the Bacon Factory would use the stiles either side of the track to get to work, and Moyes Coal Company had a wooden office just inside the station yard. You could walk along the railway line with a pail and gather coal. Ray explained that, because of the rabbit population at the time, the embankments had no trees growing on them so they were easy to walk along, and were covered in wild flowers at different times during the year. They could also glean in the fields and go fishing without needing permission. Ray's neighbour when they lived in Hawk End Lane, Albert Scase, worked with the two horses which were used to shunt the trucks into the sidings. There were also allotments you could rent which belonged to the railway, so the money was paid to the Station Master, Mr Duncan.
Wartime in Suffolk
Ray's father and other workmen put the Elmswell sign up on the Ashfield Road, although it seems that the boundary possibly should have been where the water tower is. He was explaining to me how the airstrip used in the Second World War was called Ashfield airstrip because of this and also because there was another airstrip near Gainsborough called Hemswell, and it avoided confusion with our village name. However, he maintains most of the airfield was in Elmswell. We went to Grove Lane to look at where the airstrip was, and the buildings connected to it. Little remains of the original buildings but new ones sit on the site of some of them. As you drive along, there is a clear crossroads where there are some modern buildings. On the left of the crossroads was the Guard Room and where Safety Kleen now is there was the Mess Hall on the corner. On the right where the coal store is, was the Head Quarters, and to the left, through the trees, a lot more buildings such as hangers, where there were flight simulators and a parachute store. Further along Grove Lane, Ray remembers there was a hospital on the right and there were also life raft buildings. At the bottom of Oak Lane, in the meadow, there were some huts for accommodation, and a remaining building was a shower room. The airfield was also used by the ATC, of which Ray became a member. All supplies came through Elmswell Railway Station, including the materials needed to construct the hangers. One siding at Elmswell went along until it was level with the ground, and tanks were unloaded there.
'Do you live near New York?' ' No. I live further from it than you do.'
From as early as 1918, The Royal Flying Corps had a grass landing strip at the airfield, and the RAF had used it for training. The USAAC arrived there in mid-1943. Ray's mum used to do the washing for several of the airmen and when he returned it to them, they shared treats with him like oranges and chocolate from their shop called the PX. He met Americans from all over the U.S. because of being in the ATC, and began to identify where they came from by their accents. He also went flying with them and one day flew over his house, where he saw his mother putting out the washing. He also remembers a lady artist called Annie Hayward, who painted the names on the planes and murals on the walls of a club there called the Aero club. She also had a horse, which she let the children ride on fun days.
Mr. McNeil, of the Albatross Garage, had a taxi service and often ferried the Americans around. Ray thinks that the original owner of the garage, Mr. Bird, called it the Albatross after a German fighter plane, and at one time he had parts of a plane in one of his buildings. Ray recalls overhearing a conversation between the locals and some of the American airman where one of them asked the Americans 'Do you live near New York?' and he replied 'No, I live further away from it than you do!' He also remembers going to a church parade and being joined by the Americans, who marched up to the church. Half the service was taken by the vicar and the other half by the American chaplain, and the stars and stripes was dedicated on that day.
When the Americans had reached a total of 200 missions, there was a big celebration. The children were invited up to the base for parties, and a there was a big stage built and Glenn Miller and his band came and performed, as well as a singer called Paula Green. However the toll was heavy on those flying from the airfield, with 400 airmen killed.
Elmswell resists Invasion
Elmswell, as in common with the rest of the country, had its own Home Guard. Mr. Henderson, the accountant from the Bacon Factory, was an officer in the Home guard. Members were often in important jobs, too young to go to war, too old or had been deferred from going. In spite of working hard at their own jobs during the day, these men would then patrol the village, particularly round the station area, for hours at night. Ray took me to where the Pharmacy is now to explain a plan the Home Guard had should the Germans reach Elmswell. Outside the Pharmacy is a tree. The Home Guard tied wires attached to steel bands round the trunk of the tree, with the wires going across the road to the Fox forecourt. There they had some concrete blocks to which the wires could be attached and pulled tight when they were needed to block the road. At the same time, they planned to launch molotov cocktails at them, which were kept in a building nearby. Interestingly, you can still see the marks on the tree where the wires were tied.
How difficult was it living in Suffolk during the War?
In spite of having many airfields in East Anglia, the villages didn't need to have sirens or air raid shelters as they didn't have many raids. On only two occasions did bombs fall in Elmswell; on one occasion a lone plane dropped four bombs on the airfield, with only one exploding, but sadly killing people, and on the other occasion, one Sunday, Ray saw a German bomber fly over and he dropped a bomb in a field near Chamber's Farm. Once, the Fire Service was called out when a flying fortress blew up, scattering wreckage over a wide area. The fire was worse than expected and Mr. Leeks, the Chief Fire Officer, needed someone to phone for help. Unfortunately, no-one on the fire engine knew how to use a phone (because they didn't have them at home) so Ray's lodger, Gordon, who operated the switchboard, had to teach them how to use it.
Towns like Bury and Stowmarket did have sirens and Ray remembers doodlebugs coming over but they didn't drop in the village. In fact, the biggest danger seemed to be from planes hitting each other and there was an occasion when an American plane overshot the runway and hit two workers in the field. Another crash with two planes happened in Thurston. Amazingly, some people managed to survive the crashes. Living in the country also meant that there was much more food to be had than in the towns and cities. They could still get food and milk from the farms, and meat from the Bacon factory.
Elmswell had their share of evacuees although not all stayed for very long. Along School Road there was a piece of land that belonged to the church which had a hall. It was next to the old primary school. The evacuees used the hall and had their own teachers. One day there was a knock on the door of the primary school and a man asked if it was 'the London school?' 'No,' came the reply from Ray's teacher. 'We're all country bumpkins here!' These are wonderful memories of times gone by, even though they are not all happy ones, but they give such a clear picture of the past. In our village we have managed to preserve memories of people who have made valuable contributions to the community and Ray's own father, Ernie Bennett, is honoured in this way for his hard work as a parish councillor, and he has Bennett Avenue named after him. What a fitting tribute, and Ray must feel very proud of him whenever he walks past that sign.
Second Interview with Ray Bennett, 17th April 2018 [Written by Stella Chamberlin of EHG, with Ray's proof-reading and approval.]
Following the publication of Mark Houghton's article in April's village newsletter about his father, Daniel, who had been in the village as a London evacuee during WW2, long-time villager Ray Bennett wanted to add to this information, as well as to his own village wartime memories given to Maggie Bushell in 2014 (above).
Ray remembers that the Houghton family originally lived in Ashfield Road, not Hawk End Lane. The evacuees were educated in the old school site's church hall, and had their own teachers from London. Therefore, Elmswell children and the evacuees did not really mix very much, although Ray does remember Danny Houghton and his family (Ray thought Danny had a younger brother). The Houghtons stayed with Mr & Mrs Ted Nicholls in Ashfield Rd, which was quite a task for them as, according to Ray, the Nicholls were "getting on in years", i.e. about 60's which was "getting on" then, due to the very hard physical work everyone did in those days.
Describing the evacuees' very different city life to that which they experienced in the Suffolk countryside, Ray said that there used to be regular sugar-beet trains passing through Elmswell Station and, never having seen sugar-beet, the city evacuees thought these were parsnips! Some of the Londoners did not stay for very long as they found the countryside too quiet, i.e. very few cars or other motorised vehicles then.
The route which Ray and his friends took to school used to be up the bacon factory lane, past the pens of pigs awaiting their fate, over the railway into Hawk End Lane, then across the then meadow (where the Fire Station now is) into School Road. Like many of his contemporaries, he stayed at that school until aged 14.
On the subject of war-time food, Ray agreed that country dwellers certainly fared better than their city cousins because everyone kept their own chickens, grew vegetables, managed to get fresh pork from the bacon factory, and milk from the local dairyman although the milk was not pasteurised.
Ray's family moved from Ashfield Rd to Hawk End Lane, and they too had evacuees staying with them – a girl and a boy (not related) at different times. They were both younger than Ray, and the girl was fine but the boy was a little "rascal". To illustrate this point, Ray remembers that where the Fire Station is now used to be a meadow with a pond and ducks. The evacuee boy took Ray's family dog out of their yard and set the dog onto the ducks, killing at least three of them. Ray's father was not best pleased as he had to pay the owner of the ducks for their loss. Another incident was when the boy turned on the tap of the milk float while no-one was looking, so leaving all that precious milk streaming down the road.
Ray doesn't remember specifically how the evacuee children were allocated, except that he believes the Sanitary Inspector, Mr Wyatt, met the children at the station and he then allocated them to different village families. Mr & Mrs Wyatt had a big house in Ashfield Rd (on the right going out of the village and before White House Farm, possibly Button Haugh House?), but they never took in any evacuees even though they would have had plenty of room, so this was a little frowned upon by some villagers.
Ray was in the Air Training Corps (ATC) up to the age of about 15, and very well remembers the Americans arriving at Ashfield Airfield. Before more permanent huts were built for them, the airmen were at first billeted in tents in the meadow at the end of Oak Lane. Ray preferred the Americans to the English RAF as they seemed to be more relaxed and less strict than the RAF officers. In fact, as an ATC cadet, he was permitted to go up in several of the American planes which he thinks was perhaps because he looked older than 15. Also, the ATC spent several summers at four-week camps – Felixstowe in 1944 and Haverhill in 1945 – where they were also permitted to fly dual-controlled planes.
Since 1940, Ray has lived in five houses in Elmswell – Ashfield Rd, Hawk End Lane, Chapel Row, Thedwastre Close and finally, since 1972, in Eastern Way. After Hawk End Lane, he and his new wife rented (for 7s 6d per week) one of the cottages in Chapel Row (opposite the Methodist Church) which used to belong to the Bryants who owned Pakenham Mill.
Ray worked at Elmswell Bacon Factory for 28 years as a driver, delivering the finished pork products in refrigerated lorries to distribution centres as far away as Carlisle, Newcastle, and Wales. Such long journeys could not be done in a day trip, so always involved an overnight stay. Having started as a farmers' co-operative venture, the Bacon Factory was taken over several times, eventually taking and keeping the Harris name, but Ray felt that every take-over meant the workers' pay and conditions worsened.
Ray's wife worked for over 25 years at Rannochs (chicken and egg products, particularly liquid eggs for commercial use), both at their original New Road and later Haughley Park sites. In her 25th year, she and three colleagues received their gold watches, which were very valuable and which they'd been able to choose themselves from an Ipswich jeweller. Mr & Mrs Williams were the bosses at Rannochs, who were very good employers. Ray's father was a keen trade unionist and, in the election immediately after the end of the war, Mr Williams drove his car round the village to collect Labour supporters and take them to the Polling Stations.
Ray's son, Rodney, served in the Marines for 22 years, based in Plymouth, and he received his long-service medal from the Commandant General while on duty in Norway. He now works for FlyBe at Exeter Airport. Meanwhile, Ray's grandson has been serving in the Tank Corps in Tidworth (Wilts) for some years.
Bearing in mind his obvious love of all things to do with aviation, Ray now spends his spare time constructing intricate model aeroplanes and tanks (of various nationalities) which are lovingly and impressively displayed all round his sitting room, with explanatory notes for each one. Amongst others, of particular local and East Anglian interest, he has two models of the Flying Fortresses, both decorated with the Ashfield Airfield's markings, a Lightening from Honington, Mustang from Leiston, Thunderbolt from Boxted (on the Suffolk/Essex border), Westland Lysander from Bedford's RAF Tempsford (which was used to fly members of the SOE to and from Europe – these were used because they could land and take off from a small field or meadow). With this knowledge, Ray thinks that the picture of the WW2 aeroplanes on the website and in the recent newsletter is probably at Rougham (not Ashfield) because the front aeroplane's tail-fin shows the letter "A" which was for Rougham whereas, paradoxically, Ashfield's letter would have been "G".


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Export 2 results:[ Author] Title Type Year
Filters: Keyword is coupling [Clear All Filters]
"The Web as a Software Connector: Integration Resting on Linked Resources", IEEE Software, vol. 35, issue 1, pp. 93 - 98, January/February, 2018. (368.35 KB),
"Why is the Web Loosely Coupled? A Multi-Faceted Metric for Service Design", 18th World Wide Web Conference (WWW2009), Madrid, Spain, ACM, pp. 911-920, April, 2009. (267.68 KB),

subset: commoncrawl


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I have been considering joining the Boulder Creek Winery's wine club. So, I decided to visit their tasting room and try out wines on a research trip.
The Boulder Creek Winery tasting room is simple and functional, as you might expect from the industrial, strip mall location in Gunbarrel. As I walked in I was greeted by a knowledgeable and friendly host behind the counter who let me try absolutely everything (smaller pours, of course) so I could make the best composition – for my tastes – in the mixed case.
I chose about 75% red / 25% white and couldn't be happier. I'm especially fond of the Sauvignon Blanc – it was crisp, clean and had none of the typical over-the-top flavors that normally make me nervous to order this well respected varietal when I go out to dinner. If your tastes are more aligned with deep, rich, dry, bold reds then I would recommend the Tempranillo. It was fantastic and pairs exquisitely with a grilled Filet and rosemary potatoes.
As a general rule, I take great pride in supporting local businesses and, wherever possible, reducing carbon footprint. I also couldn't help but notice my purchase would directly support Jackie Thompson, a wine artisan and Colorado lady entrepreneur; who is making waves, earning respect and building a solid reputation in a traditionally male dominated field.
One other thing about joining the club is that members get invited to special events like the annual VIP party on November 21st and 22nd. This year club members will enjoy a selection of Boulder Creek Wines paired with Chef Willem De Froy's European style appetizers – all included with your membership.
My conclusion? The case of wine – and the club membership that comes with it – is a good investment well worth considering


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Austin resident Tracey Showers is so proud of her 19-year-old daughter Madison Isidore for being part of the team that created a beautiful and inspiring mural at the intersection of Central Avenue and Lake Street.
"She's able to give back to the community in a way that she loves," Showers said Saturday morning during the ribbon-cutting ceremony where dozens of residents and parents gathered to cheer the completion of an eight-week art project. Fourteen high school and college art students from Austin and Oak Park made the vivid mural.
"There's a lot of traffic coming through here," said Showers, who lives in North Austin with her daughter. "I think that would give them something to admire and feel good about the neighborhood."
The mural, named Wake Up, is on the north side of the Green Line Central station and across from Austin Town Hall. The mural is intended to provoke anyone who see is to think about the shared pursuit of dreams from the neighboring communities of Austin and Oak Park, said professional artist Carolyn Elaine of the Oak Park Area Arts Council.
"We started out having a conversation about how there are so many common things between people of different communities, and what it is like to step out of your world and into someone else's community," said Elaine, a 12-year instructor with the Off the Wall program, which has hired West Side teen to work with professionals on public art pieces every summer since 2005.
"No matter what community they are from, they still have hopes, dreams and aspirations for their future," Elaine said, adding it's the second year that Austin and Oak Park teens have worked together.
The art pieces completed last summer included a mural called Empower Change, which appears underneath the Austin Boulevard viaduct on the east side of the neighborhood.
This year's Wake Up mural consists of three parts, each representing the different stages of an individual awakening to his dreams as well as the reality, Elaine said during last weekend's unveiling.
"It's really owning your dream and being the change that you want to see in the future," she said.
While it's a great opportunity "for talented young artists to come together for a common goal," the mural also sends a powerful message to whoever walks pass the area, said Camille Wilson White, executive director of the Oak Park Area Arts Council.
"Last spring, there was a hateful evil that went on right on the corner of Corcoran Place and Central Avenue, a young man lost his life to gun violence," White said, referring to a shooting in the middle of the day outside the Green Line station that left many in the community shaken.
"To be able to have this kind of beauty spring out from that travesty is just tremendous and wonderful," she added. "This is a legacy that these young artists will leave in this community forever."
To Austin teen Isidore, who just became an art student at Dominican University, working on such a big-scale project with a tight schedule was a bit overwhelming. But it was all worth it after seeing the first mural she's ever worked on being completed, she said.
"I had no idea this mural will end up being this huge and this beautiful," Isidore said.
Being part of the project, which involved a lot of designing and painting, gave her valuable professional experience, she said.
"The mask part of the face was all pretty much improvised," she said. "And the most difficult process to me personally was finding the right share of color; we had so many colors to choose from."
One of the images the mural features is a half human, half mask face, and that's what Isidore believes will have the biggest impact on the community.
"People do have hard struggles of trying to be themselves while hiding behind the mask, either in their dream or in the reality," she said. "It doesn't just correlate to one person; it correlates to everyone."
The half-masked face is also Oak Park teen Ursula Riess' favorite piece.
"I think that's really relevant today – about being aware of what's going on in the world and issues that are important to protecting your own rights and the rights of others in the community," said the 18-year-old, who as one of the veteran apprentices led this summer's team.
"I was learning how to cut the tiles and fit them (into) several pieces," said Riess, who will study art at Evergreen State College. You have to make sure you get them put together "really fast because the cement dries easily under the sun."
To Austin teen Derrell Little, 16, who lives down the street from the mural, the experience was life-changing.
"We put it up really fast. But when we were doing it, it just took a long time," Little said, adding that's an important lesson.
After completing the first public art piece he's been part of, the teen said he was more assured of where his interest lies and how powerful art can be.
"When people read [the statements], they really get a clear message about it and start to think," he said.
Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), who has been working with the Oak Park Area Arts Council to bring public art to the ward, said the program invokes hope and inspirations while bringing Austin and Oak Park together once again.
"Every single piece of energy and effort that you put into this is gonna make people proud of the community in which they live," Taliaferro told the crowd of young artists before he cut the ribbon attached to the butterfly image on the wall.
"We still have some areas where we need to invoke that pride and that sense of joy in this community," he said. "And that can be done through art, by [people] coming together."


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© 2023 Gorenz and Associates, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Web Builder CS: Websites for Accountants


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Offical names for Plutoids must have a mythological origin. It joins previously named plutoids Pluto and Eris, and previously named dwarf planet Ceres. Makemake is the largest object in the solar system named for a non-Western mythological figure.
Most known plutoids were discovered by astronomer Mike Brown and his team. His website notes that the smallest round satellite in the solar system has a diameter of about 400 km, and that the smallest round non-satellite in the solar system, Ceres, is about 900 km in diameter, which, he suggested are the empirical cutoffs for icy and rocky bodies, respectively, to form spheres with their own gravity.
Prior to today, Makemake was the largest object in the solar system without an official common name, and without formal recognition as a dwarf planet or satellite.
Some of the other leading contenders in the queue to be recognized as dwarf planets, with their diameters in kilometers, approximate locations and their official or unofficial common names, where available, are:
Santa (Posible Dwarf Planet Kuiper Belt) 1,500
2002 TC302 (Possible Dwarf Planet ca. Kuiper Belt) under 1,200
Sedna (Possible Dwarf Planet ca. Kuiper Belt) 1,180-1,800
Quaoar (Possible Dwarf Planet Kuiper Belt) 989-1346
Orcus (Possible Dwarf Planet Trans-Neptune) 880-1880
Wikipedia has a more complete list.
Ceres, in the asteroid belt, is the only dwarf planet which is not a plutoid, although some modern researchers believe that Ceres may have once been a plutoid before being catapulted by gravity into the inner solar system during the process by which the gas giants took their current positions in the solar system. It is much larger than its three nearest rivals in size in the asteroid belt, which together with Ceres make up about half of the mass of the main asteroid belt.
Other large bodies in the solar system include the Sun, eight full fledged planets, and fifteen dwarf planet sized or larger satellites of planets. Another blogger more completely summarizes (wiht the inaccuracy of counting Ceres as a plutoid) the state of affairs as follow:
For those keeping count, the official tally for our system is now four stony planets, four gas giants, four plutoids, around 180 moons, 1000 Kuiper belt objects, 3500 comets, and 10,000 asteroids with about seven more plutoid candidates under consideration and a few dozen believed to exist.
Objects that are much smaller than Orcus are unlikely to become dwarf planets, as opposed to comets or asteroids, because they tend to lack sufficient gravity to compress themselves into a roughly spherical shape, which is part of the definition of a dwarf planet.


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It was a rainy weekend two weeks ago but we still decided to go to the mall because we need to buy a new pair of shoes for hubby. This has long been overdue since he's been using the same shoes for a few years now. They just recently moved in to their new office at Bonifacio Global City (inggit mode ako nang very very light because di 'ko na inabutan ang posh office namin sa aming beloved telco. Nakiki-"namin" ako, haha! You see, before I became a SAHM, we were together on the same telco. Anyway, I'm more than happy naman being a SAHM, being with Trev 24/7, so okay lang. So, back to the shoes, ayun nga, of course I wanted him to look more presentable naman dun aside from the fact that they have certain dress codes talaga. Glad that SM is just a stone's throw away from our place, no hassle going there kahit umuulan.
So, off we went to SM and looked for a nice pair for him. I'm a big fan of Skechers (the current pair he's using is Skechers din) so we went to check what they have to offer. I saw one which I really like for hubby. But as always, it's
quite expensive and we're on a REALLY tight budget right now, but considering the quality, it's sulit na rin. We went to the other stores and checked out their displays, too. But I couldn't get over with the one we saw at Skechers because for me (parang ako ang magsusuot ano?) it's really nice and hubby likes it too, he said naman it's comfy, so we ended up going back and buying it.
After that, I asked hubby if we could go to the baby section to look for stuffs for Trev. I wanted to buy Trev new pyjamas because most of the ones he's using right now are all parang shorts na lang. He's grown really big and I feel like all his pjs shrank na ata. Haha! SM was on sale and we ended up buying not just some pjs but some shirts for Trev, too! Yay! :-)
|Happy baby! The saleslady was so amused because Trev was in the mood for playtime. Nagpapacute sa saleslady, hihi! :-)
|While waiting for Tatay at the cashier. :-)
We went to the grocery to end our little shopping "spree".
|Tatay, Trev and his "roller coaster" ride! Haha!
We went home after that, mahirap na mag-overspend, hahaha!
|My little boy at home. Play na agad with his tolocar. Haha! :-)
Trev's OOTD on that rainy weekend was courtesy of my brother who happens to be Trev's ninong also. (Thanks Tininong Marlon for the gift!).
Love that the fabric was so soft and warm on that rainy day.
|Allan's new shoes, a belt for moi (from Ph260, I got it for only Ph100) and VO5 shampoo for me also (Ph99, I saw it at the grocery and I find it more affordable than other brands, so try natin, I'll make a review soon.)
So, that's our shopping finds for August. Thank God for all the blessings! How about you, my dear friends? Any shopping hauls lately? :-)


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Jean Dunand art links
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Jean Dunand at the Detroit Institute of Arts, MichiganVASE, ca.1924
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco NEW!
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City NEW!
Musée d'Orsay, ParisArtworks in the museum's collections database
Ball State Museum of Art, IndianaDinanderie Vase, ca.1920
Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaThe Chariot of Aurora (detail), 1935
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Reims, FranceHuge scan of a painting of a tree with crows. The image's ALT text identifies the artist as Jean Dunand.
National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, JapanSpherical vase in gold and red, ca.1925
National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, JapanChestnut Tree, 1922
National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, JapanSpherical vase in green and black, 1925
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, RichmondTable, ca.1925
National Art Databases and Museum Inventories:Swiss Institute for Art Research (SIKART) Click "works" & search for artworks; click "exhibitions" & search for current exhibitions worldwide
Christie's Past Sale Archive(database goes as far back as 1991; images go about as far back as 1999)
Sotheby's Sold Lot Archive(database goes as far back as 1998; images where permitted by copyright go about as far back as 2001)
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Union List of Artist Names (Getty Museum) Reference sheet with basic information about the artist and pointers to other references.
The Magazine AntiquesImage 8 in the slideshow is a vase by Jean Dunand
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The Latest In Men's Beachwear
Page 2 of 2
Item #5: SunglassesThis season's most popular styles of sunglasses include aviator, rimless, oversized, shields, and wraparounds, but since I'm focusing on great beachwear, the style you choose should depend on your beach activity of choice.
If you're lying around soaking in the rays, then feel free to wear your aviator or rimless frames, and even shields. But if you're engaging in more sporty activities like beach volleyball, you might want to opt for wraparounds or other sporty-looking shades. Rimless frames and shields are more fragile, so be wary while wearing them to the beach (especially if they're expensive).
While clear tints, like those featured to the right, are still on this season's sunglass scene, remember that your eyes are visible behind the lens. Tread carefully.
Item #6: HatWhether you cover your head on the beach or on the way to and from it, it's important to protect your head from the sun's heat. But nobody said you can't do it in style.
One hat look you've probably seen on every celebrity or trendsetter in your neighborhood is a mesh baseball cap. Von Dutch is one popular brand name that comes to mind, but today you can find this trucker-style cap at most fashion retailers. The mesh back makes the hat more breathable than a regular baseball cap, so you'll feel and look cool while you truck along.
Another trendy cover-up is a visor, which offers enough protection and comfort, without completely covering your head. You've surely seen visors on celebrities (especially rap artists) and you'll be freestyling in the heat with one of these.
Item #7: Beach bagBagging it for the day? Well chances are you'll need something in which to lug around your towel, cell phone, and other important items.
Skip out on the typical beach bags and try out a nylon bag like this one by Rucksack. Its drawstring closure offers easy access so you can pack up in two minutes flat, while its nylon fabric ensures that your belongings won't get wet or ruined. Most importantly, its ultra-cool look will attract the attention of fellow beachcombers.
Item #8: Comfortable pantsYour awesome day at the beach has drawn to a close and you want to switch out of your wet trunks. Good thing you have your linen drawstring pants to wear with your sleeveless T or nice button-down short-sleeve shirt.
Linen pants are one of summer 2003's must-have items, so if you don't have a pair by now, then there's no better time to take the plunge. As you might have noticed, drawstring is a popular detail on clothing today.
Bonus item: Mesh shirtThis recommendation comes with a disclaimer: this shirt is not for everybody. In fact, only a select few can pull it off. If this is the look for you, make sure you only wear it on the beach. Okay, so most of you might be wondering, if this shirt is so limited, why bother getting it? Sometimes looking great comes with its share of risk-taking and a whole lot of confidence, and if you've got it, then flaunt it.
| get beached
Between the flashy swim trunks, sleeveless T-shirt, low-key flip-flops, smoking shades, fly hat, comfortable pants, and fashionable beach bag, you'll see that life truly is a beach. Don't forget the sunscreen (tomato-red tans will never be in style) and head out for a day of surf, sand, sun, and sheer style.


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Chester Wallace Carry All Zipper Bags - Small
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They don't call them Carry-All for nothing: these all-purpose pouches from Portland bag makers Chester Wallace are a stylish solution for carrying a wide range of small items from notebooks to plane tickets to toiletries. Each bag is two sided: one side is patterned heavy cotton fabric, the reverse side is Japanese denim in a dark indigo-black. They feature sturdy, nickel-plated premium zippers and metal ring for easy hanging. A Canoe exclusive, made in Portland.


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Over 80
My Overall Rating
Customer Service
Value For Money
Michele D.Guelph, ON
"The service was fantastic from quoting through to the finish. Corey was helpful with paint selection and accommodating with my schedule. I would hire him again and highly recommend him. The place was done quickly and beautifully - it was a smooth professional process. Thanks!"
Lisa. RWaterloo, ON
"Excellent all around. I was contacted within minutes of filling out the Home Advisor project, they worked around my schedule and completed the job beautifully and efficiently."
Kristy CGuelph, ON
"Corey did an amazing job painting our whole house! He & his team were very professional & did a quick job of painting & made our house look new again!! I highly recommend Corey."
Robert PGuelph, ON
"Very personable and professional. Very pleased with the quality work of Corey and Michael. I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone needing work done in the home interior or exterior."
David MKitchener, ON
"Corey and his team were very professional - on time, courteous, conscientious. I was surprised at the amount cleaning required after the job - dust and a few paint marks. Overall we are very happy with the painting."
HomeownerCambridge, ON
"Incredible professionals!!! Top customer service and work. They showed up exactly when they said and met all expectations!"
Scott J.Guelph, ON
"Good attention to detail and timelines were exceeded. I would recommend Corey and his team to any homeowner."
HomeownerWaterloo, ON
"The job was done very well and on schedule."
Mary M.Guelph, ON
"Professional considerate to the family needs quality work and very friendly."
HomeownerCambridge, ON
"Value exceed the price. HIRE them!"
Kristen HBrantford, ON
"The ONLY painters to hire!"
MattCambridge, ON
"Loved working with Corey! You can tell right away that he cares a lot about his business and the products that he uses."
HomeownerDundas, ON
"arrived on time, clean up was excellent, workmanship excellent, was not the most expensive estimate I obtained, would recommend to friends and family, would have them back to do more painting, able to work around my schedule."
Karol KGuelph, ON
"Was fantastic to work with from beginning to end. He was helpful with the colour selection, explained the paint he would use, and did a wonderful job of making my walls look new again. I would absolutely recommend them and will definitely call Corey for my new decorating project."
Charmainr TBurlington, ON
"Not only did Corey and Jessie do a great paint job and in a timely manner, they have great customer service. They are friendly and provided great advice. I'm looking forward to having them back for the next paint job."
Martin DKitchener, ON
"from the first time i met corey i was sure this is who i wanted to hire.when it came time to paint my whole house it was the first time i met jesse he was very professional from start to finish. i would recommend this company to anybody who is looking for a painting project to be done."
RobinCambridge, ON
"Great job! Painted our whole house. Very professional & friendly. I would use them again. Highly recommend."
Terry PBrantford, ON
"Service was A1, we even added an extra colour to the stair railing at the last moment and that was no problem. Two nice guys who did a great job. Happy customers."
HomeownerKitchener, ON
"On time."
HomeownerBrantford, ON
"They are very professional, I would use them again."
HomeownerHamilton, ON
"Could have cleaned the site a little better when they finished."
Jaime BKitchener, ON
"Great work! Fast and efficient! I will definitely recommend Corey to my friends and family!!!"
Raj KKitchener, ON
"Cory was responsive, professional and made sure that I was happy with the work. I was extremely happy with the end result."
Al OBrantford, ON
"On time no wasted time cleaned up."
Carole RCambridge, ON
"Good Job. Thanks"
Jackie MacDonald
"This is the second time we've hired Precision Painting, and we will continue to use them for our future painting needs. They are committed to doing the best job possible and making the customer 100% happy. Corey, the owner, (and his painter Jessie) is responsive, personable, honest and trustworthy. He and his paint(s) are professionals and know how to do an excellent job; the way you want it. Do not hesitate to use Precision Painting - no need to go anywhere else for your painting needs."
Kristina C.Burlington, ON
"After a terrible experience with the first painting company I had hired, Corey and his team at Precision Painting & Renovations, saved the day. The job was completed on time, for the cost quoted and most importantly to me, they turned my house into a home with paint! Thank you, Corey & team."
Kara S.Paris, ON
"Was very happy with the quality of service, from Corey returning my calls promptly, keeping appointments, and communicating every step of the way, through to the finished results and clean-up. I think the pricing is very fair for the quality of workmanship and exceptional level of service. I am very happy and will be a repeat customer in the future."
Carmine SBrantford, ON
"Professional and diligent from start to finish! The quality of their work is second to none! They always cleaned up after themselves and went above and beyond all of our expectations. They did and excellent job on the entire exterior and interior of our home in a timely and efficient manner! Best of the Best! Well done guys!!"
Nevin VCambridge, ON
"Corey did an amazing job of painting our house. He prides himself on his work and it shows. We are very happy with the results and everyone who has seen the house compliments how nice it looks. I would recommend Corey and his company. He will give an honest professional opinion and quote, and live up to his five star rating if hired."
Laury CCambridge, ON
"Precision Painting did an excellent job on painting our kitchen, family room, hallway and bathroom. The job was done quickly and clean up was done very well. I would recommend Precision Painting for sure!"
Lori SGuelph, ON
"Outstanding job done by Jessie. Work began at 8 and was completed by two!!! Precise work, totally cleaned up. We couldn't be more pleased. Living, dining area, hall walls and ceiling done."
Dave DParis, ON
"Corey and his team were very punctual and very professional. Everything was properly moved or draped off and everything was cleaned and put back the way it was before they started. I would definitely recommend Precision painting to anyone in need of a facelift to their home."
Maggie MWaterloo, ON
"Everything went according to plan and the job was completed ahead of schedule. Was quick to respond whenever I needed him and Jesse, who did the painting, was brilliant ! Was very efficient, careful & quiet. I have no problem with highly recommending this company. On top of everything else, they come in under budget!!"
Barry WKitchener, ON
"Cory was very professional from the first day we meet to quote the job until all was completed and a very thorough cleanup was done. Jessy and Candice were punctual and worked extremely hard during the whole job, it was actually hard to get them to take a break !! I would not have another company paint for me again."
HomeownerBrantford, ON
"They came in to redo a partially done botched job. Corey is very professional and knowledgeable. We are glad that we took his suggestion re colour. Jesse & Candice were good to work with. They did a great job & finished early for our walk thru. We would certainly use them again and recommend them very highly."
Jennifer FGoogle Review
"Very thorough work and great people to work with. Trustworthy in my home when I wasn't there, left the place looking fresh and clean. Went above and beyond with wall repairs and patching! Thanks Corey and team!! Our house is ready for the market!"
DixieCambridge, ON
"Cory and Jesse, were very professional , friendly and extremely trust worthy. I did not have a second thought of leaving them alone in my house.. I would recommend them to anyone that is looking for a painter.. There prices are good and you get more for your money, they are worth every cent..."
KristinaBurlington, ON
"Precision Painting is the best. Can't wait to hire Corey to paint the rest of our house. They did a great job and our house looks amazing. I work from home and we have a small baby, not once did I notice Corey working while I was take care of the baby or work. I look forward to working with Precision Painting in the future."
Mike DGoogle Review
"I found Precision Painting online and couldn't be happier with the services Corey and his crew provided us. Dealing with complicated renovations is never easy and he made it look like a breeze. We have two homes under our belt now and more coming. Elite will continue using the outstanding services and quality that Corey puts forth. We will be recommending him to clients and friends in the industry ! 5 stars."
Dixie GCambridge, ON
"Jesse and Cory are an awesome team. I trusted them without question. I'm just sad I have nothing left to paint. There are prices are great considering the amount of work and time they put in my house."
DebGuelph, ON
"Precision Painting did a good job and were professional. They arrived for the assessment of the job that needed done on time and provided a quote on site and finished up on schedule. I am happy with the quality of the work provided."
Patti BBrantford, ON
"Excellent job and great service. Jessie was a fantastic painter and very accommodating. Corey showed so much pride in their work, and went above and beyond to ensure it was the best paint job and service possible. I recommend Precision without a doubt!"
RobertCambridge, ON
"Excellent service and workmanship. From choosing the right color to the final clean up. From being on-time and finished within the time specified for the job, in and out with little to no down time for us. Paint looks great and came within budget, very reasonably priced. Overall we were very pleased. Look forward to having Cory and his staff back sometime, highly recommend."
TonyaKitchener, ON
"Corey and his team were professional, ontime and delivered on budget. They went above and beyond to offer colour consultation along with advice on what options would work for me. The job was meticulous and the team left the house tidy/clean everyday. I would not hesitate to recommend Precision Pro Painters for any job - small or large. I plan on having them back in the near future."
Teresa PBrantford, ON
"Corey and his team were incredibly professional, reliable, and efficient. After having received in-home quotes from 4 other painters, as soon as I met him, I had no doubt in my mind that Precision Painting was the way to go. His extensive expertise and value for quality services are unmatched by most in the business. I would recommend Precision Painting to anyone and everyone."
Denis LCambridge, ON
"I was really impressed with the time taken to properly prepare for the painting process with all floors covered and taped and all furniture covered. At the conclusion of painting work was checked by Corey and staff with touch-ups performed as necessary. Excellent quality at a reasonable price. Corey and staff were always punctual and very courteous with myself and my wife. I would definitely hire Corey again; in fact we hope to do another major project next year and he will be our painter of choice."
Lee CCambridge, ON
"Corey took great care of us! We had them here just before Christmas, and even with the stress of the holidays added to the scenario, they made it super easy! We requested that they do the living room first, and it was no problem. Jessie was efficient and amiable, and Corey is just a really likeable guy. You just know the moment you meet him that he's all about making his customers happy. Great job, peace of mind, and a very fair price. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them."
Patty HBrantford, ON
"Corey and his team were excellent. I used this site to get a quote and he was one of 3 businesses to call. I went with Precision Painting because of Corey's knowledge and professionalism AND he knows paint quality! I refreshed the whole house and he delivered on all of his promises. I would recommend him and his team at any time. Thanks Corey."
Barry WKitchener, ON
"I inquired about a price to paint a few exterior areas of our home and Corey replied within a half hour and came to look at the job a few days later. From our initial meeting until the job was completed a week later, Corey was professional, informative and the job looked amazing!! The price was very reasonable and I will definitely have Matt and Corey back for more work and would highly recommend them."
Geoff VGuelph, ON
"We had a great experience with Corey and Precision Painting. We received a positive referral from our neighbour who had hired him earlier and we selected him out of 2 other painting companies who quoted to paint our entire basement (walls,doors,trim >1,000 sq. ft.) and 2 large garage doors Corey's price to complete the work was competitive/fair. More important than just the price tag in my opinion is the 'true cost' of working with a new tradesperson - With certainty, Corey delivered further value in this category since we did not have to deal with any issues with the job or his staff nor did he have to come back after the fact to remedy anything. The quality level of the materials used and the quality of the finished product itself were top notch. As it relates to job performance: Corey was prompt, clean, detail oriented and finished the job ahead of schedule with zero issues whatsoever. You will quickly find that Corey is passionate about painting and I found his enthusiasm and technical understanding of the trade refreshing. He is a very positive guy who accepts ownership of the project and takes significant pride in the work he does."
Janice CBrantford, ON
"Over the years....the thought of painting our home caused much anxiety....should we do it ourselves or should we contract it out?...As a result it kept going down our priority list. After reviewing the listings with Home Advisor I decided to make some calls. 2 contractors were contacted. However, one never did show after making 2 different appointments. This did not make my anxiety any better. Then I got a call for Cory at Precision Painting. After a short conversation over the phone and an appointment set, I felt comfortable already. Cory showed up for the appointment on time. He was very professional and I could sense he was passionate about what he does. He made us feel comfortable with our decision to contract the job out. Once he toured the area we wanted to paint we then discussed color and cost. We felt that he was very fair. And at that time we booked him and set a date for the job to start."
Betty SHamilton, ON
"I am extremely pleased with the entire job of painting my interior walls and ceilings. From the moment of meeting Corey (the owner and manager) he is very professional and reliable. Both him and Jessie, his worker had the job done within 48 hrs. Corey was the only person who showed me his credentials upon giving me the quote. I have to say that I would hire both of them to paint for me again. From start to finish the process was done professionally. I would gladly recommend Precision Painting."
HomeownerGuelph, ON
"We painted our entire main floor/upstairs, and to take down 3.5 rooms of wallpaper. The house looks good as new and the paint is beautiful. It really transformed the house. However, we were really disappointed with the communication and the clean up. From the get go, we weren't on the same page. All of our blinds were taken down and not put back up; a lot of our brackets were missing so we had to replace the blinds completely, which was an expense we were not anticipating, particularly after our cost was much higher than anticipated. Our vents were filled with drywall and there were paint droplets on doors, fireplace, and floors. To be fair, we did have a walk-through, but it was before the job was finished. It was after the job was done that we realized the dozens of small issues, especially stemming from the lack of tape used for edges. A lot of furniture was moved and was not moved back, and a large china cabinet scraped our floor tile. Though the paint is rich and beautiful, it seems to scruff easily. The paint looks beautiful, but the aftermath has negatively tinged our experience. I expected more carefulness or a more thorough job for the price. I only wish I had been a little less trusting from the beginning."
AndreaBrantford, ON
"I was very happy with my experience with Precision Painting. It started when I first met Corey and he came out to give me a quote. He was very knowledgeable, friendly and provided me a quote the same day. He also came prepared with paint colour samples and gave me his advice. After booking with him, he kept me up to date with any schedule changes and was very close to his estimate date. His painter Jessie was punctual every day, friendly & polite. He worked efficiently to get the job done. I am very happy with the result. My rooms look fresh & bright! They did a fantastic job and cleaned up afterwards. I would highly recommend using Precision Painting again."
MarianneBurlington, ON
"I was very pleased at how responsive Corey was to calls and emails. He was fairly priced for the job, around the average of the five quotes I received. Corey came across very proud and particular about the work of himself and his company. We got an early start date on the painting project as he had a cancellation. The project was done using top quality CIL paint and the coverage was beautiful. The painting crew started around 8:30 and was done by 2:00 the same day. Clean-up was very good, a few spots and streaks that were easily wiped away. When I corresponded with Corey he was very apologetic and offered to assist in the cleaning or over painting (a few spots on white trim), of which I replied that it was not necessary. He did not shy away from responsibility. The work is great and the colour is perfect!"
Nancy GWaterloo, ON
"I would recommend Corey and Precision Painting to anyone!! Corey and his team were extremely professional and friendly. They managed to make the painting of our entire house almost transparent!! Corey set our mind at ease by showing us the paperwork for necessary business and insurance requirements. He then directed us to his website and the reviews of their work. The pricing was competitive and the quality of work was fantastic. Punctual, polite, flexible, thorough, attention to detail, friendly, dedicated are just some of the attributes I would use!!"
Michelle MParis, ON
"Corey is passionate about his business and very conscientious about making us happy with the process and the results. He did what he said he would do and more. On time, receptive to feedback and requests, friendly, respectful and a great communicator. He met our needs and offered great advice to get the job done in a tight timeline to put the house on the market. I know that I will more than recoup the cost of the project upon selling. He was very flexible working to accommodate other tradespeople in the same space. He made an excellent recommendation for colour and used top quality paint that along with the excellent application is a great selling feature for our home. He did extensive patching and all necessary preparation needed; now the house looks wonderful, crisp and clean we don't want to move! The value cannot be beat for the results and materials. From the start the price was competitive with other quotes but the quality of the paint and Corey's obvious expertise made my decision. I am really happy with my choice. I will definitely hire Precision Painting again to paint my new home and would recommend him to friends and family. Thank you Corey and staff!"
LoriGuelph, ON
"Corey gave us a quote and a time for completing the work. he even suggested a paint colour, which is far better than what I had selected. The rooms look wonderful!! Monday morning, at eight o'clock, just as promised Jesse arrived...tools, tarps etc. in hand. He worked tirelessly, cleaned up behind himself and left the condo mid afternoon with everything completed. Lines, precise, workmanship outstanding, fair pricing. Couldn't ask for more. I recommend to anyone wanting to refresh. We'll have them back in whenever we decide to work on other rooms."
Holy NMount Pleasant, ON
"I would highly recommend Precision Painting for people who want professional, quality work, in a timely manner. Cory and his team were amazing, they worked as a team to provide seamless quality workmanship. They went up and above what they were hired for, they worked long hours to help me achieve my goal of having my elderly mother move into a new home that all ready for her. Everyone was very friendly, clean, helpful and respectful. I would highly recommend Precision Painting and would use their services again, 10 +++ rating...."
Jennifer BParis, ON
"I posted a painting job needing to be done on Home Advisor for a bedroom, closet and bathroom. I received two phone calls from companies looking to take on the job, however neither company caught my attention as I did not feel confident in them after our conversations. The next day I received a phone call from Corey at Precision. From the first initial phone call, to multiple texts, in home quote and finally the day of the job Corey was informative, professional and courteous. Corey is very knowledgeable about his trade and takes pride in his work. I would definitely recommend Precision!"
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There are some 750 books on display in Bravo's Book Nook, the only theater bookstore in New York, and possibly the only one open in the country. That's not a lot of books for a bookstore; it's as if even the books are social distancing.
"We're planning on stocking about 2,500," explains Jory Southurst, the shop's general manager and sole employee, as we talk inside the store. The two of us are maintaining social distance, but it isn't easy: Bravo's Book Nook measures about 250 square feet, which is smaller than the smallest studio apartment in Greenwich Village. That's where Bravo's Book Nook is located, on MacDougal Street, in the lobby of The Players Theatre.
It surely seemed a fine idea late last year when Michael Sgouros and Brenda Bell, the owners of the 200-seat theater, decided to turn its lobby into a theater bookstore. For the first time in a century, there was no other theater bookstore in the city, because of the closing of the 100-year-old Drama Book Shop in January, 2019. Making their theater lobby into a tiny bookstore meant that there would be no rent, and a ready-made stream of potential customers.
"Many of our shows are based on literature so a bookstore is a natural fit for our lobby," says Brenda Bell. "Additionally we like to promote self producing artists and the bookstore is a place for them to showcase their scripts and musicals.
"The bookstore is named after our dog Bravo who is the guest relations manager for the theater and pretty much the heart and soul of the building. Bravo helps with the selection of dog themed books."
They hired Southurst away from Book Culture near Columbia, and he began in February, organizing the newly opened store and scheduling a conversation and book signing with the authors of "How To Raise A Reader," the first of what he planned to be several such events every week.
A week after that first event, all New York stores were ordered closed to slow the pandemic.
In late June, when the city entered Phase 2 of the reopening, Bravo's was back, albeit in the lobby of a theater that will likely remain unused until next year.
Bravo's Book Nook has become the only theater bookstore in New York, because Covid-19 also derailed the plans of The Drama Book Shop, which was supposed to re-open in March 2020 a block away from its old midtown location, under the new ownership of Lin-Manuel Miranda and other members of the "Hamilton" creative team. I've heard no word about a new re-opening date.
I passed by Bravo's shortly after it reopened in June, but — confession – I was initially too nervous to stop in and chat with a stranger in such an enclosed space (even though the door is kept wide open, and the manager was wearing a mask.) Instead, I e-mailed him.
What kind of traffic are you getting?
Jory Southhurst: We'd been open for just 3 weeks prior to COVID, and have now been reopen for two, so we're still building our presence in the area and in the industry, but the foot traffic has been steady. And hopefully as we build up our selection we will become a destination for people looking for books about the performing arts, as well as a curated general-interest selection.
We've also been streaming musical storytimes each Tuesday at 2pm on our Facebook page, and have had a good reaction to those, with people requesting books to be read next.
What (if any) are the biggest selling books at the moment?
There's obviously been a run on anti-racist books, so How To Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X Kendi, So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo, and The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, among others, have been selling really well.
Aside from that, we've been building up our biography and memoir section and have had a good early response for our books about actors, directors, and writers.
What three new theater books do you recommend?
1) On the same topic, Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris is vital reading right now. You can learn as much (if not more) from art and literature as you can from non-fiction, and this play will spark reflection and discussion about race, gender, and society. It's necessary that people make themselves uncomfortable- with the status quo, and with their own assumptions-to ensure positive change and this play will definitely do that.
2) It's now been out for a couple years, but Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics by Stephen Greenblatt is still current, especially leading up to the Presidential election. It uses examples of tyranny, politicking, and leadership in Shakespeare's plays to analyze the global political climate. I'll leave it to you to decide if it's a relief or a stressor to know that we've been grappling with these issues for 400 years.
3) A is for Audra by John Robert Allman is an alphabet book celebrating Broadway's leading ladies. The rhymes are charming and witty, and the biographies of the women at the end of the book are a great introduction for kids to these legends. He also handles the X, Y, Z issue better than any other alphabet book I've seen!
It took me a month, but mask and hand sanitizer fully employed, I walked down a MacDougal Street now graced with one makeshift street café after another, and entered a lobby transformed by wood bookcases, and tables tastefully adorned with relevant titles. (When the theater reopens, one of the tables will have to be removed, so theatergoers can get to the box office.)There was a cart on the sidewalk, and a bucket filled with "vintage Playbills" carefully preserved in clear plastic sleeves.
I asked for an update. The store, whose hours are 11 to 7 Tuesday through Saturday, has seen traffic and sales increased since the first time we talked, Special orders are also on the rise. (The store also takes online orders, but that hasn't taken off yet.) Anti-racist books are continuing to do well, as are literary works by Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Audre Lorde. "But our biggest selling book the last few weeks has been Dolly Parton from the Little People, Big Dreams series. People are buying it as a gift for both kids and adults."
Dolly Parton is not, perhaps needless to say, a theater book. About half the books in stock have nothing to do with the theater.
"Our sales are skewing toward the general interest books, but that's understandable," he said. "The theater isn't currently open, and NYU students (who tend to buy a lot of our theater books) aren't in class at the moment."
What are the best-selling theater books at the moment?
"Slave Play" and "A Raisin in the Sun," he replied, and added two that are "performing arts related" — Sam Wasson's Fosse and Trixie and Katya's Guide to Modern Womanhood
What is his personal favorite?
"Theater for Beginners,' he answers, by Obie-winning playwright and director Richard Maxwell.
"It's not a guidebook; it's little anecdotes, a meditation on being in the arts." The title is not a coincidence, as he admits: "I am a bookstore person. I'm not a theater person."
I suspect this will soon change, surrounded eight hours a day, five days a week by 375 theater books (and, sometime soon, more than three times that number.)
Three books rest face forward on an oversized shelf of the biggest bookcase, above a sign that says "Upcoming Performance." Two of them are coffee table books about Hamilton and Wicked — and yes, I thought, these are undoubtedly upcoming; they will certainly return. But Southurst laughs and says the sign is only meant for the third book, which is a script by Bear Kosik of the play that is planned to open next in The Players Theater, whenever that turns out to be. The title strikes me as a good summary of late July, 2020 in New York City: "Between Panic and Desire"