New Book Fair and a Rock and Gem Show in San Diego

The 1st annual San Diego City College International Book Fair will be held October 11th - 14th on the campus of San Diego City College. Admission is free. The SDCCIBF website has a comprehensive schedule of events. The weekend is jam-packed with activities and appearances of many local authors. So, if you are planning to be anywhere near San Diego next weekend, Oct 11 - 14, 2006, make it a point to attend. Several of my friendly bookseller acquaintances, like Scott Emerson Books, and my two favorite antiquarian B&Ms: Wahrenbrock's Book House and Adams Avenue Books, as well as the local star of fantastic fiction, Mysterious Galaxy Books will be in attendance. Heck, even if you weren't thinking of being in the arrea, why don't you plan on it? Believe me, you won't regret it!

For that matter, why don't you plan on arriving for this weekend's Rock and Gem Show (see below) and stay through next weekend for the San Diego City College International Book Fair? Several library sales are occuring both weekends (Check Book Sale Finder or the San Diego Public Library website for details), and there is always the world famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, the mountains, beaches and desert, Old Town, Sea World, nearby Mexico, Indian casinos, and a plethora of other great attractions and nightlife here - including most excellent eats from around the world! (Well, maybe great pizza is hard to find here in socal unless you ask some locals. This isn't Chicago ya know!)

This weekend, OCT 7 - 8, the El Cajon Valley Gem and Mineral Society will be holding their 32nd annual show, the "Gem & Mineral Roundup" in Lakeside, CA, at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, 12584 Mapleview, Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-5. Free Admission. There will be exhibits, demonstrations on faceting, silver casting, beading, etc, vendors selling jewelry, beads, books, fossils, meteorites, cabachons, gem stones, mineral specimens, and handcrafted items. The show is a perfect family destination and provides a fun, educational experience for all. It's also a great place to pick up some very unique gifts that will fit into everyone's price range from the little ones to the big ones!! Not to mention that the good folks of the El Cajon Valley Gem and Mineral Society are super friendly, nice and helpful. Hope to see you there!