Books in New York
Powerhouse Arena on 37 Main Street (Brooklyn, NY 11201) is my favourite bookstore in New York so far, and I’ve only been to New York twice. My friend Pete and I stumbled into it when we were out exploring Brooklyn one hot Saturday afternoon in September and we stayed for a little more than a while because it was deliciously air-conditioned and there was free wifi there.
That was last September. This May when I went, of course I had to go to Powerhouse Arena. Both trips, I didn’t actually buy any books even though I was so tempted to because books are rather heavy to lug around and this May, all I had was a cabin trolley and a shoulder bag to last me some 12 days across New York, Santa Fe and LA (I had to launder my clothes!)
But because I did have to buy something, because I really wanted to buy something form Powerhouse Arena, I bought this:
This is a reminder to myself that I need to follow heart in every area of my life.
I love the spaciousness of the book store, and how everything looks sort of warehousey. I love that there aren’t tall book shelves preventing me from seeing way back into the store. I love the “all about New York” section where there are books on markts (flea, farmers’) in New York, fiction set in New York. I love how I feel at ease browsing. Had I more time, money and suitcase space, I’d definitely have made more of a purchase. Still, the number of books on my book shelf is ever increasing, still. (And I’m waiting for my new book, Kitchen Coquette which should be delivered to me any day now!)
Here’s another bookstore in the Dumbo vicinity:
P.S. Bookstore 76 Front Street (Brooklyn, NY 11201). We didn’t spend much time in this bookstore as we’d spent all our time in Powerhouse Arena.
And another:
Bluestockings - and it says on their website “book store, fair trade cafe, activist center.” 172 Allen Street (between Stanton and Rivington, +1 212 777 6028).
