Quirkyalone

Countdown to IQD

Feb 07, 2004 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: Uncategorized

Although most of the world is gearing up for a holiday known as Valentine’s Day, those of us in our very own parallel universe know that anticipation is building for another holiday: International Quirkyalone Day, a celebration of friendship, romance, uniqueness, and the power of one. We are now seven days away from IQD’s second annual celebration!

The San Francisco IQD party will be Saturday, February 14, starting at 8 pm at The Rickshaw, 155 Fell Street at Van Ness. Bonus points (extra raffle tickets) to anyone who comes in a prom dress or a tuxedo.

IQD gatherings are also planned in London, New York, Madison, Atlanta, St. Paul, Philadelphia, Providence, and Albuquerque. More info on the events page of this site. We’ve gotten some emails from a fellow in Kabul, Afghanistan, who wants to throw an IQD party. We hope this party materializes!

If you don’t see your city listed and are interested in hosting a quirkyalone party in your neck of the woods, don’t hold back. Pick a bar or a cafe, email us the location, and then spread the word by email and on sites like Craigslist.

The fabulous designers Sara Cambridge and Klover Kim have donated their time and talent and created some IQD logos/artwork. We will post them on the site soon so that they can be used at parties and to promote parties nation/worldwide.

Age Range of QAs

Feb 07, 2004 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: Uncategorized

What is the age range of your participants? Who comes to a quirkyalone party? A few people have written in asking this question. The answer is: ALL ages, all walks of life. One thing that has amazed me and put quite a smile on my face: At three out of the five readings or events I’ve done to promote the book, MOST of the people in the audience are in their forties, fifties, and sixties. There were several mother-daughter teams at last night’s reading in Lake Forest Park, Washington, proving this is definitely not just a twenty- or thirty-something phenomenon. Last night I asked the audience at Third Place Books how the quirkyalone experience differs for people in middle age; they responded, “It doesn’t! It’s the same!” Lots of laughter all around. Some of the women there shared that they were experiencing a second (or even first) adolescence in their fifites: that they feel like kids again, experiencing a time of independence, freedom, and fun that had been previously unavailable to them during childrearing years. I was pretty inspired by them and by Third Place Books, which is more than a bookstore. Picture an independent-run bookstore the size of Barnes and Noble with a (noncorporate) food court, a photo booth (!) and a space where a local community college holds clases. Tons of bustle all around. Very cool. I wish we had such a store in SF.

Growing Pains

Feb 06, 2004 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: Uncategorized

We’ve significantly expanded the QA online community to make the topical discussions (no relation to topical ointment) more accessible. Have fun exploring, and please let us know what you think in the Feedback forum.

Read (or Hear) All About It

Feb 05, 2004 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: Press

Hello all,
Lately it feels like all I

West Coast Tour

Jan 30, 2004 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: Uncategorized

I’ll be leaving for a short tour to Seattle, Portland, and LA next week and wanted to alert you to these readings and events. There’s a more unorthodox event in Seattle: a passionate discussion of the romantic comedy. Trust that I will be watching a lot of romantic comedies (Sleepless in Seattle???) to prepare. Hope to see you there.

Here is the list of upcoming West Coast events.
LAKE FOREST PARK, WA
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Third Place Books
6:30-7:30 PM
17171 Bothell Way, NE
Lake Forest Town Center

SEATTLE, WA
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Elliot Bay Bookstore
5:00 PM
101 South Mail Street

SEATTLE, WA
ALSO MONDAY FEBRUARY 9
University Bookstore
Film Rap: The Uncompromising Romantic Comedy
(A passionate dissection of Hollywood’s most beloved — yet creatively bereft?–genre, the romantic comedy.)
7:00 PM
4326 University Way, NE

PORTLAND, OR
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Barnes & Noble
7:30 PM
1720 N. Jantzen Beach

SANTA MONICA, CA
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Barnes & Noble
7:30 PM
3rd Street Promenade
1201 3rd Street

QA in the UK and Ireland

Jan 30, 2004 - Written by Sasha Cagen  |  Filed under: Uncategorized

If you live in Ireland and identify as QA, please contact Roberta Gray at rgray@tribune.ie. She’s a journalist with the Sunday Tribune and is keen to interview some Irish QAs. All British QAs should also know that a major cover story on the quirkyalone movement will be coming out in the London Guardian’s Observer magazine over the next two weeks. No exact time or place has yet been set for the London IQD gathering on Feb. 14–I think it is time for one of you to make an executive decision and send us the time and place, because after this article comes out, QA consciousness should be quite high. Another bit of UK-specific news–the book will be published on your side of the Atlantic in March; a little birdie told me that the article would include a phone number to order the book.