It can be hard to find fun things to do or places to spend time without checking your wallet in anxiety. Luckily, Bookish at 811 W Roseburg Ave here in Modesto has plenty of calm, casual, and consistently free events for the public to come and enjoy. This local bookshop has a vibrant and welcoming environment inside that you will surely find comfort in. They have an appealing plethora of books and a new coffee cart serving espresso drinks.
Bookish has a monthly chess club every 3rd Wednesday that I enjoy and bring my brothers and friends with me. All ages and all levels of experience are welcomed with an encouraging smile to their chess club, and if you ever get lost on the board, there will most likely be someone there willing to guide you. As someone who is passionate about chess, it’s great that there is an accessible club to engage in, and make friends with similar interests, nurturing a passion in chess. If you have ever been curious about chess I encourage you to give it a go and to not be intimidated by it. The pieces are easy to learn and the rules are simple. It can be a wonderful hobby to pick up or a new thing to try if you haven’t already or haven’t tried in a long time.
Bookish also has other events such as craft and painting nights, poetry readings, and open mics which I have attended on multiple occasions. Experience the shining beauty of live poetry and even get out there yourself if you have something to share, or stay back to watch others, both young and old who have evocative stories to tell and raw emotions to show us. It is always good to open your heart to the voices around us, as everyone deserves a chance at being seen/heard and you never know when your eyes will unexpectedly well with tears and your breathing will stall with newfound profound emotion. There are some truly tremendous artists out there that you can find simply sitting right beside you. For a cozy fall evening, visit Bookish for a hot chocolate, a few hours of chess or poetry, browse for a new book, and go home with plenty of inspiration! Follow your local independent bookshop on Instagram @bookish_modesto for event times and schedules. You never know when your life will be changed by something as simple as walking into a bookstore on a whim, so please, get out there and thank you for reading.
