August 23, 2011
There was a post yesterday at Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York that quoted Patti Smith’s book, “Just Kids,” concerning the old Allerton Hotel on Houston Street. I’ve been meaning to get that book and it leads into tonight’s Six Pack, which I debuted last Monday. If you missed that post, basically what I’m going to do every Monday is go to six places and get six of the same item and compare or in tonight’s case, I’m going to one place and get six items. And what better place to get six items than St. Mark’s Bookshop, where Jeremiah said the book was available? Not too many, so it’s off to St. Mark’s we go.
Oh, and speaking of Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, don’t forget to vote daily for his blog right here: CBS New York Blog Competition.
Zingo! Here we are at St. Mark's Bookshop.
And there's the book I'm looking for, "Just Kids" by Patti Smith. Let's go in and find it and five other things to buy in here.
There's lots of choices in here, many of them you'll never find on Amazon or in a Barnes and Noble's.
And here's the book I'm looking for. That was easy.
And look at this, I ran into an old friend I haven't seen in years, Patrick. We used to work together all those years ago and he's buying a motorvational book by author David Katz. This book has been known to induce suicide in six out of seven buyers, so I hope Patrick is careful! This is something else unique about local book stores, you won't run into old chums on Amazon. Great to see you again, Patrick and be careful with that book!
Okay, I need five more items for my six pack tonight, let's go look for them.
These two are tempting, but I'm going to keep shopping.
This looks cool, Public Illumination Magazine. Looks like purchase number two of the six pack for tonight.
Let's check out this table of books...
"I Slept With Joey Ramone" by Mickey Leigh! I met Mickey last year on my bar crawl and he was a great guy. I've been meaning to get this and it's on sale, so I'll add this to the six pack.
"Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling!" I gotta get this.
And here's the other book I came in here in search of, "100 Whores" by Mykola "Mick" Dementiuk. He's a New York writer and I'm anxious to read the tales in this tome.
And the last purchase is going to be a postcard. Want me to mail it to you? If you're the first one who asks me to in the comments section, it's yours.
And Benjamin rings up this week's six pack. He told me the store is suffering in these bad economic times, so if you live in New York, stop by and buy a book or two and if you don't buy one online, the website is right below. Fuck Amazon and keep this place in business!
Oh and here's the postcard. The end. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
St. Mark's Bookshop
31 Third Avenue (Between 8th and 9th St.)
212-260-7853
Further reading: EV Grieve, New York Magazine, Racked and Village Voice.
You Might Also Like: Fuzzy Navel, Fuzzy Wuzzy and Fuzzy Duffel Bag (truthfully, is this you, csp?)
Four Other Saints
Susan Saint James
St. Stephen
The Saint of Fort Washington
The Saint
I'll be your whatever you want,
The bong in this reggae song.
ARCHIVES
(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)
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Bonus Book Link By Ilisha Helfman!
Speaking of books, check out my friend Ilisha Helfman's book which is an introduction into Jazzknitting. Even if you're not into knitting, you should take a look at it, it's beautifully designed and has some great tales in it. You can read all about it here: Jazzknitting.
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Bonus Earthquake Art From Jaws!
Jaws sent in this timely illustration. Thanks Jaws!
28 Comments
Reader Comments (28)
Great to see these bookstores,,,,and yes,,,Patti Smith book is one I would love to read. The Mexican wrestlers I happen to know about,,,being spanish and growing up in LA,,,,that guy on the cover looks like Mil Mascaras,,,100 Whores,,,I would probably read that as well. Would love a postcard from you.
I have been meaning to pick up 100 Whores and the Patti Smith book as well - was supposed to get 100 Whores like 3 weeks ago, but I got lazy. Always important to remind everyone about how vital a piece of NYC bookstores really are - even people who realize this like myself need an occasional reminder.
I think we've all learned plenty of lessons around here the hard way about not taking places for granted - thanks for the reminder; I will be picking up my books over at St. Mark's after work.
Yeah, there is really NOTHING quite like an awesome book store. Great buys.
Yes, I want to get the 100 Whores book too. Great to do a bookshop trip in the six series - nice one! Congrats on winning the postcard, Al. Remember seeing Patti Smith in Newcastle, 1977, & her greeting the audience with "Hello Manchester!" Well all those tour dates turn into a blur. Great show though.
@MAD: The internets have failed me. My heart stopped. I'm not sure whether to laugh, be angry, or be scared. Please give the back story on the "Sit Down, Shut Up..." book. As you've pointed out, it's not on Amazon or anywhere. Even if it is what I'm afraid it is, it couldn't possibly be as thick as it looks. Email if necessary, my fingers are nervously fiddling in anticipation, it looks like I'm Jazz Knitting.
Evil book aside; I've seen the Pixies, I've seen the Breeders. I ran into one of the Deal sisters on Ave. A. Couldn't tell you for the life of me which one it was.
@Al: The postcard is yours! Send me your address, but be forewarned, I may show up in person!
@JAZ: I hear you about getting lazy. There's been so many times I won't stop at a bar or a shop I like only to find a year later it's closed. We should all support the local stores while we can. Nice to hear you're stopping by there after work!
@Meleah: Book stores and record stores are my two favorite shopping places. Sadly record stores are becoming extinct, let's support local book stores and hope the same doesn't happen to them!
@onemorefoldedsunset: "Hello, Manchester" made me think of Spinal Tap's, "Hello, Cleveland!"
@csp: You're not the first one to have Googled that book today! I know of at least one person here at work who did! I'll send you an email about it today or tonight. A little nuts right now at work.
Earthquake !
I work at the Pentagon -- so I'm glad it was that --- and not something hitting the building again !
All those books look pretty awesome - including the knitting one. I've mentioned this before but living in the suburbs usually means there aren't local shops to support. I like betterworldbooks.com because you can buy used books that keep them from going to a landfill, and they support literacy foundations. I need to go check out some stores downtown though.
Did you feel the quake? We did, although it took me a minute to figure it out - I thought someone was trying to get in the house at first. Nothing but a small rumble - just swaying lights afterward.
I can never get out of a bookstore in 6 books or less.. not even if i went every day..
I want to visit this bookstore..and i think i need an extra suitcase just for the book i'd need to buy and bring back home..
@GENE: We had to evacuate our building here in NYC, but I don't think anything happened.
@Britta: I didn't feel it, but some people at work did. We had to leave the building, but sadly, we had to come back in!
@Gidget: You'd love St. Marks Bookstore, lots of cool books that you won't find anywhere else. One more reason to come to NYC!
I wish I had just made a martini when the quake struck.
Aaw shoot! That's a cool card...ok marty, if you have another NYC card left...or something else NYC-ish...let me know an I am glad to receive it ;)
Marty; I slept in today, woke up and turned on the news and saw all the talking heads babbling about the earthquake out on the east coast...shake, rattle and roll, baby! It's going to be fun checking out you tube for all the new doomsday videos I just know are being produced this very minute by the repent repent the end is near here comes planet X crowd. Let's hope there haven't been any dinosaurs released from the earth by this little geological woopsie, I have this mental image of a pterodactyl sitting on top of the empire state building and crapping all over the people on the streets below....wouldn't THAT make for a great movie one of these days...
@csp: You and JB!
@Ruben Dutch: Send me your address and I'll send you something off!
@Jaws: That would be one hell of a movie! I didn't even feel the quake, but they evacuated the building I work in. And I hear you about the doomsday group, have to check out YouTube when I get home! If I get home, this has been one fuckall of a day/night at work!
Dear Jaws,
First you take your moniker from my infamous shark film. Now you are pitching my cinematic masterpiece, Jurassic Park: The Lost World, the only difference being that you have changed the setting from San Diego to New York City. Don't make me send my friend George's stormtroopers to your house, they might just hit something one of these days.
Check your email Marty...got a little something to go with today's comment...
@ Steven Spielberg; yo, yo YO...Stevie baby...how's about you make a movie where a big eartquake hits europe during World War Two, releases a buch of dinosaurs which are trained by the Allies to fight the fascists, whereon the dinosaurs eat Amon Goeth and all his nazi buddies and the pterodactyls fly all the Shindler Jews to safety in Switzerland or something...next Christmas blockbuster, guaranteed!
another great stop for MAD...looks like some nice purchases...did search for some books on my list but alas they were not listed...certainly looks that they have a vast selection...
congratulations to al on being first...
Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?
~Henry Ward Beecher
rr
@Jaws: Just posted it! Thanks!
@rr: They have some great books there that you'll never find at Barnes & Noble for sure! Perfect quote, as always!
Jaws, Stop reading my diary.
My Favorite Book Is Abbie Hoffman's Steal This Book , I think it's out of publication , but here is a PDF.
www.instinct.org/texts/steal_this_book/steal-this-book-from-instinct.org.pdf
Dam I wish I was there to feel the Earthquake, I only felt the small one in the 80's I think, which only rattled my window in queens, I thought it was the train passing by, but realized there was no train.
To bad no crack in the ground to let the Dinosaurs lout & attack & have Japan help us by sending Godzilla,
To Bad there wasn't a heat wave in NYC, because the Post Headline would have been Shake & Bake.
@Ummo: That's one of my favorite books too.
Hi. The Allerton wasn't on Houston Street. I was on 22nd, west of Eighth Avenue.
That said, hooray for this post of yours. Not that the pursuit of an evening cocktail is less than admirable, but supporting a local bookstore is a truly worthy mission.
Thank you.
Great tour. Enjoy Mick's book. I am reading it too.
My appreciation in showing up my 100 Whores, it's all about the girls/whores who thronged 3rd Ave between 12th & 14th Sts in the 1960s & 70s. It's reading about your own neighborhood. Thanks.
@BabyDave: I'm mixed up because I read in Jeremiah's that it's now the Gem Hotel, doesn't that face Houston? Oh well, those that know me know I'm an idiot with directions! Glad you enjoyed the post and the tour, thanks for chiming in!
@Melanie: Thanks, I'm anxious to start reading the book!
@Mykola Mick Demetiuk: Thank you for writing it, I'm going to start reading it this week. I've skimmed through and it looks like a great read!
Hi Marty,
Stay cool fool
@tehennessey: I'm staying cool and playing the fool! I'll be seeing you in about a month!