Canio’s Books is a place where the literary minded of Sag Harbor have long gathered. When Canio Pavone opened shop in 1980, novelist Nelson Algren, who lived down the block, popped in and asked if he could give the inaugural reading. The unassuming little store at 290 Main Street has been drawing crowds ever since — poets, playwrights, novelists and screenwriters — all have come to share their words and ideas.
A decade ago, Kathryn Szoka and Maryann Calendrille took over the shop from Pavone. They kept things as they always had been, and added a gallery area to feature work by local artists. Though the energy and exchange of ideas at Canio’s has continued, the business of bookselling has been altered dramatically in recent years. The advent of the Internet and the changing nature of American reading habits has given those involved in the publishing and selling of the written word reason to reevaluate their place in the world.
“Printed material industries are changing,” acknowledges Szoka. “We’re looking back to what has happened and looking forward to what’s next.”
What’s next for the little shop on Main Street is Canio’s Cultural Café, a non-profit organization founded by Szoka and Calendrille with a mission to support the community’s interest in the cultural arts.
“The landscape has changed and this offers an opportunity to expand our programming,” says Szoka.
But don’t expect to find Canio’s bookshelves replaced by an espresso machine and little round tables anytime soon — this café is more a place of mind than body.
“It’s figurative,” says Szoka. “We’re serving good ideas.”
After spending more than a year filling out paperwork required by the state to become a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Canio’s Cultural Café kicks off next Friday, November 27, at the bookshop. The event is also a celebration of Szoka and Calendrille’s 10th anniversary as owners of Canio’s and on view will be photos taken at readings and other events during the last decade.
“The gratifying aspect of running the shop has been having readings and learning something from presenters,” says Szoka. “But we’re crammed into an hour’s space of time, and we have ideas on alternative programming that goes beyond that.”
Szoka and Calendrille plan to begin cultural café programming in 2010, and the non-profit status means they are eligible to apply for grants for programming and can accept tax deductible contributions. Initially, the cultural café will focus on what Szoka and Calendrille already do with the readings. But instead of having just under an hour on a Friday or Saturday night to share a conversation with an author or expert, the two envision an opportunity to offer deeper exploration of a topic — be it based in art, literature or what’s happening in the world beyond Sag Harbor’s borders.
“The current reading series will be part and parcel of the café — everything we do of that nature will be considered the café’s undertaking,” explains Szoka.
“We’ve attracted an audience of pretty serious and curious readers and have found the format of the 45-minute presentation often leaves you hamstrung, with more questions in mind,” adds Calendrille. “We have knowledgeable and experienced presenters and would like to offer them a broader platform.”
Initially, café events will take place at Canio’s, but regulars know space is tight, even for readings which often spill out onto the sidewalk. With plans to eventually offer writing and art workshops, film discussions, video screenings and perhaps even music, Szoka and Calendrille are looking for other local venues with whom they might partner, depending on the topic.
“It’ll be a movable feast,” says Szoka.
Szoka and Calendrille recently traveled to Emily Dickinson’s homestead in Amherst, Massachussets, where they attended a marathon reading of her poetry. The museum is an active literary center, and Szoka and Calendrille were impressed by the depth of literary events, including tours and readings, based on the life of Dickinson as well as that of poet Robert Frost who taught at Amherst College for 40 years. They feel that something similar could be offered here, through the cultural café, based on John Steinbeck’s legacy as a Sag Harbor resident in his final years — an in-depth seminar on Steinbeck, for example.
“We have HarborFest and that celebrates Sag Harbor, but to really celebrate the literary legacy of Sag Harbor, so much more can be done,” says Szoka. “The charter of the organization is cultural education — that’s broad, intentionally, so we can move into what the community wants, be it literary, visual arts or current events.”
“We’re thinking of looking at some aspect of literature over the span of a series,” says Calendrille by way of example. “Three events on environmental literature, writing about nature by having a couple writers come to speak, combined with presentations and a workshop. It might appeal to writers or people interested in environmental issues.”
“We’d also like to offer ‘Cross Talk,’ a seminar where two or three writers talk on different topics,” says Szoka. “For example, writing today versus the 20th century.”
From a winter morning book chat and coffee klatch (bring your own coffee, please, remember, this café is virtual) to writing and journaling workshops for students and visual arts offerings, including a contemporary photography workshop with Szoka, a professional photographer, the sky’s the limit. Szoka notes that other offerings could include those that touch on different cultural elements — Irish storytelling, for example, or writings by minority voices.
“We also have ideas from the community,” says Calendrille. “Writing of some spiritual nature, and certainly memoir for people looking deeply within. The idea is not to make it sound too academic or formal, it’s still an opportunity for give and take.”
“I think there’s a desire and need for it,” says Szoka.
Canio’s Cultural Café kick-off and the 10th anniversary celebration is from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, November 27. Suggested donation is $25. Canio’s Books is at 290 Main Street, Sag Harbor. Call 725-4926 for details.
Top: Kathryn Szoka and MaryAnn Callendrille in front of Canio’s Books (Bernard Gotfryd photo)
