My wife and I search out new book stores to visit during our travels.: I enjoy history and it’s fascinating to read older books that describe an event based on contemporary knowledge of events rather than an up-to-date interpretation. I think my wife enjoys this, though probably not necessarily a destination for her that it is for me.
We do have favorites: The Strand in New York City, Foyles and Waterstones in London, Prairie Lights in Iowa City. Even the (somewhat) tourist trap Shakespeare and Company in Paris is fun. Minneapolis and St. Paul, in my opinion, don’t have bookstores on the same level (though an occasional visit to Magers and Quinn in Uptown is a capable substitute), therefore finding new gems in new(ish) locales is always fun.
This summer’s travels found us discovering two new bookstores that we hadn’t previously known of and look forward to our next visit.
Portland
I have seen a bookstore as large as Powell’s. It’s so big that you are directed by colors to find different genre. So big that even though my wife and I required phones to triangulate even though we were in the same color zone. Almost too big to imagine.
In particular, I was surprised by the unexpected antique books on the shelves, e.g. the 1898 John L Stoddard’s Lectures, Vol. VII: The Rhine, Belgium, Holland, Mexico, or the Grolier Society’s 1932 Lands and Peoples: The World In Color. Fortunately, I can’t just drop in on a whim as I live over 1700 miles away; otherwise Powell’s would be that constant reminder of the books I don’t – and perhaps shouldn’t – own. Definitely worth spending an afternoon when you have the time. Unfortunately, we arrived late afternoon and the store was closing within the hour.
Los Angeles
Located in an old bank near the financial district in Los Angeles, The Last Bookstore is fun and whimsical with – duh – a lot of books. A tunnel made of books. Wavy walls and bookshelves at unexpected angles. A “window” in a wall of books. The bank’s vaults now holding rare books. Yes, it’s a bookstore, but unlike any other bookstore.
The first floor has used records for sale, and the Springs Arts Collective on the second floor allows artists to show and sell their work.
Though no where near the size of Powell’s, it still has plenty of areas to dig in and spend a weekend afternoon exploring.
Image Credits
- Powell Books #1: “Powell’s Books, Portland” by Scarlet Sappho is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
- Powell Bools #2: “Powell’s Books” by ChrisYunker is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
- All other images © 2023 Scott C Sosna
