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Everyone knows that Bookmans proudly supports ideas such as literacy, free speech, animal welfare and the environment. But did you know that we love sports? Personally, I am excited about the upcoming spring training schedule for Phoenix. But there are many young sports enthusiasts who are gearing up for the spring little league season! Young men and women are currently registering and trying out with teams all over the valley for the opportunity to play on a team.
Read More...Paul Sprawl graced Bookmans Phoenix on Saturday with an acoustic musical performance in our music and electronics department. His soulful, self-written composition and lyrics delighted customers as they shopped for their favorite used games and DVDs. He's a familiar face at the Bookmans in Flagstaff, but traveled down to the Phoenix store to share his talent with West Valley and for that we are grateful and truly enjoyed this original artist's skills! We hope to see him again in Phoenix soon. You can check out photos from the event here on our Flikr page.
Read More...The word "grindhouse" is an American term for theaters that show mainly exploitation films, while the word "redux" means being brought back or a return. Last week The Midnite Movie Mamacita brought back the sorely missed Grindhouse Redux to MadCap Theaters in Tempe with The Tattoo Connection and The Final Comedown. How can you not enjoy a double dose of awesome with appearances by Jim Kelly and Billy Dee Williams?
Read More...Bookmans has long been a supporter of the Orpheum Theater, but now we’re sponsoring great movies on a monthly basis! The Orpheum Theater, a local landmark in historic downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, was built by John Weatherford, who owned of the Weatherford Hotel just up the street in the early 1900s.
Read More...When my brother, Nick, was little, he always believed that the best presents came in the biggest and shiniest packages. His fourth Christmas, he spent about two weeks hauling around a large green foil-wrapped box with a huge bow that he was sure must contain a) the best Lego thing ever invented, b) a puppy, or c) a trip into outer space. It was from his uncle, and none of us knew what the box contained, although we always loved the elaborate and shiny wrap. This uncle was a real hit-or-miss kind of guy, the type who never sends a gift-card and always takes a holiday gamble. I can honestly say that some of my most beloved and most laughable gifts came from him.
Read More...The most magical moments happen when you least expect it. I attended a Family Literacy Night last month at a local school in Phoenix. I was there to share information with the students and their parents about our Read 10, Get 1 Free Book Program and the Kids Club. Never did I imagine that I would meet one of the most enigmatic and engaging community partners! Ellen Dean is the Arizona Coordinator for BookPALS, an all-volunteer literacy program sponsored by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. Performing arts and trained community volunteers invest their time in disadvantaged schools and read to classes of children every single week. That small investment in time makes a huge impact on the lives of these children.
Read More...My sister and I were both in Girl Scouts. We started as Brownies and “bridged” our way through Junior Girl Scouts and into Cadets. It faded into fond memories until I was twenty. I was working several jobs, including as a nanny for two girls’ age six and nine. Like my sister and I had been, Emily and Kyra were active girls, and involved in many different activities. Emily wanted to be in Brownies, so I volunteered to be the co-leader. Funny as it sounds, I became an adult member of the Girl Scouts of America! Not only did I get to rediscover all the fun stuff that we use to do in our own troop, but I also got to pass those activities to a new generation. Three years later, Girl Scouts set me on a course that changed my life.
Read More...Nothing like a decent showing of community generosity to liven your holiday spirits, and the Community Food Bank Donation Drive at Bookmans Grant this past Saturday provided plenty of that! Lots of shoppers took advantage of the 20% off coupon and generously donated food and cash to the Community Food Bank.
Read More...The Paw Placement of Northern Arizona puppy and kitty adoption - held in honor of July's Dog Days of Summer - went wonderfully this last Sunday. At least three animals may find new homes, if the families hoping to adopt them pass the “good pet owner” interviews!
Read More...Best-selling novelist Gregory Maguire, whose Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West has been adapted into Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, will speak and sign at the Loft Cinema this Wednesday, June 17th, at 7 p.m. This annual GLBT literary event is presented and funded by Friends of the Pima County Library and PCL's GLBT Committee, and is absolutely FREE and open to the public.
Read More...This is my third year taking part in the award assemblies for winners of Bookmans' Reading Challenge; after three years you'd think I'd be just the teensiest bit jaded. But when the paper is ripped off the giant $5,000 check and the room explodes with screaming kids and teary-eyed teachers, it's like reliving that very first assembly. Thanks to Village Vista in Phoenix and the Peak School in Flagstaff for helping to recapture that magic again this year.
Read More...One down, two to go! Today we gave the first $5,000 Bookmans' Reading Challenge prize money to Sonoran Science Academy-Broadway in Tucson. I don't know what it is, but you get a room full of happy and excited kids and my eyes start to well up. You can just feel the positive energy and it becomes overwhelming, or maybe I'm just hormonal!
Read More...The first 9 Queens workshop on Sunday, April 19th at Bookmans Speedway was a great success! We had over 35 women and girls show up for this free chess workshop.
Read More...Phoenix turned out its largest Pride celebration to date this past weekend, with over 30,000 people in attendance this year. Visitors arrived from the Mesa/Phoenix area as well as Flagstaff, Tucson and surrounding states, and Bookmans celebrated our diversity by being the only entertainment exchange - or book or CD store for that matter - in the middle of it all.
Read More...I love the Avett Brothers. Love them. They are the most played band in my (sizable) iTunes library. And, hands down, they are the best live show I’ve ever seen. That’s why I’m so excited that Bookmans is co-presenting (along with our friends at the Rialto Theatre) the Avett Brothers live in concert on May 7th at 8 p.m.
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