GoodFoodHungryMinds

Events are still happening!!!

2008-12-04T15:57:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is First Friday Poetry. We are changing, but that is still on. Come and share or just enjoy. Coffee and cookies available. 6 pm.

December 14th, second Sunday, will be the final community sing for the year. Again coffee and cookies will be available. 4 to 6 pm.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Store front ready for move!

2008-12-03T06:20:00.000-08:00

The shelves are empty, the boxes are full. Some have even been moved, and space has been cleared for a fixture sale, probably next weekend. Tables, chairs, some kitchen equipment and pictures are slated for sale. Special interest? Give us a call - 751-1475.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Last Day in Storefront!!

2008-11-30T18:36:00.000-08:00

Today marks the final day we have the store front open. We are now in the move phase, getting the books on line and out to the new location. It is a very exciting proposition and many of our regulars are understanding and encouraging. We are downsizing part of our business in order to expand another facet to better be able to serve our customers and still have a personal life, which has sadly been lacking for the past year. We will continue to update this blog as to our progress and future happenings.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonisias"

New Directions for Colette's

2008-11-28T20:36:00.000-08:00

One of the advantages of being a small business is the speed with which new directions and choices can be implemented. Jerry and I just celebrated the one-year anniversary of Colette's: Good Food + Hungry Minds, LLC. Anniversaries are alway a good time for assessment. in the past year we have succeeded in many of our goals for the business. We donated upwards of $35,000 in goods and services (books, coffee, goodies, food certificates etc), held 13 concerts, hosted 13 different artists, plus open mics, poetry readings, healing and psychic faires, drumming circles, and classes on everything from stree management to working with energy. We had so many ideas on how we could serve the community and we were able to implement most of them in one form or another. While we wanted to be diverse in our offerings, we never wanted to be really big.

"Big" is a relative term. When the tasks of the day take more time than exists, we've become big.

One goal that got lost in the process was a very personal one. jerry and I went into business to spend more time together. In June, we were married in the store, joking that since "we are married 'to' the store, we thought we should get married 'in' the store." Unfortunately, we were more accurate than we knew. Our private time became non-existent. Every conversation we had centered on some aspect of business -- staffing, inventory, cash flow, menu items etc. Gone were the long walks, leisurely book discussions over lunch, sitting quietly together watching the ocean from the Cape Arago lookout point -- all the activities that bind and fuel a relationship's growth were things we had no time for anymore. Individually we stopped making music, knitting, reading, writing poetry, playing bridge, making art, sewing, camping or taking time for yoga, tai chi, meditation and spiritual retreat. The very things that give our lives the deepest meaning and satisfaction had given way to the endless daily tasks of running a business.

It is time for a change and we are choosing to transition our business into a different form in order to reclaim our personal lives and better serve the community. Instead of a large storefront, we've built a new website that allows us to sell online. www.goodfoodhungryminds.com All of our books, new and used will soon be listed for sale. Currently we have roughly 200,000 volumes in our inventory. We'll continue to be search for books or individaul titles that folks are looking for.

We will continue to offer locally made and fair trade gift items, bumperstickers and posters, as well as our famous blend of fair trade, organic, locally roasted coffee -- Colette's Choice. We have lots of plans in various stages of execution -- all designed to allow us to grow our business and maintain our connection with the local community. Folks can stay in touch with us via our blog (linked on our website).

Our interest in good food has not wavered and we will continue to bake and sell our cookies, muffins, and cinnamon rolls with the help of a rented commercial kitchen. Jerry and I will both be available as personal chefs to come into your home, or anywhere with a commercial kitchen to cook for your family or group. And, of course, we will continue producing our tasty gluten free offerings to order.

Thanks to all of you who supported us. We will miss seeing all the new friends we've made over the past year. Come by and stock up for Christmas and the holidays as we hold our Transition/Moving sale from Friday, November 27 to Sunday, November 30. Remember, we're not going away, we're just changing our form.

Jerry and Jessica

Karaoke a hit!!!

2008-11-22T09:25:00.000-08:00

Darren brought a great selection of tunes and we had several participants and about as many appreciators. Having singers who perform without a few beers made it a very fun evening, which went past 9 pm, long past our usual closing time of 7pm.

Our 20% sale is still available for our readers. Come in and capitalize! 20% of everything except food and beverage.

So far there has been little interest in another Grey Wolf drum making class. If you are interested, please let us know soon.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Karaoke tomorrow - Friday 11/21 - Karaoke

2008-11-20T17:35:00.000-08:00

Karaoke --- Friday - Darren Dirk will be hosting our first karaoke night --- The festivities begin at 6:30 pm and end when the last singer is sung out!!! Our regular beverages and goodies ill be available throughout. Come be a star!!!

We have extended our 20% sale -- all items in the store except food and beverage will continue to be available at 20% off.

HELLO CLASS!!!!

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Anniversary Sale Ends Today!

2008-11-16T15:50:00.001-08:00

Today is the fourth and final day of our 20% off anniversary sale. However, any of you reading this can still take advantage of the 20% off anything in the store except food and beverage items. Through November 23rd come in, make your selections, and mention you read on our blog that the sale is extended to the privileged who read the blog. The sale covers all our books, including the new Holiday Catalog items. We also have a special sale on select paperback and hard-cover novels. Romance paperbacks are $1 each or 7 for $5.

Jessica has been working hard to get the newest arrivals onto our web book store. You now have the opportunity to order books from us in the comfort of your own home, just in time for winter. Browse our web site and make your selection. Want something we don't offer? We'll be happy to find it for you, new or used, whichever suits you and offers the best value. Gift e-cards are also available in the amount you select. Come in or order online and watch us grow.

As members of the American Booksellers Association we are proud to participate in the Indie Bound program, which not only supports local bookstores, but all other local businesses as well. The idea is to "buy local first".

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

It's our anniversary!!!

2008-11-13T18:15:00.000-08:00

ANNIVERSARY SALE !! Everything in store except food and beverage items -- 20% off. Sale is in effect through Sunday, November 16. Our new books are in (one of each in our Holiday Book Catalog) and on display. Check out the book order feature on our web site. Jessica is justifiably proud of it, continuing to add to the 2500+ books already on the site.

Coming tomorrow! - Bill Bartels live - on our stage at 7:00 pm. Bill is a local singer/ songwriter who has an amazing talent for finger picking on the acoustic guitar. He has three collaboration CDs on CD Baby and is a regular feature at Roger's Zoo. He's giving up an evening of "bar gig" for a real concert. Come support him. You will be amazed at his virtuosity. Five to ten dollars sliding scale at the door, which all goes to the artist.

Coming in December. Jessica cajoled Grey Wolf into offering one more drum making class before the holidays. If you have any interest, contact us soon to reserve a spot, as there will be a limited class size. It will still be $95, which covers a 15 inch tom tom kit, beater kit, decorative beads, leather, fur and feathers, and personal coaching from Grey Wolf. This is your chance to personalize your own hand built drum. Examples of his drums are on display at Colette's. We have not settled on a date, but it will likely be on a Friday or Saturday early in the month. Additional kits may be available for Christmas gifts (express your interest in this possibility when you contact us).

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

We're back!

2008-11-11T17:03:00.000-08:00

NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month) is in full swing. We are the South Coast coordinator . The idea is to write a 50,000 word novel in one month (November), and with five weekends in the month, there is still time to get to it and complete your own "Great American Novel" along with some 200,000 other folk world wide. This is the tenth year of the program, and it has been very well received. We plan to have a write night or two, possibly even an all-nighter, and a final "cram it in at the last minute" party on the 30th. If you are interested, go to nanowrimo.org and sign up. We have WIFI and a store computer available to customers for a small fee.

Bill Bartels, a local singer/songwriter, wannabe comic and finger picker extraordinaire will be performing on our stage Friday, November 14th at 7 pm. "Covers, classical jazz, 60's era folk, blues, ragtime". A door fee of $5.00 to $10.00 is suggested, all of which goes to the artist. He is a regular on the stage at Roger's Zoo. Check out his Cd's on CD Baby.

Thursday is our 1st anniversary!!!! In honor we are having a store wide 20% off sale Nov 13 - 16 (everything except food and beverage). This will include the new books featured in our Holiday Books catalog. Come early, as we only ordered one of each in the catalog, although we can still get additional copies.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Has it really been over a month?

2008-10-19T15:53:00.000-07:00

I got a call from my brother a couple days ago to "see if you're still alive", as he hasn't seen any updates to the blog in a while. I have been a bit remiss, blaming it on computer issues at first, then on senior moments, mental fatigue, and life getting in the way. You'd think with as little as I have to say, I could do it more often.

A quick update. We've had three performers since my last burst, Anne Feeney was dynamic, outspoken (as befits a labor organizer), and very well appreciated. Toward the end of the month we were blessed with the appearance of Angela Reed (pic 1) from Seattle, who managed to fit us into her "West Coast Tour". A young lady with an amazing voice and song writing talent. The following week we had a repeat appearance from James Hurley (pic 3), whose eclectic brand of humor in music appeals to a wide audience.

Our second open mic was well attended, and was filmed for public access TV by Don Van Dyke. We had an excellent pianist/ blues singer (yes we have a keyboard thanks to Lynda Cole) as well as several guitarists, a reader, and a stand-up (comic).

Coming this week!! Thursday we will feature a singer song writer form Edmonton, Alberta. Maria Dunn (pic 4) writes and sings folk tunes with a strong sense of her Irish/Scots heritage. "...remarkable singer-songwriter, think of her as a distaff Woody Guthrie." Mike Ross, Edmonton Sun. 'A storyteller through song, Maria Dunn combines North American folk and country music with the influences of her Celtic heritage. Born in Scotland and raised in Ontario and Alberta, she writes songs inspired by historical and contemporary characters, capturing their struggles and triumphs in her lyrics. In 2002, Maria received a Juno nomination in the Roots/Traditional Solo category for her second recording, "For a Song".'

Friday heralds the return of activist George Mann (pics 2 & 5). He will be showing a video of Julius Margolin, who is well into his eighties, and has been a labor activist since he was 16. Before and after the showing George will perform several numbers, and may be persuaded to sing one or more of local writer Harry Stamper's.

Look for our next newsletter next week.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

First open Mic a success!

2008-09-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

We had several excellent performers at the first open Mic. It was hosted by Lynda Cole (pic #2). Not only did each person get to perform a couple of times, but there was time for some fun jamming (pic #3). Open mic will continue on the last Sunday of each month.

Anne Feeney (pic #1) will be performing on Saturday evening at 7:30 pm, labor folk, hell-raising. She claims to "comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable". Door is $10 - $15 with all proceeds going to the artist.

Sunday supper (2 - 5pm) will feature meat or vegetarian lasagna, with home made noodles, salad, vegetable, dessert and beverage for $12.99.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Coming

2008-08-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 31st we'll have the fourth of our Sunday Suppers from 2 - 5 pm. This week we feature slow roasted pork picnic with an oregano rub, smashed potatoes or a vegetarian alternative, infused brown rice with vegies. Succotash and a spinach salad round out the meal with a beverage choice of coffee, tea, or iced tea. Our cheese cake last week was such a hit that we're repeating it this week.

Sunday also kicks off our open mic where writers, singers and performers get a chance to lay it out for an audience. This will be a recurring event on the last Sunday of each month from 4 - 6 pm. Please limit your performance to three poems, two songs, or ten minutes maximum so all can participate.

September 4, Thursday- 6:30 pm. CASA is holding an open house at The Catalyst (2 doors down from Colette’s) to recruit volunteers for this important work. Court Appointed Special Advocates represent children who are removed from their families and placed in the court system. They ensure that the best interests of that child are served. CASA volunteers currently work with 140 children, while the need is closer to 400 children in the county. Free. Refreshments will be served.

September 5- Friday – 6pm – First Friday Poets. Bring your work – old and new. All are welcome. Relaxed group, generally circles to read. Free.

September 6- Saturday- 7:30pm- ANNE FEENEY in Concert . Celebrate the Revolution with a Hellraiser! She travels the world ‘afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.” Her bottomless songbag draws on Irish, bluegrass, traditional, labor, pop, folk and contemporary material. Join us. $10-15 at the door. All money goes to the musician.

If you are on our e-mail list you will receive a mailing including our most recent newsletter, which came back from the printer on Friday. The newsletter contains several articles of note, and a list of classes which will be offered at The Catalyst in September (drum making, basketry, Reiki, healing and writing, to name a few. It also details our schedule of events through November. Check the newsletter for details. If you don't receive email or are unable to open the file, we have hard copies at Colette's.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Delicious!!

2008-08-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

The beef brisket meal for last Sunday's Supper was delectable. There was a bit left over, which went into a beef stew that sold out quickly. The menu for next Sunday, the 24th has been selected. We will feature baked Ling Cod with smashed garlicky red potatoes, succotash, green salad, cheesecake with Blackberry topping, and beverage. Of course, we will have a vegetarian alternative. All for the low price of $12.99.

The newsletter with class schedules for September/October is nearly ready for the printer, and will be sent out this weekend or early next week.

Insight (Vipassana) meditation - this afternoon (4pm - 4:30 pm) and Saturday (6 pm - 6:30 pm)

Tuesday 8/26 (12:30 - 2:30 pm) - Ballot Forum Planning Meeting facilitated by the Rural Organizing Project.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Sunday Supper Two

2008-08-16T18:44:00.000-07:00

Sunday will be our second Sunday Supper. This one will feature slo-o-ow roasted beef brisket with potato dumplings and vegetables, green beans, fruit salad, berry meringue dessert and beverage. We also will have a vegetarian alternative. All for only $12.99.

Tuesday 8/26 12:30-2:30 pm - ballot forum planning meeting facilitated by the Rural Organizing Project. Ballot forums set at Colette's for October 7 & 15 from 6-8 pm in The Catalyst. More than 10 contentious and locally critical measures are up for a vote. Help educate the public and yourself.

Saturday September 6 @ 7:30 pm -- Anne Feeney (pictured)-- She travels the world 'afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.' Her bottomless songbag draws on Irish, bluegrass, traditional, labor, pop, folk, and contemporary material, including local songwriter Harry Stamper. Join us. $10-$15 at door. All money to musician.

October 24 - 7-9 pm - George Mann returns - The labor activist and singer/songwriter will present a video of 90 something Julius Margolin, a lifelong labor activist. George will also be singing his wonderful songs. Ask him about "Utah Sounding Good to Me" - his tribute to Utah Phillips. $7-$10 to musician.

Recurring events:

Third Saturday (.8/16, 9/20, 10/18) - Psychics and Healing Faire at The Catalyst. Free admission. Tickets available for reader/healing sessions. Frequent drawings. Check out the Center, our new metaphysical store.

Saturdays (6pm - 6:30pm) and Thursdays (4pm-4:30pm) Insight (Vipassana) Meditation in our new Meditation Room which is also open to the public Monday - Friday (5pm-7pm)

Sundays (2pm - 5pm) Sunday Suppers - Fixed price meal like Grandma cooked. Includes dessert, coffee or tea. Priced from $12 - $16 depending on menu. Limited quantity. When the food is gone it is gone. Prepaid reservations suggested.

First/Third Sunday (5:30pm-8:30pm) - drumming circle/potluck at The Catalyst. Low-key. Bring percussion instruments and be open to spirit moving. New to drumming? No instrument? Join us anyway.

Second Sunday (4pm - 6pm) Community sing @ Colette's sponsored by South Coast Folk Society. All are welcome.

Last Sunday each month (4pm - 6pm) Open Mic - Acoustic Musicians poets, writers, singers, storytellers and enthusiastic listeners all welcome. Sign up sheet. Three poems, two songs or ten minutes. Jam session at the end.

Second/Fourth Wednesdays (7pm - 9pm) Healing circle. Open to healers and those desiring energy work. Donation.

First Friday (6pm-8pm) Poetry Night. All poets, wannabe poets and poetry lovers welcome.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Celtic dreams

2008-08-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

"Grace Notes" put on an excellent concert, providing a wonderful mix of folk and Celtic music. The blend of hammer dulcimer and celtic harp was well worth hearing.

The community sing on Sunday was again well attended and the great time picking and singing and celebrating (a birthday). This was the second of a regular happening, held on the second Sunday of each month through December.

For those of you who missedd out on ther "Sunday Supper", the food was superb. Chicken Caccuatore (or a vegetarian alternative) over brown rice or polenta was the entree, with sides of green avocado/spinach salad, steamed carraway carrots, and cherry pie/cobbler for dessert. As soon as the next menu is available, I will get it posted.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Live looping is amazing!!

2008-08-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

Irina Rivkin brought "loopie", a Boss looping machine and put on an amazing concert. Quite often she was singing with three to five back up singers created live as she performed. She erased them after each song making the whole a very transient experience. Her road partner, Alma made an already entertaining show pop. Her comic, dramatic, dynamic and sometimes bawdy dialect monologues effectively balanced Irina's wholesome good girl image.

The looping workshop on Wednesday was a wonderful experience for the attendies, as they not only got excellent demos and coaching from Irina, but lots of hands on use of the looping machine. "Rhythm and timing is the key" to make it work effectively.

The Coos Head Food co-op presentation was again cancelled, and may not be rescheduled.

Tomorrow, Friday, another concert is scheduled. Local group 'Grace Notes' will be providing an evening of Celtic and traditional music. Stacy Rose and Candace Kreitlow play a variety of instruments, including hammer dulcimer, flute, penny whistle, guitar and Irish harp. We will be introducing our new crepe cake, a pile of crepes sandwiching vanilla creme and berries topped with Nutella or vanilla creme with a dark chocolate ganache, for the festivities.

Ask about our Sunday suppers (2-5 or till the food's gone). Join us for one of Mom's Favorite meals or something off our regular menu. Community dining and good conversation. Get to know your neighbor.

Sunday will be our second Community Sing, 4 - 6 pm at the Catalyst.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Rod plays audience requests

2008-08-01T07:15:00.000-07:00

Rod MacDonald has been singing and writing since the 70's, and has a very wide repertoire which some audience members were familiar with. As a result he was able to fulfill requests for his own music. A versatile guitar and harmonica player,he managed to wow the audience with a number when his harmonica was upside down in the rack, requiring him to adjust on the fly.

Tonight is First Friday poetry night, and I'm told we may have a poet from Ashland participating, which would compliment our already stellar group.

Sunday - celebrate!! - Drumming and potluck gratitude celebration for "fruits of the first harvest" at 5 pm at the Catalyst. Coffee and tea will be on sale, drumming will start at 5:30 pm.

Live music on Tuesday in conjunction with the first Tuesday "block party", with merchants of both the Newmark Center and Broadway Plaza H participating. There will be specials, drawings , and we will feature Irina Rivkin providing "beautiful lyrical melody, the added voice of earthy harmony, & finally the texture of beat-box all performed live with the benefit of electronic looping". Additionally Alma will be providing comical interludes. On Wednesday Irina will hold a live-looping workshop from 7-9 pm at the catalyst, $25-55 (small group lesson at the Catalyst. Come learn how to put pizazz in your sound.

Friday August 8th the Grace Notes will grace our stage "like angels with a buzz on at a good party". Harp, penny whistle, flute, hammered dulcimer and other instruments that will give your soul a buzz.

Saturday 8/9 - 4:30 pm - Saturday Community Supper - Join us for one of
Mom's favorite meals or something off our regular menu -- Community dining and good conversation - get to know your neighbor.

Sunday 8/10 - 4 - 6 pm Community Sing - singers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Songbooks with a wide variety of songs are provided. Bring copies of favorite songs to share. Musical instruments are welcome. Sponsored by the Coos County Folk Society.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Wild Wild weekend!!!

2008-07-23T16:05:00.001-07:00

George Mann and Harry Stamper (pics 3&4) set the tone for the week, putting on a great show while having a lot of fun doing it.

Friday saw Adam +Kris on our stage (pic 5). The audience was a bit sparse, likely due to the music festival, so they took it "on the road" with impromptu performances at McDonald's (pic 6), Baskin-Robbins(pic 7) and La Costa (pic 1). Rafael, the owner of La Costa serenaded back. Afterward we went back for dinner, and traded music until quite late. Goes to show that happenings at Colette's tend to be anything but dull. We finished out the week with Chris Chandler, performance poet, and Paul Benoit, blues guitarist (pic 2) on Saturday.

Upcoming events! - Saturday (7/26) Rod MacDonald, a singer/songwriter currently from Florida will bring his "captivating love songs and deliciously tongue-in-cheek political and social commentaries to our stage. Door fee is $10, with all monies going to the musician.

Sunday we're holding a Launch the Catalyst community party/open house from 1 to 5 pm. Colette's will provide food and beverages. Help us fill the space with community energy ($5 per person to eat). The Catalyst houses a meditation room, metaphysical store and meeting rooms available for rent (more private than Colette's yet with the same great food available.

Monday will be the 8th session in our ground to globe lecture series on food. Alex Bourdigu of Porta will be speaking at 6 pm on the use of local food in local restaurants.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Thursday (7/31) will be the final regularly scheduled lecture in the ground to globe series. This is the only one that will not be held at Colette's and is also at an earlier time (4-6 pm). It will be at the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute on the SOCC campus.

Friday (8/1) will be our next First Friday Poetry Night from 6 to 8 pm.

More Happenings!

2008-07-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit remiss about keeping up with the blog. May still be a bit "twitterpated" from my honeymoon.

However, things are still happening, in spite of me not keeping up. We had a surprise pickup practice / performance by the Bumbling Buskers (pic #3), playing a fine selection of Celtic and bluegrass on hammer dulcimer, mandolin, guitar, ukulele with flute and penny whistle.

Michael's concert (pic #5)was wonderful, and the audience interplay was quite entertaining. We have yet to be disappointed in the performers who have graced our stage and are eagerly awaiting the next ones (four in July).

We had he opportunity to present a Literacy award check to the SWOCC Family Center on behalf of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association for $300 (pic #6). This is a matching grant for the $300 plus in books that Colette's donated to the Family Center in February of 2008. With the book donation as well as book donations form other local organizations, the Family Center was able to assemble over 60 Literacy back packs for the OWL WINGS to literacy program. Accepting the check were Leanna Olson and Ashley Caldera, representing the children who will benefit, as the money will be used to purchase material for more backpacks. Colette's donated over 10,000 books to local charities and non-profits during the months of February and March. Jessica, co-owner and tycoonista is fond of quoting the famous French author Colette "Real poverty is a lack of books".

Our Ground to Globe lecture series continued with Anne Weure, Master Gardener, (pic #7)enlightening us on winter gardening. She covered season extending techniques as well as varieties of plants that thrive in cooler weather.

The monthly art walk ( 2nd Thursday of the month) became a celebration when the Sweet Adeline Barbershop Chorus graced our stage. Their wonderful harmony and cheerful camaraderie capped off a beautiful day. (pic#8)

I mentioned four upcoming concerts, and want to take a moment to push the first, a new monthly participation program we have the honor to present. On the second Sunday of each month there will be a sing-a-long session from 4 - 6 pm with the local folk society. Come enjoy the fun!

Now for concert number two. On Tuesday the 15th at 7:30 pm, Harry Stamper (local singer/songwriter, balladeer, and labor organizer) will be teaming up with George Mann (nationally known singer/songwriter, balladeer, and labor organizer) to provide an evening of socially conscious frivolity.

Thursday the 17th at is the next lecture in the Ground to Globe Lecture series. It features Ann Vileisis, local author of Kitchen Literacy - How We Lost Knowledge of Where Food Comes from and Why We Need to Get It Back. Copies of her book will be available, so in a sense it will be an author signing as well.

The third concert this month will be on Thursday June 18, featuring Adam + Kris, (pic #2) a Nationally acclaimed acoustic duo. "Adam + Kris have been performing together forever. They have toured across the United States and Canada, playing their original music at concerts and festivals. Adam + Kris are regulars at The Oregon Country Fair and The Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, and have also played The High Sierra Music Festival, Mission Folk Festival, Park City Arts Festival and many others. They have been honored for their songwriting and performing talents by the National Academy of Songwriters in Los Angeles, Music Connection magazine, and Performing Songwriter magazine, to name but a few. They have released five recordings, and have shared the stage with Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, Caroline Aiken, Chris Chandler and Anne Feeney, Cheryl Wheeler, Bob Wiseman, Carmaig DeForest, Laura Love, Austin Lounge Lizards, Leftover Salmon, The Asylum Street Spankers, Peter Yarrow, and countless others. They are currently based in Portland Oregon and are working on their next release."

Our fourth concert of the month and week features Chris Chandler (pic #1)and Paul Benoit (pic #4) in a repeat performance on our stage. This one happens on Friday July 19th at 7:30.

"Chris Chandler has performed and recorded with a myriad of artists including Dar Williams,Dan Bern, The Austin Lounge Lizards, Peter, Paul and Mary, Chuck Brodsky, Summer Droit, Katie Curtis and more.
His shows are filled with topical, political and social commentary and his songs are forever capturing the elusive metaphor in an often humorous manner. Catch a Chris Chandler show near You, you'll be glad you did! "

"For the past twenty years, Paul Benoit has performed and recorded his own music and collaborated with numerous songwriters including Dan Bern, Reggie Garrett, Eric Apoe, and Laura Love. From 1996-98 Paul’s electric/acoustic roots rock band Crosseyed released two albums and toured successfully throughout the western U.S. In 1997, Paul co-founded Hanuman, a four piece all-acoustic instrumental ensemble blending jazz, bluegrass, country and rock'n'roll with African beats. Hanuman released five albums, sold over 8,000 recordings and toured the U.S., playing at clubs, festivals, and theaters, up to 200 dates a year. In 2001, the band received Best Touring Band and Best Album awards from Sounds of Seattle and was voted best new band by the Seattle Weekly.
Paul’s songwriting and sound continues to evolve with his solo work including the roots-rock-pop blend of 2002’s “Dopamine” and the lush and complex arrangements of his most recent CD, “Combustible,” named a top-12 DIY CD in Performing Songwriter Magazine. He recently composed the soundtrack to the film “Diggers,” which won the IFP/Seattle Spotlight award and premiered at the 2007 Seattle Intenational Film Festival. Paul has just released his 3rd solo CD, Lazy Eye, a collection of 10 new songs recorded primarily with acoustic guitar and band. He continues to perform throughout the United States and Latin America, both solo and with his band, and with performance poet Chris Chandler."

Our newsletter will be going out tonight. If you are not on our mailing list (e-mail), please let us know, so we may add you.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Happenings!!

2008-06-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

MICHAEL GAITHER -- TONIGHT! AT 7 PM - $10 at the door, all proceeds go to the artist.

Tom Bakke, local author, reads and speaks on Sunday at 2 pm. Tom wrote one of the definitive local outdoor books on Oregon South Coast driving tours and day hikes, "Out Our Back Door". Come meet the author and get even more insight on local attractions and activities.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Colette's is a happening place!

2008-06-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

Live music twice in one day! We had a pair of flautists practicing in the afternoon, and an impromptu evening jam session by the Bumbling Buskers (bottom left photo). The bottom right photo is Rollie Lobsinger giving his politics of food lecture last week.

Coming this Saturday at 7:30 pm is more live music, featuring singer songwriter Michael Gaither (remaining photos). Michael hails from Freedom, CA, and will be bringing his guitar and harmonica to our stage. $10 at the door which goes directly to him. Let's show him a wonderful Oregon welcome as it is his first time here on the coast.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Jerry and Jessica tie the knot

2008-06-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

We did it. We tied the knot Friday, June 13 at 1300 (1 pm) at the store. We were handfasted so the knot was tied quite literally. My (Jessica) daughter Megan and her husband, Brooklyn released me into a lovely new relationship and were both an integral part of the service. Our friend Curt Clay officiated with warmth and humor. It was a lovely day made even more special by lots of well-wishers. Several folks brought spectacular bouquets, so we were surrounded by the lusciousness of flowers everywhere. Thanks to Sandi and David we have another wonderful plant for the store. We even had a lovely bouquet, created at the last minute and contributed by Daina Swanson. And if you see her, congratulate Bobbie Black, who caught the bouquet - may she see much love and luck in her life. My brother Matt assures me that I was floating through the air most of the day. I believe it. What more could a woman ask for than to be united for life with a man who sings to her?

We closed for the weekend for a short honeymoon to the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, Oregon. This was the perfect place to honeymoon for a couple who love books. Each room is named for an author and holds a collection of his or her books. We were lucky enough to stay in the Lincoln Steffens room. For those who don't know, Steffens was born in 1866 and died in 1936. He was also one of the first to proudly claim the title "muckraker" an invective used for a really effective investigative reporter. Since Jessica was an investigative journalist for 30 years, this was another wonderful piece of serendipity.

Saturday we played tourist in Old Newport taking in 'high tea' and wandering through the WaxWorks. Of course we managed to scout a few bookstores too. Finally, we spent a couple of hours at the Aquarium. Favorite bits included the Jelly Fish which always enchant with their beauty and the playful otters. One male seal stole the show at feeding time by hamming it up for the audience. It was good to take time for a different kind of stimuli. We vowed to get away at least once a month.

Our Ground to Globe: Conversations about Food series continued last night with Rollie Lobsinger of OR Coast Community Action speaking about the Politics of Hunger. He shared some hard facts about food cost - From April 2007 to April 2008, milk prices increased 13.5 percent , eggs increased 30.5, bread increased 14.1, and cheese increased 12 percent. The increases are expected to continue. Already, food pantries are seeing folks who were considered middle class needing food assistance.

Lobsinger said hunger issues are due to a systems problem that encompasses fuel costs, climate change, growing populations, concentration of ownership and speculation. The latter two are directly linked, according to him, to a loosening of and lack of enforcement of the Sherman Anti-trust laws that prevented large companies from buying pieces of a completely unrelated industry. When the large corporations control so much of the food, the effect on the average person can be very potent, since the corporation doesn't look at well-being, but instead searches for a strong return to investors.

What can we do? We need to hold our representatives accountable for votes that are influenced by lobbyists and their money. We also need to take as much local control of our food as possible. This means being willing to make changes in what and how we eat. It means educating ourselves and making new choices about how to live our lives.

Block out Sunday, June 22 at 2pm for a reading by local author and poet, Mark Sturges. He'll be reading from his poetry book The Fertilizer King and his new manuscript Letters from the Turn of the Century. He's pungent, funny and will leave you wanting more.

We're normally closed on Mondays, but we'll be opening at 5pm on June 23 for another in our Ground to Globe: Conversations about Food series. Lecture will start at 6pm. Bobbie Stewart will talk about the Coos Head Food Store: Becoming a Co-op. Here's a chance to hear what is being planned and to see if their idea of a co-op matches the ones some of us remember from the 60's, 70's and 80's. Is it the answer? Come and decide for yourself.

My good friend from Freedom, CA, Singer/ Songwriter Michael Gaither will be bringing his guitar and harmonica to our stage on Saturday, June 28 at 7:30pm. $10 at the door which goes directly to him. Let's show him a wonderful Oregon welcome as it is his first time here on the coast.

And on Sunday, June 29 at 2pm local outdoor author Tom Baake will be signing his new edition of Out our Back Door a collection of day trips and local hikes in the area. It's the one I used when I first moved here and it's a gem! Tom has also promised to talk about some of the best little known hikes in the area. With the weather finally warming up, now is the time to plan some day trips.

We're just about ready to open the new space just two doors down from Colette's. The Catalyst will include meeting rooms available for rent, a meditation room, and a small metaphysical store called The Center. We're planning to hold lots of classes in the space as well. We'll be ready for the public by the first of July or sooner.

And, on that note, we are avidly looking for a yoga teacher who would like to teach in our new space. If you know of anyone, please let us know.

Finally, we're continuing to work to make welcoming spaces that allow community to happen.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

James Hurley wows 'em at Colette's

2008-05-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

James Hurley put on a wonderful show with his eclectic and humorous songs and facile guitar riffs, keeping the audience on the edge of their chairs. He was very warmly received.

Our first author reading and signing will be this Sunday (June 1st) at 1:30 pm. Xan (Alexandra) Schiller will be reading excerpts from her novel "The Suave Swami", the first of the Mordecai Maccabbee mystery series. Copies will be available for sale and she will be happy to autograph them as well. Xan is a local author from Coquille. Come and embrace her talent.

The third lecture in The "From Ground to Globe" lecture series will be held on Thursday June 5th, and will feature Suzan Brawnlyn speaking on "Community Supported Agriculture".

Friday, June 6th, is first Friday poetry night, and will highlight Doro Reeves, followed by an open Mic session.These nights have been well attended and excellent poetry has been offered, so bring your poems or at least your ears and join the celebration.

Speaking of celebration, Jessica and Jerry will be tying the knot in June on Friday the 13th at 1300 (1 pm) here at Colette's. We will close the store, but open the doors for the ceremony and celebration. All are invited (we look at Colette's as our living room and our customers as guests). As such, all our guests are invited to come celebrate with us.

Also coming in June is The Catalyst - a community gathering place, a new space with meditation and small private meeting rooms for rent. We're real proud of it and we hope you will be too.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Attendance improves

2008-05-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

Twenty-one questing minds showed up for the second presentation in the "Ground to Globe: Conversations About Food" series we are sponsoring in conjunction with Oregon Coast Community Action. Zoe Bradbury of Abby's Greens in Langlois gave a brilliant and very informative presentation on "Building a Strong Regional Food System". I (Jessica) took 22 pages of notes including some pithy quotes. Of course, at the end of the night while shutting down my computer I hit the wrong button and erased everything. Sigh. I do intend to email her for a copy of her powerpoint, and interview her for an article, but until then, here's a sampling based on my memory.

Food travels an average of 1500 miles before it gets to our table. Where communities and regions have a local food system, food only travels an average of 45 miles to the table.
....only 8.5 percent of the US population are farmers and the number is shrinking every year. Current farmers have an average age in the early 50s. The few younger folks who want to be farmers find it difficult to get into due to financing, lack of access to land and knowledge. "You can't learn farming from books, you have to experience it," said Zoe.

Zoe said the Farm Policy is "like an elephant in stilletto heels" big and bloated at the top with all the pressure on the family farmers at the bottom. The 'bigger is better' push came from Earl Butz, Secretary of Agriculture under President Reagan who believed that farmers should plant from fence to fence creating a surplus that could be sent overseas. "Get big or get out." Subsidies became the norm during this time.

Now, at the same time small family owned farms are going out of business, we have numerous millionaires living in Manhattan (and other places such as wherever Ted Turner lives) with no connection to the land or to farming, yet they are raking in the bucks from subsidies. The land they own is merely a route to government handouts.

Leaving fairness aside, this system does nothing to ease issues of hunger and, in fact, is directly linked to some of the food issues we hear about on a regular basis. For instance, the increase in growing corn (or forcing other countries to grow corn that we can export for fuel) has resulted in people in Mexico not being able to get tortillas - a staple of the Mexican diet.

This system of large farms and rampant subsidies is contrary to what the government knows to be best for farms and the surrounding communities based on their own information. Sometime in the 70's (if I recollect correctly) A sociologist was commissioned by the government to do a study between two farming communities in California...one was a community surrounded by small family owned farms and the other was an agribiz town. While it might be easy to assume that, of course, the larger, more professional ag town would be a better place to live, in fact by all measurements, the opposite was true. The corporate town had (by far) fewer schools, fewer playgrounds, far fewer independent retail establishments and I forget what the others were, but it was very compelling. When the results were presented to the Government, they were buried and the sociologist was let go.

Zoe also talked about the pressure put on farmers by Monsanto, godfather of Genetically Modified foods. "It's very like the mafioso," she said. One of the problems with GMO crops is 'blow over' meaning the pollen etc, crosses fence lines and travels where it will, sometimes landing in an organic field or a non-GMO field. Monsanto reps then gather soil samples from the corrupted field and take legal action against the farmer for 'stealing', when he or she couldn't have stopped the contamination in any way, shape, or form. These same reps also put a great deal of pressure on farmers to use GMO seeds.

The post presentation discussion centered around issues of connection, education, consumer demand and community collaboration. Folks mentioned the need for directories, both for the consumer to locate the food and for the farmer to locate the supplies needed to produce. There was interest in bringing back the idea of small gardens in available space, community gardens, and other growing spaces. Conversation was lively and continued long after the program.

The next conversation in the series will cover Community Supported Agriculture and is scheduled for Thursday June 5th at 6pm.

Jerry and Jessica"
"tycoonistas

lecture series well received

2008-05-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

Mark Sturgess's presentation "Healthy Soil Makes Healthy Food" was well attended, and he and his good versus soil demonstration held people even after he was done speaking. The next lecture in our series is Zoe Ida Bradbury, speaking on "Building Regional Food Systems". She will be speaking at 6 pm, Wednesday, May 21 at Colette's - 3229 Broadway Ste H, North Bend OR.

“What are the social, environmental and economic reasons that regional food systems make sense? We’ll explore the how and why of building regional food networks and discuss what we need for a regional food system to thrive on the South Coast”.

Zoe Bradbury is an organic farmer and freelance writer in Langlois. She grows asparagus, raspberries, orchard fruit, and mixed produce for local markets. Before breaking ground on her own land, Zoe spent three years co-managing Sauvie Island Organics, a diversified fresh market farm.

This is the second lecture of Ground to Globe: Conversations about Food – a collaborative effort between Colette’s: Good Food + Hungry Minds and Oregon Community Action. Oregon Coast Community Action believes that by supporting a local food system we are supporting a healthy community.

Saturday will be the fifth in our singer/songwriter series, featuring James Hurley, who traded rodeo for a guitar and music. He has a beautiful voice, and we expect a wonderful show to rival the first four in our series. The performance starts at 7:30 pm and Saturday, May 24. Door charge will be $10, which will all go to the artist. Come enjoy the festivities.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Local Foods Forum well received

2008-05-13T15:29:00.001-07:00

The local foods community forum on May 12th drew over seventy people from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. Most of them actively participated in the workshop sessions, and would like to see on going functions in a like vein. The forum leads well into a series of lectures that Colette's: Good Food + Hungry Minds is collaborating with the Oregon Community Action's South Coast Food Share to present.

Ground to Globe: Conversations about Food will kick off at 6 pm on Thursday, May 15 at Colette's: Good Food + Hungry Minds . Mark Sturges of EcoSystems will be speaking about how taking care to make great soil makes plants healthier with fewer pest problems. "Nothing happens until the beetles come," says Mark. He's made both a study and a practice of bringing 'good bugs' back to barren soil, reclaiming pasture land and showing folks how to create 'living' compost. Once the beetles begin the decomposition process, then other beetles, worms and small critters come back to the soil. Each has a part to play in creating and keeping a good eco-balance for a healthy soil. Come hear how you can do the same. Mark has promised some show and tell with a high powered scope and a microscope so we can all SEE the difference between the dead and the living when it comes to soil and compost. Do your plants and yourself a favor and pick up some tips. Remember, Healthy Plants can only come from Healthy Soil.

This is the first lecture in Ground to Globe: Conversations about Food- a collaborative effort between Colette’s: Good Food + Hungry Minds and Oregon Community Action’s South Coast Food Share.

Next: Zoe Bradbury of Abby’s Greens on Building a Regional Food System
Wednesday, 21 May @6-8 pm at Colette’s: Good Food Hungry Minds

James Hurley - A man, a guitar, and “a voice that can melt your heart”
7:30pm (photo on right).
Saturday, May 24
Door: $10
(all money goes to musician)
"Americana on the rocks with a twist”- Blues and Jazz flavors with a little Folk and Rock thrown in for good measure.

After retiring from the rodeo circuit and playing in many bands, Hurley decided to pick up his guitar and go solo. “Performing live is where the magic is. There’s a thing that happens when you’re performing that reveals the commonalities of the human experience,” says Hurley. His audiences range in age from teens to those in their 80s, and Hurley says they seem to share certain qualities. “They tend to be people that look deeper than the surface. They also seem to be pretty positive people. When I talk to folks at shows they’re generally aware of the world around them and many are trying to affect it in a positive way….they also have excellent taste in music!”

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

poetry and politics

2008-05-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Friday was the fourth in our First Friday Poetry series. Dave Lunde was entertaining and informative, reading from his translations of medieval poetry (French and English), and explaining his methods. The open mic session was fun as well.

Saturday, we went to the Democratic annual recognition dinner with featured speaker Thom Hartmann. It was great for networking, and we got a lot of thank yous for providing cookies for the dinner. Thom's speech was excellent, and the one point which really stood out to me was his statement that the war in Iraq is over, but the occupation is ongoing, and needs to be ended as well. "Historically occupation has never worked". He also mentioned that it is critical that however the primary turns out, the also-ran get fully behind the "winner" to keep the party together and strong enough to have a good shot in November. His major point was that we must have reconciliation and healing in the U.S.

On the store front, we have only one copy each of "Chainsaws, a History" and "Milestones - International Harvester, McCormick, Navistar - In the company that helped Build America" left. Both are now on sale for 25% off the retail price. Great for the men in your life - grampa, dad, uncle, spouse .... Detailed color plates.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Jam Session

2008-04-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

We had a nice, pleasantly busy Sunday afternoon. Carmen Mathews and friend, Tanya jammed for an hour or so. Very pleasant. If you have an interest in jamming, please let us know, as we'd like to provide a space and time. If there is enough interest, we may offer a regular jam session. It's a great way to meet new people and polish your technique or , even better, learn new ones.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Another acts lives up to its billing

2008-04-25T22:11:00.001-07:00

Bev Barnet and Greg Newlon were our featured artists last Friday and put on a wonderful show. They are a very personable couple, very much in love with their music and each other. They praised our venue and our food, of course we fed them, and we had a wonderful evening.

Next Friday, May 2 is our next first Friday poetry night, with featured poet, Dave Lunde,

followed by an open mic session. If it is anything close to the previous ones, it'll be well worth participating, as audience or poet/reader.

We continue to meet new and exciting people every day and look forward to seeing them on a regular basis for good food and fellowship. After all we cater to anyone with a hungry mind or body, serving books and food with equal elan. Speaking of catering, we now offer goody trays with advance notice. These trays are perfect for office meetings and feature breakfast muffins and cookies or crepes, quiche and soup. We make our soup and quiche from scratch and always start the day with a vegetarian version of each.

The cord of romance novels is dwindling fast with some non profit groups sharing the bounty, providing plenty of reading for their clients.

Saturday and Sunday are beignet days - we serve the tasty French doughnut with chicory or regular coffee or on their own. Mention you read about it here and get an up-sized order (four rather than the usual three).

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

The results are in!

2008-04-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

The results of the people's choice for our artist call in conjunction with the Hearts in A(c)Cord promotion are in. The pictures are of 1st and 2nd place. All entries were unique and well done. The winner, Erin Hogan, with Shadow Mansion, will receive a $25 gift certificate. The others get our sincere thanks and a photo on our blog. The romance purse was submitted by Cat Alves. Other entries receiving honorable mentions were a painting of a romance cover by Curt Hitch, and book ends by Brenda Rioux (see photos below).

Don't forget to take advantage of our "Secret Sale", as there are only a few days left. It ends on April 20th. If you didn't receive a coupon by e-mail, ask for one at the counter when you come in or after making your selections. Mass market westerns, mystery, and science fiction paperbacks are $.50 each and mass market romance paperbacks are 5/ $1.00.

April 18th is a special day, as we will be graced with the presence of Bev Barnett and Greg Newlon. They are singer/songwriters traveling the folk circuit and are sure to give us a wonderful show. Their recent album Any Doorway Will Do is an exciting blend of heartfelt vocals and amazing guitar riffs.

"Skillful, crystalline guitar, superb songwriting and soulful, harmonious vocals characterize this acoustic masterpiece. Greg Newlon & Bev Barnett have touched all the bases here. Bev has a voice that soars to great heights with outstanding range and command, while Greg has a sturdy, powerful voice that connects with everyone who listens. Together they create beautiful harmonies with more than a touch of sweetness."
-- David Stafford, KKUP 91.5 FM Cupertino, CA - Non-Commercial People's Radio

The show starts at 7:30 pm and tickets are available in advance at Colette's for $12.00. The walk in door charge is $13.00.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Concert on the way

2008-04-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

Bev Barnet and Greg Newlon will be gracing our stage Friday April 18th at 7:30 pm.

" With a gift for delivering the essence of a song, Barnett's voice has been called angelic - but with the ability to 'turn down the sheets.' Sometimes you hear the honeyed tones of Mary Chapin Carpenter, and sometimes you hear hints of Sade."
"Newlon's guitar encircles the song as he finds his way between the notes with delicacy and strength. His fluid, full guitar and vocal arrangements are the result of a long and varied musical journey from his rock beginnings (sharing a stage with the Doors) combined with his background in musical theatre and barbershop, to the country rock sound of Aspen in the late 1970s and more recently through blues, country and modern folk. All of these influences have shaped his unique, contemporary acoustic style."

Advance tickets are on sale at Colette's for $12. Door price will be $13, with all proceeds going to the artists.

We had a chance to break away for the solstice and visit Cape Arago (picture). It was very pleasant and exciting to re energize out on the point.

We're having a "secret sale". Coupons were emailed to our list. However they are available on request at the store as well. The coupon offers Mass Market Paperback Mysteries, Westerns and Science Fiction for $.50 each and Mass Market Paperback Romances at 5 for $1.00. Offer ends soon, so come in and ask for your coupon.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

2008-03-26T23:22:00.000-07:00

Art has started to arrive for the Hearts in A(c)Cord art show. Come get a romance or two and join the fun. Any medium is accepted, with the only stipulation being it must include a romance novel.

The pictures are of two of our interesting non-fiction books. Just samples of what we have to offer, be it political, green or local interest. We have a broad range to offer, business and self help to just plain fun (cook books, Gallop). With books to browse, tables to rest or visit at, food to nosh, WIFI, and lots of eye candy, we expect everyone of our guests to find something to pique their interest or appetite.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

2008-03-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

The Buccaneers put on an exciting and entertaining concert, unfortunately to a small audience, as it was Good Friday. They hail from Calgary, Alberta, Canada and performed a wonderful mix of "roots" music (bluegrass, blues, celtic, chanty, folk, and original). They have been jamming together since high school and have been a group for twelve years. All three share the vocals and they have a nice tight harmonic style which was highlighted in several acapella numbers. Talented musicians, they utilize a variey of instuments including guitar, mandolin, penny whistle, bass and ukelele as well as percussion.

The next scheduled event for our stage is the "First Friday Poetry", held on the first Friday of each month. The April 4th event features Candice Favilla followed by open mic. All are welcome.

We still have some romances available at a reduced price ($.50 for paper backs and $1.00 for hard covers). Speaking of romance -- we have put out a call to artists --- use a romance in an art project, bring it in and have it displayed and juried. We will have a people's choice award as well. Come in, get a romance, and have fun creating. The only stipulation is that a romance novel be incorpoated in the work. Come in - get your novel -- and have fun in what ever medium you choose. We'd like to have the submissions in by March 31st to have time for display and for the jury.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

And the stack shrinks

2008-03-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

The sale was a success. We set the record! Not as high as we had hoped, as our goal was to sell all 8,144 romances (our count). We did fall a bit short, and will continue the sale til the end of the month or until all are sold. Many new faces graced our space and the whole day was a pretty good party. We put out a call to artists and would like to see a broad range of art works utilizing a romance novel. The only requirement is that a romance novel be used in the creation. A jury will select a winner based on creativity, ingenuity, and execution. Art works are to be submitted to Colette's by close of business March 31st (7pm) to give the jury time to decide and nearly two weeks to display them prior to the April art walk, when a people's choice pick will be awarded.

The Buccaneers will bring their eclectic mix of folk, celtic, bluegrass, and sea chanties ("Rocky Mountain Root Music") to our stage on March 21st at 7:30 pm. Door charge is $12, which all goes to the artists.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

How high can it go? - HEARTS in A (c) CORD

2008-03-07T22:02:00.000-08:00

The stack for the Guinness records is complete. Come in and guess how many volumes. The closest without going over wins a romantic dinner for two. The records we plan to set are most romances sold by a brick and mortar independent bookstore in one business day, most romances sold in one minute, and most romances sold to a man in one transaction. There will be samples and fun for all. The festivities begin at 10 am on March 15th and will end at 6 pm, with a live radio feed from K-DOCK Oldies 92.9FM. Come have a good time and support charity. Paperbacks will sell for $1.00 each and Hard cover romances will be $2.00. Half of the proceeds will be split between the Women's Safety and Resource Center and South Coast Food Share. With well over a cord there will be romance for all. In addition there will be an artist call to produce a work of art in any medium utilizing at least one romance novel. The art fest continues through March (deadline is March 31st), and a juried and people's choice selection will be made and awarded during the March Art walk.

Friday was the second First Friday Poetry Reading. It was well attended and featured Ralph Tislarete presenting a mini-workshop on taking poetry to another level with sound, music and video. An award winning poet, he is published in 100+ anthologies, and has been creating 'poem tracks' for the past several years. He has been writing over forty years. Another surprise was a cowboy poet and fiddler. All in all an exciting evening. Several others read to much appreciation. Remember this will be an going feature at Colette's on the first Friday of each month. The plan is to have a featured poet, and then open the 'mic' up to the floor.

Later in March (the 21st) the Buccaneers will be presenting their eclectic mix of Celtic, folk, sea chanties and bluegrass on our stage at 7:30 pm. Suggested cover donation is $12.00. Mark your calendars as it promises to live up to the caliber of performers that have graced our stage.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Hearts in A(c) cord

2008-02-29T10:41:00.000-08:00

When we purchased the bookstore that seeded our new endeavor, we ended up with many books in genres we knew we would not feature...like romances. Now, before anyone accuses us of being elitist, let me (Jessica) freely admit that I've read my share of these. But, those of you who've visited the store know that we have a finite amount of room and a large list of books we want to feature. So, long story short...no room for romances. "Romance, we have room for," Jerry adds as he reads over my shoulder.

Anyhoo, we ended up with more than a cord (that's a firewood cord 4'x4'x8') of romance novels. That's several thousand tomes of lust, love, like, dislike, like again, bodice ripping, rippling muscles and assorted examples of pulchritude and prurience. What to do?

The very number of volumes cried out for a large event, maybe even a world record! Enter the Guinness World Records. Yep, you heard it right...we've applied and been accepted to set a world record for the most romances sold in one business day by a brick and mortar independent bookstore. It took a week or so to get our claim number, but now we can tell the world.

My brother, Matt, has built us a big frame and he's busy stacking it full of books. (pictures show stacking in progress) The big event, which we are calling Hearts in A(c)Cord (yes, we know it's cheesy) is scheduled for Saturday, March 15 from 10am to 6pm. Paperbacks are $1 each and hardbacks are $2. Some volumes are first editions worth up to $25.

Once we have all the books in the box, we'll begin a contest to see who can guess how many books are in the stacks. The winner will be the one who guesses closest without going over and will win dinner for two at Colette's.

We've got two other records slated for that day...the most romances sold in one minute and the most romances sold to a man. -K-DOCK will be broadcasting live during the sale. But wait, there's more....we have also put out a Call to Artists for an art piece that incorporates at least one romance novel (the actual novel). Any medium is allowed. The pieces must be submitted by March 31...juried and hung in time for the April ArtWalk. The People's Choice will be voted on by the public and awarded at the end of the evening.

Half of all proceeds will be divided between the Women's Safety and Resource Center and Food Share which supports the local Food Pantries.

You don't read romances? Buy a bag and hand them out to your friends, use them as white elephant gifts, donate them to a local shelter or make art out of them. Remember, romance is not dead and romance novels never die, they just get recycled for a good cause.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas

Live music - again!

2008-02-25T10:04:00.001-08:00

Dano and his romantic guitar along with new friend and fellow musician Lynda Cole graced our stage yesterday, providing a wonderful background to the ambiance of Colette's. They are working on a demo CD.

The second picture is a serving of beignets, which we offer each Saturday and Sunday. A beignet is a French "doughnut" made to order, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and served hot, traditionally with chicory coffee. We blend our house blend organic fair trade coffee with organic chicory to create a true "N'awlins" flavor.

Keep checking back to be in the know about our upcoming Guiness world record try.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

We've been Klemke'd!

2008-02-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

We had a fun filled afternoon with Sam Klemke, caricature artist and humorist, on our stage. Many folk stopped by, some just to say hi, some for food or books. All in all a very pleasant day.

We're expecting a large shipment of new books today and over the rest of the week. Come in and peruse, you may be pleasantly surprised. Soups today are vegetarian chili and our signature hearty vegetable with Italian sausage, Emeriled ("kicked up a notch ... Pow!").

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

More books + goodies

2008-02-16T15:02:00.000-08:00

We have numerous cutting edge books. Of particular note is Finding Grace the Face of America's Homeless, a collection of photographs by Lynn Blodgett, which was featured on Sunday Morning, a CBS program, last Sunday. We also have three new books on war: Here Bullet by Brian Turner, War is a Racket by Brigadier General Smedley D Butler, and In the Hot Zone - one man, one year, twenty wars by Kevin Sites.

After you've fed your mind (or while you are) feed your body on our delectible goodies or delicious crepes, soups or quiche. We have a new temptation we developed today, oatmeal cookies sandwiching a chocolate espresso gnosh, Amanda's Mocha Munchies. Yummy!!

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Books, books, and more books

2008-02-15T17:48:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned a few books over the past few blogs, and thought that it would be fun to dedicate an entire post to some of the new books we offer. Some are just fun, like "Fifty Places to Go Birding before You Die" by Chris Santella or the biography of Roger Tony Peterson, the well known birder and naturalist who wrote "the field guide that changed the world" (Bill Thompson III, editor of Bird Watchers Digest). Others are of a definitely more serious vein, such as American Fascism + God - Sermons from a Heretical Preacher by Davidson Loehr, or Fundamentalist Mind by Stephen Larsen; Ten Amazing People and How They Changed the World by Maura D Shaw or What Can I Do Today? - to Make the World a Happier Place by Allison Stoutland. --- Just some of the many fine offerings we have available.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

The artists, are coming!

2008-02-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

This Thursday is Art Walk, and we are fortunate to have Curt Hitch demonstrating his painting prowess. Come in and chat with him (he enjoys it) and sample our goodies and beverages.

Next Monday be sure to drop in for caricaturist, Sam Klemke, who will grace our stage with his wit and talent(noon til 7pm). Spend a few minutes and a few dollars ($10 for black and white or $20 for color) and have a new conversation piece for your coffee table or kitchen refrigerator.

We are now a Bookcrossing center!!! "Bookcrossing is the act of releasing books 'into the wild' and then following their journeys and the lives they touch." This is possible through drop off (and pick up) centers which we now are, and a website http://www.bookcrossing.com/. The idea is that each book in the program has a unique id number which can be entered in the site and allow a person to track where it has been, write in their comments about the book, and any of the circumstances of their acquiring the book that they wish to share. The book is then returned to a center (they are listed on the site) to continue its journey.

We still have a few copies of the Eckhart Tolle book "A New Earth", which Oprah is featuring in a 10 week online workshop.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

2008-02-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

Dano, a visitor to our area from southern California, honored us with his Romantic guitar on Sunday afternoon. He was joined later by flautist Lynda Cole in a wonderful jam session. He is planning on a repeat performance next Sunday.

Curt Hitch will be demonstrating his painting prowess during the upcoming Art Walk (Thursday February 14th from 5 to 8 pm). Be sure to drop in to visit and try samples of our crepes, goodies and beverages.

Caricaturist Sam Klemke will be on our stage sharing his talent and humor (Monday February 18th from 1-8 pm).

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

John Flynn rocks the house

2008-02-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

John kept his audience glued to their seats with his delivery, lyrics and endearing fill between numbers. It was a wonderful evening, and there is a good chance we'll be able to get a rerun in late Summer or early Fall. Although he was only planning a short performance, the response and performer - audience connection led him to go a little longer, even though he was planning to drive to Eugene for an afternoon concert today. He will be performing tonight at a house concert in Bandon at Janet and Ken Bates' residence.

Special sale!! All of Chisum Lucas's prints are on sale for 25% off through February 29th. For those not familiar with her work, she has an amazing touch for clouds, and primarily does landscapes. Of particular note is her rendition of the Coquille River Lighthouse before it was painted the current red. Come in and see for yourself.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Chris and Paul made it to North Bend!

2008-02-06T16:05:00.000-08:00

Chris Chandler, performance poet extraordinaire and renowned blues guitarist Paul Benoit brought their road show to North Bend last night, playing to a small but very appreciative audience. We spaced the fact that it was Super Tuesday, and as it turned out, many who indicated interest were busy watching the Primary Returns. Chris and Paul put on an excellent show and plan to be back in July, sometime around the dates of the Oregon Country Fair. Be watching our blog to stay informed of the exact date and time. They are awesome, so be sure to mark your calendar's in ink when we nail down the date. You won't regret it.

There is one more performance scheduled for this week. John Flynn, singer/songwriter/activist will be here Friday, February 8th at 7pm on his first trip to Oregon. Flynn has been likened to a young Kris Kristofferson, and performs edgy contemporary folk music - humor with a message. The week after his performance here, he'll be appearing on a panel with former Attorney General Janet Reno talking about the power of music to bring about social justice.

On our bookshelves, we have only two of Thom Hartmann's most recent, "Cracking the Code" left with more on order. We're also waiting for more copies of his other books, so readers can enjoy a full complement of Hartmann's wisdom. Tickets for Thom's upcoming visit to Coos County (May 3rd at the Coquille Community Center) will be available at Colette's.

For those of you who keep hearing about LNG but aren't sure what all the fuss is about, you can educate yourself with a copy of Virginia L Thorndike's "LNG A Level-Headed Look at the Liquefied Natural Gas Controversy". The book is fairly evenhanded. According to some in the No on LNG movement, the book offers an excellent education. Dana Gaab says that while the book is slightly slanted toward the "pro" side of the issue, "even some of the things you read there indicate LNG is not a good thing." For the lighter side of LNG, we still have some free CDs by Harry Stamper, local singer/songwriter. On the CD, Stamper sings some very funny songs about a very serious subject.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

First concert a success

2008-02-03T14:41:00.000-08:00

We had our first advertised concert on Saturday. Harry Stamper was well received by a small but attentive and very appreciative audience. His song "Eugene" was so well received it was requested as an encore. All in all a very pleasant afternoon. The thrust of the concert was to support LNG dissent, and most of the songs he sang were in that vein, humorous, yet with a message. Several of the attendees will be traveling to Salem on Wednesday to let their view be known in the Capitol.

Speaking of concerts, we have two more in the coming week. Chris Chandler & Paul Benoit ($10 suggested donation) on Tuesday February 5th and John Flynn (suggested donation $7.50) on Friday February 8th. All are well known talents and we are fortunate to host them in North Bend. Please show your support. All donations go directly to the artist.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

More performance news

2008-01-31T18:50:00.000-08:00

We have set up a regular poetry reading on the first Friday of each month, starting tomorrow (February 1) at 6:30 pm. MC'd by local renowned poet Sharon Ramirez, expected poets include: Dave Lundee, Candice Sevilla, Bob Cohen, Ralph Tislarete, Doro Reeves, Mary Scheirman, Robert Scott,and Jim and Nan Hammonds. Add in the 10 musical performers we've already booked, Curt Hitch painting at the Art Walk (2nd Thursday in February) and we already have a lot of happenings set up for the year. Of particular note is Harry Stamper (Saturday Feb 2 at 2 pm * suggested donation of $5-15), Chris Chandler and Paul Benoit (Tuesday Feb 5 at 7 pm * suggested donation of $10), John Flynn (Friday Feb 8 at 7 pm * suggested donation of $7.50) - all donations to go the the artists.

Our WIFI is up and running, new books are arriving regularly and we continue to meet new friends and welcome anew the old ones. We continue to try new bakery items (we have a gluten free morning glory that is dynamite!) - fresh pineapple bread and upside down muffins. Scratch soup and quiche (two each day - one vegetarian) continue to be big sellers, often being gone by 1 pm.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

We have a winner

2008-01-26T06:25:00.000-08:00

Our grand prize winner, Mark Stevens, came in Thursday to have a bite and pick up his print (see the photos). He was quite excited and agreed to pose for our blog. One of our new books, Gallop, has been galloping out the door, as it is a state of the art picture book with moving images that intrigues adults and children alike. We have new books arriving nearly daily, and special orders have been picking up as well.

We received a new shipment of posters and bumper stickers that is quickly being depleted with more on order.

Exciting news! We are kicking off our musical calendar with an embarrassment of riches. We have three live performances in early February. The first is Harry Stamper (Saturday Feb 2 - 2:00 pm) whose songs have been encouraging peace and justice ala Seeger and Guthrie for more than 30 years. “Songs really, really matter,” says Stamper who can even make folks laugh at songs about LNG. Suggested donation is $5 - $15. CDs will be available.

In the same vein, we're presenting Chris Chandler (Tuesday Feb 5 - 7:00 pm). who hails from the Washington DC area and will be working with Seattle guitarist Paul Benoit. Chandler promises his show will be "funny, community peace and justice oriented". Suggested donation is $10. CDs will be available.

Third, we have John Flynn (Friday Feb 8 - 7:00 pm), a politically conscious singer/songwriter making his first visit to Oregon. Shortly after his visit to Oregon, John will be appearing on a panel with former Attorney General Janet Reno talking about the power of music to affect social justice. Later, John and/or his music will be featured on two documentaries - one about the effects of Hurricane Katrina and the other about the world problem of pediatric AIDS/HIV. Suggested donation is $7. CDs will be available.

We're pleased to kick off our performance calendar with three such strong performers. Remember, the entire door goes to the artist. Let's keep the music alive!

Jerry & Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Grand Opening & business expo a success

2008-01-22T13:04:00.000-08:00

Been off line for a while - but now I'm back. Our grand opening was a success, and we had a surprise visit from local musicians Janet and Ken Bates (pictures) on Sunday. A wonderful way to close out our four day bash. Abour 20 people were in attendance, and it was a very pleasant afternoon.

This past weekend, we participated in a local small business exposition. We met many new faces, many of whom have since put in an appearance at our store. Special order books have become quite big, as we can quite often get new books in 2-3 days, or within a week for used. With new books and gift items arriving nearly daily, the visual aspect is constantly changing. We feature cutting edge posters and bumper stickers which we are hard put to keep in stock.

Jerry & Jessica

"tycoonistas"

2008-01-04T05:40:00.000-08:00

Here we are at 0 dark thirty in the morning of the second day of our Grand Opening - Birthday Bash (Jessica's). We're doing hourly drawings each day of the event (it runs through Sunday) with the last drawing each day being for a mini-grand prize. The ultimate prize is a print of "Pine trees in Snow" by our house artist Curt Hitch, which will be drawn for at close of business on Sunday (6 pm). All entries received throughout the event will be eligible.

We have lots of new eye candy (Fair Trade goods and coffee - teak leaf journals, tree branch pencils, both black and colored leads - electroplated tea sets in six bright colors (pink, purple, green, orange, green, and silver)). For those who like a more delicate look, we have tea sets & tea pots from Kinh, Bat Trang, a Vietnamese village with a 600 year tradition of pottery making. The name Bat Trang literally translates as "the village of bowls". Thirtyone percent of the Kinh people live below the poverty line. Your purchase of these Fair Trade goods make a direct difference.

SALE!! Twenty percent off art, jewelry and collectible glass. We have lovely clear glass and milk glass book ends, as well as a couple of carnival glass candy dishes. Beautiful landscapes where dreams merge with reality by Chisum Lucas, enticing botanicals by Joan Goodman-Fox. and some delectable still lifes and engaging portraits of women by Curt Hitch, as well as some modern pieces and dioramas, are only a portion of our available art. For those who like more tactile art, you can't go wrong with one of the amazing wood turned bowls by Rick Fox and striking bead and semiprecious stone jewelry by CZ Anderson. For those with a more delicate bent we feature the meticulous beadwork of Donna Wright.

Also check out the hand made one of a kind purses by Jessica and natural fiber baskets by Jerry (yes we do crafty things too). With books, food (many new delectable goodies) art and gift items, we provide titillation for a wide range of interests. Come and check us out and take advantage of all the great special deals and free goodies during our Grand Opening ---

****Special feature today!! The Lavender Lady will be doing a presentation of her products at 4 pm.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Saturday - again

2007-12-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe we've been open over a month. It has flown by. The weekend before Christmas, and here we are enjoying the liquid sunshine state and truly appreciating the people that cross our threshold. Saturday (and Sunday) are taste of "'N'awlins" days on which we feature beignets and chicory coffee. The week so far is looking even better than last. We still see 50-75% new people each day, many from our ads, most from word of mouth (friends telling friends) and some from drive by sitings. Many of the new faces are becoming regulars.

We have been ordering books on request, many arriving in two to three days, and expect the service to continue to be in demand.

We are continuing to try new bakery items (English ginger bar - lavender chocolate cake - almond pound cake - lemon pecan bread pudding, and our 'coupe de resistance', lemon tea cake) as well as keeping a variety of cookies, scones and croissants on hand.

We dropped the ball on our "crepes and carols" idea - time somehow got away from us. However, we will be breaking in our stage in January and will be posting more detailed information as we have it. Look forward to local artist demos, singer/songwriter area debuts, poetry readings, local musicians ....

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

2007-12-20T18:01:00.000-08:00

We have exciting things happening all the time. Yesterday our new ad in the South Coast Shopper came out. Locals can check it out to get a little background on where and what we are. We also received our new book shipment yesterday, replacing some fast selling titles (including Stephen Colbert's "I am America (and So Can You)") and adding several more. Today brought more "christmas" as a shipment of beautiful hand-warming mugs arrived - just in time for the winter season on the South Coast - nothing quite like a huggable cup of coffee or tea in a chilling rainstorm. Speaking of rain, we have only two of our special umbrellas left, "women authors", and "women artists".

We have great deals on used books. The hardcover ones (many in like new condition) are on sale - buy two, get the third of equal or lesser value free.

Come in and check out our selection of posters, bumper stickers and pins. Some folk are already calling us the progressive alternative. Heady stuff.

For the food oriented, we always have a delectable and ever changing selection of baked goodies - lemon tea cake, scones, brownies, several varieties of cookies, cinnamon rolls , carrot cake, and, of course, savory and sweet crepes.

Jerry and Jessica
"tycoonistas"

mid December --- already!

2007-12-16T20:54:00.000-08:00

It's been a while. We got so wrapped up in getting open and putting on the finishing touches (ordering books, retail items and a new cooker), that we haven't been able to squeeze the time to write a bit. Now's the time. We've added a good selection of fair trade items, including tea cups & sets, drums, coffee, pencils & pens and journals. We also moved in more used books in preparation for a large sale starting tomorrow, and continuing through the end of December. We've ordered more new books to replace those that have sold. Some are so popular, they are on back order, but should arrive early next year, hopefully in time for our Grand Opening 'birthday bash' the first week in January. In addition to a grand opening we'll be celebrating Jessica's birthday (Jan 3-6) - after all it's not just a day, but a season.

Speaking of seasons, we plan to be open on New Year's Day to provide an alternative to the football marathons many will be indulging in, and will be offering exciting sale items. Keep checking in for more details.

I mentioned a new cooker. It is to be dedicated exclusively to gluten free crepes which we will finally be able to offer without fear of gluten contamination (quite possible when using the same cooker for wheat and gluten free).

This is a very exciting time, as we are meeting new and wonderful people, many of whom are networking for us, telling or bringing friends. Last week was better than several months we had at the old location. We have a book reading club which has been active for six years meeting here each week, and expect to have other groups in the near future as the word spreads. We are definitely a happening place, feeding our desire to be a vital part of community growth and interaction.

Our bakery is up and running (early morning - very) producing wonderful smells as well as delectable goodies (croissants, cakes, cookies, bread puddings, brownies, cinnamon rolls and sweet and whole grain breads), and we're always open for suggestions. We consider ourselves a 'grandma' kitchen and are trying to bring back the wonderful memories of grandma's cooking. Have a favorite that you loved as a child? Bring in the recipe or idea and we'll do our best to duplicate it for you. Along that line, we are now offering beignets and chicory coffee on weekends for a little touch of N'awlins on the South Coast. Of course, we still serve up delectable soups (two or three per day), all made from scratch as well as succulent quiche (don't see the quiche on our counter? - be sure to ask for it, as we keep it refrigerated for your protection).

Jerry & Jessica
"tycoonistas"

Happy turkey day - first day off (sort of)

2007-11-22T21:08:00.000-08:00

We decided to close for Thanksgiving and have a dinner with friends without plans. It was great fun and quite relaxing. We opened on Sunday, a quiet but good day. Tuesday, we had the best day we've had in a couple of months. Tomorrow we're back to our regular schedule, opening at 6 am (coming in at 4am to start baking).

We have shelves of new books, and our new books are on display. More are on the way. Our berets are here, in many colors, all quite chic. Take one home and transform your personality. Be creative. Be revolutionary. Be an artiste. Nothing changes your life like the simple act of donning a beret.

Keep checking in as we add more gift items to our display, including gift mugs of famous artists, writers, and composers, very cool umbrellas and journals that make you want to pick up your pen and fill them with personal revelations.

We are very pleased to be carrying lavender products from Sherri Merritt of Merritt Farm in Bandon. We have soaps, flavored vinegars, seasonings and dried lavender for cooking. Of course, we also have The Lavender Lady Cooks cookbook for those of you looking for more yummy ways to use lavender in your cooking. And just in time for the holidays, we have several on Sherri's unique and lovely wreaths made of lavender and hydrangeas. Truly beautiful and different.

In keeping with our intention to support local artists, we are currently paintings and drawings by Curt Hitch, paintings and watercolors by Joan Goodman-Fox, and paintings by Chisum Lucas. We also have beautiful note card prints of the Lucas paintings. We've recently added several unique turned wood pieces by Rick Fox, who will also be bringing us some of his fine functional bowls. All but one of the pieces (a painting by Joan Goodman-Fox) are for sale.

When you're in the neighborhood, stop by and say "Hi!". We're always cooking up new things for you, including soups, quiche and delicious baked goods.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Our sign is up and we're officially telling the world

2007-11-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

we have arrived. Okay, so we aren't open until Sunday, but it is all coming together. We received our first shipment of new books yesterday. A good portion of our used books will be moved up here this week. And this morning I spoke with Michael Gaither, a wonderful singer/songwriter who is interested in appearing on our stage.

Today is the day for ordering new product. While Jerry continues to build and fine tune the 'hardware' of the store, I will be on the phone and computer. My brother, Matt, will continue to work on building and installing the counters. Many, many thanks to him. He stepped in, pretty much at the last minute, and made our lives enormously easier.

We're amazed at the amount of detail this undertaking involves. Though we expected a lot, we are still surprised at how much there is to do. Last night, we made a 'to do' list of the remaining tasks...it was four pages long. Nevertheless, our excitement continues to grow as we move closer to our opening date.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

Never Postpone a Party...

2007-11-11T19:10:00.001-08:00

even if you aren't quite ready.

Here's what the store looked like for our 'opening' party Saturday evening, November 10. The white and red splashes seen on the right hand side of the photo were the cloths shrouding our unfinished counters. Thanks to Joanna, Gregory, Matthew, Terri, Darren, Robert, Matt, Brianna, Allen, Charm, Mark, Shane, Curt, John and Madi, we were all dressed up and ready for the party. Special kudos to Brianna, Allen, Joanna and the whole Dirk clan for labor above and beyond.

When the doors opened at 5:13pm, it was gratifying to find a line of folks standing ready to enter. As always, with two cooks in the family, we worried there wouldn't be enough food to feed everyone. And, as usual, we could have fed a small army. We had two kinds of cookies, two quiches, two soups, smoked salmon in spinach crepes, pumpkin bread and muffins along with lemonade and water. Small snafu... we were so busy up to the last minute that we forgot to brew the coffee and when we realized that, we found that the coffee filters were still at the old store. Even that didn't dampen our joy at seeing so many people 'ooh' and 'ahh' over the result of all the work we've put in the past two weeks.

Where are we now? We were planning to scramble and push Sunday and Monday and then open on Tuesday, but clearer heads prevailed. On the advice of a fellow entrepreneur, we've decided to work all week and open officially at 10am on Sunday, November 18th. Instead of spending another 18-hour day working at the store, today we slept in, had a leisurely breakfast, and soaked in a hottub for an hour before reporting to the store. Tomorrow? Well, we'll get cracking again.

Jerry and Jessica

"tycoonistas"

159 hours and counting

2007-11-04T01:13:00.000-07:00

It's 1:13 Sunday morning. Well, since we were supposed to roll the clocks back an hour, it is actually only 12:13 in the morning and I can't sleep. We have exactly 159 hours before we open our doors to the public.
While our vision stays the same, we continually refine how quickly we can make it happen as we run into the inevitable slowdowns and delays that come from not being 24 anymore. It has been humbling to realize that our bodies simply won't let us work as hard as we used too. It is a good thing that our original planning included having a bed in the office for the inevitable napping.
Today is all about finishing the counters and painting: bookshelves, display cases, tables, desks, and slotboard. With any luck, we'll also have time to haul some furniture from our respective houses and get that in place.
We're lucky that my brother agreed to help us pack up and haul the bookstore up to North Bend. He's a good worker and there is no problem leaving the project to him. We can move on to other things knowing that list of things to do is now covered. One of our ongoing issues is finding folks with a work ethic like ours. So many of those we know who qualify have injured themselves and can no longer do the physical work that setting up to open requires.
Today, we'll take more pictures of our progress and get them posted. We're just tickled every time we stop and realize, "Hey, we're opening our own store. We're gonna be tycoonistas." (That's a made-up term we use for 'revolutionary tycoons' as in, doing business as 'unusual'...ensuring as much as possible that our business also makes a positive difference in the community.)

Jerry and Jessica
tycoonistas

Nearly Midnight of a full day

2007-11-02T23:44:00.000-07:00

Plumbing is nearly done and just a bit of electrical to take care of. Jerry began the counters today, while I placed our first order for supplies. This weekend is full to the brim with tasks that must be accomplished if we are to meet our opening date. So much to do.

Most days we work together, but tomorrow Jerry and I will split up. He'll finish the counters in the new store, while I go to Coquille and pick up bookshelves from the bookstore we purchased. They must be hauled up to the new store, painted and put in place before the books can be re-shelved and catalogued. Previous owner worked just fine without having the books inventoried and/or catalogued, but I'm simply too anal for that. I feel the need to stay on top of all sales and inventory control will be a big part of that.

By the end of the day tomorrow, we should have the shelves moved and painted. That leaves Sunday for moving the books. It will be a full weekend. Time to begin counting down to next Saturday, one week from tomorrow.

Jerry and Jessica
tycoonistas

Ten days and counting...

2007-11-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

Halloween is over and November has begun. Ten days 'til our opening and so much to do. Already today the sinks are ripped out of the old store, the fridge has been transported and the tools have been rounded up to finish building counters for the new store.

Last night we handed out approximately 1500 bookmarks and coupons (for a free cookie or cup of coffee) good at our new store. The mall was packed with folks in costume and the energy ran high. It has been a long time since I participated in handing goodies out at Halloween. Wow, there's an amazing sense of entitlement among those with hands outstretched...and often the parents were worse than the children. "What, no candy?" was a frequent refrain. (We gave out pencils til we ran out.)

More exciting to us, than Halloween is the beginning of Nanowrimo. Jerry and I are both signed up to write a 50-thousand word novel in 30 days. If you'd like to give it a shot, just go to nanowrimo.org and sign up. We'll be having at least one write-in a week and a couple of parties at Colette's after we open on November 10. In addition, for those procrastinators, we'll be hosting the count down to midnight party on November 30. Come join us ...it will be a great creative exercise if nothing else.

til next time,

Jerry and Jessica
tycoonistas

Jumping in ....

2007-10-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

We've been jumping in with both feet as we prepare to move to our new location at 3229 Broadway. Jerry is very happy as he's been telling folks that we'll be "opening on Broadway". Sigh...he's such a ham.

Our new place is more than four times bigger than our old space and we're doing our best to fill it up with goodies of all kinds. We started out with an empty space, studded walls, no ceiling, and a concrete floor. Soon as I can figure out how to post photos, I'll have some that show our handiwork after 14 hours of painting.

Halloween will be our last hurrah in the Mall and we'll go out in style, with a kick-off party for Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month). If you've always wanted to write a novel, now's your chance. Sign up with nanowrimo.org and join us Wednesday 10/31 from 6-8 pm. The idea is to write a 50 thousand word novel in 30 days, beginning one minute after midnight on 10/31 and counting down to Midnight on 11/30. Don't worry, quantity, not quality is the goal, so write on and forget about editing. In fact, bind and gag that editor and throw him or her (or the editing committee if you have one of those) into the closet and lock the door tight. You can always edit during the month of December. If you need encouragement to believe that such a silly exercise can work, take heart in the fact that the current bestseller "Water for Elephants" began as a nanowrimo work.

Hope to see you on Halloween. Stop by and introduce yourself.

Jerry and Jessica,

tycoonistas