Tayari's Blog: Most Recent Entries
August 28, 2008
Z.Z. Packer in NYC!
Don't forget about the party tonight. (I guess I should say the *other* party tonight.)
On Thursday, August 28, at 7 pm, Algonquin is sponsorong an evening with ZZ Packer to celebrate the publication of the 2008 New Stories From The South. There will be food, there will be Maud, there will be trivia, and PRIZES. All you need to get in is a $5 donation. Proceeds will benefit KARES (Katrina Arts Relief and Emergency Support) and Housing Works.
Here's a link to the invite in a size you can actually read.
Posted at 09:37 AM | ![[comments]](../images/comments.gif){kind=small}
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Category:
Living For The City
August 27, 2008
Throw Flowers At Her Feet
Reading my horoscope made me wonder if Michelle Obama is a Saggitarius, too.
According to the Guinness website, the world record for opera singers receiving curtain calls is Luciano Pavarotti, who got 165 after his 1988 show at the Deutsche Opera in Berlin. If that mark is ever broken, it may soon be accomplished by a Sagittarian performer. That's because you people will be at the peak of your potential to garner acknowledgement, recognition, and rewards in your chosen field. Here's a secret about how you can take maximum advantage of that potential: Imagine that there is a higher, finer level of excellence that's beyond what you've understood as excellence up until now. Then figure out what you'd have to do to rise to that higher, finer level.
Non-Sags out there can get yours here.
Posted at 07:41 AM | Comments (1)
Category:
Current Events
August 26, 2008
Tuesday's Finds
Lynn Brown finally found a publisher for her poetry debut. That's the only good news in this whole dismaying story. (Thanks, Shayla for telling me about this.)Posted at 07:15 PM | Comments (0)
Category:
Travels & Rambles
The New Morrison Novel: In my hot little hands!
A couple of days ago I was tootling down Jersey Ave, here in Jersey 
City, and I stumbled upon the coziest bookstore, Imagine Atrium. I could not believe that I live within 3 blocks of an independent bookstore and didn't even know it. Me, being me, I walked right in and introduced myself to Garrad, the owner. We talked a lot about books and about the importance of supporting local businesses.
On the check out desk was a novel displayed in a little stand. A sign underneath said, "Review This Book For Our Website." I, thinking on my feet said, "Do you have an early copy of the new Toni Morrison novel?" Garrad said, "No, but maybe I could get it." I will spare you the details of me dancing a jig and urging him on. Today, he called me and told me that I could come and pick it up.
Imagine Atrium is part of "Indie Bound" the organization of independent bookstores, formerly known as Booksense. The difference is that Indie Bound is not about just about bookstores. It's about spending your money in your community. It's about fighting the homogenization of our culture. It's about raising awareness and it's about rigor. Indie Bound is about supporting institutions that support you and not handing over all 
your resources to the big chains that don't really care about readers or writers or citizens in general.
If you are ever in Jersey City, check out his store. He cares about what we care about.
Posted at 06:45 PM | Comments (1)
Category:
Jersey Journals
August 25, 2008
Requiem for A Sweater
I love this one orange sweater. I bought it years ago, when I 
was living in Champaign, IL. It cost me a pretty penny, but I figured I deserved it because I was staying home over spring break to write. It turned out to be the perfect garment for the travelling writer. The color looked great on camera and if I wore it at the podium it really showed up well. I could wear it upside down as a shrug! It could be casual or spiffy, depending on what I wore it with. Foxy or reserved, all depending on what I wore under it. Oh, I love it so.
It's an all purpose good-vibe article of clothing. It's a great first date sweater-- because it's so bright, yet classy. It's a terrific post-break-up garment, in the spirit of Chrissette Michelle's "Be Okay." I can throw it on with jeans to make a ratty outfit "casual-cute." I can put it on with a black pencil skirt to say "at work, but not lame." Sigh.
But all things must come to an end. My sweater is old now. It's sort of stretched out of shape. After several weeks of research, I tracked down the manufacturer, Skif International. They don't have the orange yarn anymore. After comforting me as I sobbed into the phone, the customer service person asked me to mail in my beloved sweater. Maybe they could match it? In any case, she is going to send me some yarn swatches, so I can see is there is something else I would like to have.
I must admit that I feel a little silly even writing this post. Does this put me in same category as that kooky lady who spent her life savings cloning "Booger," her dearly departed pit bull? Maybe so. But still, as I am boxing up my sweater now, I ask you send it some positive energy. I haven't been this nervous since I sent Johnny Baby Feline to Alabama on Fly Pets!
(click mosaic to enlarge.)
Posted at 11:18 AM | Comments (4)
Category:
Travels & Rambles