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As a book nerd, I’m always looking for places to get my fix. High Valley Books in Greenpoint is amazing to behold. It’s open by appointment only and is located in the owner’s home. It specializes in vintage and out-of-print art and design books and magazines. Make sure to go downstairs so you can feel like a hobbit in your perfect, overflowing book lair! Their Instagram features pics of visitors, and is a good chance to see what cool-kids-about-town have been there recently.
Sep 18, 2024
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High Valley Books is Bill Hall’s vast collection of rare and out of print books and magazines spanning fashion, art, architecture, interiors, photography, and fiction. It is run out of his Greenpoint basement (and now upstairs annex). My girlfriend Hannah is a writer and former bookseller who put me on to his place when she found a great copy of The Last Whole Earth Catalogue for me a couple years ago, and we’ve had the pleasure of experiencing Bill’s hospitality and deep knowledge on a few occasions since then. They have an online store if you’re not in NY and their “New Releases” email is one of the few recurring retail emails I would recommend subscribing to.
Dec 7, 2021
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Molasses Books (Bushwick) - I always find something good here. They have a tiny little bar so you can get coffee, tea, beer or wine. Always a nice ambiance
Honeymoon Coffee (Ridgewood) - their books are curated by Molasses so it’s a nice selection & the coffee/treats are good
Topos Bookstore (Ridgewood) - great selection of books, though I find more at Molasses typically. They also have coffee/tea! Cute outdoor seating area
Aeon Books (LES/Chinatown) - maybe my favorite bookstore. Lovely selection of old and new. They also have a little corner with records for sale (Found a cool Francis Bebey record there once)
Dashwood Bookstore (NOHO I guess?) - owner is so sweet & the photo book selection is incredible
Mar 9, 2024
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I love record stores and the discovery that happens when old stock mixes with new. More recently I've been getting deeper into art books and love buying books for people as gifts. NYC has a great community of shops like Karma and Mast, and there’s a gaggle of independent vendors that work the fairs like the Printed Matter MoMA PS1 Art Book Fair. I started going to the fairs a few years ago. They are like record fairs but even crustier in some ways, full of curmudgeons and characters. Check The Booksellers documentary for a nice slice of this world. I have met a few dealers and developed some rapport, one of which is Jeff Hirsch Books in Illinois, which has an incredible inventory and their sales emails are one of my favorites of all types. Even if you don’t buy, you learn something.
Apr 6, 2021
Top Recs from @wethrowshapes
A British TV show wherein 5 comedians per season complete oddball tasks set by the show’s hosts, comedian Greg Davies and his sidekick Little Alex Horne, who is mastermind of the whole shebang. It takes a bit of effort to get into it, but once you do, nothing will ever seem funnier. There are technically points awarded and winners and stuff, but it’s really all an exercise in glorious absurdity.
Sep 18, 2024
One of Brooklyn's best drag shows, co-hosted by the hilarious iconic duo Qhrist Almighty and Sherry Poppins. They frequently switch up performers and let newbies have a go too, which always makes for a really exciting, dynamic experience. I once saw a drag queen called Baby get her ass tattooed live onstage there <3
Sep 18, 2024
The mighty NTS radio has so much to offer to lovers of all genres of music. One of my favourite shows is The Large, an NYC-based Brit who is always up on the latest dancehall, reggaeton, amapiano, afrobeats and more. If that’s your bag, get into it.
Sep 18, 2024