Left Bank is a great destination bookstore for art books, zines, and ephemera (it's actually one of my favorite stores in NYC, period). I just discovered these digital catalogs they've been sharing on their website and it sent me down a rabbit hole. the kate bush fanzines one is a favorite as is "shirt show."
a chaotic used bookstore in seattle that will barter with you on a good day. owner/operator is absolutely nuts (compliment). cannot miss this next time you're in the *checks notes* emerald city(?)
They just moved into a new store and it's beautiful. Books lying everywhere, eclectic selection, literature focused, great selection of spanish and french books, plus there's a big old table to sit back and read.
are you also annoyed as fuck that when you google something you get an AI generated response?
next time search for something with
"-ai" at the end of your search and you won't get it
my favorite thing I discovered recently
my friend was visiting and asked me to help her with the merch booth she was working. and it brought me so much joy.
in these current horrors, help your friends.
you know what other things bring joy to my life? going grocery shopping with my friends. driving people to the airport. reading books beside each other in coffee shops. helping someone find an obscure pepper paste in town. selling shirts at a country show. trying to find an obscure theory book together for book club. sitting on someone's kitchen floor while they do dishes.
you can't complain about the lack of community you experience without being apart of your immediate community, the small things happen to be the most fun and rewarding things to be a part of. support your loved ones.