An Eventide Evening

Posted in Uncategorized on 01/22/2010 12:57 pm by CapHillBooks

Will hardship break your family or bring it together?

Capitol Hill Books’ customers have a unique opportunity to see Colorado author Kent Haruf’s novel “Eventide” come to life as a play produced and performed by the Denver Center Theater Company.

Haruf’s book about the McPheron brothers and their adopted daughter Victoria of fictional Holt, Colorado is a simple yet affecting story about the struggles of tradition in the face of modern turbulence. You can find a bit more information about the play here.

Capitol Hill Books is teaming up with the DCTC to offer special discounted tickets to see the play adaptation, which runs from January 29 to February 27 at the Stage Theater in the Denver Center for Performing Arts complex. Our tickets are just $19 when you use a special promotion code only available if you come into the store and pick up a discount card. There are a few limitations, but this deal can’t be beat when you consider tickets are normally $34 and up.

So come on into the store and grab a discount card and then see a truly Colorado story brought to the stage.

 

Happy 30th Anniversary Capitol Hill Books!

Posted in Uncategorized on 12/28/2009 02:16 pm by CapHillBooks

RAWR! KING OF MONSTERS WISH YOU MANY TIME OF SUCCESS! HAVE COPY OF "WHERE WILD THINGS ARE?"


As Capitol Hill Books enters its fourth decade (wow!), we’ve had a few famous visitors come by to give some celebratory cheer towards our store.

First we had Japanese monster sensation Godzilla drop by the store to roar his appreciation for great used books at affordable prices. He even had the courtesy to hold his fire breath until he was outside.

"It gives me great hope that you have the audacity to carry a large selection of books with an affordability that all Americans can appreciate."


Then President Obama stopped by on his way to Hawaii to wish us another 30 years of success in the book businesses. It’s “Small businesses like you,” he read from a teleprompter that “shine a beacon of hope, guiding America to a more prosperous future.” Uh…Thanks Mr. Obama. He even let us give his cute dog Bo a cookie. Barack then bought the books “Going Rouge: An American Nightmare,” and “End of Time: The Maya Mystery of 2012″ in “preparation for the next election.”

Even though we get an occasional celebrity at Capitol Hill Books, we get a bigger thrill from simply seeing our customers here day in and day out. We have them to thank for the 30-year success of Capitol Hill Books and hopefully its continued success for the next 30 years.

January 1, 2010 is our exact 30th year in business. We will have a few cookies and warm stories to share if you would like to come in on that day. And of course you are welcome to come by after then too. We plan on staying here awhile.

 

Last minute holiday shopping?

Posted in Uncategorized on 12/21/2009 03:51 pm by CapHillBooks

Your "Glad Recipient" will think you're a "Thoughtful Gift Giver" with one of these versatile gift certificates.


What precisely do you get your great aunt Edna, you know, the one who your only interaction with is an occasional squeeze on the cheek? What about your co-worker Bobby who you know nothing about except that you picked his name for the work secret Santa? What about your dentist? Or your really good friend who you know is an avid reader but forget exactly what she is an avid reader of?

There are dozens of people in our lives that appreciate a warm holiday gift even if we don’t know exactly what it should be or at precisely what temperature. And it’s especially hard to figure out when you wait until the last minute to get your presents. That’s why Capitol Hill Books offers gift certificates. Our gift certificates are available in any denomination you’d like and are good for anything in the store. Plus, they are written out in hand calligraphy for that extra decorative touch.

And since we have books on almost every subject, you can be sure that a Capitol Hill Books gift certificate would be appreciated by everyone from your uncle Larry to your aunt Louise.

 

Stuff your stockings

Posted in Uncategorized on 11/27/2009 06:26 pm by CapHillBooks
Our stuffing contains no carrots or breadcrumbs

Our stuffing contains no carrots or breadcrumbs .

Stuffing is not just for turkey anymore. You also have to stuff the stockings of tour friends and family members with small, inexpensive but interesting items like the ones you can find at Capitol Hill Books. We understand that it’s hard to fit a book like the “Collins’ Atlas of Archeology” in a small cotton sock, but a quippish magnet, some awesome notepads or a tin of Obama mints can easily fit in almost any type of foot covering.

A cool gift is in the cards if you play them right and put them all out on the table

A cool gift is in the cards if you play them right and put them all out on the table

Sometimes your own words are the best way to express your appreciation for a loved one. We have both blank cards and cards with messages in them to intrigue and inspire. All of them come with envelopes and have interesting designs that are a lot different than the typical cards found at drug stores.

Be a thoughtful gift giver by making someone a glad recipient of a Capitol Hill Books gift certificate.

Be a thoughtful gift giver by making someone a glad recipient of a Capitol Hill Books' gift certificate.


Though it’s easy to spend hours browsing in Capitol Hill Books for the perfect holiday gift, we understand if you can’t remember if your sister likes Edward Abbey or Edwin Abbott. Let your loved ones make their own choices by giving them a spectacular gift certificate for their favorite used book store. You can make out gift certificates for any amount and your loved ones can use it to buy anything in the store including books, cards, magnets or whatever they want (well maybe not our bookshelves). And since our books are usually inexpensive, gift certificates go much further here than they would at a new bookstore.

So forget the long-lines at the mall and come to Capitol Hill Books for all your holiday shopping. Not only do we have books for almost every interest, but we also have those small items perfect for the office gift exchange or filling up your favorite argyle.

 

Don’t look a gift book in the mouth

Posted in Uncategorized on 11/13/2009 05:58 pm by admin

We have dozens of new and as new gift books on a wide variety of subjects including history, science, kids books, cooking and much much more.

We have dozens of new and as new gift books on a wide variety of subjects including history, science, kids books, cooking and much much more.


Did you know that the phrase “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” comes from the fact that a horse’s teeth extend out of its jaw the older it gets. Therefore when you are looking a gift-horse in the mouth, you are assessing how old it is instead of just accepting it in good faith.
Or we have an assortment of 15% off new books featuring bestsellers and quirky conversation starters.

Or we have an assortment of 15% off new books featuring bestsellers and quirky conversation starters.


We here at Capitol Hill Books have a similar philosophy with books. We have thousands of books in superb condition that are the perfect presents for any occasion, including some gift-giving holidays around the corner. Most of the books are used but still in great condition and certainly the content of the book is as fresh as ever if it’s simply a good piece of literature. We’re sure your friends and family would hardly care that the book has been read before.
You can always make your own gifts using these craft and how-to books as your guide and inspiration.

You can always make your own gifts using these craft and how-to books as your guide and inspiration.


But even if they do, Capitol Hill Books is still a has the gifts they want. Due to some trades with some of our store’s friends, we have hundreds of new, or like new books that have never been read by anyone before but can still be had at discounted used book prices. These include some awesome craft, cooking, kids, history, and even books on horses. We also have new gift items like notebooks, journals, cards and magnets that are quirky and affordable stocking-stuffers.
If you need something unique, look no further than our glass cases. They hold collectible books, like these vintage miniature Shakespeare plays.

But if you need something unique, look no further than our glass cases. They hold collectible books, like these miniature vintage Shakespeare plays.


And we even have a handful of new books including some bestsellers that are discounted 15 percent off the cover price.

But what if you have a loved-one who wants something different? We have a diverse range of rare and antiquarian books to ensure a gift as unique as they are.

Best of all, you can usually save a lot of money buying a book or gift item at Capitol Hill Books over than buying that same item at a new bookstore for new book prices. Your gift receiver probably won’t even know you bought it “used.” And unlike a horse, we promise that when you look at a gift book in the mouth, it won’t bite.

 

Another reason to visit Capitol Hill Books: Free movies

Posted in Uncategorized on 11/03/2009 01:42 pm by CapHillBooks
Dont stare too long at this movie promo.

Don't stare too long at this movie promo.

Though all of us at Capitol Hill Books are big readers, most of us also appreciate a good movie every now and then. Often this is especially true when the movie is an adaptation of of one of our favorite books, like Jon Ronson’s bizarre book about military paranormal activities, “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” which is soon to be a movie starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor. We just got some tickets to a free showing of the movie and made a cool little display to show them off.

So though we don’t get movie tickets very often, we are more than happy to share them with our customers when we do. Other recent Capitol Hill Book’s tickets include the Coen brothers’ recent film “A Serious Man,” and Jane Campion’s biopic of John Keats, “Bright Star.”

We also currently have a window out featuring several books that have movie adaptations that are or soon will be in theaters including Walter Kirn’s “Up in the Air” soon to be another movie starring George Clooney, “Where the Wild Things Are,” and “Push,” the novel by Sapphire, that has been adapted into the movie “Precious,” will open the Denver International Film Festival and has considerable award season buzz.

So whether you like to read the movie or watch the book, we have you covered at Capitol Hill Books.

 

Meet your bookstore: Holly

Posted in Staff, Uncategorized on 10/01/2009 04:32 pm by CapHillBooks

Holly relaxing after her long journey.

Holly relaxing after her long journey.


Here is the story of Holly. Once upon a time, Holly went on an adventure across the world. First she attempted her lifelong dream of being the most proficient ex-pat Paris ingenue, but realized she could never match Jane Birkin’s pout. So she traveled across the world to Japan and became a bar-hostess, because she wanted to see a Godzilla in person. But the dang thing took too long to show up, so Holly left for New Zealand or as her best friend Anne Perry likes to call it “Borovnia.”

Unfortunately, the never-ending sublime beauty just got to be too much to look at, so Holly sojourned to the bleak and hardscrabble Montana wilderness where she ran a fly fishing shop. Yet the lure of fishing only lasts so long and Holly just wanted to read a good book. She left for Denver and worked at another bookstore before cajoling and wheedling herself a job at Capitol Hill Books.

After a few years of Ronsonol exposure, Holly decided it would be a good idea to run the place herself. Now Holly says her adventuring days are over and considers it a big deal when she leaves the county. But underneath her thick glasses lies a soul full of restlessness and wanderlust and nobody should be surprised if the end of the adventure of Holly continues for a long, long time.

The end?

PS. This summary may or may not reflect the actual view Holly has on her own life since it was written by one of her slacker employees Julio.

 

Collector’s corner

Posted in Uncategorized on 09/05/2009 12:51 pm by CapHillBooks
A cool signature from director Gordon Parks.

A cool signature from director Gordon Parks.

Capitol Hill Books is great for your everyday book needs. We got plenty of low-cost books in great condition for almost every need and interest. But we also have some awesome and interesting books in our glass case section. These include many signed editions, such as a signed copy of “Shaft” director and photographer Gordon Parks’ book “Voices in the Mirror”. We also have an 1892 version of Mark Twain’s Scrapbook, one of his famous inventions.

And while those collector’s items are a bit on the pricier side, we also have some great gift and collector items at a more affordable price. For example, we have a couple of signed copies from the great comic essayist David Sedaris for only $25-$35. One of them reads “”To Lauren + Karen, 2 engaged lesbians in Chicago. Save your money. David Sedaris.” And we also have affordable signed editions by everyone from Jimmy Carter to Clive Cussler.

So next time you are in the store, check out our glass case books or look for the “signed” stickers throughout the store for some interesting and collectible items.

 

Where do you like to read?

Posted in Uncategorized on 08/05/2009 12:04 pm by CapHillBooks
Apparently Virgil likes to read in a very small room.

Apparently Virgil likes to read in a very small room.

Reading, like everything else in life, has its own routine. For me, reading is my routine. I use it to fill in the gaps of time when I am about to do something else. So you’ll catch me reading on the light rail, or waiting for the bus, or while eating on my lunch breaks. In fact my favorite place to read probably is on trains: the momentum of the train matching the forward motion of my brain.

But we all have places we like to read. Holly likes to read in front of a cozy fireplace. Jae prefers the Dazbog coffee shop on 17th Avenue so she can take breaks from the pages and play with the numerous animals that mingle on the patio.

Our online Tweet friends have their favorite places too. @TheLivingEnd prefers a balcony with a great view of the mountains and a refreshing, cool drink while reading.

@BethPartin enjoys reading at two Denver landmarks: Confluence Park and the Tattered Cover. Those are both great places for people watching while reading: maybe pretending that the serial killer in your mystery is the guy in the business suit suspiciously walking on the edge of the Platte.

And @nonvivant likes a bit of libation while reading, preferring to read in a little bar on a quiet night. May I recommend Gabor’s on a weeknight?

So what are your favorite places to read? Do you like to be isolated or around people? Prefer indoors or outdoors? A brightly lit room, or just a single lamp illuminating your pages? Because we love to talk about books but we rarely talk about how we read books and that is maybe just as important.

 

Adios Tomas

Posted in Uncategorized on 07/21/2009 10:38 am by CapHillBooks

Tom being cool

Tom being cool


Our good friend Tom has left Capitol Hill Books to risk unemployment and ruin in Seattle! As Holly said, “He’ll be sorry.”

But actually we wish Tom and his wonderful companion Kelli the best of luck in their new Seattle adventure and the awesome-sounding Western road trip they will be doing as they travel there.

Tom has worked semi-diligently since starting at Capitol Hill Books last summer and even created much of this new sparkly Web site instead of doing actual work. He also reorganized and managed our glass case section of book, making those expensive books more likely to sell online and improving our store’s ability to succeed in a harsh capitalistic environment. Pretty good for a self-professed anarchist!

Tom’s presence has actually really improved the store and he is a great friend and person. In fact, another one of the Cap Hill gang wouldn’t even be working at the store if it wasn’t for Tom’s great generosity. So, we wish him the best of luck as a fish monger in Pike’s Market. He’ll be the one throwing the fish heads into the scum pile.

And though he won’t have much access to twitter while he is deboning flounders, you can follow him on there if you’d like @tfooq

 
Older Entries