Be/Longform
Deep thoughts. Sharp takes. Extended feelings.
This is where we get wordy on purpose.
Be/Longform is our not-so-little love letter to the in-between — the essay you didn’t know you needed, the behind-the-scenes peek, the soapbox rant turned soft place to land. Sometimes it’s personal. Sometimes it’s professional. Always, it’s us.
You’ll find reflections from our founder, notes from behind the counter, interviews with local authors and creators, updates from our Give/Back projects, and unapologetic joy over a good sentence.
Because we believe the ETC deserves space to stretch out.
And sometimes… a post just isn’t long enough.
Be/Longform

What We Build From
The version of me I became didn’t quite fit back into the blueprint I was handed. But I’m still building something steady and that foundation remains.
What We Build From
The version of me I became didn’t quite fit back into the blueprint I was handed. But I’m still building something steady and that foundation remains.

To the Stories We’re Still Writing
This Pride Month, we’re honoring the stories still being written, out loud or in quiet corners. You don’t have to be loud to be proud. You just have to be...
To the Stories We’re Still Writing
This Pride Month, we’re honoring the stories still being written, out loud or in quiet corners. You don’t have to be loud to be proud. You just have to be...

From One Story to the Next
When the Downtown Book & Toy sign came down, it wasn’t an ending. It was a tribute. An honoring of legacy, and the beginning of something new.
From One Story to the Next
When the Downtown Book & Toy sign came down, it wasn’t an ending. It was a tribute. An honoring of legacy, and the beginning of something new.

The Legacy Sale
A farewell sale turned first chapter.What started as a goodbye to Downtown Book & Toy became a standing-room-only celebration of what’s next. Our Legacy Sale wasn’t just about clearing shelves...
The Legacy Sale
A farewell sale turned first chapter.What started as a goodbye to Downtown Book & Toy became a standing-room-only celebration of what’s next. Our Legacy Sale wasn’t just about clearing shelves...

The Balloons Were Never Just Balloons
Our balloon-filled windows weren’t just a goodbye to Downtown Book & Toy — they were the chaotic, joyful beginning of something new.
The Balloons Were Never Just Balloons
Our balloon-filled windows weren’t just a goodbye to Downtown Book & Toy — they were the chaotic, joyful beginning of something new.