Urban Nights is here again. Tour the Arcade (you may not get another chance) and check out what's happening in the Oregon District. Click the subject of this post for a link to more info.
Free tours inside Dayton's great Arcade will be available during Urban Nights on Friday September 14th from 5p - 10p. Please visit and support the Dayton Arcade. Don't miss what may be your last opportunity to see this once grand place that could be glorious once again.
Until finding the article linked above (click the title of this post) I'd never heard of Andrew Dowdy or his shop, Other Times Books. It sounds like it was a wonderful place.
The realizations that Mr. Dowdy came to, regarding books in this byte-based age, ring all too true. It's something that crosses my mind every single day. I'm a big fan of digital information. I've even gone as far as rationalizing that Bonnett's is a book store because print was the only portable format for data when the doors opened in 1939. There are many more options now, many of which require no permanent product for the end-user at all, so long as we have smart devices that can interpret our favorite data files.
But what happens to our data if something catastrophic happens and there's no power left to run the devices and digitally deliver the data?
Paper lasts a long time. Generations. Long enough to be memorized, copied, re-copied, distributed, handed down, stored, and safe-guarded.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, the works of Da Vinci, Shakespeare, Beethoven, Mozart, and the Constitution of the United States of America have all survived for a very long time on paper. Perhaps the Constitution isn't doing so well, but that's another matter that has little to do with the paper it's on.
We may make room for newer forms of information and entertainment from time to time, but as long as there is a Bonnett's Book Store there will be books on our shelves.
Obtuse terms like "less is more" occasionally trouble my mind, but this weekend, so far, feels like it fits the term. PulpCon has always been an intense event for us... to the point of creating frazzled nerves and a slight feeling of relief when it was over. The past few years we haven't had the numerous offerings that we had through the '80s and '90s, but it was still something of a pressure-cooker weekend. This year we've got fewer actual Pulps than ever, but there are plenty of near-pulp and pulp-related items available. In short, the lighter load has been a blessing in a more relaxed in-store atmosphere and a friendlier rapport with our PulpCon visitors. I look forward to doing it again. Less is more... less stress is a more favorable environment for everyone. Enjoy the remainder of PulpCon 36.
Right off the bat, let me make clear that the gallery linked in the subject line (above) is NOT A CATALOG OF ITEMS FOR SALE.
PulpCon is right around the corner and I've been scanning covers of our items for the last couple of years. These are high resolution scans of (some) very well read items. Details are clear, including the historically relevant "Guy's," "Jordan's," and, of course, "Bonnett's" labels and store stamps.*
Many of the items have already been sold and some are still available by in-store visit. The images are for reference only and not to be used elsewhere. More are coming. I just thought I would share my efforts for any interested parties.
Please visit us if you're in Dayton for the Pulp Convention. We're just 3 long blocks east of the Dayton Convention Center. It's walking distance and there are many other fine establishments en route.
Urban Nights was a big success in the Oregon District last night. Please leave a comment with your thoughts about related events anywhere in Downtown Dayton.
Many people came out to see all the great things downtown Dayton has to offer. At Bonnett's Book Store we stayed open until 10 p.m., two hours later than usual, to give Urban Nights visitors a chance to see what we offer during regular hours, Noon - 8 p.m., Monday - Saturday (Closed Sundays).
The streets were bustling with visitors from Hamvention at Hara Arena, A World Affair at the Dayton Convention Center, as well as those who came down just for Urban Nights. I hope the "triple threat" crowd didn't put anyone off by making it seem TOO crowded. Street musicians were out in force, some were regulars while others joined in just for Urban Nights. The street scene is always fascinating on East Fifth. You could almost make a second job of crowd-watching down here on weekends.
I can only speak to what went on in our immediate vicinity since we were manning our store, but what we could see was a pleasure. Dolcessa, one of the newest businesses in the historic Oregon District, did a brisk business with their offerings of gelato, espresso, and panini. At times there was a line out the door waiting to order, and I promise, everyone who did so will tell you it's worth the wait. Sterling Studio looked to be quite busy with their offerings of custom jewelry, incense, and gifts. Derailed Hair Salon had a table out front with a bit of a party going on inside. Derailed is known to host the occasional gallery featuring works by local artists. There is a banner in the storefront next to ours proclaiming "Nail Salon Grand Opening July 2007", so that's something that will be new for the next Urban Nights even in the Fall.
All in all there were many smiling faces enjoying some of the one-of-a-kind offerings of downtown Dayton, Ohio. If you couldn't make it out for Urban Nights I recommend coming downtown Saturday visit these places and many more. On Saturday and Sunday you can take in "A World Affair" at the Convention Center. And, through next weekend, you can take a walk to see the lifelike statues scattered throughout downtown, one of which is Marilyn Monroe in her famous skirt blowing pose from "The Seven Year Itch".
Speaking of Marilyn Monroe, I'm looking forward to attending the Marilyn show at the Dayton Art Institute. I believe that show runs into July, but don't wait until the last few weekends or you'll have trouble finding parking due to large "last chance" crowds.
Some great places I visit whenever I can are The Tumbleweed Connection, Feather's Vintage, 5th Street Wine & Deli, The Oregon Emporium, Jay's Seafood, The Oregon Express, Gem City Records, Smokin' BBQ, The Neon Movies, Goodwill, Da Da Gallery, The Dublin Pub, and my favorite lunch spot The Trolley Stop.
There's much more, like Coco's Restaurant, Urban Krag Indoor Climbing, Jasper Wall Studio featuring Boston Stoker Coffee, Glenn Scott's Oregon District Tattoo featuring 'The Tattoo Team' as seen on "Miami Valley Ink", The Nite Owl, Newcom's Tavern, Pacchia aka The Jazz Room, Pearl Night Club in the old Diner, Cafe Boulevard and their pub Le Monde, Wiley's Comedy Club, Ned Pepper's Bar & Grille, The Look, and Sloopy's.
If that's not enough for you there's more on the way... look for John Henry's opening soon where The Blue Moon used to be and a yet-to-be-named nail salon where Just Fishit Aquatics was at 504 E. 5th St. FYI, Just Fishit is still in operation but business became so brisk that maintaining a storefront was actually slowing it down. Check them out at www.fishit.net.
Finally, here are some fun promotional videos for Urban Nights. We hope to see you all again soon. Bring friends. And don't forget that daytime is pretty awesome downtown, too. Enjoy!
*I began adding links to everything mentioned in this article, but there's just too much great stuff in downtown Dayton and the Oregon District. Please use your favorite search engine to learn more about anything mentioned in this article.
Spring is officially here and we've got the bug to freshen things up and air the place out. Unfortunately, the weather isn't cooperating with the airing out part, but we've begun trying to organize the shelves and clear up the tables.
Strangely enough, when the place is as packed as it is, the process of cleaning temporarily makes things seem even more cluttered than before! It's frustrating but will be well worth the effort in the end.
On the other hand, great new books are coming in as our customers begin their spring cleaning, too! If you haven't been in lately (or ever), now would be a great time to stop by.
Bonnett's Book Store 502 East Fifth Street Dayton, Ohio 45402-2914
The 100 Chapter 10: 82 & 81
-
*Who doesn't love a list?*
I devour the BFI Best Films of All Time list whenever they deem it
necessary to revise and (invariably) disagree with most of ...
JFD702: The Lost World, The Outfit, Train to Busan
-
Junk Food Dinner returns with three films that span an entire century of
cinema!
Up first, director *Harry O. Hoyt *and stop-motion special effects maste...
Ol' Groove LIVE on YouTube!
-
Ol' Groove will appear LIVE on Silverline Comics "Silver Sunday" broadcast!
Check it out on Silverline Comics' YouTube channel Sunday night, August 23,
a...
Man Bait (The Last Page, 1952)
-
Man Bait is a lesser-known film that really shouldn't be. It's director
Terence Fisher's first movie for Hammer Films, marking the beginning of a
legenda...
William Nicholson’s Alphabet Book
-
William Nicholson’s Alphabet book, published in 1897, is an ABC book like
no other. A talented artist, illustrator and print-maker, Nicholson used
simple...
The Saint starring Adam Rayner now Available
-
The Saint (Adam Rayner and Eliza Dushku) *It's Here! It's Here! *
Many years ago, I was kindly invited to visit the set of a pilot episode of
a new TV sh...
Being A Nerd Is Not Dead: Welcome D20!
-
Anyone who has ever sat down for a session of games knows the drill. The
players all gather around a table, or several tables, and start to spread
out card...
Star Trek What If..?
-
What if the original Star Trek had been filmed in widescreen? Nick Acosta
has the answer! But, before you click the link, a question... Why is
widescreen...
Come on over to MORE RETRO-SCANS!
-
Well, it's happened. I seem to have used up all the space available on this
journal. (Gosh, how could that have happened?) So when I try to post, I get
a c...
Progress Needs People
-
Earlier this week, the OHDS board of trustees presented a potential
solution to the liquor stand-off that has made the Oregon District
infamous, colloquial...