This Saturday, it's a visit with Mr. Book Fair!

A member of the Antiquarian Booksellers of America, Michael Slicker is also founder and chair of the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, the largest- and oldest- event of its kind in the American Southeast, and the third largest book fair in America. As one of one only 450 ABAA members in the United States, Slicker resides at the pinnacle of the profession.

He’s also celebrating his fortieth year in the business, and will take some time out Saturday, February 25, to visit with the Rare Book Cafe Crew about great books he has known.

He’ll also be talking about the next Book Fair in St Petersburg’s fabulous art deco coliseum, set for April 21-23, 2017.

Here's how Lighthouse Books describes itself:

Lighthouse Books, ABAA is a family-owned and operated book shop located near Tropicana Field in downtown Saint Petersburg, Florida. We are celebrating our 40th anniversary in 2017!

We're open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.   

Our specialties include Florida history and literature, Americana, literature of the South, military history (including, but not limited to, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Korean War), children’s literature, antique maps, leather bindings and rare & unusual items.  

We also have a wide variety of general stock, including a large landscape/gardening section, a great selection of Christian/church history/Bible study titles, Beat literature, fishing, aviation, maritime, Asian history, African history, European history, South Pacific, British history, archaeology, psychology, philosophy, Latin American and Caribbean history, Canadian history, discovery & exploration, art, antiques & collectibles' reference, pop-up books, railroads, hunting, fire arms, etc.   

About 25 per cent of our total stock is listed in our online inventory. If ever you're in the area, we invite you to come in and browse; to show our appreciation, we'll offer a 15 per cent discount off any purchases made on your first visit.  

In addition to keeping regular hours at the storefront location, Lighthouse Books participates as a vendor in about a dozen book fairs, antiques shows, map fairs and related events each year. One such show is The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, an annual trade show/charity benefit held in downtown St. Petersburg the second full weekend in March, that has become the oldest and largest antiquarian book fair in the Southeast. Slicker has served as chair since its inception thirty-six years ago.

The company also provides certified appraisal services.

Visiting St. Petersburg? Here's Lighthouse Books' contact information:

By email at LighthouseBooksABAA@gmail.com

By phone (Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST)

(727) 822-3278.

Or at the following address:

Lighthouse Books, ABAA

1735 First Avenue North

Saint Petersburg, FL 33713  USA

Rare Books Cafe is sponsored by the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. It’s broadcast every Saturday from 2.30 to 3.30 pm EST and features interviews, panel discussion and stuff you can learn about book collecting whether you are a regular at Sotheby’s or just someone who likes books.

The program airs live on Rare Book Cafe’s and the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair’s Facebook page; the Book Fair Blog, and the Book Fairs YouTube channel. Shows are archived on YouTube and can also be viewed on the Facebook pages and the blog after their first run.

Hosted by Miami book dealer, appraiser and WDBFRadio.com’s Bucks on the Bookshelf radio show creator Steven Eisenstein, the program features a revolving set of cohosts and regular guests including Thorne Donnelley of Liberty Book Store in West Palm Beach, Florida; Lindsay Thompson of Charlotte’s Henry Bemis Books; miniature books expert Edie Eisenstein; and program creator/producer T. Allan Smith.

Rare Book Cafe program encourages viewer participation via its interactive features and video: if you've got an interesting book, join the panel and show it to us! If you’d like to ask the team a question or join us in the virtually live studio audience for the program, write us at rarebookcafe@gmail.com.