Anyway, one thing on our to do list was visit Powell's City of Books! Sadly, I had no idea this bookstore existed last time we were in the area (15 years ago.) But this time, I knew and I went!
They said I'd be overwhelmed and boy, were they ever right! Wow. I can't even describe it, but I'll try. It's huge. There's a ton of books. Everything is organized by room, with different topics and sorts of books in all the different rooms, color coded, three or four levels (I don't even know, I didn't get that far!) Used books and new books all mixed up together.
And tons and tons of people! It was crazy crowded.
Anyway, we took pictures:
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| Here's the corner of the building as we approached. |
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| The main sign. |
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| The list of where to find things. |
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| Looking down over into the kids/YA room... of which this is just a tiny tiny part! |
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| The stacks. |
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| And stacks. |
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| Just one shelf of Sense and Sensibility. The Jane Austen section was huge. |
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| Me and my son posing in the fiction room . I've got my little stack to buy, he's got some manga in his. (Also, you can't see it here, but he's wearing his Dr. Who shirt and got tons of comments all throughout the store. Then we found they even have a whole Dr. Who section!) |
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| In line, I'm pondering the t shirt options. |
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| And this is the t shirt I ended up with. :) |
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| And the books I bought for myself... I'll be meeting Jonathan Maberry on Sat. The other one was a used one in the Printz section, and I think this guy is married to Robin McKinley. I'm curious! Then we got the manga book for my son, and The Mark of Athena for my daughter. |
Have you been to this book store? How would you describe your experience?
Oh my! Color me jealous, that looks like a glorious place to hang out :)
ReplyDeleteJennifer: I needed more time!
DeleteLooks like heaven!
ReplyDeleteMegan: Yep, it was!
Deleteah! you made me so homesick! we lived in Portland (well Sean worked & I schooled in and we lived just outside of) for 3 years and left kicking and screaming...
ReplyDeletePowell's is fantastic and I am so glad you managed a visit. I love all the ups and downs and throughs and they've a great collection and prices so dropping by was only wise if I had a couple of dollars on me. It is also so flavorful with all the people who browse there. It feels gloriously urban and indie. There is this wonderful delicatessen very near there, Kenny and Zuke's, which is beside a Stumptown Roasters. something to recommend for your next visit.
~L (omphaloskepsis)
L: I agree with the flavorful feel there. Loved it. Ah, I wish I'd known of your food rec... we ended up asking some random dude that was there (at Powell's ) where to eat and he sent us to Henry's Tavern... which turned out really awesome too.
DeleteI could spend hours and hours in there! So jealous!!
ReplyDeleteSuzy: Next time, I'm going with a list!
DeleteI never knew this bookstore existed. I'll have to check it out when I'm in the area. It looks like fun!
ReplyDeleteJenni: Will you be in the area sometime in the future?
DeleteI've been too! Isn't it incredible! I wish I'd had days to explore it.
ReplyDeleteMelissa: My kids actually said, "lets go back!" and now I wish we would have!
DeleteI have been wanting to go to Powell's forever! Lucky :) Reminds me of my one and only trip to The Strand in NY - so, so huge!
ReplyDeleteMelissa: And when I was in in New York years ago, did we go to The Strand? No... next time!
DeleteI have not been there yet I went to college in Eugene (just 2 hours south) for four years! How did that happen???? I hope to visit someday soon. Sounds like I need to spend about two days there!
ReplyDeleteJenners: We drove through Eugene on our way home. Yes, that is not far and WHY didn't you ever go? Silly!!
DeleteI just recently heard of this store. I need to go to Portland NOW! Wow! Looks like the kind of place I'll need to go by myself, as my friends would all get bored within 30 minutes and I'd want to stay for hours and hours. :) The pics are wonderful, thanks!
ReplyDeleteKara: Add it to your list!
DeleteI've been to this bookstore once! And while I was told it was the best and biggest bookstore ever, I was not prepared for it's awesomeness! And therefore, we did not give ourselves enough time to properly look through it. I didn't end up buying anything, mostly because I was so overwhelmed in the short time I had in it :( I would love to go back some day!
ReplyDeleteBrie: I was overwhelmed too, and was glad to have figured out at least "something" to buy. Like I said, next time, I make a list...
DeleteI grew up near Portland (in the Columbia River Gorge - did you drive through there on your trip??), but I've only been to Powell's once. I remember being overwhelmed ... and loving it! Bookstores are the best :)
ReplyDeleteSusan: Yes we did drive there... lucky you! So beautiful!
DeleteLooks totally awesome! I've decided I need to make more of an effort to check out bookstores when I travel.
ReplyDeleteAhhh!!! So jealous! I've never been but so want to! That's the kind of place I want to spend and entire day (or more) just wandering around in.
ReplyDeletePowell's feels like my home bookstore. I'm so jealous of your visit.
ReplyDeleteBeen there! Loved it! Can't wait to get back! (Or, if I'm lucky live close to it someday!)
ReplyDeleteOkay...book trip envy. I foresee a trip to the Pacific Northwest coming on now. And to think I was content until I saw this post.
ReplyDeleteYou rock!