Local Love; Your Friends and Neighbors: Pete and Black Swan Books and Music
Today's post is about one of my favorite downtown folks, Pete and his place of business, Black Swan Books and Music. Pete has been a fixture of downtown Staunton since he moved here in 2005, he was a barista for years on New St. and has been with Black Swan for well over a year now. Pete is a dedicated lover of music, a musician and a serious collector of vinyl. He is also super friendly, always on the positive and I'm always happy to see his smiling face when I am down on E. Beverley St.
I stopped in to Black Swan this afternoon and as always, had many laughs with Pete while I interviewed him and listed to some great tunes courtesy of the house turntable. Spinning today was some awesome 70's funk by Joseph from his album entitled, simply, Merry Christmas To You, From Joseph. Joseph was pumped about Jesus' birthday and hanging mistletoe in various places.
Pete, what ways have you seen downtown Staunton change: Downtown is really booming now, I've seen that come and go in phases, a lot of businesses came and went quickly. The last few years has seen stability and I think it's because the shop owners are really invested in being a part of their community. I'm glad to be a part of that community by working here at Black Swan.
Tell us something you love about your job: I love to learn and so I love that I get to do what amounts to research for customers when they have a special need or a specific thing they are looking for. So basically, interacting with the customers and getting paid to learn stuff all day. Plus I get to listen to music all day.
What is currently on your turntable at home: Buckingham and Nicks and Slow Dive's latest album(pictured below).
Do you have a guilty pleasure: Teenie Weenies straight out of the can. Sometimes I microwave them to enjoy them in their own delicious broth.
Your very first concert: Petra, DC '91.
Your dream concert: Scott Walker any time during his career except '72-'76. He has a book of all of his lyrics coming out on the 15th, it's $150, I would like this for Christmas, (let's start a GoFundMe) but I think I am getting a Fuzz Pedal for my bass.
How do you spend your days off: Ideally I hike. It helps since I am in customer service to get out and have some solitude, recharge in nature. Hiking is a necessity for me, I will take the mountains over the beach for sure. My current favorite trails are Crabtree to Crabtree Meadows to Priest along the Appalachian Trail. They're brutal but the view is awesome and I often meet interesting folks along the trail who are doing the whole AT.
Black Swan Books and Music located at 1 E. Beverley St, they buy and sell rare books and records. Be sure to stop in and say hello to Pete, he may even spin a request for you on the turntable! You can learn more about Black Swan here http://www.blackswanstaunton.com/ and here https://www.facebook.com/Black-Swan-Books-and-Music-
Thanks for the fun today, Pete, see you soon!
I stopped in to Black Swan this afternoon and as always, had many laughs with Pete while I interviewed him and listed to some great tunes courtesy of the house turntable. Spinning today was some awesome 70's funk by Joseph from his album entitled, simply, Merry Christmas To You, From Joseph. Joseph was pumped about Jesus' birthday and hanging mistletoe in various places.
Pete, what ways have you seen downtown Staunton change: Downtown is really booming now, I've seen that come and go in phases, a lot of businesses came and went quickly. The last few years has seen stability and I think it's because the shop owners are really invested in being a part of their community. I'm glad to be a part of that community by working here at Black Swan.
Tell us something you love about your job: I love to learn and so I love that I get to do what amounts to research for customers when they have a special need or a specific thing they are looking for. So basically, interacting with the customers and getting paid to learn stuff all day. Plus I get to listen to music all day.
What is currently on your turntable at home: Buckingham and Nicks and Slow Dive's latest album(pictured below).
Do you have a guilty pleasure: Teenie Weenies straight out of the can. Sometimes I microwave them to enjoy them in their own delicious broth.
Your very first concert: Petra, DC '91.
Your dream concert: Scott Walker any time during his career except '72-'76. He has a book of all of his lyrics coming out on the 15th, it's $150, I would like this for Christmas, (let's start a GoFundMe) but I think I am getting a Fuzz Pedal for my bass.
How do you spend your days off: Ideally I hike. It helps since I am in customer service to get out and have some solitude, recharge in nature. Hiking is a necessity for me, I will take the mountains over the beach for sure. My current favorite trails are Crabtree to Crabtree Meadows to Priest along the Appalachian Trail. They're brutal but the view is awesome and I often meet interesting folks along the trail who are doing the whole AT.
Black Swan Books and Music located at 1 E. Beverley St, they buy and sell rare books and records. Be sure to stop in and say hello to Pete, he may even spin a request for you on the turntable! You can learn more about Black Swan here http://www.blackswanstaunton.com/ and here https://www.facebook.com/Black-Swan-Books-and-Music-
Thanks for the fun today, Pete, see you soon!
Comments
Post a Comment