Bluebird Undercover: Debuting Feb. 9

At Bluebird, we've always got our face in a book. Get your own nose between the covers and show the world that you love reading too.

Bluebird Undercover is a photo project for bookworms, inspired by our upcoming participation in a PYT benefit for the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. (And frankly, it was also kind of inspired by Sleeveface. Because we love Sleeveface.)

So here's how it works: You can get a custom image made by Sasha Rae Photo at select Bluebird Books events beginning February 9 at Mermaid Tavern. You can also post your own Undercover photo to our Flickr Group page. 


Either way gives you a chance to show off that literary love in print: In April, the top 20 Bluebird Undercover photos will be used to create a cool full-color 2012 commemorative tour poster that will be featured year-round on the bus.

Visit our Tour Page to see where we're heading next, and check out the Sasha Rae Photobooth to learn more.

Cool? Now go get yourself Undercover.

Annotations (no. 4)

"If eternal return is the heaviest of burdens, then our lives can stand out against it in all their splendid lightness."

(Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, 1984)

Bluebird Books: January Update

It's been a busy month behind-the-scenes at Bluebird Books!

While the fine folks at Peterson Auto tuned up the bus, we were hard at work putting the finishing touches on Kickstarter rewards. And this weekend we added some real gems to our book inventory while supporting a great cause, by shopping at the WMNF Annual Book and Record Sale, where proceeds benefit our longstanding community radio station. We crammed in elbow-to-elbow with the throng of book-lovers, who lined up early for a chance to browse the stacks.

We also rode out to St. Petersburg to visit with Kyle Durrie of Moveable Type, an inspiring traveling letterpress truck hailing from Portland, Oregon. Since Summer 2011, Durrie has been traveling around the U.S. in her converted 1982 Chevy step van, and snuggled inside contains everything a savvy printer needs to make one-of-a-kind cards and posters, including inks, paper and vintage presses. Clearly, a woman after our own heart!  

Many thanks to Jennifer Kosharek at Eve-N-Odd Gallery for inviting Moveable Type to the Bay area. Durrie said she's met a few other mobile arts venues during her travels, and we made a pact to plan a gathering of these pioneer vehicles in 2013. Imagine the creative caravan we will build!

Meanwhile, we're looking forward to our first public appearances of 2012 this February: a special event at Mermaid Tavern with Boxfotos for PYT, and a weekend at the Dunedin Fine Art Center. Stay tuned for a complete calendar with some cool surprises. 

Happy Blue Year!

We're starting 2012 on wings of joy. Our Kickstarter campaign was successfully funded, providing seed money to keep Bluebird Books rolling forward. We received some great accolades in the press, made our first appearance on the airwaves, and even got our first cover shot!

Looking ahead, we're excited about planning some great cultural events this coming year. On the list: a book signing event featuring printed works by local artists, an artist sketchbook showcase, a special appearance at a wonderful Bay area gallery, and possibly even a museum event. Stay tuned.