Have I mentioned how much I adore the Strand lately?

OK, let's just get this one over and done this, it's too exciting to save for later. Dan Clowes is the latest cartoonist to join the elite group of cartoonists (Spiegelman, Sikoryak, Seth, Tomine) who have done tote bags for the legendary store. Dan's bag is fabulous and is for sale now on their website, as well as in the store where Dan will be on Wednesday May 5th where he will be in conversation with the marvelous David Hajdu. How awesome is that?


Here's a close up of the art.


So as you may recall, D+Q sponsored the Strand tote bag contest a few months ago. Well, lo and behold, the store was swamped with over 800 entries.

A covert meeting was held in Manhattan between the judges Francoise Mouly, Art Spiegelman, Stephen Heller, Adrian Tomine and R. Sikoryak and they came up with a list of Grand, Second and Third prize winners and 20 finalists. So, without further ado...the winner is Zak Foster of Brooklyn.

Second prize winner was Domitille Collardey of Brooklyn

Third place winner is Tim Goldman of Queens

And check out the 20 finalists where you'll recognize such names as Lisa Hanawalt or Jef Czakaj, (who just had an event at the D+Q librairie this past Sunday.)

And until the next tote bag! Which if all goes as planned should be equally exciting as well!