Adult book fair at Black Cat Books and Oddities aims to deliver dose of nostalgia

MEDINA — If you miss the excitement of gathering in the school library for book fair day, get your backpack and spare change ready. Black Cat Books and Oddities plans to re-create that same feeling this weekend at its first-ever Nostalgic Adult Book Fair 2-7 p.m. Saturday at Medina High School. "If you loved the Scholastic Book Fairs, this is your chance," said Alicia Frazier, who co-owns the bookstore with her husband, Max. "We miss that time in our lives. The Scholastic Book Fair brings kids joy, they break up your day. I feel like books bring everyone joy. They start your love of reading." The adult version will be packed with local vendors: 25 vendors of curated themed items, from book-related apparel to art and "'90-ish" jewelry and 30 independent authors from Northeast Ohio representing genres from thriller to horror, romance, young adult and more. But, true to Black Cat style, it also comes with costumes. "Our team really likes to dress up," Frazier said. "That 'really overzealous gym teacher' will be there — and if you've ever been to school, you'll recognize that teacher." The roving gym teacher will also offer mini-challenges at random; attendees who take up the challenge to "drop and give me 10!" will earn 'classroom cash' to be redeemed at the Prize Table, a wonderland of doodads, scented erasers, tiny toys, little journals and nostalgic candies. A 'sweet lunch lady,' a costumed Max Frazier, will be on hand with snacks and treats, and Alicia Frazier will be dressed as Miss Frizzle, the eccentric red-haired science teacher in her signature solar system dress, carrying a little school bus. "If you were alive in the '90s, you'll have so much fun," Frazier said. There will be a Reading Rainbow lounge area, and participants are welcome to bring a book to wrap, decorate and swap. There will be opportunities also to re-create — or take all-new — embarrassing yearbook photos. Though the event is geared for adults, there is plenty to keep kids engaged as well, and there will be some children's merchandise at the fair as well. Tickets are $10 to attend, or $5 for ages 6 to 17. Ages 5 and younger are free. There will be limited snack and beverage vendors. Each ticket comes with "classroom cash" to spend at the Prize Table, and every $10 spent at a booth earns more. The event will be in the Medina High School Performing Arts Center, 851 Weymouth Road, Medina. To purchase tickets, visit blackcatmedina.com. "The world is a crazy place sometimes, and we're looking for that feeling again, for nostalgia, when everything is not on fire. We're all looking for a little bit of peace to get us through," she said. Contact Rini Jeffers at rinijeffers@gmail.com.