What is a Seussabration? It's Bookmans Mesa's way of celebrating our Love of Reading and Dr. Seuss's Birthday all in one! A day set aside for silly fun for everyone!

Click clack, click clack! What is that sound? Is that reindeer on the roof or the sound of children dancing all around?

Families flocked to the Mesa Arts Center over the weekend for the annual Dia de los Muertos Festival. The Mesa Arts Center created a community celebration that included a community altar, live music and dance, arts and crafts.

If you know your Latin, then you know Dracos dormiens nunquam titillandus means, "Never tickle a sleeping dragon." Potterheads are quite familiar with this motto of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Last Saturday Bookmans Mesa opened its doors to large quantities of Muggles and Wizards all ready to hop on the Hogwarts Express!

The largest fundraiser at Phoenix Comicon is the Kids Need to Read (KNTR) Geek Prom and Bookmans supported this Geektacular event for the third year in a row. We believe in KNTR's mission to provide inspiring books to underfunded schools, libraries and literacy programs across the United States, especially those serving disadvantaged children. We feel at home from start to finish at the Geek Prom because everyone fits in. Attendees are encouraged to get beyond "cool" by wearing out-of-style formal wear, costumes and jet-setting space ensembles and dancing 'til the sun comes up. That was a direct order from our Intergalactic Overlords who watched us throughout the prom.

On the first Saturday of May hoards of comic book lovers descend upon the Valley's local comic book stores for Free Comic Book Day. Participating shops across North America and around the world including Bookmans Grant give away comic books absolutely free to anyone. Did you just faint? We know, it sounds too good to be true.

Our planet is our home and what better way to make our home a beautiful place to live than by creating art? We started our Earth Day celebrations at the Veteran's Oasis Park in Chandler with our East Valley friends! The Chandler Environmental Education Center provided a beautiful backdrop for environmental education through innovative and creative ways to think and interact with our world. Of course the event wouldn't have been complete without decorating reusable I ❤ Bookmans tote bags! The kids and their families had a great time as we brought out the stencils, fabric markers and imagination to make our own unique bags to carry our books around. Kids even had their faces painted with a variety of earth day related designs and animals.

From the moment we entered the gates, it was obvious that a lot of love, sweat and work went into the big move for the 2012 Blues Blast Festival. The all-volunteer organization The Phoenix Blues Society provides support for local and national music, Blues culture, heritage and education. They put on a rocking good time at the new Blues Blast venue, Margaret T. Hance Park in the middle of Downtown Phoenix. When we ask Phoenix Blues Society President Kyle Deibler about the move he says, "The move to Margaret T. Hance Park proved to be a good decision by our Board of Directors. The event had a distinctly urban festival vibe going on that everyone seemed to appreciate."

Downtown Phoenix created a unique backdrop for this year's festival.

 

"We speak for the trees" was the theme at our Lorax Party with tons of eco friendly fun! Almost 200 people sprouted up in our instrument section to get excited about Dr.Seuss's famous book The Lorax and the upcoming animated film. The party started with a gracious BookPALS volunteer reading Hop On Pop in a full Cat in the Hat costume.

Did you know that the dragon is the only mythical creature in the Chinese Zodiac? Or that in Chinese astrology the dragon was seen as a powerful almighty king because it was made up of different parts of animals such as a tiger, fish, snake and an eagle. Each year the Chinese Zodiac has a different animal to represent the upcoming year. In 2012 we celebrate the Year of the Dragon beginning Jan. 23. These are a few of the facts we learned while creating our dragon hand puppets at Bookmans Mesa.

Check out my sample Dragon!

Our craft was simple. We colored a simple dragon template, cut it out and glued it to a paper bag along with streamers cut from tissue paper. There were so many different dragons! Each child chose a fun set of colors to represent their dragon's personality.

You can make amazing things with the simplest of supplies. Recently Megan taught us how to create a hand-sewn owl inspired by a Microcraft Owl. Megan designed a template and easy to follow instructions for her fun, inviting and creative crafting workshop.

Most of the time you'll find a Bookmans employee carefully selecting merchandise to purchase for the stores and lovingly finding a place for it on the shelves. We absolutely enjoy conversations with our customers about a variety of topics and we hope you feel the same about us. Among our staff you will find musicians, writers, artists, graphic designers and creative types of all varieties.

December Bookmans Treasure Hunt: The Search For Local Business Booty led our @bookmansphoenix followers to the royal establishment of Noble Beast located on 10th Street and Camelback. Two furry paws up for those Twitter followers who used primal smarts to decipher the clues, find the animal oasis and exclaim with joy, “I Love Bookmans!” to the Noble Beast staff. Those clever detectives won prize packs that included tickets to see Daddy Long Legs at the Arizona Theater Company, special goods from Hug 'N Pups Grooming Salon, passes for a free movie at The Royale Theater, stocking stuffers from Bookmans and gift cards for Bookmans Own Brand (B.O.B.) merchandise. This holiday it is more fun to hunt for gifts rather than just shop for them!

Since we can't go to the North Pole we made the North Pole come to us! That is why it's been so darn cold in Phoenix lately and why we had a special visit from Santa! Every year we invite our younger customers and their families for a special story time with one of our favorite holiday books The Polar Express.

Saturday, Dec. 3 was busy, busy, busy at Bookmans Mesa! Not only did we have lots of faces choosing to buy local for their holiday season, we had plenty of entertainment.

The creativity started early with Holiday Altered Art. Nancy brought out her pretty paper and supplies for our lovely ladies. Lots of cutting, punching, folding, gluing and thoughtfulness filled our café as we used found supplies to create altered art book pages. Books that could not be sold but were perfectly sized provided the foundation for the creative canvas. Beautiful works of art will be displayed in everyone's home this holiday season with the miniature display stands they were surprised with.

* by guest blogger Skye Wilster

It would be hard to write this for people who have never been to a show like the Alternative Press Tour. I hope if you haven't you quickly find yourself at one. You're missing out if you don't. It's that kind of show that you can feel before you enter the door of the venue. Walking up you can tell that something epic is about to happen, really epic. A few stragglers smoke outside and talk about the last great show that rolled through town. That's all fine for now but this one is about to rock their faces all over again.

The Nile is an unassuming venue with a back door entrance but it is the perfect backdrop for a show like this -- a big open room waiting to be rocked. There is no room for fancy stage shenanigans or pyrotechnics. This is about the music, the artists and the fans who came to enjoy it.

Sometimes it can be hard to convince the 20 or 30 somethings of our generation that there is a kind of music that is as important as hip hop, rock, pop, metal or country. Long before Hendrix, McCartney or Cash there was Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Gershwin and others who helped lay the groundwork for what creativity in music and the possibilities of playing instruments would become. We bow to the great classical music icons and proudly give them their own section in our music department. We can only hope that in this digital age their contributions and talents will not be forgotten but revived. Luckily in Phoenix there is a network of people ensuring just that ideal -– Classical Revolution Phoenix.

Bookmans Mesa was hopping with creativity, artistry and all around all things awesome at our crafternoon. You can never go wrong when you start a Saturday morning with cupcakes. An early delivery of Sugar Skull Cupcakes from Kiki’s Cupcake Service was a pleasant surprise to our senses. These delicious red velvet cupcakes with a cream cheese center brought smiles to our faces. After we wiped away the crumbs, we settled in for our monthly crafternoon. Our beautiful Megan hosted Dia de los Muertos Cigar Box Shrines. We brought out the cigar boxes, pretty paper, scissors, glue, baubles and whatever else we could get our hands on! Everyone had a fantastic time creating a one-of-a-kind masterpiece to honor their loved ones and take home.

This month's Bookmans Treasure Hunt: The Search for Local Business Booty, Phoenix/Mesa edition led those who follow @bookmansphoenix via Twitter to Souvia Tea. For those clever enough to figure out the location through our clues tweeted throughout the week and to tell a Souvia employee “I love Bookmans”, colorful prize packs awaited with merchandise from All About Books and Comics, Melrose Pharmacy, Smeeks and Stinkweeds.

It’s hard to believe the summer is flying by so fast but there are only two weeks left of Bookmans Free Summer Kids Events. We have great stuff in store for next week. In Flagstaff we’re hosting Willow Bend Environmental Center who will teach bigger kids about rocks/geology and younger kids about ants. The first week in August it’s time for super fun back to school parties that get kids excited for a new school year. Check out our events calendar for all the fun we have in store.

Here’s what we did last week:

Flagstaff
School days, school days, dear ol' golden rule days! This week kids colored canvas pencil pouches to hold their erasers, pens, pencils and other scholarly supplies.  Flagstaff kiddos stenciled their names, favorite animals, fantasy characters or slogans on these simple pencil pouches. Some decided to freestyle it, making their own colorful graphic art to add panache to their school stuff. And we keep on getting super excited about a whole new school year with Willow Bend Environmental education next week and our fabulous Back-to-School Party the week after. Don’t miss it. We’re gettin’ ready for reading and writing and arithmetic (minus the hickory stick)!

Puppets shows, creepy crawlies and creativity oh-my! This week we decorated T-shirts and tote bags, had a visit from the zoo and enjoyed puppet shows from The Great Arizona Puppet Theater and Puppet Muzik. We don’t know the meaning of summer boredom at Bookmans!

Last weeks Summer Kids Events were filled with costumed characters, The Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona and music. Thank you to everyone who has been attending these events. You make our jobs fun!

Flagstaff

This week we had a wonderful time with Kristina Wulbern of Music Together. Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, Music Together is a music and movement education program that gets the kids singing and dancing. We even raffled off one fall session of Music Together and one happy family went home with the prize. We hope to see you Wednesday at 10 a.m. for patriotic arts-and-crafts day!

Check out all the fun that was had in week two of summer at all our Bookmans locations for our Summer Kids Events. If you missed it, don't worry just check out our events calendar for upcoming events.

Flagstaff

In Flagstaff the second week of summer kids events was all about celebrating Music Month at Bookmans. In week one we made guitar pick necklaces. For week two we decorated our own guitars. This week we plan to create collages that represent music. This was also a great chance to make a collage card for Father's Day. Check out our photos on Flickr!

Phoenix

The following that surrounds the Harry Potter books and films is truly powerful. Spending every day in a bookstore I know that the love for Hogwarts and its students goes beyond the pages of a book or a theater screen. The magic that lies within the story spreads all over the world and Harry’s struggles and accomplishments are in the hearts of all ages. It’s become so more than a brand, but rather a hope that somewhere out there in this big wide world of ours is a place where Dobby watches your back, a wand can almost always get you out of a pickle and your best friends are always just a handful of Floo Powder away.

Up, up and away!

May saw the third Bookmans Treasure Hunt in Phoenix. Like the other two, our crazy smart twitter followers used the clues on @bookmansphoenix to find the local business booty. Prizes from Harkins Theaters, Midnite Movie Mamacita tickets and Stinkweeds were hidden at the local comic book store All About Books and Comics!

It was a Egg-tastic day at Bookmans Mesa when we were treated to a special visit from none other than the Easter Bunny himself! Happily walking throughout the store handing out all kinds of goodies to shoppers, the Easter Bunny was gracious enough to sit and pose for pictures that you could take home and cherish.

There's always something awesome happening in store and as always all events are free, so check back with us often!

Find us on Flickr for more photos of the Easter Bunny's visit to Bookmans Mesa.

We eat, breathe and sleep recycling. We do it all day, every day. Even at home we collect items to bring into the store for trade. We know recycling like the back of our hand but we can’t recycle everything. We’ve collected leftover children's books with the bent covers, ripped pages or coloring on the inside and turned them into something spectacular! Since March was our annual Arts and Crafts month, we decided to get the entire family involved at Bookmans Phoenix in helping us rip the pages of these forgotten books and turn them into wallets!

Celebrating arts and crafts month Bookmans Mesa presented Bookmans Craft Day. This was third in our series where our store manager Sarah hosted Altered Recipe Tags. Each participant brought their favorite recipes and was given a packet of materials resulting in beautiful works of art. These recipe tags could be used as gift ideas or make the perfect accessory to a gift.

A Mesa landmark, the Nile Theatre opened its doors in 1924 as the Valley's largest movie palace. Short lived, it was shut down as a film venue in 1951. The building located at 105 W. Main St. has gone through many changes since then. Once a clothing store, then a nightclub and most recently the home of Faith Harvest Church, it has once again opened its doors as a raw music venue.

Chicks with Picks feature female musicians from throughout Phoenix on the third Thursday of each month. Bookmans fortunately snagged a monthly performance with the freshest talent around. This month we hosted 14 year old Spencer Ann Bryant whose business card (that’s right this 14 year-old has a business card) indicates she’s a singer, songwriter and musician, but after meeting her in person, it's clear she’s so much more.

Our beloved Nancy hosted a Valentine's theme Papercraft where participants could make various items such as picture frame books, table settings and personalized cards. The sky was the limit. Nancy gave us the supplies, we supplied the creativity! One of the best parts was the surprise gift at the end. Not only was there a door prize, but there was one for everyone!

For some time now, the Midnite Movie Mamacita has been hosting monthly screenings of The Room at Madcap Theaters. In all honesty I'm perplexed in finding the perfect words to use to describe The Room -- a film that is so bad it's good. The Room has received the coveted Cult Classic status with it's monthly midnight screenings in several countries around the globe and has been dubbed “the Citizen Cane of bad movies.” According to a press release from 2004 found on the film's website, “The Room is an electrifying American black comedy about love, passion, betrayal, and lies. It's what happens in real life. You could be with your loving women and all of a sudden BOOM! She's in bed with your best friend or a family member.”

The Room poster by movie poster artist extraordinaire Victor Moreno.

Glendale Glitters lit up the town with a fantastic opening, amazing weather and the scent of gingerbread filling the air. Every weekend in the month of December we will celebrate the spirit of winter with over thirty-thousand people (that's 30,000 people, people!) as they walk along the streets of Murphy Park in Historic Downtown Glendale.

The Broadway Palm Theater is celebrating its 10th Anniversary Season with the Best of Broadway. First up is their production of Sugar, based on the Classic movie Some Like It Hot starring Tony Curtis and Marylin Monroe. The Broadway Palm Theater had been in talks with Actor Tony Curtis to make an appearance on their grand opening night on Oct. 8. Tragically, Mr. Curtis passed away on Sept. 30. Our deepest condolences goes out to his family, friends and fans. He is a true Hollywood legend.

As the saying goes, "the show must go on" and it did -- in style! Upon entering the theatre, patrons received the true Hollywood experience. As theatergoers walked the red carpet, flashbulbs popped, arrivals announced, and "stars" collide. Each guest mingled with the likes of Lady Gaga and Josephine Baker. Many of the regular folk in attendance arrived in the spirit of the event, dressed as Dale Evans, Audrey Hepburn, Truman Capote, Keanu Reeves and Tina Fey. A contest was held for best costume, and the dead ringer for Tina Fey won a trip to Chicago to tour the sites of the Gangsters. How jealous am I? Why, oh why, didn't I dress up?

Let me tell you a story about a girl who was obsessed with creepy winks. It is May 2010 and Ivana is at the Phoenix Comicon. Of all of the really cool stuff she could possibly win off the Bookmans Prize Wheel, she patiently waits in line hoping to win the elusive creepy wink from our Bookmans Booth Boys. She spins and the anticipation is killing her. She thinks that perhaps even a $10 Bookmans Gift Card would be cool, but her heart is set on those creepy winks because, well, what in the heck is a creepy wink anyway? Most of us are still waiting for an explanation. The clicking wheel slows to a stop...

Creepy winks! Ivana's desire realized! Deftly, she whips out her camera to catch a creepy wink on film.

It was a scorching hot weekend as Bookmans celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Rainbows Festival! We were greeted by the sun and smiling faces from tens of thousands of supporters!

When I walked into Madcap Theaters and took a seat, I had no idea what an experience the evening would be. You can watch the trailers and read the fine print on their website, but nothing will prepare you for Everything is Terrible II: Tokyo Drift.

I thought I was going to watch a collection of clips from the long lost media known as VHS [insert dramatic music]. What I experienced was two hours of said clips, but also short intermissions of audience participation and appearances by the Everything is Terrible monsters themselves. Who knew that the creators were a bunch of seven foot tall, furry, and extremely excitable creatures who enjoy VHS tapes, Jerry Maguire, and high fives?!

"Go, Go Go Joseph you know what they say,
    Hang on now Joseph you'll make it some day..."

Howdy! Since Bookmans is celebrating Movie Madness Month all of August, I thought I'd step in and share some of my own Movie Madness, courtesy of the Midnite Movie Mamacita at MADCAP Theaters.

The Art of a Bad Movie...what makes a movie so bad that it's good as opposed to just being plain bad? Many factors contribute, but take some of these weekends’ selections that we are showcasing at MADCAP Theaters. We have The Room, now a cult sensation and ambassador for bad movies. What makes THE ROOM so bad, but good that people come month after month to see it on the big screen? Sincerity is the key. Tommy Wiseau didn't set out to make a bad movie, he spent $5-7 million on his epic masterpiece (the source of the funding remains a mystery). But it was made with a whole-hearted sincerity and intent to make a good movie that only after its release took on a whole new life.

The Room

 

For the seventh year in a row, the Devastation Gaming Event, Expo & Tournament, brings professional gaming to a new level in the city of Phoenix. This year an all new VIP event was added to the Thursday night programming for the weekend. A relaxing event where industry professionals, gamers, supporters, and the Devastation crew were able to hang out before the big event. Games were open for casual gaming, while the Bookmans Retro Game Zone rocked out titles such as Bubble, Bobble & TMNT: Tournament Fighters. I had a great time casually meeting the guests and am looking forward to the next three days of gaming insanity! If you are interested in checking Devastation out and live in Phoenix come on down! Free to attend all weekend long.

Hiya kids!

Oh, thank you so much to everybody who came out to our kids' tournament at Bookmans Mesa on Saturday, May 15th, 2010. With a total of 46 participants winning prizes, eating cupcakes and hanging out with ME, Mario, and my brother Luigi!

There were three top winners, James who won 3rd place, Tiffany who won 2nd place, and of course, who can forget Bryce, who won the grand prize trophy and a hundred dollars in Bookmans store credit!

There were more than 100 cupcakes consumed, 50 prize bags given, a ton of trivia hand outs, and of course a lot of Mario Kart Racing for Nintendo Wii! Check out all the great pictures from the event here.

See you all next time,

Mario (& Luigi, too!)

The Phoenix ComiCon was in Bookmans Mesa this weekend presenting their Comic Create event. Local artists, including our very own T.J. (from The Konamis!) provided demonstrations and insight into how their characters have evolved from mere ideas to putting them on paper. Each artist answered questions, posed for pictures, and allowed new artists to sit and draw with them all in an informal environment. Some even handed out swag and free comic books!! (I am going to frame my Konamis one)

Were you their next inspiration? Or have they inspired you?