Trip Down Memory Lane at Green Apple Books

One of my fondest childhood memories is going to Border’s bookstore with my mom and sitting there for hours reading books. There was something so calm and relaxing about the tone of her voice rising and lowering while I sat nestled in her lap. Now, I’m 22 and too old to sit on mom’s lap reading Dr. Seuss. When I walked into the children’s section of Green Apple Books on Clement Street for a book signing, despite 17 years of growing up, I felt that calm, relaxing feeling from my childhood.

Green Apple Books is like grandma’s old attic, except filled with every type of book possible. Dusty light fixtures hang from the wall next to glass cases that house an assortment of colorful masks. As I walked through each room I started to feel like I was in a maze. Sections were marked by handcrafted signs made by the staff. Tiny hallways opened up into secret rooms with even more books. Finally, I made it to the book signing in the children’s section in back of the store.

I climbed up a set of creaky wooden stairs next to a life size version of the Cat in the Hat and traveled back to the time when I was five years old. There were kid’s books everywhere, spilling off of each shelf and crammed into every open space. Several children were running around, excited to share the treasures they found in each book case with their friends.

Kelly, a 12-year-old girl with braces, wearing a dark green crew neck sweater and green and white ribbons on her ponytail, was especially excited to be at Green Apple Books for the book signing. The book, “Smile," by Raina Telgemeier, was the first book she had read on her own beginning to end. Her mother told me that Kelly, a resistant reader, loved the story because it’s about a girl who gets braces for the first time. Kelly even got to participate in the book reading.

Twenty children and adults sat on tiny mismatched children’s chairs positioned around Kelly and the author, while the two took turns reading lines from the book. Telgemeier, a San Francisco native, told me that she used to come to Green Apple Books a lot with her dad who had an interest in used books. Her favorite part of the store was the comic section. I looked behind me and saw a mother delicately holding her 4-year-old son in her lap while reading a comic book and couldn’t help thinking that used to be me, and possibly Telgemeier.

I laughed to myself over some of the book titles I saw during the signing, like “Monsters Eat Whiny Children” and “A Day with No Crayons”. There was also a huge selection of used books, many only $1.99, and an assortment of strange novelty gifts like chattering teeth and slinky dogs. I reluctantly made my way to the exit, and along the way, saw a mother tucked away in a corner reading to her daughter. Green Apple Books, although it is for all age groups, has a certain charm that makes it a go to place in the Richmond district for parents and their kids, and those just looking to reclaim a childhood memory.

Blooming art scene in the Richmond

Park Life, an eccentric independent retailer and art gallery on Clement Street, debuted a new show this month called "You knew this was coming", featuring Southern California artists.

The store was full of locals coming to see the show that featured artists: Sahar Al-Sawaf, Sadie Barnette, Rich Bott, Mike Calway-Fagen, Thomas Helman, Vincent Manganello, Clare Parry and Louis Schmidt.

I was actually impressed by the size of the crowd. There were at least 15 to 20 people in the building at all times--random stragglers came in and out, mostly to step outside and get their nicotine fix. I'm sure the bucket of ice-cold free beer helped keep people in the gallery.

The art show itself was an interesting mix of media. Six paintings of eerie blob-faced individuals, painted using opaque out-of-the-tube colors by Rich Bott, demanded my attention when I walked in the door. The artists' work clashed together in the gallery, but individually, each piece was something to be appreciated.

Sadie Barnette's work also caught my eye. Cut-up photographs, glitter and detailed ink work delicately covered several white pieces of paper that were strewn about on the wall in the left hand corner of the gallery. I was admittedly confused about the concept of the piece, but then again, sometimes that's half the fun of art.

I haven't found many places like Park Life. Park Life

definitely fills a void in the Richmond District: a place in the community where you can shop, socialize and see local artists' work. You can also talk to the artists and owners of the store which makes Park Life more approachable and user-friendly compared to other galleries and independent retail stores in the area.