On the corner of P Street and 20th St NW in Washington D.C., Second Story Books baits me with $0.50 cent and $4 dollar book carts outside its picture windows.  For the big, beefy bookworms, you can get six $4 books for $20.  Just down the block is my favorite Dupont coffee shop, Emissary (where I sit now, writing this).  The carts are an ever changing assortment of genres, and I get hooked every time.  My finds today:

• New Enlarged Pocket Anthology of Robert Frost’s Poems, With an introduction and commentary by Louis Untermeyer
• Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
• Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
• If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland
• The World of Pooh, The Complete WINNIE-THE-POOH and THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER by A.A. Milne  (The inscription inside reads: “To Bryan, Merry Christmas 1974”)

In my quest to get to know DC, explore new neighborhoods, and fill weekend afternoons when it has been too hot or too cold to spend a lot of time outside, I have sought bookstores.  So far this strategy, paired with my poor sense of direction, has led me to wander upon many of my favorite DC spots.  Without exception, I have found that DC bookstores are nearby to other neighborhood gems.

In my other quest to motivate frequent visits from friends and family (and be a better tour guide) I have started keeping notes on places I have visited and liked. Organized by neighborhood, and bookstore-based, I have added taglines and noted nearby destinations to aid in crafting itineraries, for both my visitors and myself.  Below are some highlights:

 Dupont Circle: 

Kramerbooks—its pricier, but you can drink beer while you browse.  Nearby: lots of food options, and a bar (Boardroom) where you can bring/order take out, play board games, and drink more beer.  Win-Win-Win, etc.

Second Story Books— $0.50 and $4 book carts outside, and everything (including rare and out-of-print) inside.  Nearby: Emissary (coffee/beer/wine and a lovely aesthetic) and Panas (empanadas). 

Capitol Hill/Eastern Market

Capital Hill Books—beautiful chaos of floor-to-ceiling books, with a dab of claustrophobia-flavored danger (come visit me, and I’ll show you what I mean).  Nearby:  Eastern Market (arts/crafts/clothes/food stands/wonderful people-watching), restaurants galore, and District Doughnut.

Adams Morgan:

Idle Time Books—also outdoor sale carts (my weakness), a lovely view down 18th Street, and steps from all the food and drinks.  Nearby:  the heart of Adams Morgan (so any sort of food/drink wishes can be fulfilled), Tryst for coffee, the Diner (24-hours and all the classic comfort foods), and Donburi (one of my favorite DC meals to date). 

I have many more places to visit and will update accordingly, but I fully expect to continue to be charmed by this city, its neighborhoods, its bookstores, and the people I meet along the way.  But first, empanadas.