by Noella Noelophile®
What are the loves of your life?
You may well answer that question with a list.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, now seems like a great time to explore some of those. Not to mention (or count) the ways in which you and I may explore them further, for Valentine’s Day or any day of the year.
So, here is my list! Or part of it, anyway.
“There is no frigate…”
At the very top–books. They’ve been companions, comforters and new-adventure providers for as long as I’ve been able to read.
And Emily Dickinson had it right: “There is no frigate like a book/To take us lands away…”
If that’s your sentiment as well, you’ll love the options from some of the local libraries–and a great indie bookstore.
E-books were never my first choice, as a reader. I like the feeling of a book in my hands! But with the pandemic receding, yet still a consideration, I’ve been borrowing ebooks from the Long Beach Public Library.
While you’re almost certain to miss being able to flip back and read a favorite scene, there’s an upside. You may well find new favorites you would have completely bypassed, walking among the stacks!
For example, I really liked Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro. Promoted on the front page of the library’s website, this futuristic sci-fi novel, told from the viewpoint of a compassionate and loyal robot, is a real page-turner with believable characters and some surprise twists.
But, if you’d rather own the book and have it in your library? Indie bookstores are another favorite for me. How about you?
Sandpiper Books, in Torrance, is one such favorite. They stock new, rare, and “gently used” books.
“We are book people,” says their website. Pre-COVID, Sandpiper Books hosted amazing author events and had some incredible stock–including a new hardback cover of a personal favorite, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith.
Currently, according to their website, the pandemic has forced them to temporarily close. But here is a link to their list of their new store arrivals and indie bestsellers. And you might like to follow them on Facebook and Instagram, for updates as we hope to move through the pandemic and back to some semblance of normal. (And huge virtual applause to Tish and her crew, for doing their best to keep everyone safe in this mess!)
Hearts and hands
Making things, and being around others who do so, is another of my loves.
Since starting this blog, I’ve had the privilege of meeting the most amazing, talented artists and artisans.
No way can I include all of them in this post. Suffice it to say, though, that you’ll meet quite a few of them if you’re out and about (masked and social-distanced, please–and in the interest of honesty, I am isolating until the numbers come down. If you’re in the same position, the shows I’m about to mention are annual ones. And several of them have a virtual component!)
Here are several favorite all-handmade fairs.
- Torrance Craftmen’s Guild.
March 19th is the date of their “22nd Annual Arts and Crafts Spring Faire”. Free admission and parking, and they always have beautiful jewelry, ceramics and needlework. Face coverings are required, and the show runs from 10 am to 3 pm at Torrance Cultural Arts Center, Torrance Boulevard and Madrona.
- Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair.
In addition to their California shows (Pasadena and Burbank), they host juried strictly-handmade shows in Minneapolis and Denver. Currently, they’re accepting applications, but deadlines are coming up quickly for the Pasadena and Burbank springtime shows! Here’s the link to apply, for those and for their “Local Undercover Online Marketplace”.
The California spring shows are:
Pasadena, April 23rd and 24th, in Pasadena’s Central Park, at Raymond and Del Mar;
Burbank, May 14th and 15th. I believe the location will, once again, be downtown Burbank, but don’t see it on their website as yet.
Admission to the shows is free. With 150 local artisans though, good luck leaving without your arms full of treasures! I’ve tried, I’ve really tried (but not very hard!).
AND–if you aren’t able to physically attend their shows, here’s the link to their “Local Undercover” Virtual Marketplace!
- Patchwork Show Modern Makers Festival
Exhibitor applications open February 25th for their late spring and early summer (!–already!), shows. They have FOUR events scheduled in California cities. These are:
Long Beach: May 29th, in Marine Stadium. According to their website, this is their largest show, featuring more than 250 makers;
Tustin, June 4th and 5th, in Old Town Tustin. Their newest location!;
Oakland, June 11th in Jack London Square;
And, Santa Rosa, June 25th and 26th, in Old Courthouse Square., downtown Santa Rosa.
The Patchwork Shows I’ve attended have been very much a celebration of local artists, with live music, DIY stations and food trucks, in addition to all kinds of treasures to explore.
And Patchwork Show is just one feature of Dear Handmade Life, a DIY creatives’ community helmed by artist/entrepreneur Nicole Stevenson. In addition to the Patchwork Festival, Nicole offers the yearly “Craftcation” Business and Makers’ Conference, in Ventura. The next conference is set for April 6-10 if you’d like to attend!
Just add purrs
Ready for a third “love of my life”?
It starts with “meow”.
I’ve been cat-crazy ever since our first kitten, “Susie”, came into my life.
If you similarly love felines but can’t have one for whatever reason, Long Beach Felines has you covered.
In 2019, they opened “Feline Good Social Club” in downtown Long Beach. I had the pleasure of being onsite to greet their purry residents and admire the acrobatic skills of “Fancy Feet”, as detailed in an earlier post.
Visitors can book a session to cuddle with one or more of twenty-four felines onsite. The club also hosts cat-oriented social activities, including yoga and paint nights with the kitties “supurrvising”.
Although the pandemic forced the building into temporary closure, they’re back now, with some Valentine-themed activities coming up next weekend.
Friday, February 11th, through Monday, the 14th, they’ll host “Happy Meower 2022” with wine, chocolate and kitties. When I went online to check for availability, there was ONE one-hour appointment left on Monday, February 14th. So if you want that date, now is the time to “pounce”! (There are, however, several one-hour slots still open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $25 per person, and advance booking is required, as is wearing a mask when you come in. Here’s the link for information.)
And–if you want one more “Valenfeline” event–they have one! On Saturday, February 12th, they’re also hosting a “Comedy and Cats” show, from 8 to 9 pm. Tickets are $25 each, and there are a few spaces left. Here’s that link, as well.
Now, what if you’re isolating, due to the pandemic? You can still support nonprofit Long Beach Felines if you’d like, by making a donation or buying one or more of the items listed on Feline Good Social Club’s “wish list”. Here’s the link, if you’d like to help.
And, those are three of the loves of my life! Now–what are some of yours?
Happy Valentine’s Day!