We've got a big day coming up this Saturday - we have not one, but TWO markets on Saturday, September 2nd! Come see us from 7am - Noon at The Market at Pepper Place. If you can't catch us in the morning, don't worry, we'll be at The Night Market at Cahaba Brewery from 4pm - 9pm! College football is also starting up. Its going to be an awesome day. We'll be doing a giveaway at this market - with every order, you'll get a free City Candle Company koozie! But wait, there's more - with every order over $50, you'll also get a City Candle Company canvas tote bag. Don't miss out on these awesome pieces of merch. Hope to see you there Saturday!
Before we get to the rest of the City Candle update, we've got a few candle giveaway winners to announce:
Winner #1 - Hanna Keddie
Winner #2 - Kayla Fisher
Congrats to you two! Please respond directly to this email to claim your choice of free candle (link to website here) and we will get those over to you pronto!
What I'm reading - Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut. I read this one over the course of a few days about a month ago. A prescient piece on the dangers of propaganda and pretending to be something you really are not. If you act a certain way or say certain things long enough, you'll eventually believe them. Had I not known this was written over 50 years ago, I would have assumed it was written in the last 2-3 years. 4/5 Candles.
What I'm reading, Part II - Indignation by Philip Roth. This is not my first Roth novel (first one was Everyman). However, this one was definitely one of my favorite novels I've read in the last 10 years. Its quite short and I was able to blow through it in 48 hours. Central themes include generational divides and the cost of isolationism. Highly, highly recommend. It inspired me to pick up American Pastoral by Roth which I'm currently plowing through. 5/5 Candles.
What I'm watching - The Righteous Gemstone on HBO MAX. I watched the first season of this spectacular show pre-COVID. I've been meaning to pick it back up because I enjoyed it so much. Boy, am I glad I did. My wife and I just finished Seasons 2 and 3 last week and I can comfortably say its the funniest show I've watched since Eastbound and Down. Baby Billy and Judy Gemstone are Mount Rushmore level TV comedy characters.
What I'm burning - Great Outdoors. This is the September Small Batch candle we'll be releasing at the Markets this weekend. This candle is remeniscient of taking a hike in the Pacific Northwest or the foothills of the Appalachian Trail. Stunning notes of Cedar, Fir, and Pine make this a must have as we transition into Autumn. If you can't make it to the markets this weekend, we'll be sure to list any leftover stock on the website (if we don't sell out).
What I'm listening to - Various Bruce Springsteen Albums. I've always know "The Boss" was super influential but it escaped me how good he actually was/is. The music is great but the lyrics are downright devastating. Like, top 5 lyricists I've ever come across. His narrative songwriting is probably the best I've ever listened to. He is to narrative songwriting what Bob Dylan is to poetic/metaphorical writing.
What I'm thinking about - Our Fall Lineup. This weekend, we'll be launching the 2023 Fall candles - Matzek Drive, PSL, and Golden Hour. Matzek Drive is the quinnessential Fall candle, complete with cinnamon, apples, pecans, and more. PSL is exactly what you think - Pumpkin Spice Latte, emphasis on the Latte. Golden Hour was our September Small Batch last year but performed so well (and I personally like it so much) that it has been promoted to the main lineup. Golden Hour is filled with eucalyptus, mint, sage, and hardwoods. Its genuinely wonderful. These will be on the website next week.
Upcoming Markets:
Pepper Place - Saturday, September 2nd from 7am - Noon
Cahaba Brewing Company - Saturday, September 2nd from 4pm - 9pm
Pepper Place - Saturday, October 7th from 7am - Noon
Woodlawn Street Market - Saturday, October 14th
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at burncitycandles@gmail.com, or via any of our social media channels. Also, for any local Birmingham folks, we offer local pickup in Crestwood so we can meet all of your candle needs at a moment's notice. Hit us up!
-Seth, City Candle Co.