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AFTER-WORDS

Welcome to our new page! We'll  give you a glimpse of our fun and entertaining programs that have happened.  We'll keep you informed on what you missed if you didn’t attend this event.

Dessert King Ralph Humes

To celebrate the grand opening of the new Community Room, at the Kazoo Books on Parkview, the “Foodies” event for May featured local award-winning chef, Ralph Humes. He gave a short talk, answered audience questions, and then cooked Bananas Foster, which he served over vanilla ice cream. He also served strawberries with a balsamic vinegar reduction sauce, Chocolate Raspberry Cake, Sweet Potato Praline Pie, Carrot Pineapple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, and his own new recipe for Caramel Apple Bread Pudding. The bookstore owners, Gloria and Jim Tiller supplemented this repast with coffee, white grape juice punch, a fruit tray and mixed nuts. Needless to say-everyone ate quite, quite well.

Local artist, Mike Dzialowski, graciously let us display some of his nature painting in the newly opened area. They provided a beautiful complement to gleaming wooden floors, colorful rugs, bookshelves and linen covered tables. His works are for sale through both the bookstore and the Park Trade Center art gallery.

Ralph Stanley Humes is enjoying a bit of a hiatus from his restaurant business. He really likes getting back to cooking good food for people in smaller groups. It harkens back to his days when he opened his first restaurant (38-seat) in Three Rivers. His restaurant in Kalamazoo, R. Stanley’s Diner, was known for its gourmet desserts and upscale southern fare. He is currently working on a cookbook, hopes to start a recipe blog, is teaching classes, has teamed up with Desserts Unlimited in Paw Paw, and occasionally works at special events. As last year’s winner, he was a judge at the Chefs Against Hunger charity cook-off event this year, which benefits Ministry With Community.

After the event, we talked about various kinds of barbeque and grilling techniques; gas, charcoal briquets, or wood. For a “Foodie” event in August, we are thinking of a cooking class and meal around this topic…Grilling Tips and Techniques. So stay tuned for a possible encore event with Ralph Humes!!!

Small and Stewart Signed Books!

Signed Copies of David Small and Sarah Stewart's books are available in both stores.

We were lucky to have them in town, where they appeared at the Ladies' Library Association. This was a very special event with great conversation and a question and answer session.

We have new copies of The Underneath, which was illustrated by Small, as well as their other charming books.

Stop in to either location and pick up a great gift or personal keepsake!

Poetry Reading and Craft Talk

We had a great turnout for our first venture into poetry readings! This is a much overdue spin-off from our writer’s events.

The evening’s speakers were great.  The audience was a mingling of writers, students and friends of the poets.  Published authors Nancy Eimers, Grace Tiffany and Robert Eversz were there in support of Mark and Daneen.

We would like to continue presenting poetry readings, so if anyone has ideas for another event, send them to my attention.

Also, we plan to organize a poetry writing group in the near future.  If you want information, send us your email by clicking here--->

Thank you for supporting your neighborhood bookstore!
Gloria

We had a great turnout!
 

Robert Schimmel, nationally recognized stand-up comedian from Scottsdale, made time in his busy schedule to come to the Parkview store last week.  He was in town to do 4 shows at The Laughing Post in the Shakespeare building downtown.  Robert was also promoting his new book, Cancer on $5 A Day, Chemo Not Included.

His off-stage presence was far different than his act.  He is a father with a 3 and 5 year old at home and 2 grown children.  His cancer experience has given him a gentler view of life, although his show is the same one that made him famous on the Conan show and his talks with Howard Stern.

We had a nice crowd in the back room around the refreshment table.  He talked for an hour and a half to people.  He talked about his career before and after the cancer and answered questions from the audience.  It was a wonderful chance to see the man behind the scenes.

We sold books at the The Laughing Post too.  They have a great club and run a class act down there.  They bring in big names all the time.  It’s great entertainment.

Food Dance Foodie: Our group met on April 28^th.  It was a chilly rainy night, but warm and friendly in our private room in the restaurant. 

The meal began with a wonderful fresh salad which was followed by a new and exciting vegetarian gumbo with just the right amount of spicy flavor.  The icing to the meal was a real New Orleans King Cake made by the chef at Food Dance.  It was authentic right down to the little plastic baby for luck. 

We talked about the New Orleans restaurants, food and sharing ideas for more Foodies.  The interesting aspect of Gumbo Tales by Sara Rohan was her perspective of the city before and after the hurricane.

It was a great evening of fellowship and sharing.