HALLOWEEN EVENTS: WITCHES WALK SATURDAY AT 2PM
PLUS, join us on Oct 31st for our annual Pumpkin Carving Contest, Witches Walk Trick-or-Treating & Costume Contest, and a spooky fun Poetry Reading.
Events start at 2PM on October 31st. All ages welcome!
Too old to Trick or Treat? Volunteer! Calling all teens. Get your costumes ready and join us. You can email us if you're interested.
Also, it's the LAST CALL for the Kids' Poetry Contest! Submit your poem NOW to take part in our Kids' Poetry Contest. (Drop off your poem or email it to info@riverbookshop.com, or respond to this email by Thursday night.)
CHANGE OF SEASON SUNDAY STORY TIME
November arrives this Sunday, which means with the changing of the month we will also soon celebrate the changing of the seasons.
Come join Darrie-Ann at 11AM on Sunday, November 1st, for some seasonal and nature-themed stories in the Children's Nook at Story Time.
WHAT MAKES AMHERSTBURG GREAT: “BOIS BLANC” - BOBLO
(Full disclosure: I live on Boblo and love it.)
Boblo is a 272-acre island located where the Detroit River meets Lake Erie. Indigenous peoples inhabited Boblo for centuries before French missionaries discovered the island in the early 17th
Century. They called it Bois Blanc (“White Woods”) because of the abundant Birch trees on the island. Rumours have it that American owners changed the name to Boblo because they had trouble pronouncing “Bois Blanc.” (True? 
)
WHAT MAKES AMHERSTBURG GREAT: CONTINUED
Early buildings included a Light House in 1836 and a Block House in 1839. Both are still standing. One of North America’s most popular amusement parks opened in 1889 and annually
entertained hundreds of thousands of guests and employed hundreds of Amherstburg residents until 1993.
Today, it is an island of hundreds of residents and the bones of its past. Five amusement park buildings still stand but are decaying, because restoration is not financially viable at this time, and for some of the buildings it never will be.
Many think that the The Dance Hall is the most viable for restoration. It’s a massive stone and steel building that would cost millions to restore. And in today’s entertainment landscape, it
would still not be commercially viable.
The Theatre is a crumbling mess. In real estate boom times it could be an interesting condo, but likely an expensive long shot.
Two washrooms could be interesting. Attractive and sturdy, they could make beautiful heritage
houses.
WHAT MAKES AMHERSTUBURG GREAT: COMING SOON
And my favourite building is the Power Station—often mistaken for a small church due to its architecture. This power station opened in 1889 and provided all the electricity to run the island's rides and attractions. It would take some investment but could become a place for special events like small weddings, arts show, and the like.
So because of its history, because of its location, and because of its future potential, it is definitely another example of What Makes Amherstburg Great.
Next week: Amherstburg used to be a coffee desert. Not now! 
RIVER BOOKSHOP'S OWN POET LAUREATE: MARTY GERVAIS
On Saturday, October 20th, the team at River Bookshop surprised Marty Gervais with a party to name Marty Gervais our honourary River Bookshop Poet Laureate.
Poets, writers, artists, friends, and family joined us upstairs at the Hole in the Wall to sip wine and celebrate the arts in Amherstburg.
Gervais's photography can be found in Amherstburg: Picture a River Town, shown below. Available for sale at River Bookshop!
On Monday night, River Bookshop was OPEN LATE for a Midnight Release Party! A Court of Splintered Harmony(ACOTAR #6) dropped Tuesday, October 27th, and we were ready to slice open the box of books at the stroke of midnight. Thanks to all who joined us.
So much to see and do in Amherstburg!
We hope to see you downtown this weekend.
The River Bookshop Team