Christmas is a time of giving and receiving, but the former may prove challenging – especially when you need financially friendly ideas. Even when it’s the thought that counts behind a gift, you still need to look like you’ve thought about it, and socks don’t always leave that impression. To make this Christmas challenge a bit easier, The Sacramento Press looked at local stores in Midtown that have some fun options, each of them under $20. The Beat Location: 1700 J St. Store hours: Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. The Beat is an independent music store that sells all genres, new and old. Here, a unique gift can be bou

Starting in mid-November, people can print books from a catalog of more than 3 million titles, or even novels they’ve written themselves, in less than five minutes at the Sacramento Public Library. The library recently acquired an Espresso Book Machine or EBM, which will be available for public use. Printing on the machine is available through the Library's I Street: A Community Writing & Publishing Center project, where the public can join and learn about self-publishing, according to Sacramento Public Library Outreach & Community Services Supervisor Manya Shorr. "The UC Davis extension program for creative writing in Davis is closing, (and) that means there is no center for creative w

Author Ishmael Reed discussed his latest novel, “Juice!” at Time Tested Books Sunday. According to owner Peter Keats of Time Tested Books, he said this was the first time Reed had made an appearance and was contacted to host the well-known writer at the bookstore. “We sold lots of books,” Keats said. “Juice!” is about protagonist Paul Blessings, a diabetic political cartoonist who obsesses about the O.J. Simpson trial during the early 21st century America. The novel provides a look into how the media distorted Simpson’s trial and reflects on how the media influences present culture and politics. “The one thing that the case did was expose media’s sloppiness of evidence gathering of the

Long before Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar existed, co-owner Taro Arai was an 11-year-old paperboy with big dreams. He saved $6,000 over five years to move his family from Japan to the United States. Arai wrote and published his first book, “Abundance: Finding the American Dream in a Japanese Kitchen,” in hopes that he will inspire other Japanese youths. The book is set to be released Wednesday and combines his family’s history with recipes for some of Mikuni's customers’ favorite dishes. “It’s not just a recipe book,” Arai said. “It has my life story in it.” The book’s 12 chapters tell different stages of Arai’s life and include recipes named to coincide with their themes.

A few weeks ago, I saw Richard St.Ofle read from his book No Wolf (the waygoing compromise) at Luna’s Café on 16th street. St.Ofle had just wrapped up writing and promoting the book, and the reading was a way of, in St.Ofle’s words “celebrating, in advance, the break I’m going to be taking”. Well, that break didn’t last very long, St.Ofle just announced the release of the accompanying audio book, to what is already an ambitious project that includes a soundtrack by Montreal musician August Hell, and a really cool marketing campaign where readers were encouraged to send in photos of them reading the book. The audio book was recorded by another notorious Sacramento busy-body, Robby Moncrie

Who:  Author Marci Bridgeford and Sierra Forever Families What:  Launch Party and opportunity to meet Sierra Forever Families Where:  Antiquite Maison Privee located at 2114 P Street, Sacramento, California When:  July 29, 2010 from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Why:  Celebrate “Zachary’s Story” to show new ways of looking at old stereotypes that can accompany adoption and blended families and replace them with feelings of self worth, power, love of self and family. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Sierra Forever Families. Background “Zachary’s Story” is a conversation between a mother and child that celebrates the joy of being an adoptive family. The book was released by AuthorHouse p

Last night, John Irving, National Book Award-winning author of twelve novels, including The World According to Garp, A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Cider House Rules and his latest, Last Night at Twisted River, appeared in conversation with UC Davis Director of Creative Writing, Pam Houston, before an appreciative full-house at downtown’s Crest Theater, as part of California Lectures’ 2009-2010 line-up of literary speakers. Irving told the audience he writes according to novelist Herman Melville’s warning, “Woe to him that seeks to please rather than to appall,” saying that his goal is “not only to frighten readers, making them anxious for the fates of characters I have made them like,” but

In an era that has seen the rise of mega-bookstores and online book retail giants, three used bookstores in downtown Sacramento have managed to stand their ground. Beers Book Center, Time Tested Books, and The Book Collector continue to offer the same product they have for years--used books and a knowledgeable staff eager to answer any questions their customers might ask. Beers Book Center, on S and 9th, opened in 1936 and is Sacramento's largest and oldest used bookstore. Jim Naify, owner of Beers, was forced by the city to move from his original location on 14th and J, where the Sacramento Convention Center now resides. He moved into another high traffic location on 15th and L before b