The Last Bookstore
7 Apr 2014
A quick note: we have our 24-week appointment on Monday, so I will write a pregnancy update on Tuesday when we have new information! Today I want to show you one of the awesome places we went this weekend. I constructed this whole date out of fun things to see in downtown LA: Grand Central Market, The Last Bookstore, the fashion district (really the fabric district), and the flower district. I wore Eric out! But we had a great time. I want to share a lot more about it, but this bookstore deserves its own post. It was so amazingly inspiring. The building was originally a bank, and the huge columns and vault doors are still in place. What is it that makes something that’s been repurposed for something else so charming? Maybe we just like to imagine the people whose heels once clicked on these floors as they came in to make deposits.
It’s a gargantuan bookstore full of well-priced treasures, but honestly my favorite part was the book art. Just look at this beauty.
Upstairs there are more books, a yarn shop, and a collection of artist’s galleries. I know! I was pinching myself too.
This is a fantastic thing for a book lover to lay her eyes on: 100,000 one-dollar books?!
A book window!
And a book tunnel!
Part of the one-dollar book room is organized in rainbow colors. Magpie’s delight!
I love that they have art galleries. Lots of impressive stuff.
But the yarn shop was my favorite, of course.
I feel quite confident that I could have spent an entire day here. The book desk at the checkout made me very reluctant to leave indeed.
As did the cozy leather armchairs.
And this lovely display in the building’s entrance. I am so happy that I randomly saw a picture of this bookstore in Los Angeles magazine. (If you’re at all local, it’s totally a great buy: $10 for 12 issues, each of which unfailingly introduces us to something cool in LA that we had no idea about. And the articles are pretty interesting too.) More downtown delights to come!
Apr 07, 2014 @ 06:10:31
This is INSANELY FABULOUS!!!! Now I know where to get a job. Right there. Doing whatever they say. Because I would never leave.
Apr 07, 2014 @ 21:45:31
I know! It is a home and safe haven for all book lovers. And, funnily enough, it says on their site that they are hiring!!
Apr 07, 2014 @ 07:38:57
Wow you can tell that the people that opened this store didn’t just love books, they loved to be creative with books. What a cool store and a wonderful find.
Apr 07, 2014 @ 21:45:54
Yeah! Good to know there are treasures like that, just waiting to be found:)
Apr 07, 2014 @ 19:44:50
ohmygosh!ohmygosh!ohmygosh! I might just have drive to southern Cali JUST to visit this bookshop. Seriously…I think I’m in love! I just want to look around there all day! Beautiful!
Apr 07, 2014 @ 21:46:35
It is really pretty amazing, I must say! You would love it! I would really like to have one of those galleries someday…can you imagine creating art in such a magnificent space?!
Apr 08, 2014 @ 12:27:37
What an incredible place! Beautiful.
Apr 08, 2014 @ 22:03:14
Thank you commenting! Yes, it is terrifically awesome!
Apr 09, 2014 @ 14:59:51
Whoa, Nellie!! What an amazing space! I think several of us could go on sabbatical there. š Shall I pencil it in??
Apr 10, 2014 @ 21:44:43
Oh, yes! Great idea!
Apr 10, 2014 @ 13:58:35
I want to go here. No, I *need* to go here. We keep talking about taking a road trip south, but things keep getting in the way….Maybe this will finally spur us (or me) to action! š
Apr 10, 2014 @ 21:54:00
Yes yes yes, you would love it! And I would love it if you came down to visit! We no longer have a guest bed (only a crib!), but you’re welcome to stay with us if you don’t mind the air mattress or couch! That is, before the baby comes. After the baby comes, it probably won’t be the most restful place to stay! But seriously, if not a visit, we must at least have a Skype date soon!
Apr 11, 2014 @ 16:08:36
Agreed about the skype date! When do you leave for Hawaii? K’s parents are here for Easter (not this Sunday, but next)…Maybe after both of these things? š
Apr 14, 2014 @ 22:55:51
Yes, would love to! There is so much to catch up on! We leave on the 24th, so we could do early the week after Easter or after Hawaii–whichever is better for you! š
Downtown Los Angeles
Apr 11, 2014 @ 03:03:20
[…] from our DTLA date last weekend. I had so much fun mapping routes from Grand Central Market to The Last Bookstore and then on down to the fashion district and the flower district. What can I say, I’m a […]