So your NE Ohio Kinksters for Kucinich group is having a pansexual playparty to raise awareness about global warming? Your neopagan bikers group is having a ride for Beltane? Your anarco-feminist knitting circle is having a moshpit picnic? Your sanctuary church is having a bake sale/fiesta? Your Radical Faerie circle is getting together with Code Pink to have a public exorcism of Darth Cheney followed by a brunch and anti-fashion show? Your band/bookstore/ gallery/coven/cell is having an event? You're looking for an accountant who's able to do taxes for polyamorous household? Great. Join Alt City and tell us all!
Suspect Thoughts Books (not the press or AlternaQueeerBooks.com!) is now closed...and we're California bound. We'll miss you...
Our address as of mid-May (2008) will once again be:
Suspect Thoughts Press
2215-R Market Street, #544
San Francisco, CA 94114-1612
www.suspectthoughtspress.com
www.AlternaQueerbooks.com
First, an introduction...
My full name is Suspect Thoughts Books. I had to scrunch it down to fit in the wee MySpace window.
I'm the brazen lovechild of Suspect Thoughts Press and a whole slew of other progressive publishers and zinesters and pranksters and tricksters (see heroes).
Yes, I'm an independent ("look, ma, no chains!") new and used bookstore, and I hope to be all that that word implies to people—safe haven, breathing room, ticket booth to anywhere in the universe.
To see all the new titles I hold within, please go visit our online sister store, AlternaQueerBooks.com. To see all the used ones, well, you're just going to have to come and visit me in Cleveland.
What does alternaqueer really mean?
We use "queer" in the broadest sense possible. That means the continuum of identities that range from gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender to intersex, genderqueer, same-gender-loving (SGL), and beyond. It also includes heterosexuals who see sexuality as fluid as the dark matter and strings of energy that make up our flesh.
"Alternative" covers a lot of ground as well. Everything from progressive, populist politics to polyamory and BDSM play parties to neo-paganism worldviews to good clean anarco-feminist/punk living.
So, "alternaqueer" is pretty much everybody save the small hidebound fragment of the US population that still thinks Bush is the second coming...of Reagan, Jebus, [YOUR APOCALYPTIC ICON GOES HERE].
Where are you located? When are you open?
Suspect Thoughts Books is located at 4903 Clark Ave, between W 48th and W 50th Streets, the heart of the up-and-coming Alt City district, in Cleveland, OH. Our hours are 11am-7pm Wed-Sun. We're open afterhours for workshops and scheduled events.
Once more in a nice handy info-nugget:
4903 Clark Ave
Cleveland, OH 44102
216-631-BOOK (2665)
11am-7pm Wed-Sun
I've lived in Cleveland all my life and never heard of "Alt City." "Ohio City," sure. What gives? Did you just make that up?
Busted. We wanted a cool, semi-demi-ironic name for our little strip of Clark Avenue, other than "that stretch between Tremont and...um...Oberlin."
We're reclaming it. Won't you help us make it a hot-bed of all kinds of alternative goings-on?
Who I'd like to meet: EVENTS:
Saturday, January 5, 7-9 pm
"Hothouse Saturday" Erotica Open No-Mic
Featured Author: Greg Wharton, author of Johnny Was & Other Tall Tales
Bring five minutes of your sexiest, daring, most perverse, or downright raunchiest work to read. Or read something from one of your favorite authors. This is a pansexual event—all are welcome! Sign up by 6:45 pm. There are ten open slots. Five minutes maximum each reader.
Saturday, January 19, 7-9 pm
“Alt-City Poetry” Open No-Mic
Featured poet: Kate Sopko, author of Stewards of the Lost Lands
Bring five minutes of your work to perform. Sign up by 6:45 pm. There are ten open slots. Five minutes maximum each reader.
Saturday, January 26, 7-9 pm
“Queerland Rocks”
Reading/performance followed by question and answer
Lineup:
Corissa, singer and songwriter
Gregg Shapiro, author of Protection
and TBD... Sponsored by The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
There are four-six slots each time. Are you a LGBTIQ author, poet, storyteller,rapper, songwriter, actor, performer, or instigator? Call 216-631-2665 or email gregw@suspectthoughts.com and tell us why you should be in the lineup.
Saturday, February 2, 7-9 pm
"Hothouse Saturday" Erotica Open No-Mic
Featured Author: Ian Philips, author of Satyriasis: Literotica 2
Bring five minutes of your sexiest, daring, most perverse, or downright raunchiest work to read. Or read something from one of your favorite authors. This is a pansexual event—all are welcome! Sign up by 6:45 pm. There are ten open slots. Five minutes maximum each reader.
Sunday, February 3, 3-5 pm
“Divination Club”
Practice your divination skills, dazzle your friends, share your skill and gift with others.
Give and receive a reading for the month. Runes, tarot, tea leaves, coffee grounds…
Thursday, February 14, 7-9 pm
“My Crazy Valentine”
A storytelling party.
Valentine’s Day can suck. Come spend this one with us. Tell us a horrible first date, crummy lover from hell, or scary one-night stand that stayed way too long tale, and we’ll share our pink cupcakes with you.
Saturday, February 16, 7-9 pm
“Alt-City Poetry” Open No-Mic
Featured poet: Jim Lang
Bring five minutes of your work to perform. Sign up by 6:45 pm. There are ten open slots. Five minutes maximum each reader.
Saturday, February 23, 7-9 pm
“Queerland Rocks”
Reading/performance followed by question and answer
Lineup: Cleveland poet The B Word Poet, Denver author Jerry Wheeler, and TBD… Sponsored by The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
There are four-six slots each time. Are you a LGBTIQ author, poet, storyteller,rapper, songwriter, actor, performer, or instigator? Call 216-631-2665 or email gregw@suspectthoughts.com and tell us why you should be in the lineup.
Saturday, March 1, 7-9 pm
"Hothouse Saturday" Erotica Open No-Mic
Featured Author: Jeff Mann, author of A History of Barbed Wire
Bring five minutes of your sexiest, daring, most perverse, or downright raunchiest work to read. Or read something from one of your favorite authors. This is a pansexual event—all are welcome! Sign up by 6:45 pm. There are ten open slots. Five minutes maximum each reader.
Saturday, March 8, 7-9 pm
“Home Grown”
Featuring: singer/songwriter Corissa, poet Jessica Julian, poet J. Makkos, and singer/songwriter Gordon Robertson
Local authors/artists
Performance and meet and greet
Saturday, March 15, 7-9 pm
“Alt-City Poetry” Open No-Mic
Featured poet: Robert Walker
Bring five minutes of your work to perform. Sign up by 6:45 pm. There are ten open slots. Five minutes maximum each reader.
Thursday, March 20, 7-9 pm
Alistair McCartney, author of The End of the World Book
Tim Miller, author of 1001 Beds
A special reading followed by question and answer.
Friday, March 21, 7:30 pm
1001 Beds
a performance by Tim Miller
Tim Miller’s 1001 Beds is a raucous and rowdy exploration of Miller’s adventures in a performer’s life fiercely lived in his travels through love, politics, and art. From a gay teen’s head-on collision with life in a sleazy hotel across the street from the Hollywood Bowl to an ecstatic vision of a sex-positive future on a mattress in a police holding cell, Miller’s 1001 Beds is a fiercely funny, sexy and inspiring story about the transforming power of art and the richness of gay identity lived out loud.
$15 (No one turned away for lack of funds.)
C-Space
4323 Clark Avenue / 216-631-2233 Sponsored by The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland and Suspect Thoughts Books
Wednesday, March 26, 7-9 pm
Robyn Ochs, activist and editor of Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World
A special reading and meet and greet. Sponsored by The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.
Saturday, March 29, 7-9 pm
release party for The Rapture for Big Sinners by Ian Philips
Easter’s come and gone. If we’re all still here, come join us for a special evening of sin to celebrate the release of The Rapture for Big Sinners: 66+6 Things to Do Before and After the Righteous Lift Off by Ian Philips. Ian will show off his original artwork and then we’ll have storytime about Kirk Cameron and the anti-Christ. The “Who’s the sexiest satyr?” contest-winner gets a free signed book. Perhaps something bubbly to drink and something sugary to eat.
Saturday, April 5, 7-9 pm
"Hothouse Saturday" Erotica Open No-Mic
Featured Author: Marilyn Jaye Lewis, author of Neptune & Surf
Bring five minutes of your sexiest, daring, most perverse, or downright raunchiest work to read. Or read something from one of your favorite authors. This is a pansexual event—all are welcome! Sign up by 6:45 pm. There are ten open slots. Five minutes maximum each reader.
Sunday, April 6, 3-5 pm
“Divination Club”
Practice your divination skills, dazzle your friends, share your skill and gift with others.
Give and receive a reading for the month. Runes, tarot, tea leaves, coffee grounds…
Saturday, April 12, 7-9 pm
“Home Grown”
Featuring: Christopher Barzak, author of One for Sorrow, and
Catherynne M. Valente, author of The Orphan's Tales
A special reading and meet and greet.
Saturday, April 26, 7-9 pm
“Queerland Rocks”
Featuring: Toledo's Rane Arroyo, author of Same-Sex Seances, Cleveland's Alice Baburek, author of When Lightening Strikes Back, and
Toledo's Glenn Sheldon, author of Bird Scarer
A special reading and meet and greet. Sponsored by The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
What goes on in this transitional world, behind closed doors? What is the true meaning of room service? Who is that handsome stranger?
Featuring: Matmos Dino Dinco Matthias Hermann Rick Castro Ian O'phelan Steven Miller Zachari Logan Peter Maloney Ron Volanti Jr LuigiyLuca Manuel Delgado Alex Mirutziu Marco Mazzoni Brandon Herman Damian M.M.
I'm sorry to hear your bookstore is closing, but having lived in Chicago for 20 years, I can understand your feelings about "real" winters--especially this last one.
To the nice folks at ST Books: Thank you for adding me to your friends list. I’ll send you a postcard in early August with ordering info from the publisher. I hope you’ll consider getting a few copies. It’s a mass market paperback. Should you carry my book, thank you for the opportunity. Independent booksellers are the best! Kind regards, Andy
Hey there. Thanks for the add. You have been chosen as Carbuncle’s friend because you (check applicable description): ____ have great taste, _____ are a beautiful monkey, ____ do not cause bloody stools, _____ have been amorous with a piece of furniture, ____ have a goofy nickname (please specify),_____ are afraid of clowns, ____ own a stuffed squirrel, or, ______ other (please describe).
Ohhh, do so love bookstores! With hopes that you have all 39 of those presently available from my persona author William Maltese presently lined up on your shelves. --Aside from that wishful thinking, though, this is merely a short note, by way of thank-you, from the olde vampyre himself, for you having taken the time and made the effort to check in at the FAMILY DRAQUAL page to "invite us into your life." --Hugs (if you dare get that close), Vlad.
