A new six-week Puppy Tales series at Dog Ears Bookstore & Café, located at 688 Abbott Road in South Buffalo, will kick off at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7

Puppy Tales is a great way to prepare students for Pre-K.

Puppy Tales is a great way to prepare students for Pre-K.

Open to children ages 3 and 4 accompanied by a parent or guardian, Puppy Tales runs on six consecutive Friday mornings and each session includes three stories, a craft and healthy snacks. Sessions are skill- and book-based and the cost is $30 per child. Puppy Tales is limited to 15 children.

Puppy Tales is a great way to prepare students for Pre-K. To register for Puppy Tales, please visit the bookstore or call 823-2665.

A book-signing event with the author of Nursing, Yes I Do! In Honor of Nurses Everywhere will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at Dog Ears Bookstore & Café, 688 Abbott Road, Buffalo.

The author is a registered nurse who received her degree and license in the late 1970s.

The author is a registered nurse who received her degree and license in the late 1970s.

This book tells the compelling story of a high school graduate who had an aspiration to become a nurse without knowing the hardship, drama, heroism or heartache that comes from being a medical professional. Have you ever really wondered what was involved in the training and experiences of a nurse in various roles? Nurse Aubrey Labalia relays what it was like as a young woman completing nursing school followed by her decision to expand her role in the profession.

This story portrays the nurse as the main character as opposed to her usual position as the sidekick. Her experiences will provide you with a roller coaster of emotions and enlighten your knowledge base of this profession, the many hats he/she wears, and just how important a nurse is.

The author and lead character carry the fictional name Aubrey Labalia. This was done to keep in line with the fictional names and locations listed in the book in compliance with HIPAA and personal privacy.

The author is a registered nurse who received her degree and license in the late 1970s. She worked in various nursing roles such as the medical surgical unit, intensive care unit, cardiac care unit and the burn treatment unit in the hospital. Intermittently, she worked as a community health nurse and later gravitated to the position of assessor nurse for an insurance program and finally entered the field as a legal nurse consultant. She lives in New York State with her husband and is surrounded by her family. Working part-time has also allowed her to volunteer at her church and with the American Red Cross.

P.A.Kane, author of three novels, a book of essays and the popular satire site BuffaloMud.com, will be signing copies of his new novel, Larry Plumb Is Still Here, at Dog Ears Bookstore & Café, 688 Abbott Road, Buffalo, from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8.

Larry Plumb Is Still Here tells the poignant and often humorous story of a man wrestling with relevance in a rapidly changing world.

Larry Plumb Is Still Here tells the poignant and often humorous story of a man wrestling with relevance in a rapidly changing world.

Larry Plumb Is Still Here tells the poignant and often humorous story of a man wrestling with relevance in a rapidly changing world. Larry Plumb, a 56-year-old suburban highway commissioner and senior utility specialist in Western New York, is the quintessential everyman — diligent, reliable and steady. But as his family and community challenge his once-unquestioned authority, Larry finds himself adrift in a sea of shifting societal expectations and personal regrets.

Through daily routines like feeding and caring for his egg hens, navigating tense family dynamics with his wife, Maureen, and daughter, Samantha, and reflecting on his role in a world that increasingly dismisses him, Larry confronts questions of masculinity, identity and belonging. His professional life is no less complex, marked by municipal politics, confrontational coworkers, and a relentless commitment to doing what’s right, even when it goes unnoticed.

With the help of his oldest friends Mac and Burbs and unexpected moments of connection with the cosmic Dr. Johnson, Larry begins to piece together what it truly means to remain relevant — not just to others but to himself. Equal parts introspective and comedic, Larry Plumb Is Still Here is a heartfelt exploration of middle age, resilience and the unyielding quest to matter.

For more information on Dog Ears Bookstore, please visit dogearsbookstore.org or follow the nonprofit community bookstore on Facebook for frequent updates.

A new Parents’ Night Out collaboration between Dog Ears Bookstore and The Riverfield restaurant will kick off on Jan. 29 and continue every month through 2025!

The Riverfield will offer a relaxing dinner-for-two at a special price.

The Riverfield will offer a relaxing dinner-for-two at a special price.

From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month (fifth Wednesday in January only), parents can drop their children off at Dog Ears Bookstore, located at 688 Abbott Road in South Buffalo, and then head over to The Riverfield at 865 Elk St. for a relaxing dinner-for-two that will include an appetizer, entree, bottle of wine and dessert for a special price.

While at the nonprofit community bookstore, children ages 4 to 10 will enjoy different activities — such as games, read-aloud, book club and more — each month. All events will be supervised and will include snacks, all for a nominal charge per child. There is a limit of 18 children per session.

All children must be registered in advance; parents can visit the bookstore or call (716) 823-2665. The cost will fluctuate monthly based on activities.

Reservations for the dinner-for-two special must also be made with The Riverfield and can be made by calling (716) 322-5129.

The Jan. 29 event at Dog Ears will feature Movie Night! Snacks will be provided and the cost is $15 per child. All children must be picked up by 9 p.m.

The popular free after school youth program for students in grades 3-8 at Dog Ears Bookstore will resume on Feb. 4 and run through June 12. Three different days of programming are offered by grade group. Tuesdays feature programs for students in grades 3 and 4, Wednesdays are targeted towards students in grades 5 and 6, and Thursdays are reserved for students in grades 7 and 8. Depending on numbers, there will be an opportunity for children to attend all three days.

All sessions are held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and are limited to 20 students per day. Sessions are taught by literacy specialists and New York State Certified English Language Arts teachers. All class materials are provided, along with a small snack.

A nonprofit community bookstore, Dog Ears is located at 688 Abbott Road, Buffalo, near Mercy Hospital. Sessions are held upstairs of the bookstore (enter through the front entrance). Adults do not need to attend with their child but must be mindful of drop-off and pick-up times. Parents are welcome to wait for their children in the café, which will be open for food and beverage purchases.

Pre-registration is required and youth are expected to attend each week. Parents can sign up their children by calling the bookstore at 823-2665. When signing up, please make sure to indicate which day your child will be attending.

The free after school program is made possible through funding from Erie County Youth Services, M&T Bank and Christopher Scanlon’s office.

Dog Ears Bookstore will focus on the state of Alabama during part six of its multi-state Around America educational adventure. Designed for seniors, the program will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Dog Ears, a nonprofit community bookstore located at 688 Abbott Road, Buffalo.

Participants will engage in discussions, guided readings, storytelling and sharing, presentations and more as they travel the country without leaving Western New York!

Participants will engage in discussions, guided readings, storytelling and sharing, presentations and more as they travel the country without leaving Western New York!

Around America explores the United States, one state at a time, highlighting each state’s history, geography, culture and the written word. Multiple states and distinguished authors will be discussed during the series, including Alaska (John Krakauer), South Dakota (John Neihardt), Alabama (Richie Jean Jackson), Illinois (Ernest Hemingway, Abraham Lincoln), California (John Steinbeck), Missouri (Mark Twain, Langston Hughes, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Maya Angelou, Jerry Pinkney), Hawaii (George Gray, Robert Craig), Texas (Cormac McCarthy, Larry McMurtry) and Oregon (Beverly Cleary, Cheryl Strayed, Chuck Palahniuk).

Participants will engage in discussions, guided readings, storytelling and sharing, presentations and more as they travel the country without leaving Western New York!

For five of the programs, local artists will provide a lesson and project that corresponds with an aspect of the state culture. Mediums will include glass, sculpture, paint, textiles and more. Participants will be able to take their artworks home with them.

Sessions take place on the second floor of Dog Ears, and the café will be open for individuals who may want to purchase refreshments.

For more information or to register for the Jan. 22 event, please visit the bookstore or call (716) 823-2665. 

A new six-week session of the Writers’ Workshop for adults is slated at Dog Ears Bookstore & Café, 688 Abbott Road, Buffalo. Classes will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. beginning Thursday, Jan. 9.

All participants will present current writing efforts that will be gently critiqued. Light refreshments are included, and the cost is $75 for all six meetings. Workshops will continue on Jan. 16, 23 and 30, and Feb. 6 and 13.                         

To register for the Writers’ Workshop, please call the bookstore at 823-2665 or email John Schreier at jmarkschrei@aol.com.

We would like to thank Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and Erie County for their ongoing support of the arts in WNY, including programs offered here at Dog Ears Bookstore. Please know that your support is greatly appreciated!

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