What I Read for Fun

In a list of the people who know you the best, of course you'd include the typical round-up of family and friends. But you should also include those people who receive regular glimpses into your personal world like your barber/hairdresser and the barista at your favorite coffee/tea shop. Your unique interaction with them gives those people an interesting perspective.

Another person who should make that list is the proprietor of your local bookstore.

I know. Your list didn't include that person, but think about it. I'm not talking about the check-out person at Books-O-Zillion who only took the job for some extra pocket money and hasn't actually read a book since sophomore English. I'm talking about the person who runs that small independent bookstore down the street -- the one who made the dream of owning a bookstore come true 20+ years ago and has struggled through thick and thin to keep it going. I'm generalizing, but you get the idea.

Sandmeyer's Bookstore, located in Chicago's Printer's Row, is one of my favorite bookshops. Getting to know the shop's owners has reaped significant literary rewards, because they know the types of books I've written, the types of books that I edit, and the books that I read just for me. (When they first asked what kind of books I read for fun, I wasn't sure how to answer. I'm always reading with writing in mind, so I hesitated.)

They caught on to my tastes quickly as I placed orders for science fiction titles from the Del Rey Star Wars line, the latest from Terry Brooks, five copies of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book (stunning -- you should read it immediately and give copies to all of your friends, I did), and Terry Pratchett's brilliant Nation. On a recommendation from my students, I read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga, and the Sandmeyers made an interesting note: this is one of the only series of books where they have watched interest spread from kids to adults.

Then there were the detective stories. I'm up to "J" is for Judgement in Sue Grafton's mystery series. The Sandmeyers quickly recommended Michael Harvey's The Chicago Way and when its follow-up The Fifth Floor debuted, my copy was waiting for me the same day. I could have kicked myself last Friday when I realized that Sara Paretsky's newest V.I. Warshawski novel, Hardball, came out Tuesday and I'd been distracted because I was pouring through Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. I'd heard about Hardball months ago and made a mental note to pick it up but dropped the ball on the release date. The shop had plenty of copies, however, and I cracked it open yesterday.

Make friends with the proprietor(s) of your local independent bookstore -- I didn't miss out on a book I'd been looking forward to all year because they know what I read for fun.

What are you reading for fun right now? Click "comments" below and share.

Toy Auction

Today and tomorrow (Sept. 25 and 26, 2009) Bertoia Auctions is holding part II of its auction of the Donald Kaufman collection. A noted collector of pristine prewar toys, the Kaufman collection hosts many rare cast-iron, tin litho, European, and early toys. The tractor above is an Arcade John Deere A with its original box and is just one example of the beautiful toys available in this auction.

Vehicle toys present include a wide assortment of airplanes to trucks, cars, farm toys, and motorcycles. It's not too late to get in on the action, get your checkbook and click the link above to join in on the fun.

On The Air

As a lifelong toy collector, I have enjoyed all aspects of the hobby. I've edited and authored books on different areas of the hobby, attended toy shows all over the country, and written articles (and blogs) about toy collecting. It has also been a pleasure to share this hobby at talks in libraries and on radio shows.

Aside from finding a long sought-after piece for my collection, hanging out with other collectors at shows and talking about toys is my favorite part of this hobby. I never fail to learn from these knowledgeable people and they revitalize my enthusiasm with every conversation.

I hope that enthusiasm translates to my appearances on radio talk shows. When callers request information on the toys of their childhood, it's a pleasure to be able share a bit of toy history with them -- because that knowledge is part of the unique heritage of this hobby.

If you're in the central North Carolina area, I'll be appearing this afternoon on the Allan Handelman show on FM Talk 101.1 WZTK from 4:00 to 6:00 (or so). Allan is a wonderful guy and a very gracious host -- he's also a toy enthusiast -- and I always enjoy appearing on his show.

Chicago Toy Soldier Show

Though I don't collect toy soldiers per se, I do collect the drummers that toy soldier companies have been considerate enough to release through the years. As a drummer myself, I can't pass up Barclay snare drummers, especially if they still have their hats. I've found a few at the Kalamazoo Toy Show and the Chicago Toy Show -- soon I'll have a nice drumline across my desk!

On Sunday, September 27, 2009, the Chicago Toy Soldier Show will be held at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield hotel in Schaumburg, IL (1800 Golf Rd.). This is North America's premiere toy soldier event, and one not to be missed if you collect miniature soldiers. The doors open Sunday at 10:00 am and the show continues through 3:30 pm, though this show is famous for its room trading in the days before the actual show. Click the links above for more information.

If you're interested in learning more about collecting toy soldiers, I highly recommend you pick up a subscription to Old Toy Soldier magazine. Its articles are well researched and always informative. You'll be able to keep up with toy soldier shows and get acquainted with the international network of toy dealers who can help you find just about everything you'd want for your collection.

Marching Band Competitions

Ever find yourself on the highway early on a fall morning and wonder where all those sets of school busses could possibly be going?

Maybe you saw the first set of busses pass by in the haze of the predawn light and didn't notice the pickup pulling a long trailer behind them. By the second or third time you saw busses across the divided highway, the sun was well on its way to rising and now you noticed the different school names on the busses and the school colors adorning the long trailers. This time you also noticed the fleet of cars following along. Did that school really have its own semi-truck?

Where are all of these people headed?

To marching band competitions.

The competitive high school marching band season runs (primarily) on weekends during the months of September and October -- and it kicked off in most states last weekend. Competitions come in all shapes and sizes -- some include a parade requirement along with the field show segment, while others are strictly field show competitions. (In simplest terms, field shows are the shows high school marching bands perform during the halftime of home football games. The competitions are showcase events where bands perform their field shows for a panel of judges.)

Regardless, it takes months of practice, preparation, and fund raising to prepare a show and get bands to and from competitions.

Why tell you all of this? Two reasons, really. First, if you have elementary-aged children and think that they might be musically inclined, find a competition in your area and go. You'll open their eyes to a whole new musical perspective that they won't get in a concert hall or theater. Second, for the next two months thousands of people will be on the road at all hours of the day going to or coming home from marching competitions -- drive safe!

[Note to spelling whiz kids: according to Webster's the plural of "bus" may be spelled "busses" or "buses." I like "busses."]

2009 Windy City Comicon

The 2nd Annual Windy City Comicon will be held Saturday, September 19, 2009. The event runs from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and will be held at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, Chicago, Illinois. Tickets are only $10!

This comics-oriented con will showcase the Chicago area's finest comic art talent, plus a host of creators from around the country. If you're looking for a comics convention that focuses on the comics from start to finish, this is the event for you. The con features a number of special guests including Gene Ha, David Petersen, Geof Darrow, Tony Moore, Skottie Young, and Richard Starkings.

A full schedule of events includes a Hero Initiative Sketch Jam at 11:00 am; spotlight panels on Richard Starkings and Skottie Young; a writing comics panel featuring B. Clay Moore, Sean McKeever, and Will Pfeiffer; a conversation panel with professional inkers; and a web comics panel. In addition, the exhibit floor will be filled with comic book/trade paperback/graphic novel/toy/game vendors.

If you attend the con, please take a few photos to share. Leave a comment below with your contact information, and I'll be in touch! Thanks!

Have fun and don't forget your sketchbooks!

Blueberry Festival Car Show

The arrival of Labor Day Weekend means it's time for the annual Marshall County Blueberry Festival. The family-friendly event runs from September 4-7 in Plymouth, Indiana, and features a carnival, craft fair, food vendors, musical entertainment, and a lot of other activities. But my favorite feature is the car show.

The Hoosier Old Wheels Car Show & Swap Meet will take place Sunday, September 6, and is a terrific event that features all makes and models of cars from prewar classics to muscle cars to hot rods. Sponsored each year by the Hoosier Old Wheels car club, the judged show is well organized and obviously run by folks who enjoy sharing the old cars hobby. It's a great show to introduce someone not familiar with old cars to this hobby because of the living timeline present.

Admission to the car show is just $2. Registration for participating cars goes from 8:00 am to 11:30 am, and the awards are presented at 3:30 pm. Pictured above is the GTO Judge that won last year's "Best in Show" award.

Chicago Jazz Festival 2009

Technically, the 31st Annual Chicago Jazz Festival lasts the entire month of August, as the Jazz Festival Preview nights feature the acts on the bill for the Chicago Jazz Festival performing at jazz clubs around the city. It's the three-day celebration held each Labor Day weekend that gets the official label, however, so I'll just go with that. And it starts today at noon.

An exciting new addition to the Festival is the Chicago Community Trust Young Jazz Lions Stage, the first new venue added to the Festival in ten years. Eleven Chicago-area groups were selected to perform throughout the weekend, including big bands and small ensembles from high schools and colleges, culminating in a jam session in the final hour on Sunday afternoon.

Click on the link above for the performance schedule and make plans to attend. There's something for every jazz taste: traditional, latin, world, you name it. Enjoy!