Amy Krzanik reports from Spencertown. Fine wine, aged cheese, and rooms stuffed to the gills with books, book, books? Well, tell them to pack my bags, because I’m moving in. Unfortunately, the Spencertown Academy Arts Center’s Festival of Books doesn’t actually allow you to stay the night, but they did offer a preview party on Friday, August 29, which allowed for chatting with friends, noshing and a jump on the weekend crowds. Guests were allowed first dibs on the entire used book selection, including the children’s book room, the Specialty Book Room which offers new tomes, limited editions and out-of-print books, and the loft, which features CDs and audio books along with a large selection of fiction and non-fiction. The Festival continued through Labor Day weekend with special events, author readings and a visit from Curious George. Shown above: Bookseller Polly Dufresne, who traveled from New York City to set up the Specialty Book Room, and Madaline Sparks, board vice president.
Jane Hassler, Nellie Rustick and arts educator Susan Grybas; Betsy Howard and daughter Sarah Howard.
Volunteers Cindy and Carl Atkins pose in front of the building's new front steps; Eileen Fusco, volunteer Stephen Poppel and Cono Fusco in the children's book room.
Board member David Highfill, Kimberly Rawson and board president Nick van Alstine pose with the Festival's colorful signage.
Rupert Fennell and Anita Fiorillo do some catching up; Mary and Mario D'onghia.
John Fiorillo, with Peggy and Jeff Dennis and board member Barbara Deisroth; Some of the colorful vintage paperbacks available for purchase in the Specialty Book Room.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
