I personally love this time of year. As always, well-heated bookstores will provide a series of exciting holiday-related and other events this December. Here are a few of them.
Parents should bring their kids to Bookworks (4022 Rio Grande NW, 344-8139) on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. for an Olivia Look-a-Like Contest and Party. Olivia, in case you don't already know, is the wildly popular swine hero of a Caldecott Award-winning picture book series by Ian Falconer. Arrive dressed as Olivia or any other character from the series and win yourself a prize. Olivia games, food and prizes are all part of the bargain. Sooee!
Over at Sisters and Brothers Bookstore (4011 Silver SE, 266-7317), on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m., Mark Gordon Smith will present his travel memoir Tuscan Echoes: A Season in Italy, in which he revisits the Italy of his youth. While frost blankets Albuquerque, Smith takes readers with him on a humble journey to a mild Mediterranean climate.
Tired of metal balls and tinsel? Spruce up your Christmas tree this year—New Mexico-style—by taking part in artist Richard Gabriel's TinWorks workshop. The workshop will occur at Page One (11018 Montgomery NE, 294-2026) on Sunday, Dec. 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. Cost for materials and instruction is $10. Everyone ages 10 and up is welcome.
Last but not least, the fine folks at Bound to Be Read (6300 San Mateo NE, 828-3500) will begin collecting unwrapped presents on Dec. 1 to give to needy kids this Christmas. The gifts will be distributed through Character Counts. You can either bring an appropriate gift (no handguns or explosives) or buy one in the store. When you do, you'll get a 20 percent discount.
Bound to Be Read is all about spreading holiday cheer this month. On Fridays through Dec. 19, from 7 to 9 p.m., the store will present Friday Night Family Nights. There'll be cookies, eggnog, cider, surprise sales and special activities for the young ones. Should be a hoot.
Those are a few choice events from December. In general, the bookstores seem to go into semi-hibernation this month, but they'll still, of course, be open for business so you can shop for wonderful gifts for all your literate friends.
Local bookstores that want their January events considered for inclusion in this column should contact me by phone at 346-0660 ext. 251 or by e-mail at steve@alibi.com.
