Friday, November 14, 2008

Three Lives & Co.


Three Lives & Co., in the heart of the West Village (across from the landmark Northern Dispensary) is what all local bookstores should be. Crickety and well worn, its cozy shelves are filled with unusual volumes, as well a swell NY only section. Titles by Joseph Mitchell, Philip Lopate and New Yorker regulars stand next to children's books and cookbooks. And the workers maintain a chilled attitude.
Do you have a favorite local bookstore?

19 comments:

Virginia said...

KM,
I don't understand, "chilled attitude". Do you mean "chilly" as in French attitude?HA or "chilled' as in chilled out or laid back? Either way, this does look crickety ( a great word by the way) and cozy. I would like to wander the aisles. And it does look very French to moi!

Anonymous said...

This is my Tiffany's. So charming, looks like something out of Dickens. In So Cal, we've lost a lot of our great independents (chains aren't doing too well either). Vvromans in Pasadena is a favorite, though they're really big on the Hallmark type stuff. Used to be a great one in Los Feliz called Chattertons.

I'm going to show my ignorance, buy whose three lives are Three Lives?

Ken Mac said...

ThreeLives.com doesn't explain whose 3 lives this is, but it does say: THREE LIVES is an anachronism.
It is the shop around the corner.

A touchstone in a neighborhood.

A place with a human face and a cast of characters.

84 Charing Cross Road colored by the time and place.

A haven for people who read.

Uma por Dia said...

Mine favourite its not in NY, but could be.
I like FNAC here for regular book shopping, children and BD; Bulhosa for tecnical books for school and old book stores for sales and good findings.

Wayne said...

There aren't too many independents left in Vancouver. There are no Borders or Barnes and Noble but the national chain is Chapters/Indigo and they managed to wipe out many small booksellers from one end of the country to the other.

Duthie's is probably the biggest independent left but it's an antiseptic sort of place. For atmosphere and selection I'd go with a store like Elliott Bay Books in Seattle or Powell's in Portalnd, OR.

marley said...

What a cool little place. Very nice.

Hilda said...

I love everything about this bookstore — the name, the red door, the dark wood and warm lighting!

No particular favorite bookstore. I love all bookstores! ;D

Just noticed your new avatar — who is it? Sorry if that's a silly question.

Hope said...

This looks to be the perfect bookshop....you are so lucky to be about to browse books in this charming little place.

Jane Hards Photography said...

A haven for people who read. That does it for me. Better than the bland faceless, not at all chilled staff book chainstores. Favourite closed down many years ago, but it was a lot like this.

Laurie Allee said...

I could lose my mind in this book store! Altadena is right about our neck of the book reading woods, so many great independents are now gone. I love Vromans in Pasadena, and Chattertons was great in Los Feliz. I remember that ornery grey cat who prowled around the stacks and hissed at people. Small World Books is wonderful in Venice Beach -- I've always found odd local/small press authors there. I don't think Midnight Special is in Santa Monica anymore, either. South Pas has the best mystery bookstore called Book Em but even the great Book House used bookstore is now gone. Barnes Noble is fine, but I love stores like this one in your shot. So much soul there.

Anonymous said...

I also recall a great indoor/outdoor bookstore in Ojai. Yes, they actually had shelves and shelves of books in a large outdoor room. Pretty sure it went the way of many indies -- maybe four years ago or so.

sonia a. mascaro said...

What a nice bookstore, Ken!
It's a very charming and looks very NY for me. I would like to know very well English and be there, with many books around...
Love the photo, it's very special!

-K- said...

I'm lucky enough to live a leisurely 20 minute walk from Book Soup on Sunset Strip (of all places). Good up-to-the-minute selection, knowledgeable staff and without the "woe is me, I work in a bookstore" attitude.

Wayne said...

I was going to mention Book Soup too. I've been there a couple of times. It's one of the most memorable bookstores I've visited.

dianasfaria.com said...

I love this book store, definitely one of my favorites, & The Strand of course too!

Brooks of Sheffield said...

One of the best and best-looking bookstore in the City.

Sterl the Pearl's Daily Pics of Boulder said...

I lived on Barrow St nearby this shop for years and used to go in there all the time! I tried to only buy books from them versus the big stores. I love that whole neighborhood!

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