What's Your Favorite Bookstore?

[arwalden]

Both kinds... 'online' or the 'brick-and-mortar' variety.

I'm partial to Amazon.com for most stuff (especially DVD's) but for the gotta-have-it-today stuff, I like to visit Barnes & Noble and "Books a Million".

I used to manage a Waldenbooks in a mall... and after TOO MANY years of pushing (pushing pushing) that damn $10 "Preferred Reader" card, I really don't like going back in there anymore.

-- Allen

[GOPisEvil]

1. Independent, baby! BookPeople here in Austin!

As big as the mega-chains, but still independent.

Monkeywrench Books here caters to the more "revolutionary" materials, and they have great anti-* stuff, too.

[Richardo]

4. The Tattered Cover in Denver is also a huge, but indy store...

I miss that place! :cry:

Richardo <--- (currently P/T at B&N, which is not bad, either)

[corporatewhore]

9. those two are on my list aswell as Book Woman

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. HALF.COM or the strand

[corporatewhore]

3. BookWoman,BookPeople,Monkey WrenchBooks

I can count on them for providing books that the big box bookstores wont

[veganwitch]

5. politics and prose here in dc

and the infoshop.

and second story books is a great used bookstore down by dupont.

i do use amazon to get book reviews and such but will not and do not buy from there.

[felonious thunk]

6. Politics and Prose

Great bookstore in NW DC. I used to live across the street from it, and saw many authors on their book tours.

http://www.politics-prose.com/

Although if I lived in Portland, I'd probably go to Powells every single day.

[arwalden]

8. Whenever I Get Into DC, I Do Like Visiting "Lambda Rising"...

... the mainstream stores seem to have a VERY limited selection gay and lesbian section.

-- Allen

[thom1102]

28. I LOVE Lamda Rising...

There is a similar store in Boston that I always visit when I am there. I always buy something, even if it is just a little something.

[arwalden]

31. Same Here... Even If It's Just A Rainbow Sticker To Replace The Faded One

on my car's bumper.
-- Allen

[BurtWorm]

14. Love Politics and Prose

especially their children's section. :thumbsup:

[northzax]

19. so many...

Politics and Prose, Olsens, KramerBooks (the store subpeonaed for Monica's books)

And of course, the hometown Powell's and Annie Bloom's.

[cmf]

7. Powell's in Portland, Oregon

The best bookstore hands down. It's huge. I could spend all weekend there.

[scarlet_owl]

10. Jane Addams here in Champaign.

[Ysabel]

33. hey...!

i've been there - owner is a friend - i grew up there...

[grannylib]

11. Cheapo's...used stuff. Also would love to get locked into B&N overnight

[Kathy in Cambridge]

12. Harvard Book Store and Wordsworth, both in Harvard Square

The owner of the Harvard Book Store won't comly with Patriot act-he spoke at a rally in Faneuil Hall when Ashcroft appeared.

http://www.harvard.com/

http://ishop.wordsworth.com/home/mainpage.asp?sessionID=ww1725247607313&from=wordsworth

[sir_captain]

36. Both great stores

I heard Groliers is closing?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

48. The guy who owns it is retiring

I think he's like 90!

[pagerbear]

13. A Different Light, may it rest in peace

[Rowdyboy]

15. Local independent....Lemuria...one of the finest

bookstores in the south. Second favorite: Tattered Cover in Denver (visited while on a conference). It is HUGE, multistoried, with books sitting naturally on shelves, comfortable sofas, plush chairs; its like a private library and it SMELLS like books!

[arwalden]

26. I Love That Book-Smell Too

Weird, huh?

-- Allen

[SOteric]

16. abebooks.com, for used online and rare title searches, -

and Twice Sold Tales & the Couth Buzzard for used local.

I also make a semi-annual pilgrimage to Powells in Portland.

[terrya]

17. Unabridged Books here in Chicago.

We used to have a gay bookstore, People Like Us, but it closed several years ago.

Unabridged Books is the closest Chicago has to a gay bookstore. They have a very good selection of everything, actually.

Terry

[no_hypocrisy]

18. Strands in lower Manhattan. Eight miles (allegedly) of books, especially

out-of-print editions.

[BurtWorm]

21. I love the Strand. (And other NYC indies)

Also love Book Court on Court St. in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, and Corner Books on the corner of Madison and 92nd (?). And in my neighborhood Ivy's Books, Labyrinth and Bank Street Bookstore (superb all childrens' and teachers' bookstore near Columbia U.).

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. bluestocking

[Blue-Jay]

22. I love me some Amazon.com!

Aside from that, I get most of my books from an indie store in Yellow Springs; Dark Star Bookstore. They're great on new and used books. If they don't have it, they'll get it. I don't mind paying a little extra for new books as long as I'm supporting a local business. Plus, the owner is a tree-hugging, Dem-voting, protest-marching Liberal. I like that in a person.

[bif]

23. What's the one in London?

That claims to be the world's biggest bookstore? That place was very cool. About 8 floors of books as I recall.

[CPschem]

24. Kramerbooks- here in DC

the cafe in the store is great too... 18 beers on tap!

[Blue-Jay]

25. Beer and books in the same joint?!?!?!

Sounds like heaven to me!

[CPschem]

29. yup... it's amazing

they have great beers, delicious food, live music, and they're open all night long fri-sunday.

[arwalden]

56. Sounds Like A Winner!

[kayell]

53. Ooooh, I love that place

I used to love going there when I lived near DC. Do they still have live music on weekends?

Heaven - books, beer, food, music.....aaah.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

27. A Likely Story

a children's bookstore in Alexandria, VA. A perfect place to foster reading. However, in all my visits I don't think I've ever seen a non-Caucasian in there despite the fact that there's a predominately African-American elementary school a block over.

[zbdent]

30. Independent - "The Bookstore on West 25th" (formerly Six Steps Down)

Honest, that's its name.

However, I really like the book section in "Unique Thrift Shop" nearby. Uneven at best, I purchased "Leadership" by Rudy Giuliani for 2 bucks, a bunch of political books for a quarter apiece, my collection of "World Almanac and Book of Facts" (nearly complete from 1967-2000; also 1948 & 1943), and a bunch of other stuff.

[Wonco_the_Sane]

32. Half Price Books...or...The Book Loft

http://www.halfpricebooks.com/

Great great deals (paperback used 1/2 off cover price) Big big store.

http://www.bookloft.com/indexd.htm

Just plain super-cool. renovated old building in Columbus' German Village...surrounded by requisite coffee shops bars etc.

[Lindsey]

34. Midnight Special in Santa Monica..

I'm getting tired of Barnes & Noble and Borders (they don't seem quite as bad) putting the right wing books (Hannity, Colter, Schlessinger, etc.) front and center. I'm a book store junkie so when I find myself in a Barnes & Noble, I will very discreetly completely change the display-I mean completely! ...just doin' my part :-)

[skippysmom]

35. I do that too

But I'll browse any bookstore, anywhere.

[Bridget Burke]

37. Half Price Books is great....

Many new books & some used. Several branches in Houston--the new one on Westheimer at Montrose is my favorite.

Houston has poor pickings for independant book stores. Brazos Books is the main one but they pride themselves on keeping their selection minimal. Decent numbers of "literary" books but they get a bit snobby if you want to order something. So I do Amazon.com--shoot me.

On my very first, very short, visit to San Francisco I made a beeline for City Lights. They have serious artistic credentials but also stack the books high.

[UnAmericanJoe]

58. I worked at Half Price Books for like 4 years.

[Red_Storm]

38. In NYC ..........

St. Marks Book Shop - good selection of political,literary and other books you wouldn't find in the big chains

Coliseum Books - independent store, great selection of fiction, philosophy and political books

[BurtWorm]

40. Have you been to the new Coliseum near Bryant Park?

Is it as good as the old one near Columbus Circle?

[Red_Storm]

41. No, I haven't been to that one.......I always go the one near CC....

I'll definitely check it out soon.......

[BurtWorm]

42. You know the old one is defunct, alas.

The one that actually was near the Coliseum, which is also defunct. :crazy:

[Red_Storm]

43. yep

Also, The Strand........can't forget that one, the original store not the one on Fulton Street.....

[BurtWorm]

44. There's still a Strand on 12th and Broadway, though.

I thought that was the original. I was just in there two or three weeks ago.

[Red_Storm]

45. yeah, that's the original one.......

[Red_Storm]

47. yeah, that's the original one.........

that's the one i'm refering to........I don't really go there as often as I used to, it gets too crowded and crazy in there and it's not very roomy as it is.....

[Endangered Specie]

39. 2nd hand books

[Burma Jones]

46. Olsson's and Amazon

[ludwigb]

49. Powells

in downtown Portland, OR. No contest.

[Spider Jerusalem]

50. A Capella Books in Atlanta.

Excellent selection of used and new books. Everything from signed first editions to brand new paperbacks. Not quite "mainstream", aznd not a place where you're likely to find the latest bestsellers, but they have an eclectic selection of good literary fiction, sci-fi and nonfiction. One of the few bookstores I can think of where I want to buy almost everything they have.

http://www.abebooks.com/home/ACAPPELLA/

[Westegg]

51. In L.A.: Dutton's Brentwood. In NYC: The Strand

The Strand's $1 outdoor book shelves are so fine. There are always a couple books I either really want, or just decide I absolutely need (hell, for a buck...). Recent purchases include "The Golden Bough," "Paradise Lost," "Soul On Ice" and "Modern Waterfowl Hunting." Total cost: $4.

[kayell]

52. Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe

Asheville, NC

tied with

Kramerbooks & Afterwards Cafe, Washington, DC

And a honorary mention to Lammas Women's Bookstore in DC

[Fleshdancer]

54. Bookpeople in Austin n/t

[DEM FAN]

55. Barnes & Noble. Books A million.

:-)

[TheMightyFavog]

61. Green Bay Barnes & Noble The Evil Bookstore....

It calls to me every time I go to Green Bay.

[non sociopath skin]

57. Carmichael's, Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY...

... has a great selection of books, all the major left and arts magazines and cool badges.

As if that wasn't enough, it has a branch of the World's Best Coffee Houses, Heine Brothers, in the same building (man, their iced cappacino gets you there!), a great outdoors seating area and Ramsi's Restaurant next door.

And, in Summer, they sit on the steps and jam.

And Ear Xtacy records is nearby..

And Graeter's ice cream parlour..

WAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! I WANNA GO BACK TO MY OLD KENTUCKY ADOPTED HOME!!!!

http://louisville.com/loumag/jan/books.htm

The Skin, y'all.

[TheMightyFavog]

59. Nice little Independent new/used bookstore on 1st Street in menominee,MI

Called Aurora Books, great place. Great liberal owners, they have NPR on all the time, have haven't seen to many books by Hannity, O'Really, Savage Wiener, or Ann the Man, etc. but I've seen plenty of works by Franken, Hightower, Carville, etc... I buy my Aubrey/Maturin Novels from them because they have such a great selection.

They had a nice first editon of Heinlein's Have Space Suit, Will Travel for over 200 bucks, just like the one my Grade School Library had! Man, I wish i had the dosh for that book.

[adriennel]

60. support my partner

and shop at Borders or Waldenbooks! he buys for them : )
here in MI (Borders-country) we never shop B&N or BAM.
I use Amazon frequently (free shipping and discounts are hard to beat)much to the dismay of my partner
I also love independents and always, always purchase something from them.