LilSugar

Does Your Local Bookstore or Library Have a Resident Cat?

PetSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:00:13 PDT

Cat loving TrèsSugar spotted a recent article naming the most famous bookstore cats from across the country including the (late) Fup of Powell's Books in Portland, OR seen here. Seems felines and fiction go together like Dewey and decimal since enough libraries have resident kitties that there's actually a Library Cat Society. Who knew? I guess since these four-legged friends let guests browse and read in peace - and star in so many works themselves - that a feline is a natural edition to such establishments. Have you see one in a town near you?
Source: Powell's Books

Mommy Alert: Beware of Allowing Your Tots to Stray in Stores

LilSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:00:03 PST

This latest clip is just too close for comfort. Similar to the story we told you about in May, another lil girl was molested in plain site at a big name bookstore. The first incident happened in the children's section of an Arcadia Borders and the most recent occurred at a Corte Madera Barnes & Noble, also in California.

This time, a five-year-old stepped just feet away from her mother who was at the counter paying for goods. But, the short distance and those split seconds provided a predator, who was silent during the attack, enough time to take the child's hand and put it inside his pants. Another incident happened at the same store this past Summer. While holiday shopping, you may be tempted to let your tots peruse the next toy aisle or stray a bit while you're in the checkout line, but in light of these reports, you should think twice about doing so.

Penn Badgley and Zoe Kravitz Stop For a Smooch on the Streets of NYC

Lauren Turner — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:50:06 PST

Zoe Kravitz and Penn Badgley got close for a kiss in NYC over the weekend. They stopped for PDA after shopping at a bookstore, where Penn picked up a few titles including Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle and Richard Alpert's LSD.

Penn and Zoe escaped the Big Apple for the warmer weather of Miami over the holidays. They lounged poolside at their hotel and showed affection while swimming. Zoe's bikini body was on display while Penn went shirtless and let his long hair down in the water. He's still rocking the wild 'do, though we'll have to wait and see if he keeps the style for his small screen character when Gossip Girl returns next week.

How to Publish Your Own Ebook

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 10:14:38 PDT

Ebook bestsellers were recently added to the NYT Book Review, and sales are up in a big way. It just goes to show that if you've got an awesome manuscript, you don't have to wait for a publisher to pick it up - you can self publish! Find out how you can get your ebooks on Kindles, Nooks, iPads, and mobile devices all around the world with the outlets below.

Barnes & Noble PubIt! - Easily publish your own books through the Barnes & Noble ebook store with PubIt! Just upload your files, and PubIt! converts it to an easy to read format that can be bought and downloaded to your Nook or other B&N apps, like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC. Royalty rates range from 40 percent (for any book priced under $2.98 or over $10) to 65 percent (for any book priced between $2.99 and $9.99).
Amazon Kindle Store - Get your book sold in Amazon's Kindle store and nab royalty rates of 35 to 70 percent of sale prices. The Kindle Direct Publishing program accepts Word, zipped HTML, PDF's, ePub, and plain text files, and makes your book available on the Kindle, as well as other Amazon apps for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac, PC, BlackBerry, and Android devices.

But wait, there's more - see the rest of your options after the jump.

How to Publish Your Own Book in 2012

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:40:45 PST

If writing a book is always the resolution left behind once the calendar runs out, make 2012 the year to finally get your novel out of your brain and onto the page. The fear of being rejected by publisher after publisher can set you back, but more than ever, self-published novelists are turning to ebooks to make their mark on their own.

Ebooks are gaining some serious ground in sales, even being recognized by the New York Times Book Review. It just goes to show that if you've got an awesome manuscript, you don't have to wait for a publisher to pick it up - you can self publish on digital formats with limited to no investment. Find out how you can get your ebooks on Kindles, Nooks, iPads, and mobile devices all around the world with the outlets below. Happy writing!

Barnes & Noble PubIt! - Easily publish your own books through the Barnes & Noble ebook store with PubIt! Just upload your files, and PubIt! converts it to an easy to read format that can be bought and downloaded to your Nook or other B&N apps, like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC. Royalty rates range from 40 percent (for any book priced under $2.98 or over $10) to 65 percent (for any book priced between $2.99 and $9.99).
Amazon Kindle Store - Get your book sold in Amazon's Kindle store and nab royalty rates of 35 to 70 percent of sale prices. The Kindle Direct Publishing program accepts Word, zipped HTML, PDF's, ePub, and plain text files, and makes your book available on the Kindle, as well as other Amazon apps for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac, PC, BlackBerry, and Android devices.

But wait, there's more - see the rest of your options after the jump.

See Inside Lady Gaga's Whimsical Gaga Workshop at Barneys NY!

Allison McNamara — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:07:00 PST

Lady Gaga launched her newest endeavor at Barneys New York last night - a whimsical Gaga Workshop just in time for the holiday season. Filled with trinkets inspired by Lady Gaga's childhood and career, the fifth floor of Barneys has been transformed into eight mini shops, complete with a huge Lady Gaga spider, a wig boudoir, and an out-of-this-world bookstore. Celebrities and designers came out to support the singer, including Blake Lively in a stunning cobalt blue suit from Elie Saab's Spring 2012 Runway. Surprisingly, Lady Gaga opted for a more conservative ensemble for the evening, a custom tweed Chanel gown designed by Karl Lagerfeld, tres chi! On Allison: Topshop top, House of Harlow necklace, JewelMint bracelet.

Blake Lively Sexily Suits Up to Help Launch Gaga's Workshop

Allie Merriam — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:58:34 PST

Blake Lively managed to show some skin in a suit last night at Barneys New York's launch of "Gaga's Workshop." The bright blue Elie Saab look was finished off with lace-embellished shoulders. It was her latest daring look after wearing a revealing Marchesa number Saturday to the Gossip Girl 100-episodes celebration. Blake had the company of her small screen buddy Matthew Settle last night, as well as Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Brad Goreski, and Alexander Wang. We caught a moment with the actress, and Blake Lively shared her holiday must-haves. She told us she's currently buying lots of Chanel and Brunello Cucinelli for the colder weather.

Lady Gaga herself was on hand to celebrate the opening of her holiday collaboration with the iconic department store. Gaga was decked out for the occasion in a white Chanel gown that was customized by Karl Lagerfeld. There are tons of details about Lady Gaga's Barneys workshop - the installation, which takes over the shop's entire fifth floor, included eight shopping stations customized by Gaga and her team. Fans can browse a jewelry nook, a bookstore, and a boudoir that sell over 170 limited-edition Gaga-themed products as well as some of her favorite items from childhood. The store-within-a-store is open now and will be until Jan. 2, 2012.

6 Ways to Enjoy Bookstores Before They Go Extinct

Tara Sharp — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:00:54 PDT

After one last ditch effort to save itself, bookstore chain Borders is officially shutting down and liquidating its remaining stores. With the way we read and buy books evolving thanks to ereaders and online shopping, this latest shuttering is another reminder that now's the time to enjoy the perks of our favorite bookstores before they go the way of the cassette tape. Here are six ways to enjoy bookstores while they're still around.

Close your eyes and choose a book at random from the travel section and plan a trip to whichever destination you land on.
Volunteer to read aloud for children's story time at your local bookstore.
Grab a stack of magazines or books to peruse in the bookstore's coffee shop.
Exchange awkward glances with a cute guy in the self-help section (name that movie!).
Head to the sale section and find a new beach read.
Find a cheesy romance novel about or by someone with the same first name as a girlfriend and give it to her for her birthday.

What will you miss the most if bookstores disappear?

American Quilts, "Smalls," and The Perfectly Imperfect Home: Continuing Our Chat With Deborah Needleman

Elka Karl — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:00:54 PDT

Yesterday, I posted the first half of my interview with Deborah Needleman. The former editor of Domino magazine and the current editor of WSJ. Magazine, Deborah's new book The Perfectly Imperfect Home explores the concept of a comfortable, stylish home that's uniquely your own. Keep reading for the second half of my interview with Deborah Needleman!
CasaSugar: I love how you include American quilts in your list of ethnic fabrics. I feel like they’re underappreciated in the world of high design. How do you suggest highlighting them to their most stylish advantage?
Deborah Needleman: American quilts can be amazing. You can use them obviously on your bed as a coverlet, or just folded at the end of the bed for some color, or draped over the back of a sofa, or covering a round table or over a console against a wall. I don’t love them hung like art on a wall, but that doesn’t mean that someone else shouldn’t hang them like that if they do.

CS: What are three lessons from your book you wish all people would try?
DN: Well, to relax, have fun, and keep in mind the point of it all - which is to create a nice setting for the life you want to lead not to impress others. But, also for people to hang pictures lower, move furniture away from the walls, and kill the overhead lights as much as possible.

Keep reading to learn more about the book, and to find out how Deborah Needleman's home is perfectly imperfect.

Talking Imperfect Perfection With Deborah Needleman

Elka Karl — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:00:51 PDT

This year at High Point Market I was thrilled to finally meet Deborah Needleman, one of my all-time design heroines. The lovely Ms. Needleman led a design luncheon at High Point where she talked about her new book, The Perfectly Imperfect Home. It has risen to the rank of my favorite home decor book of the past year, and it sits atop my slant-top desk next to a small box filled with antique German coins, one of the "smalls" that Deborah talks about that make my home personal, happy, and perfectly imperfect.

The former editor of Domino magazine and the current editor of WSJ. Magazine, Deborah recently answered some of my questions about her book, decorating philosophy, and personal favorite decorating ideas and quirky pieces. Keep reading for the first half of my interview with Deborah Needleman!
CasaSugar: What inspired The Perfectly Imperfect Home?
Deborah Needleman: It was inspired by how uncomfortable I feel in overly decorated, everything-just-so houses, and how inspired and comfortable and happy I feel in houses that are stylish and real. I love houses that are portraits of their owners.

CS: How do you think the concept of designing imperfectly can spark creativity and growth in decorating?
DN: You can’t be creative if you are constantly just trying to keep everything neat and perfect. If the evolution of your life is reflected in your decorating, that means your decoration will not remain static. It changes as you change; it grows and morphs with you. I’ve never liked or believed in the idea of decorating as something that can be finished. Like life, it is a work in progress.

CS: Can you describe one of the stylish, welcoming, and imperfect homes you’ve visited and found particularly inspiring?
DN: The decorator and design writer Rita Konig is my patron saint(ess) of stylish imperfection. She was raised by a fancy decorator (Nina Campbell), has lived in and visited beautiful houses her whole life, and knows all the rules of decorating, but she is never hampered by rules or fussiness. She is inspired by the kind of life she wants to go on inside her house. It is always inspiring, exciting, and completely comforting to be in her home. Her home always smells fantastic. It has a lot of personality, quirk, and color. There are soft pillows on the sofas and chairs, lots of books you want to read, and interesting things on the walls. Plus, she’s a doting host, always ready to make you something nice to drink and eat.

All the top editors at Domino had homes like you describe - stylish, welcoming, and imperfect - and they inspired me enormously. I hired them so they could inspire others like they did me. The brilliant Sara Ruffin Costello (who now writes the best and cheekiest decorating column out there for the Off Duty section of the Wall Street Journal), Tom Delavan (who is now editorial director of the recently launched GiltHome), Dara Caponigro (editor in chief of Veranda magazine), and the aforementioned Rita Konig (who is European editor of WSJ. Magazine magazine)

Keep reading for more of our conversation with Deborah Needleman!