The Dog days of August at Martha Merrell's Books!

School bells might not ring for students until closer to Labor Day, but teachers are already feeling the pull back to their classrooms. What better time than to introduce some new titles that are sure to get the school year off to a great start? Check out our suggestions under the FOR EDUCATORS section of our website. As the school year progresses, we will continue to list new children’s titles and professional books that are worthy of consideration.

While the Waukesha Freeman’s FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE concert series continues to be a major draw for the entire downtown, Martha Merrell’s has a number of different groups that meet here, even in the summer months.

Our two book club facilitators, Betty Scanlon and Nancy Boeck, lead groups all year round. Betty’s in-store groups generally meet on the first Monday morning of the month and the first Wednesday evening. Nancy ’s group meets usually on the first Monday evening of each month. Both Betty and Nancy are willing to help new groups get started or help brainstorm new titles for groups already in existence. They will meet here in the store or at a location of the group’s choosing; their services are free-of-charge.

The store also sponsors a History/Current Events group that meets on the third Wednesday evening of the month. Oasis Book Club meets here in the store as well, generally on the second Tuesday of the month, and is open to new members as are all of our store-sponsored groups. The reading selections for each of these groups is listed under the BOOK CLUB section of our website.

In addition, a number of private book groups meet in the store on a regular basis. Book club selections are given a 15% discount.

Carol Knott is the informal leader of a knitting group that meets here on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The group convenes as early as 5 PM and continues as late as 8 PM. All knitters are welcome to join the group! Bette Williams is the contact person for the Chapter One writers group that meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The group starts at 7 PM and offers each person present the opportunity to share his/her current writing project.

Any group is welcome to meet here as long as they schedule their event ahead of time.

Our FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE stage features monthly performances by Fair Webber, Theiss & O’Connor, G-Man’s Mike & Kathy and Spring City Grass. The outdoor season continues through the end of September. Come down on Friday evenings to enjoy the musical talents that the Waukesha area is so richly blessed with! We are pleased to have CDs by these musicians available for your shopping convenience. There are also Friday Night Live T-shirts for sale as a way for the audience to help offset the costs involved in making this event successful.