I felt like I really “made it” in New York when I realized I lived within walking distance of The Strand. I had read about the bookstore as a teenager and it was always my first stop to pick up used fashion books when I came down on weekend trips in college. When my office moved just a few blocks away, my Strand visit has become a frequent habit.
But, though likely the most famous, The Strand is of course not the only bookstore in New York. I recently watched The Booksellers, a movie about the rare book world in New York, and they mentioned in passing that there are 79 bookstores in Manhattan. I could not find a complete list—this one from the city government lists 75 in Manhattan. (There are also good bookstores in Brooklyn, but that is not my domain.)
I am making it my unofficial mission in 2023 to visit every bookstore in Manhattan. Excluding chain stores such as Barnes & Noble and comic book stores (also not my domain), I have been to 22/75 so far. So if you’re looking for some different bookstore recs, here are some of my favs:
Alabaster Bookshop in Gramercy. The last of the 4th Avenue second-hand booksellers, this is a sweet, small spot with an eclectic collection.
Yu & Me in Chinatown. They mostly focus on authors from Asia and of Asian descent. They have a really cute coffee bar inside and the vibe is very homey. When I was there, everyone seemed like they knew each other and there was an author event going on.
Shakespeare & Co. on the UWS. Technically this is a chain, with a few locations in other cities and around New York, but this is the location featured in When Harry Met Sally. They have a rather good selection of fiction and biographies, as well as a little cafe.
McNally Jackson in Soho. Maybe not so off the beaten path, this large bookstore has four locations. My pro tip is that the same owner also owns Goods for the Study, a really fun stationary shop. I got a membership card at Goods for the Study, which granted me a free notebook I had my eyes on, and now I get 10% off purchases at both stores.
Three Lives Bookstore in the West Village. A petite bookstore tucked into a corner space. A good stop on a West Village day.
Argosy Books in Midtown. This one is featured heavily in the documentary and is run by the three daughters of the original founder. It is an amazing destination for rare books. A good stop for serious collectors (of which I am not) and an equally good stop for navel gazers.
Updates on the bag project
A recap for those just joining: I am upcycling used designer bags and retrofitting them with bright linings and handles to create one of a kind pieces. I’m aiming to understand the New York supply chain and to work with tailors and cobblers here.
Big updates this week! I got my first bag back from the seamstress and I think it looks great! I’m still waiting for my labels to arrive, so I’m not ready to start selling anything yet. I’m also trying to figure out my marketing strategy, which so far has consisted of just walking around with the bag.
I am still trying different leather shops to see where I can get the best value. This mission took me to Chinatown, where a friend had recommended a cobbler. Upon arrival, the cobbler’s sign seemed to be connected to a residential apartment building. Disbelieving, I walked in and quickly texted my friend to confirm that this was, in fact, the right place. Assured that it was, I stood in the entryway and called out for the cobbler, to no avail. Certain that I was, at this point, breaking and entering (well, the door was open, so maybe just entering), I aborted my failed mission and will try to find this mysterious cobbler another day.
What’s on the bedside table
This week I have been reading Why the Museum Matters by Daniel H. Weiss, the President & CEO at the Met. I had the opportunity to introduce him at an event in the fall at the Yale Club and he was a great speaker with a clear view on the necessity for museums and how to conduct business in the 2020s. (He made the controversial decision to implement a required fee for tickets to the Met.) This quick read is part of the “Why X Matters” series from the Yale University Press.
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