March 26, 2009
In Spring, a Small-Town South Fork
excerpts from an article by SUZANNE MACNEILLE
In spring, you can explore East Hampton, Amagansett, and Sag Harbor while they are still their small-town selves. The sheer number of galleries — along with their impassioned owners and a steady stream of local visitors — suggests that art is still an integral part of life in the area where Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner, among others, once lived and worked.
On Main Street, Canio’s Books is nearly as active in the off season as in summer. The store, with its creaky wooden floors (the building dates to the late 18th century), is a magnet for Sag Harbor’s literary and artistic community; besides the used and new books crammed onto the shelves, the store regularly displays paintings and photographs by local artists.
photos by Gordon M. Grant for NY Times
Welcome to Canio’s!
A Literary Harbor for the Arts, since 1980
290 Main Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963. (631) 725-4926. info@caniosbooks.com
Established in 1980 by Canio Pavone, the bookshop features new, used and collectible books and is well known as a literary gathering place. An entire wall devoted to poetry comprises one of the largest collections on Long Island. Specialties include literary fiction and non-fiction, art, and photography. Shelves are bursting with a fine selection of children´s books, nature titles, food books, spirituality, literary biography and memoir, and environmental interest. Since October 1999, Maryann Calendrille and Kathryn Szoka have continued Canio´s tradition of hosting a wide range of authors, and featuring exceptional local artwork.
Visit the shop to discover why customers call Canio´s “a real bookshop.” Shelves are crammed with books worth reading; our knowledgeable staff is eager to make recommendations. Events on Saturdays at 6 p.m. The art gallery features changing exhibits and receptions in summer. Writing workshops in fiction, essay, memoir, poetry and photography are offered. Expert picture framing services and editorial consultation also available.
***Celebrate Sag Harbor! “Sag Harbor Is…a Literary Celebration” edited by Maryann Calendrille with Kathryn Szoka´s photographs. Makes a great gift.***
I haven’t had the chance to visit your great bookstore in years–I haven’t been out to Sag harbor in years–but I’m so glad to see that you’re still going strong. You guys are super and I look forward to seeing Canio’s in person again soon (now that I’m back in NYC).
It’s a heroic feat to keep an indie bookstore going these days and I hope to support you in that soon.
Best,
Steven