Category Archives: Important

General, Important

THE BEGUILING IS EXPANDING!

If you’ve been in the store lately, you’ve probably noticed some commotion. Were those strange noises your imagination? Were we *really* getting into Halloween this year? Or maybe we were just listening to weird music?? (we do that)
Your senses have not been misleading you– we’re thrilled to say that The Beguiling is growing!
Over the course of the next year we will be expanding our College St location from a space a little bit smaller than our old location to one several times larger–  same great taste, even more filling.
We’ll announce more concrete things as they approach, but our initial expansion should be open to the public very soon so stop on by and maybe you’ll get to see for yourself!
(art from Bringing Up Father by George McManus)
Important

Toronto Public Library seeking Comic/Graphic Artist In Residence – Apply by July 14th

The Toronto Public Library contacted us to let us know that they are seeking a Comic/Graphic Artist-In-Residence for their Young Voices program…! This sounds pretty exciting, and could be a great fit for a working comic artist. Details are in the attached PDF, and a text version is included under the cut below.

YV comic artist in residence 2017

Continue reading Toronto Public Library seeking Comic/Graphic Artist In Residence – Apply by July 14th →

Important

FCBD Update! Jay Baruchel & Kalman Andrasofszky signing @ P&P! Chip Zdarsky signed Spider-Man comics!

Hey there, we’ve got 2 big updates for FCBD!

First up, we’re happy to announce that actor/comedian/writer Jay Baruchel and writer/artist Kalman Andrasofszky will be signing at Page & Panel from 2pm-4pm! Jay and Kalman have the lead story in Chapterhouse’s Captain Canuck Free Comic Book Day issue! You may also know Jay Baruchel from his many film and television appearances, including Knocked Up, Tropic Thunder, and This is the End, among many others. So that’s pretty cool! Again, that’s just at P&P, not The Beguiling (this time around…).

Speaking of signed books, Chip Zdarsky, the writer of the all new Spectacular Spider-Man, came in to both shops and signed all of our copies of his story in the Marvel SECRET EMPIRE/SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN free comic book day title! Chip was nice enough to come sign all of our copies even though he’ll be outta town, whatta champ! Thanks, Chip!

We’ve also had some other awesome additions, with Jenn Woodall and Ally Rom Colthoff joining our signings. See you Friday! The full schedule and list of available books is here: https://www.beguilingbooksandart.com/sat-may-6-free-comic-book-day/

  • Chris @ The Beguiling

 

Events, Important

MAY 12: TCAF KICK-OFF! Celebrating 25 Years of Image Comics!

TCAF Kick-Off: Celebrate 25 Years of Image Comics!
Friday, May 12th, Doors at 6pm, Event from 6:30pm-8:00pm
at Toronto Reference Library, Bram & Bluma Appel Salon
Free tickets required! See ticket link below!

The Toronto Comic Arts Festival returns for it’s 9th year to Toronto Reference Library, with a star-studded kick-off event! Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of premiere U.S. comic book publisher Image Comics, the event will see an amazing panel discussion about the history, impact, and future of Image by some of their most famous cartoonists. Featuring Governeor General’s Award nominee Jeff Lemire (Secret Path, Royal City), Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), Sana Takeda (Monstress), Emma Rios (Island), Brandon Graham (Island, King City), Chip Zdarsky (Sex Criminals, Kaptara), and more to be announced, in a rollicking discussion of where Image Comics has come from and where it’s going in the future! A signing will follow.

Tickets are required to attend. Tickets will be made available for FREE on Eventbrite starting Monday, April 17th, at 11:00am. Ticket link: https://tcaf2017.eventbrite.com. Limit 2 per person.

 

Events, Important

MAY 12: SEE DAVE MCKEAN’S ‘BLACK DOG: THE DREAMS OF PAUL NASH’

TCAF and Seneca College present:

BLACK DOG: The Dreams of Paul Nash, by Dave McKean
Friday, May 12th, 2017, Doors at 8:30pm, Performance at 9:00pm
@ The Masonic Temple, 888 Yonge St
Tickets: $10. Purchase at tcafblackdog.eventbrite.com

TCAF, The Toronto Comic Arts Festival and Seneca College are proud to present the incredible live performance of BLACK DOG: The Dreams of Paul Nash, by Dave McKean, as part of TCAF 2017. This special multimedia presentation will be performed by McKean, alongside bassist Matthew Sharp and Violinist Clare Haythornthwaite.

Traveling to Canada after its performances in England after being commissioned by the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Black Dog – The Dreams of Paul Nash is a multimedia performance and new graphic novel by illustrator, comic artist, filmmaker and musician Dave McKean. Part of 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, McKean explores the work of Paul Nash, one of the most important British artists of the twentieth century, whose First World War experiences inspired him to create paintings of disturbing, lasting power.

Doors will open at 8:30pm, with the performance scheduled to begin at 9:00pm. A short Q&A will follow, but there will be no signing at this event. Autograph opportunties will take place at the main Festival on Saturday May 13 and Sunday May 14, see TorontoComics.com for details.

‘I’d like to explore Paul Nash’s role in the birth of modernism and surrealism, and how those movements were actually witnessed by Nash in the dream-/nightmare-like battlefields of the war. He used the landscape that he loved to try to deal with what he’d been through, and to try and find calm and solace beyond.’ Dave McKean

This performance is presented by Seneca College, and by LICAF: The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, with special thanks to Dark Horse Comics.

This presentation is part of The Toronto Comic Arts Festival, a citywide celebration of comics, graphic novels, and their authors. For more information and full festival programme, visit torontocomics.com.

Important

Uniqlo X The Beguiling in #UniqloMeetsToronto

The Beguiling is proud to team with international fashion retailer Uniqlo to present a unique selection of comics, graphic novels, and merchandise, featuring Toronto creators and works set in and around our fair city at their Toronto Flagship location at The Eaton Centre.

The display and sale is part of Uniqlo’s #UniqloMeetsToronto spotlight on local retailers, and The Beguiling is featured alongside fellow indie retailers Soundscapes, Gravity Pope, and BYOB.

The display will continue through May, and a selection of graphic novels will be rotated through the space during that time. Of course, you’re always welcome to visit us at 319 College Street to see all the greatest graphic novels that Toronto has to offer. 🙂

Our thanks to Uniqlo for setting up this unique retail ‘pop-in.’

General, Important

THE LAST TWO DAYS OF 601 MARKHAM ST: JAN 23 & 24

FINAL DAYS OF 601 MARKHAM ST.
Monday January 23rd and Tuesday January 24th are your final chances to visit & shop at 601 Markham St.

Moving a store, especially a book store that’s existed at the same location for nearly 25 years, is not a small or easy task, and until now we’ve been a little bit unsure as to when the actual final-day would be at our historic 601 Markham Street location. Well we’ve done the math, seen the progress we’ve made moving, and figured out everyone’s schedules, and we’ve got the date.

If you ever wanted to visit and shop at our historic 601 Markham Street Location, the final two days of 601 Markham Street for shopping will be Monday, January 23rd and Tuesday, January 24th. We will be open 11am to 7pm each day. 

The store will have one final event in it on Saturday the 28th (details below), but it is highly unlikely that there will be any comics or books still available for purchase in the space.

FINAL CLEARANCE SALE: 75% OFF!

The discount for our final clearance sale has been increased to 75% off the regular sale price! Sale runs until end-of-business on Tuesday, January 24th.

Hundreds more books have been brought out of storage and been put on sale for as low as $1 each! The rest are 75% off regular price!

 

CLEARANCE SALE RULES:

  • All listed sale prices are for 601 Markham Street ONLY. 
  • Bring your own bags! Save the environment!
  • We reserve the right to refuse sale of any item to any customer for any reason.  We probably won’t do this, but this is a straightforward disclaimer in case there’s any dispute about what is or isn’t on sale.
  • Sales cannot be combined with other specials or sales.
  • “Regular Price” is determined as ‘Whatever the book would sell for not on Boxing Day, whether that’s Converted Canadian Cover price, Canadian Cover Price, or Sticker Price.

We are entertaining all sorts of wholesale offers! That means you could show up one day and all of the Marvel trades, or all of the back issues, or who knows what could just be GONE, sold to another comics dealer! Come early, come often!

The Beguiling’s new location at
319 College Street now up and running!

We’re settling into our great new location at 319 College Street and adding more product every day. While it’s not having a clearance sale, it IS getting new comics and trade paperbacks every Wednesday, and some of the great unique and rare items we’re digging out of the warehouse are making an appearance on store shelves there too! Why not come visit us? The Beguiling at 319 College Street is only a 10 minute walk from the old store, and can easily be reached by either the College or Spadina streetcar lines! Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 11am to 7pm, 11am until 9pm on Wednesday and Friday, and 12pm-6pm on Sunday.

Thanks for 30 years of support (1987-2017!)
Here’s to 30 more!

Important

601 Markham Street Opening Hours Reminder

Hey there, just a quick update and clarification around our stores’ hours.

The Beguiling at 319 College will keep the same store hours as the previous location, meaning they will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 11am to 7pm, Wednesday and Friday from 11am-9pm, and Sundays from 12noon to 6pm.

The old location at 601 Markham Street is now closed Mondays and Tuesdays, open 11am-7pm Wednesday through Saturday, and 12noon to 6pm on Sundays, until January 28th. Clearance sales on now (details elsewhere on this site).

Little Island Comics is now closed to the public. Some of it’s inventory will move to 601 Markham Street as part of the Clearance Sale, while a great selection of it will be made available at Page & Panel: The TCAF Shop, in the coming weeks.

Thanks,

  • Chris @ The Beguiling
Important

NEW COMICS & COMICS PULLFILES AT 319 COLLEGE STARTING JAN 4TH

Hey everyone! The New Year is upon us and changes are afoot! It’s a good time to remind you as of this Wednesday, January 4th 2017, all new comics, graphic novels, and book product will begin to arrive at and be made available for sale at our new store on 319 College Street. Our store at 601 Markham will be open until January 28th, but will not be receiving any new product, and will just be used for some AMAZING clearance specials (details TBA).

The Beguiling at 319 College Street is only a 10 minute walk from the old store, and can easily be reached by either the College or Spadina streetcar lines! We hope to see you there every new comic book day, starting Wednesday January 4th.

Pullfile Customers:

We know that some of our customers, especially pull file customers, depend on the subway to get their comics.  In order to keep pullfile subscriptions as accessible as possible we’re offering pullfile pick up at Page & Panel: The TCAF Shop.  Page & Panel is located on the ground floor of the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, just a block North of Bloor Street and the Bloor/Yonge TTC.

If you are a pullfile customer and you want to move your pullfile to Page & Panel, just email chris@beguiling.ca with “Pull File Pickup at Page & Panel” in the subject line and we’ll make sure your new comics get there.  Please do so by Monday, January 2nd. Otherwise, your pullfile will be available at our 319 College Street location starting on the 4th.

If you’ve already let us know where you’d rather pick up your file, thanks! No further action is necessary on your part.

Thanks to everyone, and we hope to see you soon at any one of our locations!

Sincerely,

The staff of The Beguiling

General, Important, Page & Panel

Holiday Hours and Store Opening info for The Beguiling, Little Island, and Page & Panel

Guess what? There are currently four stores now open to serve your comics-buying needs this holiday season, and into early 2017!

TL;DR Version: The Beguiling @ 601 Markham Street will remain open under regular operations until December 31st. Starting January 3rd, operations will move to the new location (now open!) at 319 College Street. Little Island’s last day is December 30th. From January 3rd to 28th, 601 Markham Street and 742 Bathurst Street will be used to liquidate older stock (details forthcoming).

This past weekend we did a ‘soft’ open for our new shop location at 319 College Street to get the ball rolling on our big move next month. It was a success and a good handful of friends and well-wishers came out to welcome us to Kensington Market, which is super nice! We’re slowly stocking, curating, and arranging the shop to make it a great place to visit. Oh, and it’s an accessible space as well, which is great. 🙂

BUT! The ‘official’ opening isn’t until January 3rd, and the majority of the stock (including new comics) still lives at 601 Markham Street, and it will until that date. Afterwards all regular operations, including pullfiles, will move to The Beguiling’s new location at 319 College Street (and Page & Panel, for those that requested it). The 601 Markham Street Location will be used to liquidate older stock from January 3rd to January 28th.

As for Little Island Comics, we’re very sad to say that it’s last day of regular operations will be Friday, December 30th. At that point much of the kid-focused stock will move to Page & Panel: The TCAF Shop, 789 Yonge Street, which will hopefully become a great new home for kids comics in the city of Toronto. We can’t really say enough about how important Little Island was, and how much it exemplified our overall mission statement to broaden the audience for comics. We hope that the generation of young readers we served there will continue to love and cherish this medium, and we’ll try to keep serving them at all future locations of the shop.

Finally, we’re happy to announce that Page & Panel: The TCAF Shop (which is actually a completely separate shop, run by TCAF) is doing well and will be open for years to come. If you haven’t been in a while (or haven’t been at all), Page & Panel is a great space filled with a unique array of comics and book items, apparel, merchandise, and more. It’s not quite like anything in the city, we recommend checking it out.

Alright! Now that you’re up to date about what’s going on at all three stores in general, here are the Holiday Hours through the first week of January…

Holiday Hours:

Until and including December 22nd: All stores operate on regular hours.
Fri Dec 23: 11am-9pm for 601, LI, and 319. 10am-8:30pm for P&P
Sat Dec 24: 11am-3pm for all stores.
Sun Dec 25: All Stores Closed
Mon Dec 26: Boxing Day! 10am-6pm for 601, LI, and P&P. 11am-5pm for 319
Tue Dec 27: Regular Hours All Stores
Wed Dec 28: Regular Hours All Stores
Thu Dec 29: Regular Hours All Stores
Fri Dec 30: Regular Hours All Stores. Little Island Last Day!
Sat Dec 31: 11am-6pm for 601. 10am-3pm P&P. LI & 319 are Closed.
Sun Jan 1: All Stores Closed
Mon Jan 2: All Stores Closed
Tues Jan 3: The Beguiling @ 319 College Street Grand Opening, 11am-7pm. P&P regular hours. Other store hours TBD.