I participate in LibraryThing’s Tuesday Thingers group — a weekly blogging exercise. This week’s question:

Favorite bookstores. What’s your favorite bookstore? Is it an online store or a bricks-and-mortar store? How often do you go book shopping? Is your favorite bookstore (or bookstores) listed as a favorite in LT? Do you attend events at local bookstores? Do you use LT to find events?

I live in Portland, Ore., so this one’s pretty much a no-brainer. Favorite life-long bookstore is Powell’s City of Books here in town, which is the world’s largest new-and-used bookstore. It has a footprint of a full city block and is several stories high. They are about to expand again (after an epic expansion something around a decade ago). There are several satellite locations of Powell’s around the city, as well, including one not too far from my neighborhood.

We are fortunate enough that LibraryThing has integrated with Powell’s. I can see on works pages immediately if a given book is in stock and how much it’ll set me back.

Approximately half of my book spending is in real life, at Powell’s. I go about once every six weeks: more than that would be dangerous. I also spend a hefty fortune at Amazon.com. I have Amazon Prime (free 2-day shipping) and I’m lazy, so it works out well. Powell’s for when I need the immersive culture, Amazon when I need a particular book, at a good price. I also maintain a membership at Barnes & Noble, but I really dislike their stores (neutered, suburban and sterile). The occasional 50% deal makes it worthwhile for now, but I doubt I’ll renew it.

I do sometimes attend events at bookstores. I noticed yesterday, in fact, that the Powell’s events weren’t getting added to LibraryThing local, so I may add some in the next few weeks.

Finally, I find that there is no good substitute for a small-town, mom-and-pop bookstore. When I travel, I’m a sucker for them, and one day in my wrinkly future I dream of running one.