If you only have a moment:
Trains is becoming a new thing (a tiny bookshop that you can visit) but also remaining the old thing (a booktable on the street).
Otherwise:
The first time I sold books on the street I put ten paperbacks and a blanket on the ground. I thought I’d do it just the once. I’ve done it a hundred times. I hope to do it forever.
I’ve loved the chance parts of street selling. Who might happen upon the place I’ve laid my books, what might I learn from a stranger about a book I thought I knew, who might it be passed on to from here, might it rain?
Now I’m opening a shop, which brings different unknowns. I’m all sorts of uncertain and hopeful. It feels a little bit ridiculous to share any of this as though it’s novel, feels strange to use “I” to recount it.
Thank you (thank you) to the booksellers and street vendors who’ve freely given guidance, support, supplies, who’ve shown me kindness and welcomed me in.
Thank you to Sam, who often falls asleep after I do and wakes before to help pull wagons into the world. He’s prioritized the thing I love. He’s the reason the shelves are on the walls, the reason for a lot of things.
Thank you to people on here and not, old friends and new friends who’ve stopped by the table, kept me company, picked up a book.
Thank you to books.
Thank you to future visitors of street Trains and shop Trains. Please come see me, I can’t wait to see you.
You can make an appointment to visit the shop through the link in my bio or Trains bio, or let me know some other way that you’d like to come by.
And ! there will be an opening celebration on July 31st all day and into the evening. More on this to come..
(thank you)
Apt book in my hands: “The Luckiest Girl.”
Trains has begun ! I’m feeling overwhelmed, drippy, a little less than eloquent. More than anything I am so (so, sincerely) grateful to each and every one of you. To the visitors who arrived in the morning and stuck around all day, to those of you who came during your lunch break, or in the minutes before work. To those who couldn’t make it but sent well wishes. To the whole big lot of you who came for the reading !
Thank you for patience when the shop reached capacity, for tracking me down to pay for books, for showing such warmth and support to the readers. Thank you for being patient with me, too, as I stumble through the start of this. Thank you rain, for letting up.
If you weren’t able to make it (or would like to hang out in the shop with less of a crowd), you can make an appointment through link in bio, or email me at [email protected]. I’m always looking to host more events in and around the space—let me know if you want to curate a reading, host a writing group, show a film, play my theremin, etc. etc. etc.
I want this place to be everyone’s.
Little postscript - My childhood dream was to become a librarian. I dropped out of library school before it even began. Childhood backup plan was to live above my own bookstore. Skewed the orientation, but I think it’s close enough.
Limited edition bookmarks!
I have incredibly talented friends. Coco @ccolombine has woven a batch of handmade lace bookmarks that are for sale in Trains.
$20 with Trains
$10 without
And ! Sid @sidneyzach1 ideated and drew the graphic for these paper bookmarks. They are free with the purchase of a book (and maybe without the purchase of a book. I want everyone to have one).
Thank you (thank you) to both Coco and Sid, they make beautiful art—go take a look and commission them to make beautiful things for you too.
Inaugural sound show at Trains
Sunday May 24
5pm doors / 6pm sound
Performances:
listening to foam by Robert Pawliczek @r_pawliczek
playing with knives by Georges Mefleh @gmefleh
broadcasts from the ionosphere by Char Jeré @jeredotcom
Beadel st / Vandervoort ave
Write to @itstrains or one of the artists for address
Thank you (thank you)
