And Now, a Word from Our Sponsor...

I feel like I have alot to cover today (seeing that I'll be working a 12 hour day) so, if you're one of my readers who checks out this site each day, try to make it back a second (or even third time) before the day's out. Thank you.

But first thing's first...

As I said to you a few blogs back, my friend, Michael, has been interviewed and appeared in a little "Spring Style" section of the Philadelphia City Paper. Michael is the buyer and General Manager of the AIA Bookstore in Center City and, although I'm sorta leary of mentioning too many names on this blog, Michael already told me he doesn't give a crap. Besides, what I'm about to say is (as his Goddess, Martha, says) a good thing.

Back in my wasted youth, I attended the Art Institute of Philadelphia, majoring in Interior Design and Architecture. I remember visiting the AIA Bookstore (AIA meaning American Institute of Architects) and the store was pretty much nothing more than what the name suggests, a bookstore selling books and other product related to the architectural and engineering fields. Sure, there were some other areas of interest that I seem to remember: a small children's section, a few little bits of gift product, etc, but it was mainly books. It wasn't a place that one would normally go in to look around or to try and find a gift (unless of course that special someone in your life was a Mike Brady).

But in the four or so years that my buddy has been running the show there, things have definitely turned around. Michael, being the store's buyer and already having a flair for the whimsical, travels to gift shows a few times a year and spends days on end picking out product from around the world that, at first, you just stare at and say "what the fuck was he thinking", but then you come to realize that the majority of the stuff he buys is flying off the shelf. One of the biggest success stories and draws to the store come in the autumn, when they open up the downstairs and all you'll find are rows and rows of unique Christmas tree decorations. But throughout the year, the rest of the store has become a hodge-podge (again...it's a good thing) of unique gifts from vases to martini glasses to jewelry to (and I still have yet to see this) doormats in the shape of man hole covers.

Oh yeah... and there are still books...

But most times, when you go into a bookstore, you're going in to find something to read or something for someone else to read. In the AIA bookstore, you can actually go in and laugh (or at least smile) at some of the things displayed before you. Michael has definitely brought some character into what, in my opinion, would normally be a ho-hum kind of store.

And that's where the City Paper comes in. I don't know if they got wind of the store's success or what, but there is a small section in this week's paper titled "Spring Style Guide". Unlike the paper's "Best of Philly" section that comes out once a year and covers literally hundreds of topics and places, the Spring Style Guide is mostly ad space, but the editors of the paper have also set aside space for a mere dozen or so "profiles" of selected businesses throughout the metropolitan area. That being said, I feel that a good ol' hats off to Michael should be given (and those at the Post should buy him a celebratory martini) for being selected.

In his interview, here's what Michael had to say about style trends:

"I see a trend towards objects and home furnishings that have a sense of humor to them. They are not only functional, but they're a visual pun or an out-right laugh..."

"Humor is an important part of life and these designers help create a dwelling that you are not only comfortable in, but one that makes you chuckle and think 'Man, I love that!'"

And, in many display cases and on many shelves within the store, you'll find Michael's philosophy behind the newest product and you too will find yourself chuckling and saying: "Man, I love that!"

So, if you find yourself walking through Center City Philadelphia and you're in the area of 17th and Sansom Streets, be sure to stop into the AIA Bookstore.

PS: Mention this blog to Michael for some special treatment (probably a roll of the eyes and a softly mumbled "Christ, not that again..."