As I was cruising the shops of Midtown Saturday, I stumbled upon three unique venues close to Overton Square. I wandered into Bonnie’s Books and was immediately greeted by a tiny, black pug. The walls were lined with used books including different subjects and interests. One shelf featured various collectable books, many signed by the author.
Amy Stephenson Woods and her husband, Steve Woods, opened Bonnie’s Books a little more than two months ago. So far, Stephenson Woods said the reception has been great.
“We’ve had a really good response from the Midtown community,” Stephenson Woods said. “We get a really big mixture of people — every age, gender and socio-economic class. It’s representative of the neighborhood.”
The prices are nice, too. I checked out the $1 shelf to find many interesting books. Bonnie’s sells hard covers from $3 to $7 and paperbacks for half the cover price.
After telling Woods I was searching for affordable entertainment for college students, Woods replied with a smile: “We’re a real cheap, college -kid kind of thing.”
What’s also nice about Bonnie’s is the welcoming atmosphere. Much of that comfort comes from the little pug running around — the pug whose name is... Bonnie, thus Bonnie’s Books.
The Woods had stockpiled around 1000 books at their home when they decided to open a bookstore. The couple then went on to open SIP* coffee and conversations. The space sits east of Bonnie’s Books and has a large entryway. The menu consists of simple drinks like cappuccino, espresso and iced tea. I also noticed a stack of board games like Trivial Pursuit and Yahtzee. This area is a place to relax by reading or hanging out.
An additional open area invited me into the Midtown Artists’ Market, where I met Beth Prussia Day. Day is a lapidary artist. Lapidary — in case you didn’t know — is the art of cutting and polishing stone.
Day called Midtown Artists’ Market “a co-op of different artists.” “Different” is the key word.
A diverse collection of works lined the walls and floors of the space. Pencil, oil on canvas, mosaic, metal sculpture, acrylic, photography, clothing and even cast handmade paper were the different media featured at the venue.
According to Day, the artists agree to work three shifts a month and to pay a fee to have their artwork exhibited.
The group of artists, which consists of about 15 people, rent the property from the Woods. However, several paintings from the Artists’ Market grace the walls of SIP*.
Separately, the three shops make for an interesting experience. But as a whole, you just can’t beat the relaxing, artistically enriching time in Midtown.
