Weekend in Laredo (part 1)

The heat was stunning in Laredo this weekend--that kind of fierce warmth that immediately makes clothes stick and hair go limp. It's been almost eight years (eight years?!) since I left the city for college, four hours north and at least ten degrees cooler, and what surprised me most of all was how I had forgotten what summers mean down there: Be. Near. Water. The weather was a fresh reminder that I must reacquaint myself with my city, in many ways.

It was a great few days, though. I arrived Friday night just in time to shower and change for the Cream City magazine launch party. Back in April, Analee Paz, one of the magazine's creators, contacted me to ask whether I'd like to be featured in a section called "The Profiles." She said they'd love to hear more about what this process of working toward opening a bookstore has been like. Of course, I was thrilled to agree.

The party was held downtown at Gallery 201, an art gallery I'd never heard of or been to before. Only rarely do I foray downtown, so each time I do I marvel at how it seems like an entirely different city, a foreign country: the one-way streets, the cobblestone roads and beautiful old buildings.

The gallery itself was gorgeous, and the magazine put on a great party. A projector screen displayed the cover of the magazine on one wall above a small stage, a photographer was ready at the entrance to snap red carpet-esque photos of guests, and the wine and cucumber martinis were flowing at the bar.



Of course, I couldn't wait to see a copy of the magazine, and it didn't disappoint. The photography and design layout were beautiful, and it was so interesting to read the stories of the other two individuals in "The Profiles."







I know the article is impossible to read in this photo, so I'll post a transcription later. But I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to talk more about the bookstore, to let people know that, yes, it's a work in progress, but at least it's in progress. Thanks again to Analee Paz and Fernando de Haro, publisher and photographer, for the honor of being featured in Cream's premiere issue!

So the party was Friday. And on Saturday, after months of telephone correspondence, I finally met Mary Benavides. Mary, who managed B. Dalton for about 30 years, is also working toward opening a bookstore in Laredo, and we've been trying to coordinate a meeting for months. I'm going to end this post on that teaser, because I fear it's already gotten too long, but I'll write about our meeting very soon. I hope you're all having a good Monday so far!

What Do a New Magazine Designer & a Producer of an Emmy Award-Winning Show Have in Common?

They both read this blog!

I hope you all will forgive the hurried nature of this post, but I wanted to share some news with you in the few minutes I have before dashing off this afternoon.

In the last two days, I have gotten two very exciting messages via Facebook. The first was from Analee Paz, who is working on an inaugural issue of a new glossy magazine in Laredo. The magazine, Cream, will be bimonthly, and each issue will have a section called "The Profiles." The section will cover interviews and photos with three "prominent and commendable" individuals from Laredo--and they want to include me in their inaugural issue! Analee has been reading the blog and says they would love to talk about this whole experience, as well as my other writing and editing work, in more detail. The tentative interview date is next weekend, but I'll keep you all posted. Very exciting!

The second Facebook message I received was from Lindsay Flinn, who was writing for her boss, Kara Vallow. Kara is a producer of Family Guy (!!!), American Dad, and The Cleveland Show, and she has apparently read the blog . . . and been inspired to hold a book drive for Laredo! Lindsay let me know that they're sending the first shipment my way today, with more following until everyone they work with has been drained of their extra books. This was in response to my post about LC4A a couple of weeks ago, so when I get the books, I'll be making a delivery there. How great is that??!

It's so thrilling to me to see that this little blog is actually reaching people, and inspiring them to take action. Thank you, Analee and Kara, for supporting not just my efforts, but those of our larger book-loving community. You both made my day!

Anyone else want to make donations? There's LC4A AND Escape Again.

Hope you're all having a lovely week!