AAR

[willaful]

... it's a helluva town -- and my husband and I are going there on our second honeymoon! My mom is staying with our son. Knock wood!

Someone tell me where all the great used bookstores are, please! And what else we shouldn't miss.
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"I say, don't read the classics -- try to discover your own classics; every life has its own." -- Rudolf Flesch, _How to Make Sense_

[JaneO]

Well, the great used book stores used to be congregated around West Fourth Street. The Strand is still there, but not much else. Bookstores, used or new, are vanishing all over the city, just as in the rest of the country.

It's painful.

But it's a great city anyway. Some of us think it's the center of the universe, but we try not to say so too often. People seem to take offense.

[robiform]

Willaful--the Strand is absolutely one of the greatest bookstores in the world! It's very easy to find if you're not familiar with NYC--it's on Broadway and 12th Street, just two blocks south of Union Square. You will see a cart filled with books outside the door--in my many visits to the store (beginning when I was a teenager visiting New York and my uncle took me there one Saturday morning) that cart has always been there, although of course, on each visit there have been different titles on it!

Aside from the miles of used books on the main floor and the very extensive collection of books about New York, my favorite part of the Strand is the basement. There are half-price reviewers' copies of new books (most of them never opened) on the shelves, but they are arranged alphabetically by author. Not to worry, one of the staff will assist if you are looking for a book, but don't know the author's name.

One drawback--if you're looking for romance novels, there just aren't that many. I think the only time I found a romance novel there was right after Mary Jo Putney's The Marriage Spell was published in hardcover.

And yes, they will ship if you show proof that you live outside a 50-mile radius of New York City. True story--the first time I went with the shipping option (I had 10 books in my shopping bag and I knew they wouldn't fit into my suitcase!), I told the clerk I wanted to ship my purchase. The clerk replied, "Yes ma'am, and which library are you shipping these to?" I immediately concluded that the guy was psychic because at the time I was a senior librarian at a public library!! When I asked him about his ESP abilities, he laughed and said that for the most part the only people who shipped were either librarians or library assistants!
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"Have fun storming the castle"--Miracle Max in "The Princess Bride"

[utoeid]

The Strand. You could spend 1/3 of your life there and never see everything they have but you can still find a Barnes and Noble here and there but unfortunately they are going the way of the great elephants. Which is stupid. You would think the city that never sleeps woule make sure that come heck or high water they woule attract 2 solid booksellers. Sad But have a great trip. That city is so magical.

[Susan/DC]

It's been a while since I went there, but the branch library across the street from the main 5th Avenue library (with its famous lions) has a small UBS on site. And the main library is well worth the visit; it's a gorgeous building with exhibit space (I've seen exhibits on early maps and Voltaire), a nice gift shop, and interesting history. See if you can get a tour or just wander by yourself.

[Charlotte McClain]

Okay, I was going to say The Strand, but since that's already been covered.... I would suggest trying to hit a Crumbs Bakeshop while you're there for the fantastic cupcakes.
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Angsty romance with scattered humor.
My Faux Website

[willaful]

Thanks folks, but my trip was back in October, no real need to resurrect this thread.
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"I say, don't read the classics -- try to discover your own classics; every life has its own." -- Rudolf Flesch, _How to Make Sense_

[Charlotte McClain]

That's what I get for not looked at the date on the OP.

But in that case, how was it?
_________________
Angsty romance with scattered humor.
My Faux Website