Tag: Books with Pictures

Harry’s Birthday at the Kennedy School

Dear Liza,

One of our favorite local businesses, the McMenamin brothers, helped us celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday this past weekend. The party was at The Kennedy School.

We started with lunch on the Cypress Room patio and Zach took good care of us. There was a special menu of food and drink to honor our favorite boy Wizard, and we took advantage. I had the Leaky Cauldron Shepherd’s Pie and Bridgett enjoyed the Chamber of Secrets pizza in a gluten free crust. Our drinks were a butter beer for Grandpa Nelson, Felix Felicius for me, and Pumpkin Juice for Bridgett.

Once we were fed, it was time to shop! The classrooms of the School were filled with vendors of candy, books, art, and all sorts of Wizarding goodies. Honeydukes sold me some delicious peanut butter fudge. I passed on the “Cornelius Fudge”, which a fellow shopper guessed might taste of cowardice and bad management. (Don’t you just love clever smart guys?)

I met Christie Quinn, The BookMobile Babe, at her Banned Books booth.
She knows Auntie Katie and Books with Pictures and loves them almost as much as I do! In the world of “Folks Who Get Books to Kids”, these two are best buddies.

As always at McMenamin’s, we took time to appreciate the design and decoration of the place. We stepped into The Detention Bar for a refresher cocktail (and to get Bridgett the special stamp in her McMenamin’s Passport) and enjoyed the Oriental details as the The Chamber of Secrets played in the overhead screen.

Just down the hall was this lovely, ornate door, labeled Kennedy Night School. Our waiter, Zach, walked past as I was taking this picture. “It doesn’t go anywhere and is just nailed up there,” he said, “but doesn’t it look neat?”
Yes, it does.

When we had seen everything there was to see and gotten Auntie Bridgett a few more stamps, we headed home. I love that Harry and the McMenamin’s get together.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Portland Pride

Dear Liza,

This past Sunday, I got to visit the Portland Pride festival at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Specifically, I got to visit Auntie Katie at the Books with Pictures tent. Doesn’t she look great?

It was a record high of 95F, and everyone was wearing their summer rainbow clothes.

A lady let me take a picture of her rainbow tee shirt which showed off her huge snake and flower tattoo.

Katie’s tent had a just a small chunk of her inventory from the shop. As we visited, sales were great and everyone was so cheerful.

After I got Katie a cold drink (and had one myself), I wandered around a bit, pleased at the variety of goods and services being offered and all the businesses being represented. This young mom posed in front of the tent from University of Oregon, my old alma mater.

I even got to pet Caesar, the No-Drama llama, who we’ve seen at other events. Caesar is a therapy animal who visits hospitals and other places where a calming influence is needed. He’s soft and fluffy and very popular.

I was starting to feel the heat, and headed back to the bus stop. There seemed to be a continual parade going on, full of happy, proud, rainbow-dressed people. It was a good day.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Books with Pictures ComicCon, 2023 Part 2

Dear Liza,

During the Books with Pictures Comic Con, the garden saw a lot of action!

Two lovely people with the unlikely names of Bugchampciri and 2broke4cosplay (these are their Instagram handles) organized and judged the costume contest. Kids from about eight years old to adults in their thirties came to strut their cosplay stuff.

Everyone looked incredible and got lots of compliments on their outfits. What was even more amazing was the dozen or so folks in costumes who weren’t in the contest, but just walking around shopping and chatting.

Later in the day, the garden hosted an Art Battle, with cartoonists in competition to draw the best improvised ‘toon. I watched Ron Chan and Kate Faris drawing “Creepy Farting Tacos” and it was delightful.

After lunch, Douglas Wolk ran a trivia contest. I didn’t get to see it, but was told by several contestants that they had “arrived with confidence” and had been “quickly humbled” by the difficulty of the questions. Douglas is an Eisner Award-winning comics expert. He doesn’t mess around.

The last panel of the day was Nola Pfau, Laura Hudson and Douglas Wolk discussing comics criticism… that is, how to think about, talk about, or write about comics as a genre of literature and art.

For the closing act in the garden, Lizzy Kirby sang delightful, original songs, my favorite having “Meow, meow, meow meow, meow meow” as its chorus. We all joined in, of course.

For part of the day, Kestrel had her art table set up near the garden, as well, doing small sketches for folks for tips. She did very well and retired early.

Here are just a few of the folks on clean up duty…me, Katie, Kenny and his daughter Vanessa, and Mads. Kenny’s wife Jessica took the picture, and was working, too. Katie’s staff member Elizabeth was down the street folding and lifting tents into the garage. The whole day was an amazing tour de force of teamwork.

Something as complicated as a ComicCon takes dozens of people who are good at their jobs working really hard. I am very proud of Auntie Katie and her companions for the work they did.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Books with Pictures ComicCon, 2023 Part 1

Dear Liza,

This past Saturday was the second annual Books with Pictures Comic con, held at Auntie Katie’s bookshop. Of course, Auntie Bridgett set up her Auntie Beeswax booth.

The whole day was busy, fun and exhausting! Happily, it went very smoothly, mostly because of Katie’s wonderful staff and dozens of volunteers. Here is Alex, who was on the morning shift, getting everyone’s tents set up.

Once everyone was set up, I took a few minutes and gave the garden a good watering. Our weather has been very hot, and the garden was going to see a lot of action during the comic con.

The food carts that are behind Books with Pictures were doing a fine business, with everyone enjoying sandwiches from Underbite and waffles from Honeycuspe.

Auntie Katie was busy all day, making sure vendors had everything they needed and that visitors felt welcome.

There were fifty different vendors showing buttons, books, stickers, cards, patches, earrings, clothes, magnets, zines, games, and all sorts of handmade goodies.

Staff member Nico even designed a pamphlet that had a map and list of vendors and a schedule of activities that were going to happen in the garden.

We got to meet a lot of interesting and friendly people and see wonderful art, and by the end of the day we were pretty much wiped out. Until next year, BwPcon!

Love,

Grandma Judy

A Sunny Lunch Out

Dear Liza,

One of the best things about our sunny summers is that it is so easy to get around Portland on foot. The other day I had a lovely walk down through Ladd’s Addition to have a lunch out with Auntie Katie.

We walked a few blocks from Books with Pictures to Spielman’s Bagels on Division. They have a lovely back garden with just the right amount of dappled sunshine. They also serve delicious sandwiches.

Katie and I caught up with news. She told me how proud she was of her kids’ volunteering at the latest SOAK weekend (a regional version of Burning Man) and her trials in maintaining the hundred-year-old building that Books with Pictures is in. Roof, then walls, then windows…. Oy vey. Expensive and stressful.

Still, she finds ways to relax and look great.

I told her about the story I am writing about the “Grandma Judy Commandments”.

When we had finished our lunch, I walked Katie back to the shop and spent a delightful hour watering her garden.

She found some Marvel comic figures in a give-away box last week and has introduced them to their new home.Iron Man is guarding the new rhododendron, and Black Panther is hiding among the lavender.

Stunning!

I enjoyed my walk up to the bus stop, because it took me through one of Ladd’s Addition’s FOUR rose gardens. The scent wafted me all the way up the hill.

I hope your summer is full of adventures, too.

Love,

Grandma Judy

The Garden at Books with Pictures, One Year On

Dear Liza,

A year ago, Auntie Katie and her friends planted a garden in the skinny triangle of ground behind her bookshop, Books With Pictures. Everyone helped with weeding and watering during the hot summer and fall, and the garden rested through our cold, wet winter.

And now that summer is on the way, everything is coming up roses!

And irises, lilacs and dahlias!

And lupines!

The Rhododendron that Katie bought on Mother’s Day has settled right in and started blooming. She named it Barney (for the big purple dinosaur) and he is showing his Barney colors.

This past year there have been story times, concerts, trivia contests, and book signings in the garden.

That little stage has seen a lot of talent.

Katie just put in some benches, so there is always a place to sit in the sun or the shade, whichever you like. They are good places to enjoy the flowers and watch the world go by.

Love,

Grandma Judy

A Ducky Mother’s Day

Dear Liza,

Sunday was Mother’s Day. It was also almost 90 degrees F here in Portland.

Still, I was determined to spend the day somewhere pretty with Auntie Katie and the Cousins. I walked through a very pretty neighborhood full of azaleas to Ladd’s Addition and helped Katie pack a wonderful picnic. When Jasper and Kestrel arrived, we took the Orange Line train to Bybee station and walked a ways around the golf course to the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.

There was a certain amount of grumbling about the heat, of course.
But we found a shady spot by the lake and settled in. We enjoyed delicious hunks of bread with creamy cheese, strawberries, and radishes.

And as we sat there, a Momma duck and her three babies swam over, hopped out just by our feet, had a grooming lesson and then fell asleep. Right there. It was magical.

And of course, when you get to witness magic, you want to share it. Kestrel quietly walked around, letting people know there were adorable sleeping baby ducks right over here, if they wanted to see them. Many did, and it was nice to see grown up people go all Gaga over the fluffy babies.

When we were full and rested, we packed up and walked around the lake. We found that there was a sale of Rhodies and azaleas, to share the wonderful plants and help support the garden. Auntie Katie found a plant for her garden at Books with Pictures.

The garden folks would haul the heavy plant to the entrance on a wagon, so we were free to make our way back. But we couldn’t carry the plant on the train, it was too heavy and the weather was just getting hotter.

We took some silly selfies and appreciated the incredible blooms, and debated how to get home. Lyft? Uber? Call home? That was it. Grandpa Nelson said he would come fetch us.

And after a very warm day and a very crowded ride home, we all got to relax in our cool houses.
It was a Mother’s Day much like motherhood itself: a bit busy, a bit out of control, but full of love and memories.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Free Comic Book Day!

Dear Liza,

Our lovely spring walk took us all the way down to Auntie Katie’s bookshop, Books with Pictures! And since it was Free Comic Book Day, there were all sorts of things going on!

Auntie Katie met us, all dressed up this fabulous outfit.

Then I ran into Cousin Kestrel, who had done such a nice job painting her own knees, I asked to to put some abstract plants on my face.

I’d say that’s a real improvement!

We were there to visit, but most folks were there for comics! There were so many people there to shop and pick out their free comics, there was a line out the door. It was wonderful to see the shop so full!

We got snacks at the Underbite food truck, listened to Courage Music, and then headed home.

On our way down Clinton Street, we saw this adorable fairy village hiding in the garden of a tiny house. Portland always has such fun surprises!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Heading to Auntie Katie’s

Dear Liza,

Our weather has gotten so pretty! Almost 70 F, sunny, and just a tiny breeze. Today I got to appreciate it all as I walked down to Auntie Katie’s house.
I was there for difficult reasons, but the view was wonderful. The garden at Books with Pictures is looking good, and Nick, Kitty and the staff are keeping the shop open and running well.

There is a mighty strain of strep throat racing through Cousin Jasper’s Middle School. He caught it from his best friend’s sister, and gave it to Katie. Jasper is currently staying a few nights at Randall’s Children’s hospital getting treatment, and Auntie Katie is home on antibiotics. We hope for a good recovery for all.

I took chicken soup and made sure Katie had food and a clean kitchen to live with until she recovered. Then I got some lunch for myself from Tori’s Underbite food truck (roasted cauliflower soup, yummy!)

I headed home past the East Rose Garden of Ladd’s Addition. They are all looking good, at a uniform level of new-red- leafiness. Give them another few weeks and they will they explode with color.

The neighborhood between Ladd’s and Sunnyside is always so pretty, with the yards well-tended and explosions of color! This colorful rock garden just tumbles down the side yard of this old craftsman style house, with tall red tulips standing happily above.

Sending love to you and hope you all stay well!

Grandma Judy

Auntie Katie Wins an Eisner Award!

Dear Liza,

You know how hard Auntie Katie has worked at her bookshop, Books with Pictures. She started down the street eight years ago, then moved to her current location four years ago, growing and improving all the time.

When the Pandemic hit, she shut her doors but kept the business open with on-line ordering and driving to make deliveries every evening. She hired fabulous people who know and love comics as much as she does, besides having skills in art, design, organization, website management, and advertising.

With her staff and other friends, she has created a popular, all-inclusive space that has become the center of the LGBTQ+ community. No matter who you are, you will find books that represent YOU. She has meet-ups for teen clubs, creators, and even a pre-schooler’s story time out in the garden.

In short, she has made a change for the good here in Portland. And people noticed.

This year, she won the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award. This is the Comics World equivalent of an Oscar for comic book shops.Besides her years of work, there were many pages of applications and hours of preparation and interviews. It was hard!

And this past weekend at the San Diego Comic Con, she got her just desserts. Up on a huge stage, with a thousand people watching, she was handed the cherry-on-top of these eight years of hard work.

I couldn’t be prouder! Keep going, Katie!

(Well, take a well-deserved nap, first….)

Keep making the world better!

Love,

Grandma Judy