By ROD LEE

Between plucking his guitar and singing tunes during a performance in concert with Raianna Richards on the night of February 11th, Mark Mandeville recalled visiting Booklovers’ Gourmet in Webster when Deb Horan’s shop “was the size of a broom closet.”

Today’s Booklovers’ Gourmet, at 72 E. Main St., home of new and used books, journals, jewelry, gifts, sweets, coffee and more, is a bigger and busier operation than ever—as evidenced, for instance, by “Winter Light,” a group art show with works on display in the café gallery all month long, through February 28th.

This exhibition followed a hosting of Author Leslie Wheeler by the store’s evening book group in January. Signed copies of “Rattlesnake Hill: A Berkshire Hilltown Mystery,” were available, as was the latest in the series: “Wolf Bog.”

From Open Mic Poetry Share to Drink Coupon of the Month to a Writers Group, a Mystery Book Group, a Peer Support Group and other regularly scheduled activities and special offerings, Booklovers’ Gourmet is a place of almost constant action, Tuesday through Saturday.

Several of those who attended the hour-and-a-half concert by Mr. Mandeville and Ms. Richards were familiar with their work. One friend from Shrewsbury, waiting for the show to begin, said “there is no better songwriting duo in New England.” Another said he had been part of “a walking tour of the Berkshires, ten towns,” that the couple had undertaken last year.

Webster residents, Mr. Mandeville and Ms. Richards come across as down-to-earth folkies with songs like “Hello Bill,” in tribute to a late musician who spent his final days at a VA home; “When Love Comes Round Again” (to which Mr. Mandeville said “I’m getting mushy writing all these love songs”); and “Another Day Tomorrow”—the first song they wrote in tandem “after twenty years together.”

They recently spent “a whole year in Canada, playing just house concerts,” Mr. Mandeville said.

Musing on being asked “are there any musicians anymore with messages like Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie,” Mr. Mandeville replied “maybe not, but we can sell out Booklovers’ Gourmet!”

Contact Rod Lee at [email protected] or 774-232-2999.