A Day in the City

{Across the street}

Yesterday, I visited The Strand Bookstore on the corner of 12th Street and Broadway in New York City for the first time. I first heard about the store when I was reading Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, but at the time I thought it was only just a unique, fictional, book setting - a made-up place. But then, upon my return to school from spring break, a friend of mine was carrying her belongings in one The Strand's popular canvas tote bags. She proceeded to tell me she went there with her cousin on the time off, and said I "just had to go." And so I did.

{View from the stairs}

As the sign outside proudly states, The Strand boasts 18 miles of books spread out on three floors. The first concentrating on fiction and new arrivals, the second on Children's and art books, and the third level houses their acclaimed Rare Book Collection.

 

 {Books, books, books!}

The "Staff Picks" table was one of the many tables on the main floor. Some of the most interesting ones highlighted books "Inspired by the Jazz Age", "Beach Reads" or "Summer Romance".

 

{On the third floor}

In the Rare Book Collection, shoppers can find  the first volume, first edition, of many famous books, including novels by Jane Austen, J.D Salinger, and John Steinbeck.

{Sidewalk sale}

The sidewalk outside the store seemed to be just as busy as the inside. Many people were browsing the carts filled with used books advertised as "cheaper than the e-book". It is so great to see a place like this still surviving in a predominately digital world. The Strand also holds regular events such as book signings, meet and greets, etc.

 

 {Me looking very happy!}

Overall, The Strand was everything that I had read about and more. Such a cool place for tourists and book-lovers alike!

 

{What I came home with}