Although Barnes & Noble is a great place to feel immersed in the book world, sometimes you want something a bit more… homey. Don’t worry, there are plenty of bookstores around Buffalo to keep you satisfied.
Talking Leaves, 951 Elmwood Ave.
Starting off, is Talking Leaves. The store opened in 1971 and has continued to be a staple in Buffalo. The shelves are filled top to bottom with books of all genres. Not only do they sell new books, but they also market used books at a lower price. To make your experience even better it’s connected to Caffe Aroma, which sells a variety of baked goods and specialty drinks. What’s better than a cup of coffee and a good book?
Alice, Ever After, 256 Parkside Ave.
Across from the Buffalo Zoo, Alice, Ever After is the perfect place to find all sorts of new young adult books. They also sell a lot of children’s books and toys. They provide weekly events for the community such as storytimes and collaborations with different schools around Buffalo. A nice perk is that they’re located right next to Jam Parkside, a local coffee shop that specializes in baked goods and coffee drinks.
Fitz Books and Waffles, 433 Ellicott St.
With the magnificent combination of books and waffles, there is certainly something for everyone at Fitz. This bookstore has a great selection of popular books both new and used with a great deal of vintage editions of books. Their book selections are focused on social movements, art and contemporary works. They’re known for their mouth-watering, Liege waffles which originated in Belgium. Their waffles alone are worth the visit.
Burning Books, 420 Connecticut St.
Next on the list is Burning Books. This bookstore provides all sorts of books and novels revolving around social justice movements. Along with the great selection of books, they also host a series of speaker events, which brings people with viewpoints from around the country to talk and discuss current social issues. They also sell a variety of shirts, totes and stickers.
Black Rock Books, 43 Hamilton St.
Looking for a book club? This hidden gem has many different types of book clubs that meet at various locations and each club focuses on a different genre of literature. Not only does the bookstore host various events, they also have a wide selection of stationary goodies. In addition, anyone can sign up to be a member, they have different selections of memberships, each at varying prices. Some memberships perks include: discounts, monthly books shipped to you and early access to events. An added bonus: this bookstore is not a far walk from Raha Coffee House.
The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
