Local Bookstores

Powell’s City of Books (Google Maps) on West Burnside Street lives up to the hype as Portland’s most famous bookstore. A must-see experience since 1980 with multiple floors and 6,300 square meters of shelves. It squats on an entire city block in the Pearl District (which sports many restaurants and shops), meaning you can squander more than a lovely afternoon here.

Another fun experience, Wallace Books on Milwaukie Avenue in Sellwood (Google Maps) crams books floor-to-ceiling with bowed shelves laden with bookworm gems. Looking for something particular, then you need to ask the great staff, otherwise, just meander through the rooms and take in the sight.

A recent addition to our frequented haunts, Mother Foucault’s Bookshop on Morrison Street (Google Maps) specializes in philosophy books. You might enjoy their reading and music events (click the calendar link on their website: motherfoucaultsbookshop.com).

Other honorable mentions:

• The Green Bean specializes in kids books
• Annie Bloom’s has a great selection of cookbooks
• Third Eye Books has a focus on Black authors

Oh, In Other Words, the inspiration behind the Women and Women First episodes of Portlandia, closed a few years ago.