Thursday, February 10, 2011
GYAH!
 My beloved Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon laid off 31 employees (a full 7% of their unionized workforce) on Tuesday. Powell's management released a statement explaining that the layoffs were due to "adverse conditions", which they expect to continue for a number of years. Man, how depressing... Labels: Economy of Doom, Powell's Books
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Fellow Pacific Northwesteners take note:
 Mockingjay author Suzanne Collins will be visiting Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon on Sunday, November 7th from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Due to a hand injury, Ms. Collins will be stamping books rather than signing them... but she'll be using a special commemorative stamp created especially for her 2010 Mockingjay tour, if that makes you feel any better. Labels: Events, Powell's Books, Suzanne Collins
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Pride and Prejudice and footnotes
 Okay, it's not the annotated Pride and Prejudice of my dreams, but DK Publishing's "Illustrated Classics" edition is still pretty great. Each book contains the original, unabridged text, and features background information, timelines, definitions, and colorful images of places, items, and information mentioned in the book. These suckers aren't perfect (better binding would have been nice, and I caught several typos), but they would make a great edition for any high school/college students out there. Plus, Powell's is selling 'em for $6.98, which, while it isn't exactly giving them away, is close enough. Labels: Jane Austen, Powell's Books
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Odd pairing
 I'm not sure why a Portland independent bookstore is celebrating Dairy Month, but celebrating it they are... so if you're in the market for a book about milk, cheese, cows, or goats be sure to check out Powell's Featured Titles List for June, highlighting dairy-friendly books ranging from Buttercup the Clumsy Cow to Cheesemonger: A Life on the Wedge. Labels: Food, Powell's Books
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Class act
 Aw... in a particularly cool move, Powell's Books is celebrating Earth Day by giving away a free reusable Powell's tote bag with the purchase of any three used books. This offer is good through April 22nd, so if you're in the market for some used books now might be the time to pick 'em up. Labels: Gifts, Giveaways, Powell's Books
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Awesomeness on sale
Powell's Books in Oregon is currently offering several of Penguin's Deluxe Classic Editions at 30% off. I'm not sure if it's just the crappy January weather making all of my old books look sad and washed-out, but these deliciously lurid editions seem to speak to my very soul (even more so than they usually do). I just want to curl up somewhere in front of a fire and read one of 'em, drinking hot chocolate out of a mug the size of a bucket:    Labels: Book Covers, Powell's Books, Wordcandy on the cheap
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Fellow pop science geeks take note!
 Oooooh, paleontologist Peter Ward (author of the awesome non-fiction book Out of Thin Air) is going to be appearing at the Burnside Powell's in Portland, Oregon next Monday. He's talking about his new book The Medea Hypothesis: Is Life on Earth Ultimately Self-Destructive? and, no doubt, depressing the hell out of us. Labels: Nonfiction, Peter Ward, Powell's Books
Thursday, January 15, 2009
But will there be snacks?
 Award-winning cookbook writer Mark Bittman, author of the bestselling books How to Cook Everything and How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, is going to be visiting Powell's Books in Portland tonight, chatting about his new release Food Matters, a book described as "a plan for responsible eating that's as good for the planet as it is for your weight and your health". If any of our readers attend, could you please ask Mr. Bittman why they didn't feature any middle-aged ladies/hot young guy combos on that stupid show? Labels: Cookbooks, Events, Powell's Books
Friday, November 07, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Powell's Books, new and improved.
 The Willamette Week's blog has posted some images of the proposed addition to Powell's Books' Burnside store in downtown Portland, OR. It's tough for me to visualize the finished project based on these plans, but it looks like they're trying to keep the soul of that old wraparound marquee! Labels: Powell's Books
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Powell's Books - Indiespensable
Powell's Books, Portland, Oregon's independent bookstore to the stars, has started a new subscription book club:  For $39.95 per delivery, Indiespensable subscribers will enjoy a delivery of: "[The] best new books, with special attention to leading independent publishers. Signed first editions. Inventive, original sets. Exclusive printings.... Every six weeks, another installment to read and admire.
All titles are thoughtfully selected by Powell's staff. PLUS: Every shipment is stocked with exciting surprises.... Maybe a pre-publication copy of some great new book, or a bonus DVD or CD, or a literary periodical, or handmade chocolate — always something extra for your pleasure. It's our booklovin', box-filling prize." This month, subscribers will receive a hardcover first edition of Iain Banks's The Crow Road (complete with laid-in bookplate signed by the author and packaged in a custom, full-cloth slipcase), a full-length CD of original music by Portland artists, AND a limited printing of Graeme Thomson's 40 greatest death songs of all time. Not too shabby for $40. Labels: Powell's Books
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Bella's Ball: Friday, August 1st
 Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon has decided to give Breaking Dawn, the conclusion to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga, the full Harry Potter-midnight release party treatment: "On Friday, August 1, we are thrilled to host Bella's Ball, a midnight release party complete with costume contests, spooky DJs, and even a blood mobile! Easier than the vampire's way, a Red Cross blood mobile will be operating from 3:30-6:30 p.m. — all donors will be rewarded with priority line-placement when the book goes on sale at midnight. Hold your squeals of joy, all of you in the Edward or Jacob camps. We'll see you there!" As all of our long-term readers know, I'm not the world's biggest fan of these books, but--hey, any excuse for a party, you know? Plus, that blood mobile idea is both classy and totally, totally awesome. Labels: Powell's Books, Stephenie Meyer
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My beloved Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon laid off 31 employees (a full 7% of their unionized workforce) on Tuesday. Powell's management released a statement explaining that the layoffs were due to "adverse conditions", which they expect to continue for a number of years.
