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Warning! This photo-dump includes:
- Showtunes
- Talk of Harry Potter wands
- Overuse of exclamation marks
Proceed with caution!
![Flying Fish in Nanaimo had a great way of displaying their colouring books. Customers are invited to colour in a page of a sample book. I'm sure many new colouring book addicts have gotten started in this store!](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_300,h_300/https://ampersandinc.ca/files/Flying-Fish-300x300.jpg)
Flying Fish in Nanaimo had a great way of displaying their colouring books. Customers are invited to colour in a page of a sample book. I’m sure many new colouring book addicts have gotten started in this store!
![Laughing Oyster in Courtenay is simply lovely, as is its owner, Evelyn. She graciously invited me out for an evening of musical theatre. Not pictured: me singing along to "Take back your mink!"](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_300,h_300/https://ampersandinc.ca/files/Laughing-Oyster-300x300.jpg)
Laughing Oyster in Courtenay is simply lovely, as is its owner, Evelyn. She graciously invited me out for an evening of sushi and musical theatre. Not pictured: me atrociously singing along to “Take back your mink” from Guys and Dolls.
![My new favourite spot is Weinberg's Good Food in Buckley Bay. They are right by the ferry and so full of surprising gift and foodstuffs. A little hipster heaven.](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_300,h_300/https://ampersandinc.ca/files/Weinberg-300x300.jpg)
My new favourite island spot is Weinberg’s Good Food in Buckley Bay. They are right by the ferry and full of surprising gift and foodstuffs. A little hipster heaven!
![Did you know that Mulberry Bush in Qualicum Beach just celebrated its 40th anniversary? Most of these pictures are from the Parksville store, but only because I love both locations (and I kind of forgot to take pictures in Qualicum until I left). Congratulations Barb and Tom!](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_300,h_300/https://ampersandinc.ca/files/Mulberry-Bush-300x300.jpg)
Did you know that Mulberry Bush in Qualicum Beach just celebrated its 40th anniversary? Most of these pictures are from the Parksville store, but only because I love both locations (and I kind of forgot to take pictures in Qualicum until I left). Congratulations Barb and Tom!
![I bought a really pretty wooden pen at Blue Heron which was made by a local artist. Did I do it because it reminded me of a Harry Potter wand? Maybe!](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_300,h_300/https://ampersandinc.ca/files/Blue-Heron-300x300.jpg)
I bought a really pretty wooden pen at Blue Heron which was made by a local artist. Did I do it because it reminded me of a Harry Potter wand? Maybe!
![My last stop on my trip was at Salamander Books. Frieda and I gabbed about our mutual love of scifi and fantasy. A bookseller after my own heart!](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_300,h_300/https://ampersandinc.ca/files/Salamander-300x300.jpg)
My last stop on my trip was at Salamander Books. Frieda and I gabbed about our mutual love of scifi and fantasy. A bookseller after my own heart!
-Dani