Celebrating Art in Downtown Salina

La Voz/ETC Boutique/Chapter 2 Books is excited to have hosted Lawrence artist David Loewenstein during his visit to Salina to create the mural "Waiting in the Wings" in Campbell Plaza in Downtown Salina. Campbell Plaza is just across the street from ETC Boutique and just a few buildings south of Chapter 2 Books, so we also were thrilled to watch the new artworking taking shape the past couple of weeks.

David stayed in the loft above Chapter 2 Books while working on the piece. He said he once lived in a loft in downtown Lawrence, so the experience felt very familiar for him. It also was convenient to have a place close to his work site to retreat from the heat and stop for planning sessions with collaborating artist Debbie Wagner of Bennington.

David said he always works with a local artist so he can share his experience as a muralist, plus he needs the help and enjoys the company while working long hours on the large mural projects.

If you are unable to attend the dedication and celebration at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2010, stop by to see the mural while you are downtown then visit ETC or Chapter 2 to let us know what you think.

You can also read more about David's experience in Salina and even see a photo from the loft window at David's Blog.

You also can watch for photos of the Dedication Ceremony at La Voz's Facebook page.

Fun at The Market

Hey Salina Shoppers and Friends,

Did you check out The Market, which debuted in downtown Salina in May? Chapter 2 and ETC boutique were there and we had a great time greeting all the friends (new and old) who came by to check out this new event.

If you missed it, you can catch it again on June 3. Salina Downtown Inc. is sponsoring The Market in conjunction with First Thursday Art Rush through October, and Chapter 2 and ETC will be there every month, offering some different specials, plus our wonderful pop-up cards from Up With Paper.

In the meantime, you can catch up with your reading interests at Chapter 2. Watch for our daily specials on the sidewalk in front of the store!

Pop in for pop-up cards

Do you love your mother? Would you like to make her smile this Mother's Day? Then you need to see the latest addition at Chapter 2 Used Books and More ... emphasis today on MORE.

Chapter 2 has added beautiful pop-up cards for Mother's Day and other spring occasions where you are looking to brighten someone's day with a special gift.

In accordance with the La Voz-ETC Boutique-Chapter 2 philosophy, we didn't want to add just any greeting card to our offerings for our customers, we searched for something special before we brought them to you. We are excited to share these intricate three-dimensional cards with our customers. And to add another feature we like, the majority of the cards are versatile and can be used for different occasions. Rather than having a traditional printed message, they include stickers for various occasions, plus a blank so you can create your own special occasion

You'll also be going green with these beautiful cards, with both cards and envelopes being made from recycled materials.

All of this is a wonderful idea at any price, but these 3D cards will be brought to you at a great price. Plus, we'll cover the postage! Chapter 2 Used Books and MORE!! 113A S. Santa Fe in Downtown Salina, Kansas.

What do you like to read?

It's fun to see what kinds of books other people like to read. Some people stop in Chapter 2 looking for a specific book; others a specific author. But most people just like to browse. Still, you can tell where they linger.

If it's romance or mystery, they laugh and say they like to read "trash." But at Chapter 2, we say, "If it's reading, it's not 'trash'." Reading it a great way to keep your mind nimble and to learn things about other cultures, other parts of the world, even about yourself. Even many of the romances have a great deal to offer readers to learn about history or other regions.

Stop by Chapter 2, whether you're looking for trash or the so-called classic literature. Or even if you just want picture books. You're likely to find something to stretch your imagination.

A special thanks to our friend Mark for the beautiful photo of Chapter 2 he captured during an evening walk through downtown Salina.

Ribbon Cutting Opens Big Week

It was a pleasure to share Bret's mother's birthday celebration with the ribbon cutting for Chapter 2 Used Books and More. It was a quick event, as most outdoor events are in central Kansas in February, but it kicked off a busy week for Chapter 2. Bret's excitement was evident in the ribbon cutting photo, but doesn't his Mom look great!? His sister Marcia and brother-in-law Steve also were in town for the festivities.
Many more customers found their way to our door. We received several more boxes and bags of books from customers and friends. We posted the new sign for La Voz Newspaper to make that our second office for our English and Spanish newspaper.
And we closed out the week with a Valentine's Day celebration with Lucy's family. Wow! What a special week!

J.D. Salinger and Poets

"We should buy 'Catcher in the Rye'. Do you have any J.D. Salinger?"
As it so happened, I had one copy of "Catcher in the Rye" plus a copy of "Franny and Zooey" so they bought both to honor the famed novelist on the day his death was announced.
Further chatting revealed my guests were visiting Salina from Emporia, where she is a master's degree candidate in literature and a published poet. We discussed the idea of having poetry readings in Chapter 2 and they thought it was an intimate space for poetry readings.
So watch for more news on the opening of poetry nights at Chapter 2. And don't be surprised if Ariel Robello is one of the first poets to read for us.

Birth of a Dream

I fell in love with used bookstores during my college years in Lawrence, Kansas. Just as reading was an escape from the daily struggles and routines, hanging out in a local used bookstore was an escape from the pressures of college studies. For just a little bit of money, I could stock up on enough reading material to get me through those tough semesters.
During my career, I tended to get busier and busier and soon found myself purchasing most of my books online, as I could place my orders after midnight when I got off work. But still I longed for the days of browsing through the used bookstore and finding those treasures that others had parted with. And all that time I thought it would be fun to run a used bookstore of my own.
Now, after more than a year in the retail business, that dream has come true. Along with my partner, Lucy Corley, we have moved into a downtown Salina building at 113 S. Santa Fe. First, we will have the used bookstore, Chapter 2 Used Books and More, then next summer move ETC, our boutique, there in the other half of the building.
Many thanks to my friends who have provided books to begin stocking the shelves of the store. And many, many thanks to Scott and Adriana for all their hard work in scraping the tarpaper to help us unearth the beautiful ceramic tile floor below.
I’m eager to see how this fledgling business grows and contributes to the life and energy in downtown Salina. I hope to see you there soon. And if you want to part with some books, we’re taking trade and consignment right now. Hopefully in the future we will be able to pay cash for books also.