The Head & The Hand

12/31/2021

It’s been a moment, but we’re back with “Friday, I’m in Love.” We get to hear from Jimmy about finding that person where everything just clicks. Giving us all the feels on NYE! ❤️

“It seems like me and Joey had always known each other. We had several different friend groups in common, and had matched on all the apps. We got to know each other more during weekly screenings of American Horror stories at a mutual friends bar, and ran into each other at what felt like every concert we went to haha. We attended a music festival with a group of friends and I knew then there was something there. Later on I won tickets to another concert and thought, “ok, enough playing around. I’m asking him out.” We went and had a blast, and danced in the rain, and had our first kiss on the ferry. Five years later, we are new homeowners building a life together. We like cooking, playing video games together and spending time with our friends and amazing families. Just a couple of goofballs making each other laugh. We support each other, challenge each other and make each other want to be better people.”

12/30/2021

Does this sound like you? Every New Year, you set big resolutions to read more, but it never... quite happens?

H&H books has a solution! Introducing... the New Year's Resolution Book Club. Here’s how it works:

You sign up for the Book Club and choose how often you’d like to read a new book: monthly, bi-monthly, or every three months.

H&H sends you a reminder email with recommendations one week before you’re due to pick your next book.

You pick your next book, and we send you a link to purchase.

If you make it the entire year (we believe in you!), you'll receive an H&H gift card for use in 2023!

Sign up using the link in our bio!!

12/27/2021

It’s a hard time right now. Post holiday let down, missed family members, cancelled plans and more COVID uncertainty. I was going through old papers looking for something and came across this card Linda gave me at the beginning of 2021. It gave me a bit more hope on this chilly day. We can do hard things, folks. ❤️
-Claire

12/25/2021

Merry Christmas from us and our newly painted store and ugly Christmas sweater ornaments.

12/24/2021

Need a last-minute gift? We’re now selling audiobook memberships through @librofm! Gift a membership instantly to anyone in the world and support us at the same time. Link in bio to shop. ❤️

12/23/2021

Open special hours today from 3-6 PM for last minute shopping and direct order pick-up! Spread some holiday cheer like @janayakathryn who picked up a gift for their roommate and also a little something special for themselves 😍

Open special hours today from 3-6 PM for last minute shopping and direct order pick-up! Spread some holiday cheer like @janayakathryn who picked up a gift for their roommate and also a little something special for themselves 😍

12/21/2021

Save some space, y’all!

Save some space, y’all!

12/19/2021

Last full in-store shopping day before Christmas! Come out until 5 p.m. to pick out your gifties. And if you’re still in need, we will be open Thursday, December 23 from 3-6 p.m. for last minute shopping.

12/18/2021

Store progress! It’s starting to look VERY cozy in here… we’re already getting so excited to share it with you all!!!

12/13/2021

Last day to order for Christmas delivery! Support local if you can and give your indie bookseller some grace.

Last day to order for Christmas delivery! Support local if you can and give your indie bookseller some grace.

12/11/2021

Because time is a lie, there are only 2 weeks until Christmas. 😱If you’re like me and are still in the midst of your shopping, you’re in luck because we have a cute Gift Guide with our picks for fiction, nonfiction, children’s and local maker items. Shop local at the link in our bio or come into the store 12-5 tomorrow. Cheers!

12/10/2021

We’re doing “Friday, I’m in Love” on actual Friday! You can tell from these photos that Priyam and John are radiantly happy and their bookish beginning makes them all the sweeter. 😍

"John and I met online in 2015. I was living in NYC and he was in Scranton, PA. We talked for almost a month before we actually met in person. We connected on our love for books, food and giant dogs. During one of our late night chats, we were talking about a book that John was reading, and I casually mentioned "I would love to borrow it from you". *Hint Hint* let's meet! John being John totally didn't get it and responded with "I can mail it to you". Fast forward 6 years later, we're married, being silly, living in Philly, with two enormous dogs, looking to adopt a third one."

12/09/2021

Things are happening at the new store!!! 👀 Have you ever picked a paint color by committee? It’s f*cking impossible. Pray for us.

12/05/2021

It's "Sunday I'm in Love." Hah, never done that one before; I'm zigging when you think I'll zag.

Today's story is a dear one to me. Coming off of Thanksgiving and Small Business Saturday and hosting a dinner last night for many people I love has me in my feels reflecting on gratitude. I was reminded today about a couple that visited the store during the summer and had such an impact on me.

Meet Bonnie and Steve. They're the type of people who hold your gaze the entire time you're speaking and make you feel seen. I ended up gabbing with them for almost an hour after their Date Night about relationships, family, literature, and weird historical facts. We laughed freely and often, and had a meaningful email exchange later. These lovelies have been married for a whopping 41 years! I have been thinking about them a lot, and then recently I got the amazing surprise of hosting their daughter and her partner for Date Night. Steve and Bonnie had gotten them the date as a gift.

This is a love story about community bookstores and the people who visit them; about the circle of giving and receiving that exists in "third spaces" -- spaces outside the home and workplace where connection happens. Feeling super lucky to be a part of it.

Happy Sunday! -- Claire

12/03/2021

Apologies, folks, we have to close during regular business hours today, 12/3, due to pressing construction needs in our future space.
See you tomorrow!

11/28/2021

Let’s get lit. 🔥

Let’s get lit. 🔥

11/27/2021

Small Business Saturday is especially meaningful to us. We are so proud to be supported by our neighborhood and community and in turn to support other local authors and publishers and makers. We put together a Holiday Gift Guide with childrens, fiction and nonfiction picks plus some fun maker items to make your shopping a little easier this year. Link in bio. Let’s shop small, y’all!

11/26/2021

Hey you! Looking for a Black Friday sale? Because we have one — kinda. We’re taking 15% off anything you buy on our site this weekend until Giving Tuesday. Use promo code THANKYOU15 at checkout.

— love your friendly neighborhood bookstore goons

Hey you! Looking for a Black Friday sale? Because we have one — kinda. We’re taking 15% off anything you buy on our site this weekend until Giving Tuesday. Use promo code THANKYOU15 at checkout.

— love your friendly neighborhood bookstore goons

11/20/2021

Books make great gifts. Just saying.

Books make great gifts. Just saying.

11/17/2021

Hi, Linda Gallant Moore and Claire Lorraine here. We’ve got news we’ve been dying to share with you! After a long journey, we have signed a multi-year lease at 2230 Frankford Avenue and we are moving our bookstore in spring 2022!!! This move is a critical step in the evolution and expansion of our business and mission. We would like to thank Penn Treaty SSD for the generous grant that made this move possible. We would also like to thank our all star realtor, friend, and beloved community denizen Jeff Carpineta and our friends at Fireball Printing for being our lovely landlords these last 2.5 years. More to come as we take you along this wild ride, but we are so excited to continue serving you at our new digs.

Hi, Linda Gallant Moore and Claire Lorraine here. We’ve got news we’ve been dying to share with you! After a long journey, we have signed a multi-year lease at 2230 Frankford Avenue and we are moving our bookstore in spring 2022!!! This move is a critical step in the evolution and expansion of our business and mission. We would like to thank Penn Treaty SSD for the generous grant that made this move possible. We would also like to thank our all star realtor, friend, and beloved community denizen Jeff Carpineta and our friends at Fireball Printing for being our lovely landlords these last 2.5 years. More to come as we take you along this wild ride, but we are so excited to continue serving you at our new digs.

11/14/2021

True love. Damn.

True love. Damn.

11/13/2021

Apologies, folks, we are closed today, Saturday, 11/13 and will resume regular business hours tomorrow, Sunday, 11/14.

11/12/2021

We love a good reconnection tale. Yes, we do! Check out this pandemic love story — we need some success stories am I right?! — from these recent Date Night cuties on “Friday, I’m in Love.”

“Andrew and I (Julia) first started dating when we were 15! But then stopped dating when I dumped him at age 15 and a half.

We stayed friends throughout the years and found each other again at 31 in the midst of a global pandemic. He’s the kindest person I know — and clearly he plans the best dates.

Earlier this fall, we ran the Atlantic City Marathon. That time, I was chasing him.”

11/10/2021

Wild. Night. In.

Wild. Night. In.

11/05/2021

This is the sweetest shout-out! We adore this duo, and we cannot wait to see @fishtownfilms’ Citywide (premiering in January 2022), certain scenes of which were filmed right here in the bookstore! Check out the lovely (and funny) quote from Sonia Mena, who drew inspiration for her bookseller role in the movie from our very own @_monclaire_ ✨🌱

“I said, ‘Hi, I am you. Let’s talk.’ For a movie about that neighborhood, it felt right to be shooting in those spaces.”

The zero-waste ethos informing the production of this movie is so admirable. Thank you @gridmagazine 👏

#zerowaste #indiefilmmaking #indiebooksellers

11/05/2021

It’s transparency time, folks: booksellers are among the many bracing for the effects of supply chain strain this holiday season. Please consider shopping/ordering early so that we can all enjoy a good read along with our other beloved holiday traditions this year! #shoplocalbookstores #shopearly #indiebookstores

10/31/2021

Halloween Vibes. ☠️🌹🎃

Halloween Vibes. ☠️🌹🎃

10/29/2021

It’s “Friday, I’m in Love” time!These theatre kids call one another their greatest collaborators, which is so SO lovely! 💕

“Jill Harrison-Snyder and Tom Snyder met while working on a high school musical in 2006 (both doing favors for friends and completely thrilled to have also found each other!), got engaged in 2007 (in the Newark Airport — Jill said that she should travel more often!), and married in 2008 (with a ceremony that celebrated love and life and a rainy day that yielded the most beautiful rainbow), all while working as a freelance professional theatre director (Jill) and theatre production manager (Tom). The life and theatre adventures continued with stops at Williamstown Theatre Festival, several Off-Broadway theatre companies in NYC, sublet apartments throughout Queens (we will forever adore Martha’s Bakery on Ditmars Blvd and the last stop on the N train (cause you always get a seat on the way in!), and a carriage house rental in Montclair, NJ until grad school at Temple U brought Jill and Tom to Philly. What was originally intended to be a two-year stay, has turned into a 12 year stay! The Snyders welcomed their daughter Stella Dorene in 2014 and moved to the awesome East Falls neighborhood (shout out to Vault and Vine, Rutabaga Toy Library, and the Thomas Mifflin School!). Tom now works at Swarthmore College and Jill is a freelance creative consultant and continue to be quite grateful for each other and their partnership. We are each other’s greatest collaborators, whether we are supporting each other’s every days, raising our daughter, Stella, building and running events, balancing our lives in pandemic days, and/or just hanging on the couch being lulled by the delightful sounds of the Great British Bake-Off (Tom takes notes on the builds, Jill admires the artistry), we are truly grateful to be each other’s partner in all things. Oh, and we love the gift of creative dates which is why we were over the moon to have a date at the bookstore! From the curated playlist and booklist, to the magical ambiance, to the kindest staff, we were enchanted and so deeply grateful for the opportunity to celebrate 14 years of our greatest collaboration!”

10/28/2021

Cute wives for the win! 😍😍😍

Cute wives for the win! 😍😍😍

10/24/2021

We’re SO excited to announce this amazing community event with @muralarts held in @fireballprints and H&H’s shared space! The current Philly Poet Laureate, the wonderful @trapetam , is hosting a free workshop next Saturday, October 30th from 1-2:30 PM that’ll inspire an art installation in Kensington. We recommend RSVPing since spots are limited to uphold COVID restrictions. More info at the link in our bio. Hope to see you there :)

We’re SO excited to announce this amazing community event with @muralarts held in @fireballprints and H&H’s shared space! The current Philly Poet Laureate, the wonderful @trapetam , is hosting a free workshop next Saturday, October 30th from 1-2:30 PM that’ll inspire an art installation in Kensington. We recommend RSVPing since spots are limited to uphold COVID restrictions. More info at the link in our bio. Hope to see you there :)

10/19/2021

We love ourselves a children’s book that celebrates the paper arts and this one is gorgeous. A lyrical book about the adventure of life, The Forest is sensory experience and the textures of the material world are rendered through die-cuts, embossing, cutouts, and two gatefolds. Originally written in Italian by Riccardo Bozzi, Illustrated by Violeta Lopiz and Valerio Vidali, and translated from Italian by Debbie Bibo.

10/15/2021

On this week's "Friday I'm in Love" we're getting the inside scoop on how this Date Night couple fell for each other. Look at these smiles, y'all!

"Binh ("Bean") and Shelly met through a mutual friend at a National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) meeting in Boston, MA. They both lived in Jamaica Plain, and since Shelly didn't have a car, Bean would frequently give her rides as they became closer friends. Eventually, Bean fell in love with Shelly's joy and silliness and Shelly fell in love with Bean's kindness and generosity. The two now live in Philadelphia with their two dogs."

10/11/2021

Today we acknowledge Indigenous Peoples’ Day and that H&H is on the traditional territory of the Lenape people. Every day is a day for supporting Indigenous peoples’ liberation, especially during the hardships tribes and peoples have faced during covid. We especially want to highlight and support Indigenous artists and writers that make up our communities. Check our story throughout the day for resources and Native creators to support and celebrate. Who are your favorite Indigenous writers?
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#indigenouspeoplesday #supportindigenousartists #ipd #noneofusarefreeuntilallofusarefree

Today we acknowledge Indigenous Peoples’ Day and that H&H is on the traditional territory of the Lenape people. Every day is a day for supporting Indigenous peoples’ liberation, especially during the hardships tribes and peoples have faced during covid. We especially want to highlight and support Indigenous artists and writers that make up our communities. Check our story throughout the day for resources and Native creators to support and celebrate. Who are your favorite Indigenous writers?
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#indigenouspeoplesday #supportindigenousartists #ipd #noneofusarefreeuntilallofusarefree

10/08/2021

Local lit is legit! Unboxing day here at the store and we’re stocking up on some of our local author favessss. Come visit us until 6 today or tomorrow and Sunday! ☺️

Local lit is legit! Unboxing day here at the store and we’re stocking up on some of our local author favessss. Come visit us until 6 today or tomorrow and Sunday! ☺️