Around Indies

Busboys and Poets Celebrates New Bookstore

Last Friday, Busboys and Poets, which has four locations throughout Washington D.C. and Maryland, celebrated the grand opening of its new bookstore, in the Hyattsville Arts District, the Hyattsville Patch reported.

 “Our new independent bookstore … offers book lovers throughout the local community a rare, specialized collection of literary offerings that reflects the rich diversity of this cultural, artistic and progressive neighborhood,”  the store announced.

Busboys and Poets’ inventory encompasses politics, world affairs, sexuality, African American and Hispanic studies, as well as books by local authors.

Duck’s Cottage Hosts Pre-Valentine’s Day Event

On Wednesday, Duck’s Cottage in Duck, North Carolina, co-hosted “Fifty Shades of Sexy,” a pre-Valentine’s Day “girls’ night out,” according to store owner Jamie Layton. The bookstore joined forces with two local businesses — Luxury Lingerie and Aqua Restaurant & Spa — to provide attendees with mini spa services and gift ideas in time for Valentine’s Day. The stores charged $10 for admission and encouraged customers to purchase tickets during a presale by offering a box of chocolates and samples from the participating businesses.

“We’ve really been using social media to promote this and it seems to have worked!” said Layton, who pre-sold almost 50 tickets in the week leading up to the event.

Another local company, Innerfit Barre & Dance Fitness, provided demonstrations of their Dance Body Boot Camp and brand-new Piloxing (pilates/dance/boxing) classes. Duck’s Cottage displayed the Fifty Shades trilogy alongside other Valentine’s Day gift ideas — all pre-wrapped in snakeskin gift wrap. Luxury Lingerie brought bedroom appropriate attire and adult ‘toys’ and a local chocolatier manned a table of hand-made chocolates available for sale.

Books on Broad’s Funderburk Expresses Love of Books

Bill Funderburk, owner of Books on Broad, in Camden South Carolina, has penned a Valentine’s Day poem to express his love of books. Bill, an attorney and adjunct English professor, operates Books on Broad along with his wife Laurie. The Valentine’s Day haiku is below:

While blooms wilt and molt,
Hearts seek permanence in words
Whispers of comfort.

Whispers of comfort
From books filled with human truths
Words fighting time’s tide.

Words fighting time’s tide
Hearts’ and minds’ defense
Against indifference.