NEWS

Adah Fitzgerald at Main Street Books

Dear Reader,

Our first Waldo searcher of the summer walked into the shop at 10:02 am on July 1st and the shop has been bustling with Waldo fanatics ever since. We’ve handed out a couple hundred “I Found Waldo” stickers to kids who’ve collected 10 stamps, and a dozen folks have already completed the whole challenge. 

You couldn’t ask for a better community for hosting this fun summer adventure. Davidson’s sidewalks connect all three of our charming business districts, our beautiful treasure trees provide priceless shade on these warm days, and our merchants are delighted to lean into their playful sides for this town-wide game.

It’s a great reason to indulge your curiosity about some places that might not be on your beaten path, with no obligation. Are you building your Christmas wish list as your kids cajole store employees into giving clues about Waldo’s whereabouts? Are you lingering where the A/C is particularly cool? Planning your route so that you’re searching for Waldo in a restaurant at lunchtime?

We hope that at the very least we help you create a few hours of unplugged activity. But maybe we’ve also seeded the month with opportunities to deepen friendships, get out of the house, get some work done while your kids run around town, meet your neighbors, and be a part of the village that we’re lucky to call home.

Now I’m going to reluctantly acknowledge that the community-wrecking online-behemoth that shall not be named is having an event next week that rhymes with Slime Day. I will never shame anyone for making purchases from this entity*, but I do want you to know that you have excellent alternatives, including a wonderful alternative for your audiobook purchases: Libro.fm.

If you already have a Libro.fm account, join the Audiobook Listening Olympics next week to earn a free audiobook, from Tuesday, July 16th to Friday, July 26th (that’s Opening Day of the Summer Olympics!). Keep an eye on your inbox to participate!

Or sign up with a new Libro.fm account now for 2 free audiobooks when you use the code PRIMETIME at registration.

Thank you so much for being the thoughtful, readerly bunch that you are! Stay cool, drink lots of water, and keep reading books.

With gratitude,

Adah

*But if you want to nerd out on economics, here’s a white paper on how Am*zon used the book industry to create its monopoly.

P.S. The Davidson Farmers Market is publishing a community cookbook! Do you have a recipe to contribute? Submit the recipe here!