About WWB:
The Books
In November 2017, Doug Guevara and David Chancey launched W.Whitman Books in the village of Middleburgh, Schoharie County NY, offering an eclectic collection of used, new and rare fiction, and non-fiction books in all subject areas.
People often ask: why the name W.Whitman Books? The answer is simple: partly to honor the legacy of poet Walt Whitman, a major poet of the 19th Century who broke all existing poetic structural norms to create a new, vibrant poetry celebrating humanity in all its beauty and expression.
The other part was to build on the bookstore model by presenting a wide variety of music, art and written/poetry events and serve as a cultural locus for Middleburgh and the greater outside region.
Since David’s untimely passing in 2019, Doug has continued to carry the dream forward.
The Music
Middleburgh is home to a number of music artists, including Reggie Harris, Bethany Yarrow, and music producer Sonny Ochs.
In July, 2018, we created a performance space in the rear of the store, Acoustic Vibe Cafe, with a 25 reserved seat capacity. Since its opening in July 2018, we have presented a number of concerts, including performances by Tracy Grammer, Diana Jones, Magpie, Sara Milonovich, Karen Savoca, and Bethany Yarrow with Rufus Cappadocia, to sold out enthusiastic audiences.
More a concept than an actual café, Acoustic Vibe Café provides concert-goers with intimate surroundings where performers are able to explore a relationship with their audiences that is hard to establish in larger theater-like venues. Both audience members and performers are able to interact not only during the performance but also during intermission breaks.
Normally, concerts are presented once a month from July through November with a ticket price of $20. Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended since most concerts sell out early.
The Art
Concurrent with the opening of AVC, we began producing art and photography exhibits by established artists, providing a venue for a wide range of artistic expression. Artists exhibited have included New Jersey-based artist Bill Murphy; an art installation by local conceptual artist Stephen Spretnjak; photographic images by the Seeing With Photography Collective; and local scenic photographs by Caleb Jacobus.
Click here to see a list of upcoming events for 2022
