GIOVANNI'S ROOM

Nice to see some main stay and things of the past continue on. While in Philly this weekend, I can never pass on a chance and never will miss a trip into Giovanni's Room. Founded in 1973, the bookshop is named of course after James Baldwin's gay novel of the same name. During it's initial establishment, the shop included works of all gay and lesbian authors, and works by James Baldwin, Gertrude Stein and Wila Cather and many others...and still does, but is has now more than 30,00 titles dedicated towards not only gay men and women, but also feminist, transgender and bisexual topics, biographies, nonfiction tell all's, safe sex books and a section of "artistic" skin books and magazines for men and women and even a decent music selection of cd's and vinyl's. There's even a 99 cent section!!! For years now its been on the Historical and Museum Commission registersry as a historic location when the bookshop, was the first LGBT bookstore in the country,  and now the final one still operating.  The place has always been a mainstay, and haven for the community to come, hang, gather with others and search out help , services and reading interests just for us.  When the last owner, Ed retired after 48 years, the community worried, I recall posting way back then with worry what would happen to the place... but thankfully the Philly Aids Thrift took over. And it is glorious to see how well the place is doing. I love taking people there...just ask Sixpence! The girl I talked to said they are busier than ever, and she has seen a huge uptick in people wanting their money to stay IN THE COMMUNITY and not to big box and online presence. I couldn't agree more. I only get books through them, and if they don't have it, they can get it. The place was jumping on Saturday.

I have always loved this chandelier.

Good times! I have spent hours in there at a time back in the day. Had great conversations, bought to many books to recount, possibly some of my skin mags, got some great art, and cards learned, great source of information and community events, not to mention maybe even got cruised and taken back to some gent's abode on a couple of occasions!!! It's all part of the experience after all. But again, great to see the place was packed on both floors.

PAT at Giovanni's Room

345 S 12th and Pine Streets

SEEN IN PHILLY

 

Two weeks ago, I was tickled beyond belief to be able to attend the Philadelphia Gay Pride after a two-year absence. I was meeting friends down in the city and other were coming from Harrisburg. Worked out rather nice as I got me a very nice room at the Alexander Inn right in the gayborhood. Hey... I got needs... which the bartend from Honduras filled very nicely indeed. I was so overjoyed to be at a Pride again, and this was one of the first times since the pandemic to be back down in center city Philly.I felt like a caged bird freed. I too was also very surprised by the number of places, especially the bars and clubs that required your vaccination card or your scan code on your phone...or no admittance. I was with the clan most of the time, but I also had my own time, as I often like to disappear to take pictures or get in trouble. Two Prides down, one more to go, next up is New York City. Here were some of the sights from the Philly Pride two weeks ago.

A lovely reading nook at the Alexander.

The console table on my floor outside the elevator.

Need head?

Getting the day started! This hunk.

Who says unicorns don't exist?

When in Philly it would be a crime against the community if you didn't stop and patronize the oldest LGBTQ bookshop! It may just be one of the last in the county. I stocked up and got four books. They also have some very cool street art along the building.

A very cool bar called the Writer's Nook. All book and author inspired. With tons of books to read inside too. I understand they do lots of readings by authors too. Great atmosphere.

Even the It's Always Sunny cast was at Pride. Sweet Mary Mother of Pearl is  Rob McElhenney, AKA Mac ever looking very tasty! I love that show and one of the few I watch.

Of course after my , huh, late clandestine in the room on Friday night, I was a bit peckish. So at 2:30am I headed over to Wishbone, some of the best fried chicken you'll ever eat, to get some nosh. I ended up getting a three piece with honey baked biscuit. The city was still jumping and the streets packed. But this queen was my vision upon entering Wishbone....

Yassssss kitty girl, WERK, WERK !!!!!! 

And that right there is why I miss living in a city atmosphere. 

I mean, to have a wonderful happy hour with friends, bar hop, then a Brazilin dinner, jumping and pumping with a hottie from Honduras in the room, and getting friend chicken at that hour?!?!? And yes I did go back to the room and eat it. Nothing stands between me and my nosh.

GIOVANNI'S ROOM

With down town swelling already with hustle and bustle with out of towners in for gay Pride, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my favorite place to hang out and get my literature. If your in from out of town, one must stop by Giovanni's Room. Friends will tell you, I am by no means a big box, or on line shopper, and like to support local shops first.  Giovanni's Room is located on the corner of 12th and Pine Street in Philadelphia's gayborhood. The main building was built in 1820.  The longest owner Ed Hermance who retired, scared everyone here as to what may happen to it when he announced a couple years back he was retiring, but the Philly Aids Thrift bought it thankfully.

 The history of the place started with Tom Weinberg, Dan Sherbo and Bern Boylethe who opened Giovanni's Room in 1973 on South Street. The store was closed shortly afterward due to a homophobic landlord. Ed  Hermance and Arleen Oshan then stepped in and paid $500 for the business in 1976. The store then moved to 12th and Pine,  but was again eventually forced by the landlord to close. It was able to gather support from the gay and lesbian community and eventually reopened and stayed opened.  The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission unveiled a marker on October 15, 2011, to commemorate the location of Giovanni’s Room, as it is the country's first, and oldest LGBT bookstore. 

This gave me a chuckle

Owner Ed Hermance closed the doors on the historic bookstore back in 2015 due to the financial burden. Hermance  said he had lost between $10,000-$15,000 in order to keep the bookstore open, competeing with online and big book sellers. Giovanni's Room, named after James Baldwin's novel, served as a refuge and cultural center at the onset of the modern lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights movement, and gave us a safe place to read and view LGBTmaterial and a place to relax in peace. The store provided resources to those working to gain legal rights for LGBT people, and sells everything from records and cd, coffee table books, fiction, non fiction, cards and gifts, mostly all by LGBT artist and authors.  Philly AIDS Thrift bought it from a retiring Ed  and is entering its fourth year, and contributes $20,000 a month to the AIDS Fund.  They have done a great job bussiness wise, and always said they wanted to preserve the historic role of Giovanni's Room as the nation's oldest LGBT bookstore, and they agreed with Ed to maintain $15,000 in new inventory, at all times, of the most important back-stock books and new LGBT titles as they are released.

Some of my last purhases....

Less has been a very entertain g read thus far...

A safe space in the city for over 40 plus years! It's awesome Philly Aids Thrift is preserving and continuing to grow a valuable site for the LGBT community. An institution really. I still get lost in there every time I down in the city. Plus one can still run into some hot literary nerds. I like hot literary nerds. I and one got into a conversation over a book, which lead to other conversations, and after an hour and half, we went to futher talk over drinks, which then lead to sex in his apartment where to date, I think I had one of the best ever blow jobs of my life. But you don't what to hear that story.

GIOVANNI'S ROOM, END OF A ERA

The owner of the nation's oldest gay bookstore appears to be writing his final chapter, confirming this past Monday that he plans to close the financially troubled shop this month. It's a thought I have been fearing for some time. Giovanni's Room, founded in 1971, has been losing money "for a long time" due in part to competition from online discount booksellers, and big box booksellers said owner Ed Hermance.

Giovanni's Room is named for the 1956 James Baldwin novel about a young man in postwar Paris struggling with his sexual identity. It's believed to be the nation's oldest independent bookstore specializing in titles written by and for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. New York's Oscar Wilde bookstore had previously held the title until it closed in 2009.

Giovanni's Room had two locations in Philadelphia before moving to its current site in the city's affectionately named Gayborhood section. Ed and his business partner borrowed money to buy a two-story brick row house there in 1979.  Seven years later, they bought the row house next door and expanded the shop. Volunteers put in countless hours over the years to help out.

When I first heard the news, I wasn't shocked, but extremely sad, as I have such fond memories of the place. It was the first place I'd go to get literature when I visited Philly in the early 90's, about the gay lifestyle, and being gay, when I came out. Even thought I was always comfortable with being gay, the books helped. It was also a safe haven tucked in the gayborhood, with mostly gay shoppers, so no fear in perusing the books and magazines. One could hear readings by prominent LGBT authors including Armistead Maupin and Rita Mae Brown. During the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, Ed said, the shop was the first place some people came after being diagnosed — to find information and for emotional support. Giovanni's Room  had a great selection of music, coffee table books, your usual gay " flags and bumper stickers and fare", hard to find titles, gift selection, and a huge selection of every gay periodical known. The place was cool inside too. Two floors to travel, a swanky artistic chandlier on the second floor made by a local artisan, and the people working and shopping were always so friendly. Skip Strickler, the store's only full-time employee, has worked there for 35 years. He said he's anticipated the closing for a while now, and described it as a dignified exit. I would stop almost every time when in center city to get my periodicals and grab more books. Some I haven't even read yet!!!! They also had a great card selection. And one could always expect to see Ed and Skip there. So yesterday the Lad and I stopped in to say our good byes, it is like loosing a good friend.

Ed Hermanice

 To me the shop has been a wonderful gift to the LGBT community and I admired Ed's  perseverance to holding on for so long. A great and safe place for young gaylings to reach out, and find literature and solence. I sometimes feel sorry for the newer generation as I'm not sure they will ever experience this feeling.

Giovanni's Room is slated to close by mid May.

Thanks for the warm and fond memories Ed, and staff of Giovanni's Room.