Greenlight Bookstores

It's been a while since I've done a NYC Bookstore Spotlight! Today I want to introduce you to one of my favorite bookstores in NYC: Greenlight Bookstores! There are actually two locations, the original and larger one in Fort Greene and the second branch in Prospect Leffert Gardens (both are in Brooklyn) I am actually closest to the PLG branch but frequent both regularly since they host different bookish events at each location.

Greenlight PLG! 

There are several things that I love about Greenlight and that make these bookstores stand out even among the excellent selection of indies that NYC has to offer: First the curation is excellent, featuring everything from front list literary fiction to a large children's section as well as a selection of journals, postcards and other NYC bookish souverniers. The prices tend to be full-sticker prices but they will have occasional sales and do have a great rewards program. 

Second, Greenlight tends to have some of the best bookish events and book groups in the city. Greenlight draws in big names like Jesmyn Ward and Celeste Ng as well as local authors like Liza Jessie Peterson. Being able to attend author events like these has definitely been a highlight of my bookish life in NYC. They also host a wide range of book clubs and book groups catering to most genre tastes.

At the launch for Sing, Unburied, Sing!

Last, but certainly not least, the staff is one of the friendliest and most knowledgeable that I've encountered. They're always up for a chat about their favorite latest read or ready with a recommendation handy should you need one. My only quibble with Greenlight is the way they shelve their books (you know it's a great bookstore when my only concern is being petty over the shelving methodology!) They shelve all of their fiction together without separating by genre. Which means that I can't go to the mystery section and browse which is, I realize, the most first-world complaint ever. 

In all seriousness, I adore Greenlight for the access to high quality events it gives readers, several of my bookish friends and I have bonded over attending Greenlight events, (like book club) they're always a great time! If you live in the Brooklyn area or are just visiting the area and are interested in bookish events, take a look at Greenlight's calendar, chances are there's an amazing event in the next few days.

Bookhaul for #Smallbuinsesssaturday #shoplocal

Rizzoli Bookstore

Here is another #NYCBookstore! I was on my way to meet a friend for coffee when I walked past Rizzoli Bookstore this beautiful and historic bookstore that has been on my 'to visit' list forever. Since I was a couple minutes early, of course I had to take a look around!

so shiny...

The tag line on their website is "The Most Beautiful Bookstore in NYC" and it's kind of hard to disagree. This bookstore is located on the border of Flatiron and NOMAD and walking through its shiny glass doors takes you back into a bygone glamorous era. The walls boast pastel murals and the floors are checkers black and white tiles but it is the book shelves that are the crowning glory. The store is lined with tall bookshelves made of dark polished wood with the genres embossed in them with curly gold lettering.

The price tags match the look and most books are full-prices hard backs, new releases or more obscure academic tomes. The store specializes in illustrated volumes and they also have a substantial art book, cook book and travel section. While I might not make this my regular bookstore (there are other places that are easier on the wallet) this bookstore is worth going to just for the glamour alone and for the many awesome events they host in their spacious and light filled back room. Go check it out!

Bonus! Chicago Bookstores + Book Haul

So...I may have broken my book buying ban a little...

Last week, I flew back to visit my old stomping grounds in Chi-town and see some friends. It was lovely to be back in the Windy City for a couple of days. While I was there I might have given into temptation and bought a few books but I also crossed an item off my bucket list so I don't feel to terrible about it.

Let me elaborate. As an undergrad studying in Chicago I found I had little time or money to spend on reading that wasn't part of my course curriculum. Which was was heart-wrenching because there were so many books I wanted to read and so many amazing bookstores within walking distance of campus. (I'm sure many of you can relate!) Occasionally, if I was feeling masochistic, I would wander through the bookstores and admire all the books I knew I couldn't afford to buy and I would silently vow that I would one day come back as a rich alumna and buy all the books I wanted. Dramatic I know, but hey.

 

My Chicago spoils!

Now two years later I came back to these bookstores as an alumna, and although not necessarily rich, I had a little more change in my pocket now that I am not buying $200 dollar text books every 10 weeks, so I indulged a little bit. I didn't buy ALL the books (trust me, I though about it) but I did pick up a couple of full-priced books, just because I wanted them and because I could. It felt very rewarding to be able to buy my own books with my own money and cross of an (albeit, slightly frivolous) item off my bucket list. So here are the stores I visited and the items I piked up! This is just a small sample of the bookstores Chicago has to offer.

The Seminary Co-Op

 The Seminary Co-Op in an independent bookstore that has served the University and Hyde Park community for over 50 years. Originally located in the labyrinth basement in the old seminary building. It recently relocated and expanded. It generally caters to the academic crowd and carried specialized academic volumes that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else, although it does stock some contemporary literary and genre titles as well. The store has an airy and light-filled feeling and has plenty of chairs for your reading pleasure as well as a cafe next door.

aka the Sem-Co-Op

57th Street Books

Located on the epinomous 57th street. This bookstore is actually part of the above Seminary Co-Op as well but offers a more commercial fiction rather than academic offering. This basement store has an amazing selection of children and young adult books, contemporary social issues books and spiritual/philosophy books. This bookstore boasts 3 rooms that seem to expand for ever and super friendly staff who are always happy to offer recommendations. Once you have made a purchase, head over to the Medici bakery next door for their famous hot chocolate and pastries.

Underground treasure trove

Market Fresh Books

This was a new discovery for me! This bookstore is actually located in the nearby city of Evanston, which is accessible by CTA from Chicago. This is a used bookstore and is probably one of the most novel bookstores I've seen. It is a book deli! you can find books literally by the bucket and you purchase them by weight! The selection is pretty varied although if you are looking for a specific books you might not find it, but browsing can yield some surprising rewards!

 

Buy books by the pound!

#NYCBookstore Book Culture

It's been a while since I've I've done a #NYCBookstore post! This weekend I attended an event on the Upper West Side which is a little out of the way of my daily stomping grounds so I don't frequent it as much as I should, which is a shame because they have so many cute bookstores! I arrived a little early and had a look around Book Culture on 114th and Broadway. This one room bookstore is the definition of cozy neighborhood bookstore. The bright interior is filled with stuffed wooden bookshelves and several themed displays including one on contemporary and historical African American civil rights and on Hygge lifestyle.

I found the curation to be interesting and current, consisting largely of new or recent release titles in literary fiction and non-fiction. Genre fiction was not ignored though, with two shelves for mystery and one sci-fi/fantasy shelf. They also had a great cookbook, art and graphic novel section.

Sprinkled throughout the store are great 'staff pick' recommendation cards. Speaking of the staff they are the nicest people! They were happy to chat and an give recommendations when they saw me hesitating between two books.

The store also carries a variety of super cute, albeit pricy home goods such as artisans mugs, soaps and dish-ware. in addition to bookish merchandise, post-cars and tote bags. All books are full-priced, and while I prefer to purchase by books used or half-priced I was happy to walk away with a purchase in support of this indie store. I have a feeling that if I lived in the area, I would spend a lot of time here! If you are in the area and looking for a gift for a fellow book lover or just for yourself, I definitely encourage you to drop by!

http://www.bookculture.com/ 

Bonus: Super friendly staff and great staff recommendations.

Winter West Coast Bookish Vacation/Bookstores

I hope that everyone is enjoying the winter/holiday break! This year, I thought I change of scenery might be refreshing for the holidays (still love you NYC!) and headed over to the West Coast for some vacation time in Seattle, WA and San Francisco, CA. Needless to say, between touring the local attractions, I went on a bookstore romp because yay bookstores! Here are some of the highlights definitely check them out if you are in the area!

SEATTLE - Lamplight Books

I actually came across this bookstore by accident when walking around Pike's Place Market. This rare and used bookstore is a cozy nook lit, as its name implies, by dozens of lamps scattered around the store. It boasts a large non-fiction and nature section which highlights the many beautiful natural parks in the area, as well as local flora and fauna. I didn't stick around too much as that day was particularly busy but I did notice that they had a substantial classics and modern/classics section which I would have liked to peruse with more time. This is the ideal bookstore to visit on a cold Seattle morning, proceeded by a long reading session at one of the local cafes with a latte and pastry in hand.

SEATTLE - Elliot Bay Book Co. 

Home to thousands of volumes and many literary/author events, Elliot Bay Book co. is Seattle's must-visit independent bookstore and is the quintessential perfect neighborhood bookstore. From the outside, it looks a bit like an abandoned cement warehouse, but once you step inside you get transported into a bookish wonderland. It looks and feels like someone crammed a cozy winter lodge full of books, a cafe, a second floor filled with even more books, and plenty of comfy chairs for reading. One of my favorite features was the Staff's pick and local interest/local authors shelf along with their sizable music and discount book section.

SEATTLE - Seattle Mystery Bookshop

What kind of a mystery fan would I be if I went to Seattle and didn't stop by their indie mystery store? Out of all the bookstores I visited this one was probably my favorite. The store it's is tucked away from the street and is only one room but it is amazing! they have bookshelves stuffed with every type of mystery book you could ask for. From noir to cozy, you name it, they have it. The only thing better than their selections were the booksellers who are extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and huge mystery fans themselves. They were down to chat, offer recommendations and put up with my endless questions and requests ( 'I want a fair play historical mystery set during the Klondike rush please!') This place won a special place in my list of favorites and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good whodunnit.

SAN FRANCISCO -  City Light Books

This bookstore is a landmark of the San Francisco literary scene. City Light Books is a bookstore and publisher that specializes in poetry, world literature, and progressive politics literature. It was founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin, and soon became a center of the city's beatnik scene. Today it boasts 3 floors of tall shelves stuffed with books and is particularly known for publishing the pocket poets series, and for its well followed podcast and blog. The store is dizzying in both its selections and the height of their bookshelves. 

SANTA CRUZ - Logos Books & Records 

This bookstore looks deceptively small from the outside but actually a huge two stories full of new and used books, and records. When you walk in you'll see some stairs that lead down to a 'pit' i.e. the lower level where the bulk of the books are and where you can spend hours browsing. My favorite part was the impressive selection of vintage fantasy and science fiction books with those wonderful weird pulpy covers from which I had to be dragged away from kicking and screaming. I apologize for not having a picture for this one. I was carrying an armful of books and couldn't hold my phone up, but take my work for it, it's great!