Book sale!

So nobody got you that book you wanted for the holidays. That happens to me all the time (though one thoughtful friend was kind enough to get me a book about SEC football!). Of course, shopping for a book editor is tricky; without a working knowledge of my library it's a crapshoot at best.

So perhaps we should all go to Books & Books in Coral Gables on New Year's Day. From 11 a.m.-6 p.m. the store is offering its entire inventory at 20 percent off (excluding special orders and books on hold). Free parking and free-flowing champagne make this the perfect shopping experience. Just remember the Gators play at 1, so set your TiVo for that bowl game before you leave.

Books & Books, island style

In keeping with our recent tropical book theme, I'm happy to report that Friday marks the grand opening of the Books & Books Cayman Islands store, with all sorts of bookish festivities planned that you can read about here. What I'm NOT happy to report is that my bosses don't seem to think I need to be there to help Mitchell Kaplan and Co. celebrate this occasion. They seem to want me to work because everyone else at The Miami Herald is scrambling over some little art show or something.

There  is also perhaps some concern over whether I would actually spend time at the store covering the event or whether I would track down this beach and fall immediately asleep under one of those palm trees, which I have to admit is a legitimate fear.There could even be rum involved. Still, I wish I could be there to see the new store and wish everybody well.

There's also the problem that this is the end of the budget year and so instead of taking a plane I'd probably have to kayak over to the Caymans, which could be problematic in any number of ways. So I will raise my tropical punch in a salute to B&B and hope I get down there one of these days...