Large new planning map of the Temagami region

I know posted this on our Facebook page but I thought we should put it onto our blog as well!

Large new planning map of the Temagami region of Northeastern Ontario. With over 4000 km of canoe routes and 1100 campsites together with over 30 significant and accessible stands of old growth pine forests.

Goes really we with Hap Wilson's updated book Temagami | 2nd Edition.

Features the best canoe, kayak and hiking routes in the wild Temagami region of Ontario. "Compiled by Hap Wilson, an outdoor writer who has more than thirty years of experience as a wilderness guide

. . . personally documented maps . . . far more information than a volume this size might lead the reader to expect." -- Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal

Temagami is one of the northern hemisphere's most desirable and pristine wilderness areas. Each year thousands visit this 10,000 km2 wilderness area in Central Ontario in search of rugged solitude and authentic backwoods adventure.

This comprehensive guidebook clearly details 25 of the best canoeing, kayaking and hiking routes and contains notes on the region's history, geography, archaeology, flora and fauna, as well as important outfitting, camping and safety tips. Trips include: Temagami to Lake Wanapitei Loop Marten River to Wicksteed Loop Lake Temagami Circle Loop Red Cedar to Jumping Cariboo Lake Loop Anima Nipissing and Jackpine Lake Loop Rabbit and Twin Lakes Loop Turner Lake Loop Matabitchuan River Route Nasmith and Obabika River Route Lady Evelyn, Makobe River, Montreal River Loop Anima Nipissing -- Montreal River Loop Maple Mountain Loop Sugar Lake, Muskego River Links Gowganda to Elk Lake Route Smoothwater Lake, Lady Evelyn River Loop Makobe Lake and Trethewey Lake Links Smoothwater Lake to Sturgeon River Route.

Yikers Magnet Mayhem new at Chat Noir Books!

We just got in stock another fun new game called Yikerz! Check it out!!

Yikerz is a game of magnet mayhem. Place your Yikerz pieces down on the board and try to avoid attracting the other pieces already played.

The object is to get rid of all your pieces. If Yikerz collapse together, those pieces are yours to add to your stack. Stand the Yikerz upright to make your opponent’s next move even trickier! But beware, that play could backfire on your next turn.

Yikerz has a unique 4-piece interchangeable game board, which allows for many different configurations that create a variety of challenges and suits different skill levels. Using the 4 included game boards, choose from over 20 different game layout configurations that suit your skill level. The closer together the mats are, the more challenging the gameplay will be.

Includes a convenient travel pouch for portable fun- anywhere, anytime!

Now you can try before you buy!!

Well it has been a busy summer here in the store so far, and we would like to thank our great staff (Samantha Auger, Miranda Phillips and our newest store minion Savannah Peters)for keeping the Coffee and Drinks flowing and getting all the new books that have been coming in onto the shelves, while Jenn and I have been busy working in the backroom!

Speaking of the backroom, you might have noticed some changes back there. Currently we are in the process of expanding the store and adding a gaming room!! The room is well... almost done. We have been play testing it with our Magic the Gathering crowd and hope to open it up to everyone soon! There are still a few more things to move around.

Once the room is finished we hope to use it to show case some of the great board games we have been bringing into the store. Games like Settlers of Catan, King of Tokyo, Smallworld, Dutch Blitz, Yikers(which is new to the store) and many more!!

The cool thing is every time we play test a new game in the store it gets added to the store's collection making it available for you to play in the store!!/

So how does this work? It is easy, just talk to one of the staff and let them know you would like to try one of games. All it costs is $10 for up to and including 4 people for 2 hours or $15 for more than 4 players for 2 hours. The best part is once you rent a game, you have access to all the games in the store's collection for those 2 hours. So if you pick up one and finish a game quickly or decided you don't like it, you're welcome to grab another one and try it out!

Summerfest Weekend!!

Summerfest / Bikers Reunion is almost upon us, just one more day and the fun begins!

Please drop by the store and say hi to us and our staff! It looks like it is going to be a hot one so if you need to cool off, feel free to drop in. We have AC, cold coffee drinks, Iced Hot Chocolates and one of my favourites Iced Apple Cider!!

We will also have our special "pick your own discount" which is good for Books, the Out-of-Print T-shirts, coffee mugs, Ugly Dolls ...etc! Items already discounted and the coffee bar do not apply.

On Saturday Chat Noir Books will be hosting a MTG tournament starting at 10:00am. Bring a Modern and Standard Deck. It is $10 to enter we will also have some discounts on some of our MTG products!

Happy Canada Weekend!

Speaker's Book Award

We just recieved some interesting information on the Speaker's Book award from our local MPP Timiskaming Cochrane John Vanthof.

If anyone is interested in entring their book we have more information here in the store. I will also post the link below.

About the Award

The Speaker’s Book Award recognizes works by Ontario authors reflecting the diverse culture and rich history of the province and of its residents. Topics include the history of the province and its many communities; prominent figures in Ontario from various fields including, but not limited to, politics, culture, arts, education and business; the history and achievements of women and minorities in Ontario; and the development of Ontario’s parliamentary system. Fiction and non-fiction submissions are welcomed in either English or French.

Special consideration is given to works focusing on Ontario’s parliamentary heritage and on provincial political discourse.

The winner will be the Speaker’s special guest at an Awards Reception to be held at the Ontario Legislature in the spring of 2013. The winning book will be featured at the Legislative Gift Shop and in the Legislative Library.

You can find more information on the Speaker's Book Award here: http://educationportal.ontla.on.ca/en/node/765

Coffee Stop Motion Fun!

So I have been playing around with the Stop Motion app on my iphone and came up with a fun little animation for the store! We hope to do a few more of these with some of you new stock. But for now Enjoy!!

Hap Wilson show at TAG

We thought we would pass this along. Author and Artist Hap Wilson will be having a show the Temiskaming Art Gallery(TAG) on March 23rd to April 27th 2012! The Show opens Friday March 23rd at 7:30pm!!

Hap Wilson is a self-taught artist and photographer, he has travelled over sixty thousand kilometres by canoe and snowshoe, and embarked on more than three hundred wilderness expeditions. He is one of North America's best-known wilderness guides and canoeists, and has been building sustainable trails for more than thirty years. He is also the co-founder of the environmental group Earthroots. He lives in Rosseau, Ontario. for more information, please visit Hap's website at www.eskakwa.ca.

Recommend Reading:

Features the best canoe, kayak and hiking routes in the wild Temagami region of Ontario. "Compiled by Hap Wilson, an outdoor writer who has more than thirty years of experience as a wilderness guide . . . personally documented maps . . . far more information than a volume this size might lead the reader to expect." -- Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal Temagami is one of the northern hemisphere's most desirable and pristine wilderness areas. Each year thousands visit this 10,000 km2 wilderness area in Central Ontario in search of rugged solitude and authentic backwoods adventure.

One hundred years ago, a young doctor from Cleveland by the name of Robert Newcomb, travelled north to a place called Temagami. It was as far north as one could travel by any modern means. Beautiful beyond any simple expletive, the Temagami wilderness was a land rich in timber, clear-water lakes, fast flowing rivers, mystery and adventure. Newcomb befriended the local Aboriginals -- the Deep Water People -- and quickly discovered the best way to explore was by canoe. Bewitched by the spirit of an interior river named after the elusive brook trout, Majamagosibi, Newcomb had a remote cabin built overlooking one of her precipitous cataracts.

Hap Wilson is back for another journey, this time on the lighter side of the adventure trail, where the bizarre melds with the sublime. Nurtured by the writings of Canadian environmentalist and wannabe-Native, Grey Owl, Wilson adopted a lifestyle similar to the 1930s conservationist but with his own twists and turns along a meandering path full of humorous misadventures. Wilson, too, learned many of his nature skills as a youth, paddling in Temagami, working as a wilderness canoe ranger and guide, and following in the footsteps of one of Canada's most revered outdoor icons.