Cash Mob At St. Mark's Bookshop
As I posted on Saturday’s Blooper Reel, there’s a cash mob happening over at St. Mark’s Bookshop today at one in the afternoon and then people are going for drinks at The International Bar. It’s a little early for me, but it’s for a good cause and I’m hoping a good crowd shows up, only one way to find out and that’s to get over there!
It's a nice springy day, so I thought we'd walk over there.
And here we are, as usual I'm early and I don't see anyone else here.
So we might as well do a little window shopping while we wait.
I just read an excerpt of that Carole King book in New York magazine, I enjoyed that, so I think that will be one of my purchases.
And here's my friend and star of the first Bar Exam here at TWM, Paul Scanlon.
And here's Goggla and Ed, okay, it's not an official mob yet, but close enough.
And it's through the doors we go.
Ed and Goggla immediately started checking out the selections in St. Mark's.
Here's some cool coffee table books on display, many of these titles you won't find on Amazon or at a Barnes & Noble store.
Kind of an ironic title, considering the reason we're here!
There's always a sales table in the back loaded with books, most of them are priced at under ten bucks, some great deals to be had here!
There's also a great selection of magazines and again, there's titles here you won't find at most other book stores.
Here's some cool postcards on display.
Here's Louis and Dena who were here for the cash mob, Dena is a reader of Jeremiah Moss and read about it at his blog.
I met Steven, who it turns out is a longtime friend of Paul Scanlon's. Nice to see a decent crowd showing up to support St. Mark's!
This is Ben Rossen, who stopped by for the cash mob. Ben is the co-founder of smallknot, a company that helps to get funding for businesses. Maybe they can help out St. Mark's!
And I ran into One More Folded Sunset, who always cringes when my camera comes out. Luckily she had two books to shield her from the TWM lens!
There's a familiar face over there...
My friend and frequent TWM guest star, Shawn Chittle! All of a sudden I'm hungry for a bagel!
Okay, time to get in line and pay for my books.
And here's Benjamin, behind the counter writing up the sales.
And if you're on Twitter, you can follow them here.
After buying books, some of us came over to the International Bar for a few Sunday afternoon drinks.
And here's a stack of books with a can of Schafer's acting as the cherry on top! It was great to see everyone who showed up, and if you couldn't make it or don't live in New York, you can always purchase something online.
I was hoping Uncle Waltie would show up, but I didn't see him. He may have had a rough Saturday night, so maybe he'll make it next time. Till then, "Sip Ahoy" to Uncle Waltie and all of you out there! See you tomorrow!
St. Mark's Bookshop
31 Third Ave. (Near 9th St.)
212-260-7853
International Bar
120 1/2 First Avenue (Near 7th St.)
212-777-1643
Further Reading: EV Grieve, Publishers Weekly and New York Magazine.
Dear sir or madam, would you read my book,
It took me years to write, will you take a look.
Surprise link, click on it, I dare you!
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Bonus CBBM Mutation Sent in By Jason Andersen!
TWM friend and guest star, Jason Andersen sent in this frightening Cardboard Box Man Mutation. It's a sextupet of CBBM's! Aaaaahhh!
East Village, International Bar, St. Mark's Bookshop Posted on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 10:26AM
Reader Comments (32)
looks like a fun day and a good cause! nice to see that people showed up, i'm going to buy a book or two online right now!
What? No Lady Gaga books???
Anytime you start or end at International Bar,,,,its a great post. Carole King book,,,,I was just listening to her yesterday, Ben Rossen holding up that very interesting book on store fronts,,,,with "Ralph" on the cover. I saw Michael Moore next to Carole King,,,,Love Carole,,,,and Michael,,,not a big fan. Great post today.
I wuz there -- incognito and in and out -- zipped right through the remainders table. I already knew what I was getting since I was there on Thursday night for my #FridayReads (Dream of Fair to Middling Women by Samuel Beckett, available at the remainders table) and buying a gift for someone else. Didn't stay long since I had to run to catch the FA Cup semis between Tottenham and Chelsea at Lunasa (1st half) and then St. Dymphnas (2nd half), not that you axed #shutupsquared.
Anyhoo, here's a bonus pic from St. Mark's Bookshop, a shot of a poster of Haiku on 42nd street
P.S. Reading in print is good for the soul.
Cheers and happy reading.
@Bobby D: Cool of you to buy online!
@THE NOTORIOUS L.I.B.E.R.A.T.I.O.N: Ha ha ha! Here you go! Great seeing you and hanging out yesterday!
@Al: I agree about the International Bar, can't go wrong there or at their sister bar, Coal Yard. I'm anxious to read the Carol King book, the excerpt was great, too funny you were just listening to her!
@esquared: Too bad you were in such a hurry, it would've been good to have you join us at the International Bar! Maybe next time, thanks for the bonus photo, I love that book! And cheers to you as well!
Thanks, Marty, and to everyone who turned out. Support your local businesses!
You know, I'm still pissed off that I can't download your firetruck book onto my kindle, Marty...or my own book either! As far as Amazon is concerned, neither one of us exist!
Looks like CBBM and his minions are in basic training...after Drill and Ceremony comes weapons training. When they master the M16, the M203 grenade launcher, and the laws rocket launcher, our collective ass is grass. WE'VE HAD IT!
I found a way to get the pdf files on my kindle.. but .....
if a book is that hard to put on my kindle it deserves to be read in book form...
i am the dork who buts both the kindle version and the actual book.
I have that George Harrison book... it's awesome..
I love the cash mob things.. that is so awesome.. i wonder if it's do able in a small town like mine...
@Goggla: Great to see you and hang out yesterday, glad you showed up!
@Jaws: Yesterday I pretended that Amazon doesn't exist, so we're even! And yes, the CBBM seems to be out in full force, I just got two more sightings sent in that I'll post tomorrow!
@Gidget: Too funny that you buy both the Kindle and print editions! I thought about getting that George Harrison book, then decided on the Carole King. I'm sure you could do a cash mob in your town, all it takes is people and cash to support local businesses!
Nice work, supporting your local businesses! I like this cash mob thing! And I also like Benjamin's sweater.
P.S. What's that book on top under the Schafers? I can't read the title, but I dig the jacket.
Hey cash mob. You can drop by my place any time.
*By place I mean residence. I don't really have a store.
@Biff: The book on top is my other purchase. It's a book called "Love Goes To Buildings On Fire" by Will Hermes. Here's his blog about the book.
@csp: At csp, wait in line, I'm trying to get the mob to stop over here before I start looking for a job again!
Too bad St. Marks doesn't have an option to ship to Australia. I had my credit card ready to make a purchase.
I love how you guys all get together as a small community to do things for the greater community then go away and drink beers. We don't really have that here. I guess that comes with being in such a highly populated area. I don't know many people who would get together to do their part save a struggling business...and treat it as a social gathering. Hats off to you guys and best of luck to St. Marks Book Shop.
@Clack: Minimum wage in New York is $7.25 USD.
Minimum wage in Australia is $15.50 AUD.
AUD and USD are practically equal in value.
Different strokes for different folks.
That Store Front book next to the beer is great - I have the big version. Hope everyone's enjoying their books - my Tulsa bootlegger one is good reading!
thanks Marty--and everyone who showed up for the cashmob. St. Mark's Bookshop owner Terry McCoy emailed me to say thank you to all and to let us know the mob was a big success! it really gave them a boost--in sales and in spirit. it's so good to know we can have a positive impact in the neighborhood.
@csp: Australia is an expensive place. Costs more to live in Sydney than NYC.
Food and alcohol is much cheaper in the US...there is no where here I can buy a 6pack of bud for $9!!
...and there is no mandatory tipping in restaurants....it all seems fairly equal in the grand scheme of things.
@Clacky: Sorry you couldn't get an order to Australia! I appreicate you trying though and wish you could have been here for it, it was a lot of fun and for a good cause and we all got some great books!
@onemorefoldedsunset: I agree about the store front book, I'll have to get that next time! Good to see you and thanks for coming out for this!
@jeremiah: Thanks for having the idea for this in the first place! I'm glad to know that it helped them out!
Sorry for being a no-show. Spent the whole day trying to sort out my convoluted financial system / record-keeping to please the tax man. Whenever I do buy any books it's always at St. Marks. Hope to see you at the field office some time soon. Sip Ahoy!
@Uncle Waltie: No sweat, Chet, I understand and hope to share a drink or seven with you soon! Sip Ahoy!
It looks like something is frightening the CBMM sextuplets. I can only imagine what kind of hideous creature would strike fear into the hearts of such insidious beasts as CBMM.
@randall: I don't even want to think about that!
What a great bookstore! I definitely plan on visiting St Marks Bookstore the next time I am in NYC.
What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
@Tiki Bar Susie: It is a great bookstore filled with a lot of books and publications you won't find elsewhere. And yes, books and beer, a perfect Sunday afternoon!
I missed the actual date as I've been crazy busy getting ready for trip to ingerland, but I plan on stopping in before I go for planes/trains & automobile reading during vacation. Oh wait, better not read in car since I'll be driving.
My fave bookstore in America is Spotty Dog in Hudson, NY. Cute little bookstore AND (this is a big "AND"), it's also a bar! They serve awesome beers, have live music and poetry readings and trivia every other Tuesday. Also it's in a beautiful old fire station. And speaking of fire stations -- they were a dime a dozen back in the olden days of Hudson due to processing of whale blubber into oil which was extremely dangerous and often produced fires, so there was one on practically every block.
@Spike: That's a huge AND! A bar in a bookstore, sounds like heaven! I need to get to Spotty Dog one of these days! Thanks for the tip! And have a good trip, and no reading and driving for you, young man!
It's sad, but St. Marks is on life support and it's only a matter of time. When stores start begging, and it's happening nationwide, that's the beginning of the end.
@Roy Black: You may be right, but I hope they can beat the odds, time will tell.
thanks
@Facebook Status: You're welcome!