Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/310878
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN LUKE continued from page 122 accented with antique furniture and ornate rugs. Altogether, the décor summons a liv- ing-room-plus-library vibe, and the town has Thalberg to thank for this. Billingsley adds, "We want to ex press a real sense of gratitude to Katherine and her dedication to the idea of having an independent bookstore in this community." Thalberg also started Aspen's first strictly vegan restaurant in the attic: Explore Bistro, which today has evolved into Pyramid Bistro, a renowned nutritarian restaurant owned by Martin Oswald. In 2007 Sam and Cheryl Wyly bought the store, satisfying writers and readers alike who were worried the town would lose its indie darling. Further solidifying the con- nection between local writers and Explore, Sam Wyly is a successful author himself, with three books published on varied topics, including Texas Got It Right!, a sociological study of Texan policies, history, and culture. When asked what makes Explore different, Billingsley—with a long gray ponytail and a quick smile—quips, "Physical books! A great collection and a staff that will talk to customers and find out exactly what they'd like to read." He enthusiastically gives an example: The other day, a child was looking for a $3 book, and every employee conducted a full-on search. "We're a very supportive community," he adds, "grateful to authors and publishers. We know how difficult it is to be an author." This support extends beyond the vintage walls. Edwards explains how Explore backs writers: "We carry self-published authors, offer sales on con- signment, and work with local writers to organize events." He also mentions the close community of scribes who own houses in Aspen, such as James Salter, and proudly details Explore's strong partnership with the Aspen Writers' Foundation, The Aspen Institute, local book clubs, and events geared toward children's literacy. What about uncommon books? I assume the answer will be related to extreme winter sports or Aspen's reputation as a countercultural mecca. (Ski the 14ers catches my eye immediately as does the wealth of books in the Body, Mind, Spirit section.) However, Billingsley's answer surprises me. "Right now," he says, "we have a $600 book on motor cycle photography." I crank the handlebars back to my own bookstore tribulations. "Any interesting visitors?" I inquire, recalling an old Boston favorite who would warn of the apocalypse daily. "We do have authors pop by unannounced," Edwards divulges. "Ann Patchett recently stopped in to visit." Both booksellers speak confidently of the resurgence of "real books," as opposed to the preprogrammed alternative, and foresee Explore continu- ing to solidify "its own place" in this new publishing landscape. Edwards fills me in on the Kobo, the sleek, no-frills e-reader Explore democratically offers, and adds that while browsing in the bookstore, "you'll find an aspect of the unexpected" that simply isn't accessible on amazon.com. Billingsley agrees, citing the importance of supporting local businesses from Ute Mountaineer to Explore. On my way out, Billingsley winks and pulls on one of the bookshelves, magically revealing a secret compartment. "I think we're the secret," he says, closing the space normally kept hidden. And the key to the secret? To explore. 221 E. Main St., 970-925-5336; explorebooksellers.com AP Explore has a living-room-plus-library vibe (BELOW) overseen by chief bookseller Mark Billingsley (ABOVE). "Explore! Walk around. We encourage people to sit and read." MARK BILLINGSLEY 124 ASPENPEAK-MAGAZINE.COM SECRET CITY 122-124_AP_SS_SecretCity_SUM_FALL_14.indd 124 5/6/14 3:50 PM