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Audreys Books store manager Kelly Dyer
Restaurant to smash back a BLT, fries and diner coffee. If you
haven’t been to the Commodore before, well, that’s on you at
this point. I remember my grandfather — who never read a
book in his life, but sure appreciated a good meal — absolutely
demolishing a plate of their liver and onions (still on the
menu), and finally, after all these years, I appreciate the
aesthetic beauty of that weird memory. With that, I pay the
ridiculously low bill (in cash) and walk next door.
I like Audreys. It’s been a part of my life since I refused to
buy textbooks from the U of A and instead spent that budget
on Thomas King books. When I walk in, one of the staff says,
“Hey! You wrote Prairie Edge,” and that makes me feel great
because I’ve been publicly recognized as a writer now a total of
once. I chat with the staff about some of the more recognizable
authors that call Edmonton home — Jordan Abel, Jessica Johns,
Emily Riddle, Nisha Patel, Richard Van Camp, the above-men-
tioned Benjamin Hertwig… just a few of the names that you’ll
find on the shelves of its local authors section.
Audreys also has an incredible selection of children’s and
young adult books downstairs. My brother is having a kid,
so I buy This Land is a Lullaby by Tonya Simpson with illus-
trations by Delreé Dumont and a Cree translation by Dorothy
Thunder. It is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful books
ever written. I’m probably going to keep it for myself, but I’ll
get another copy for my brother’s kid.
I roll back to the south side of the river and park at the
Colombian on 99th Street in the old Todd Cleaners building.
Like all the best bookshops, their baristas are more than happy
to guide you through your caffeine journey (imagine if they
actually called it that?). For me, that is another Americano. I really
like the beans at the Colombian, which they roast themselves,
and they’ve done a great job with the ambiance, creating
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