Hello Everyone,
If you're doing such a thing, I hope that your summer vacations are (or have been) lovely. I'm not taking a summer vacation since I managed to get ten days in New Orleans this spring, but I'm with you in spirt. At the store we've been busy helping all the people visiting for their vacations and it has been great fun. One of the things I like the best about this business (and get to do the least) is make suggestions and help people find the book they're looking for. Especially when they don't actually know what book they're looking for. Summer time and the Holiday Season are the two times that I get to do the most of it, so it has been a good couple of weeks.
Speaking of summer travel, a lot of folks that we know are heading off to Helsinki for the World Science Fiction convention. One of our sponsors, Gay Chung, is going to be there and she has offered to coordinate a get-together for any other sponsors who are going to be attending. Exactly where, when and what it'll be is going to have to wait 'til Gay gets in town (which'll be tomorrow) and has a chance to check out the lay of the land. But, if you'd like to connect with her and other sponsors, you should drop her a note at blbsponsors@gmail.com. Once she has the details, she'll drop you a line. I wish I was going to be there, but I'm sure you'll all send me some great pictures (yes, that is a hint).
And, now on to the list of upcoming events.
Warm Regards,
Alan
Note: As usual, to RSVP for any event, just reply to this email and we'll take care of the rest.
Short:
(1) Monday, August 14th from 7:00 pm -- 10:00 pm -- Game Night. Inspired by the rousing success of the last couple, we'll be doing a monthly game night at the Cafe on the second Monday of each month. Guests are welcome and no RSVPs are necessary.
(2) Saturday, August 19th from 7:00 pm -- 11:00 pm -- Summer Sponsor Social. Cookies, cookies, cookies! Instead of our usual pot-luck, we'd like you to bring cookies. We want to taste your favorite family recipe, your go-to binge, or even your favorite local bakery's confections. We'll have few ports and sherries on hand to try different pairings, but as always, feel free to bring any of your favorite libations. And we'll have all the usual entertainments in the form of door prizes, board games at the back of the cafe, and Alan will be giving a limited number of tours of the (sorta creepy) basement of the shop. Feel free to bring a guest and RSVPs are much appreciated but not required.
(3) Tuesday, August 22nd at 7:00 pm -- Sponsor Cocktails. Who doesn't love drinking at Churchill? We will definitely be out again this month at the same location and time to enjoy the company of fellow sponsors. Meet us at Churchill, 198 Church Street at Market Street.
(4) Thursday, September 7th at 6:00 pm -- Sponsor Karaoke with Seanan McGuire at The Mint (1942 Market Street, San Francisco). 21 and over, no cover charge (but there is a 2-drink minimum), guests welcome. Please RSVP so we know how many people to expect.
(5) Sunday, October 22nd, 2 pm to 6 pm -- Picnic in Golden Gate Park. We'll be at table #1 in Lindley Meadow (see map here - http://sfpsociety.org/large_ggp_map.jpg). Any number of guests are welcome and RSVPs are appreciated. We'll take care of the coals and some basic food stuff, but please do bring things to share (however, please, per park rules, no beverages in glass bottles).
Long:
(1) Monday, August 14th from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm -- Game Night. Join fellow sponsors & "game" staff for chess, Cards Against Humanity, Scrabble, Pictionary, or whatever other board games you'd like to bring to play! Please bring games that have a usual play-cycle of less than 3 hours, so probably NOT Monopoly, Seven Ages, Arkham Horror, or The Longest Day (that's the Normandy Invasion strategy game that takes an average of 90 hours to play). Are you a secret Balderdash champion? Kick butt at Connect 4? Here's your chance to shine! We'll have adult beverages (after eight pm), iced tea and lemonade on offer, but feel free to bring your favorite beverage to share. Also, you're welcome to bring food if you wish -- the cafe will be shutting down at eight. No need to RSVP, and please feel free to invite your friends along, as there really isn't any limit to the number of folks we can accommodate -- the more the merrier.
(2) Saturday, August 19th from 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm -- Summer Sponsor Social. Cookies, cookies, cookies! Instead of our usual pot-luck, we'd like you to bring cookies. We want to taste your favorite family recipe, your go-to binge, or even your favorite local bakery's confections. We'll have few ports and sherries on hand to try different pairings, but as always, feel free to bring any of your favorite libations. And we'll have all the usual entertainments in the form of door prizes, board games at the back of the cafe, and Alan will be giving a limited number of tours of the (sorta creepy) basement of the shop. Given the sweets-focused nature of this social, you might want to have dinner before arriving (although we will have some "real" food on hand for the folks who didn't have time for dinner - i.e. the staff at the very least). Feel free to bring a guest and RSVPs are much appreciated but not required.
(3) Tuesday, August 22nd at 7:00 pm -- Sponsor Cocktails. Our next Monthly Sponsor Cocktail night will be at Churchill (198 Church Street at Market) <http://www.churchillsf.com/>; some combination of us will be there from at least 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm. No need to RSVP and any number of guests and friends are welcome. The bar is INCREDIBLY convenient to public transit -- the MUNI Metro Underground (via F, K, L, and M lines at Church Street,) and J and N lines stop less than a block away.
(4) Thursday, September 7th at 6:00 pm -- Sponsor Karaoke with Seanan McGuire at The Mint (1942 Market Street, San Francisco). Nebula Award winning author, singer/songwriter, snake handler, Borderlands sponsor, and all-around amazing person Seanan McGuire has graciously offered to be a special guest at the very first Borderlands Sponsor Karaoke Night! This will be an enormously entertaining event, and we hope you'll join us to show off your vocal prowess (or your irrepressible attitude, if you happen to lack vocal prowess -- that's great, too). The Mint is located at 1942 Market Street, San Francisco, and we have reserved space for sponsors. Some pertinent info about The Mint: it is a bar, so this event will be for those 21 and over. There is no cover charge, but there is a 2-drink minimum. Guests are welcome, and please RSVP so we know how many people to expect.
(5) Sunday, October 22nd, 2 pm to 6 pm -- Picnic in Golden Gate Park. We are celebrating "Summer" in San Francisco by taking our October Sponsor event to Golden Gate Park! We're actually leaving the store and venturing into the outside world for a potluck cookout! And, since it's October in San Francisco, we have high hopes that we won't be shivering and shrouded in fog. We've reserved Table #1 at Lindley Meadow. Directions are at the link below, but the short version is that Lindley Meadow is on the South side of JFK Drive, across from the 30th Avenue and Fulton Street entrance in Golden Gate Park. (At 30th Avenue and JFK, there is a sign for Lindley Meadow.) http://sfrecpark.org/destination/golden-gate-park/ggp-lindley-meadow-picnic-area/ .
Bring something to put on the grill or something to share as a side; bring your picnic blanket and a frisbee, and probably a jacket for possibly unpredictable summer weather. Wine and beer are fine to bring but, please, no liquor and no glass, per the Park's request. Friends and guests (including children) are super welcome so please do bring 'em along. If you're planning on coming, please let us know at sponsors@borderlands-books.com
