If you look “vinegar syndrome” up online, you will find this definitition:
“Vinegar syndrome is a chemical degradation that occurs with cellulose acetate film and is characterized by an obvious vinegar smell. A process in which acetate film begins to degrade. This applies to media (cinematographic and photographic film, microfilm) made with acetate backing; most film of this type was made prior to 1980. The degradation process releases acetic acid, the same substance in vinegar that gives it its smell which is the identifying characteristic of the degradation process.”

But if you go to VinegarSyndrome.com, you will find that it is a film restoration and distribution company with a catalogue of hundreds of feature films, produced primarily between the 1960s and 1980s.

Why am I telling you this? Because Vinegar Syndrome is coming to DreamHaven Books! Wednesday, July 28th between 4 and 8 pm, a representative from Vinegar Syndrome will be here at the store with lots of DVDs and Blu-Rays, and according to his e-mail, “deals and giveaways”.

Our very own Ryan describes them as “one of the best of the boutique DVD/Blu-Ray labels” – and if you’ve ever talked films with him, you’ll know he’s a big fan.

My suggestion would be to check them out online and if you like what you see, come on out to DreamHaven on Wednesday. We’re all looking forward to it.

After difficulties, the Speculations Readings Series returns in July to DreamHaven Books, 2301 38th St E, Minneapolis. As before, the readings will run from 6:30-7:45 p.m., including an autographing and reception with free soda pop and cookies. After the event, interested persons will adjourn to a bistro to hang out.

On Thursday, July 29, MICHAEL MERRIAM and ABRA STAFFIN-WIEBE will read from their works.

Michael Merriam is an author, performer, poet, and playwright, with ten books and over 90 pieces of short fiction and poetry published. His novel, Last Car to Annwn Station, was named a top Book by Readings in Lesbian & Bisexual Women’s Fiction.  His novella, Should we Drown in Feathered Sheep, was long-listed for the Nebula Award.  His stories and essays have appeared in such places as the Hugo Award winning Uncanny Magazine: Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction issue, and the Ditmar Award winning magazine, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine.  His scripts have been produced for stage and radio.  Michael  is a co-founder of the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers.

Abra Staffin-Wiebe loves optimistic science fiction, cheerful horror, and dark fantasy.  Dozens of her short stories have appeared in publications including Tor.com, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Escape Pod, and Odyssey Magazine.  She lives in Minneapolis, where she wrangles her children, pets, and the mad scientist she keeps in the attic.  When not writing or wrangling, she collects folk tales and photographs of whatever stands still long enough to allow it.  Her most recent book, The Unkindness of Ravens, is an epic fantasy coming-of-age novella about trickster gods and favors owed.  Check out her website: http://www.aswiebe.com/to read about fluffy pink murderbears, firebirds bearing gifts, and other things beautiful and bizarre.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural organization that also sponsors a midsummer speculative fiction convention, DIVERSICON, the 28th edition of which will occur at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West on July 30-August 1, 2021.

On Thursday, September 16, from 6:30-7:45 p.m.,JASON D. WITTMAN reads from his fiction. Jason lives and works in Minneapolis. His story, “Femme Fatale,” was published in the hardcover anthology The Best of Baen Books, and his story “A Game of Knight Court” got an Honorable Mention in the 19th Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror. More recently, he has published a story in Stupefying Stories #22.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural organization that also sponsors a midsummer speculative fiction convention, DIVERSICON, the 29th edition of which will occur July 23-25, 2202 with Guest of Honor T. AARON CISCO.

On Thursday, October 14 from 6:30-7:45 p.m. LOIS McMASTER BUJOLD reads from a new Penric story. The reading includes a free reception and autographing.

Lois McMaster Bujold began writing with the aim of professional publication in 1982 and wrote three novels in three years; in October of 1985, all three sold, launching her popular Vorkosigan Saga science fiction series.  Her fantasy work includes The World of the Five Gods and the Sharing Knife series.  More recently she has been exploring self-e-publishing with the tales of the sorcerer Penric and his demon Desdemona, and other works.

In 2020, Bujold was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America.  A complete list of her awards may be found here: http://www.sfadb.com/Lois_McMaster_Bujold  Her books have been translated into over twenty languages.

A reading-order guide to her work is here: https://www.goodreads.com/story/show/293438-the-vorkosigan-saga-reading-order-debate-the-chef-recommends?chapter=2

Bujold blogs on Goodreads at: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16094.Lois_McMaster_Bujold/blog

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural, multimedia speculative fiction organization that also sponsors a midsummer convention, DIVERSICON, the 29th edition of which will occur in late July 2022 with Guest of Honor TAYLOR CISCO.

Acclaimed Lovecraft scholar S.T. Joshi will be at DreamHaven on Wednesday, October 20th from 6:30 – 8:00pm to promote his new book, The Recognition of H.P. Lovecraft.

S. T. Joshi is a leading authority on H. P. Lovecraft, Ambrose Bierce, H. L. Mencken, and other writers, mostly in the realms of supernatural and fantasy fiction. He has edited corrected editions of the works of Lovecraft, several annotated editions of Bierce and Mencken, and has written such critical studies as The Weird Tale (1990) and The Modern Weird Tale (2001). His award-winning biography, H. P. Lovecraft: A Life (1996), has already become a collector’s item. An expanded and updated version, I Am Providence: The Life and Times of H. P. Lovecraft, was published in two volumes in 2010.

On Thursday, November 18, from 6:30-7:45 p.m.,  TERRY FAUST reads from his work. Terry Faust writes urban fantasy, mainstream young adult novels, and science fiction satire.  Recent work includes Bearer of the Pearls, a 2017 YA urban fantasy novel published by North Star Press, St.Cloud.  He also contributes to short story anthologies with stories such as: “The Secret of Erin Stewart” and “Unpleasantness at 20,000 Feet”. Terry has been an active assistant organizer of the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers Network since 2005.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural organization that also sponsors a midsummer speculative fiction convention, DIVERSICON, the 29th edition of which will occur July 23-25, 2202 with Guest of Honor T. AARON CISCO.

On Wednesday, December 8, Speculations presents its annual ROUND ROBIN READINGS at 6:30. Readers are encouraged to bring a five-minute piece and a ten-minute piece. We’ll call it quits at 7:45 or after everyone has had the chance to read, whichever comes first.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural organization that also sponsors a midsummer speculative fiction convention, DIVERSICON, the 29th edition of which will occur July 23-25, 2202 with Guest of Honor T. AARON CISCO.

On Thursday, January 20 PHILLIP ANDREW BENNETT LOW reads from his work at 6:30 p.m. phillip andrew bennett low is a Chinese-American playwright and poet, storyteller and mime, theatre critic and libertarian activist. His solo performances have won acclaim from Minneapolis to Atlanta, New York to LA – even as far as  Melbourne, Australia. He was the co-founder of the Rockstar Storytellers (a supergroup of bestselling Twin Cities spoken-word artists), founder and producer of the touring theatre troupe Maximum Verbosity, and founder and host of the country’s only recurring open-mic dedicated to speculative fiction, The Not-So-Silent Planet, and its associated podcast. He has published collections of political humor, comic fantasy, and horror.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural, multimedia organization that also sponsors DIVERSICON, a midsummer speculative fiction convention, the 29th edition of which will occur in July 2022 with Guest of Honor T. AARON CISCO and Special Guest SYBIL SMITH.

On Wednesday, February 23rd Rob Callahan will be reading from his work at 6:30 p.m.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural, multimedia organization that also sponsors DIVERSICON, a midsummer speculative fiction convention, the 29th edition of which will occur in July 2022 with Guest of Honor T. AARON CISCO and Special Guest SYBIL SMITH.