Hi Folks,
Someone suggested last month that these letters can be a bit dense and that starting off with a quick list of the high points would be a useful thing. Since I'm nothing if not obliging (at least for our sponsors) and there doesn't seem to be a downside to it, I'll start that way henceforth.
1) Tuesday cocktails on hold for the holidays. Schedule change at work, low-ish turnout, plus start of busy holiday season reason for stopping. Informal meeting continues but "official" one on hold 'til January.
2) New code for ordering custom Rickshaw bags online. Code is <call or email us for the code>. Deadline extended to January 31st. Discount is now 25% off. Ordering information - http://borderlands-sponsors.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html
3) Pre-entry to Anniversary Sale for sponsors. Sale is Sunday, November 8th. 18% discount. Sponsors get in starting at 10 am (enter through cafe), everyone else at noon.
4) New Horizons presentation was a huge success. Slide show will be available to sponsors next month. Big thanks to Orkan Umurhan for making it possible.
5) Sponsor social likewise a success. Thanks to Rickshaw Bagworks <http://www.rickshawbags.com> and Cannella Spirits <http://www.cannellaspirits.com> for their lovely support.
And now I'll stop talking like someone sending a telegraph in 1902.
Tuesday Cocktails on Hold - We've needed to switch around the schedule at the cafe, which means I'm now doing closedown there (ah, dishwashing, I love you so!). That, added to some sort of light turnouts over the past month is making me think that it's time to give it a break. Plus, we're headed into the holidays, when we all want a drink but none of us have time to get one. That said, if anyone feels like stopping by the Plisner for a drink, you certainly might find us there -- it is one of our favorite bars, after all. I'll revisit the idea in January and see if it makes sense then. I hope that I'm not disappointing people too much but, if I am, let me know and I'll see what I can come up with. Oh, and don't worry about the schedule at the cafe; I just hired a very nice young man named James and I think he's going to work out really well (and take over my dishwashing).
New Code for Rickshaw Bags - As part of their second visit to Borderlands, Rickshaw has set up a new discount code for those of you who want to order a customer Sponsor's bag through their web site. The code is <call or email us for the code>. Please don't share it around. For all the information on how to order on-line, go to the sponsor's blog < http://borderlands-sponsors.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html >. But don't wait too long; they've extended the deadline to order until January 31st but, the holidays are coming and it's going to be 2016 before you know it.
Anniversary Sale - Just in time for the elections, Borderlands is about to turn 18 (anyone want to guess who the store wants to be Mayor?). In honor of that we're going to have a sale on Sunday, November 8th. Everything in the store will be 18% off, plus there'll be cake and, perhaps, visits from the current crop of hairless Borderlands kitties. Because our sponsors are the best people on the planet, we're going to open two hours early so you get first shot at the sale and cats. Bring your card, patch or just be ready to identify yourself and come to the connecting door from the cafe between ten a.m. and noon (the bookstore door will stay locked 'til noon). We'll let you in from there. And, for you sponsors who live out of town, we'll give you the discount for mail-order purchases too. If you want to take advantage of that, please drop Jude an email and she'll give you all the details - jfeldman@borderlands-books.com.
New Horizons Presentation - NASA Ames geologist (and Borderlands sponsor) Orkan Umurhan gave a great talk about the New Horizons Mission to Pluto. We had such a big crowd that I had to rent a better projector and a huge screen so everyone could see. There were about 45 people attending and everyone had so many questions (and Orkan is such an entertaining speaker) that the event went on for two hours. The applause at the end was some of the most enthusiastic I've ever heard at the cafe. If you weren't able to make it, I've got some good news; we're still working on the exact details but next month we should be able to make Orkan's "slides" available on-line. Check my next letter for more info.
Sponsor Social - The party was as much fun as always. About 100 people came and there was much hilarity. The folks from Rickshaw <http://www.rickshawbags.com> were lovely as usual and had many conversations and placed many orders. Joe Cannella from Cannella Spirits <http://www.cannellaspirits.com>, along with his cohorts Gina and Vinny, made some wicked good cocktails. So good that, in a rye-maddened attempt to quiet the crowd, I sang in public. I will admit that it worked -- the shocked and horrified silence was something to see -- but Tom Waits will never, ever forgive me. If you want to try their tasty adult beverage for yourself and missed your chance, it can be ordered in many states from K&L Wine Merchants <http://www.klwines.com/Products/i?i=1183975>. Thanks to everyone who came -- as usual, we bring our own party.
And that about wraps it up for this month. As I close this, I noticed that this is the 10th note that I've sent out to you all. It's been quite a trip since February and thank you all for coming along with me for the ride. A few weeks ago I did an interview on Publisher's Weekly's radio show. It ended up being a discussion about what we've done these last ten months and then led into a conversation about what I hope for the future. If you're interested in hearing it, here's a link to it on PW's site -http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=8&podcast=494 - or, if you prefer, you can get it as a podcast from the iTunes store - search for "PW Radio 144" and you'll find it. Please forgive the monologue at the beginning; thank goodness that one of the hosts jumped in, otherwise I probably would have babbled all the way through (thank you, Rose). Reviewing that interview, I'm struck all over again at what a remarkable thing we've managed to accomplish. We should all be damn proud. I know I am.
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