Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish Places I’ve Visited

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. 

Happy Tuesday! Hope you are having a great week so far. I am on the road early today, taking photos of a new listing. Not to be confused with the new listing that is launching tomorrow. Real estate is a crazy, crazy world. Sometimes you are slammed, and sometimes you are begging for the phone to ring. 

Let's talk books. Today's Top Ten Tuesday is about bookish places I've visited. I'm not much of a traveler, so this list might be shorter than usual. 

1. The Wicked Press, South Windsor, CT. Coffee, tea, and books all in one fun store. This place is owned by a local home inspector's wife. I went for the grand opening. It was amazing. She had started as an online and pop-up bookstore before opening her brick-and-mortar. 
2. Downtown Books, Manteo, NC. Our annual visit to the Outer Banks would never be complete without a couple of visits to Downtown Books in Manteo, pronounced by the locals as "man-ee-ow." Never understood why the "t" is silent. It has changed owners several times through the years. Back in 2011, Hurricane Irene destroyed its inventory, but it still stands strong. It features books by well-known authors, many local authors, cards, and other neat bookish gifts. 
3. The New York Public Library, New York, NY. We made time to visit this beautiful library in the city. Online photos don't do the architecture justice. It is stunning in person. It's also has an impressive collection of historical items. 
4. Boston Public Library, Boston, MA. Proving Massachusetts is a state of firsts, Boston Public Library was the first free municipal library in the United States. It also lays claim to some other firsts on their About page. The McKim Building, designated a National Historical Landmark in 1986, is “the first outstanding example of Renaissance Beaux-Arts Classicism in America.”
5. Johnson's Bookstore, Springfield, MA. If you loved the smell of old books and old buildings, then a trip to Johnson's Bookstore was just what you wanted. Housed in the Charles Hall Building on Main Street, visiting Johnson's was an adventure because it had new and used books, gifts, toys, and greeting cards. The selection seemed endless. As a kid, I used to take a bus to get there with my uncle. It closed in 1997, but the memories live on. 
6. Newstand, Springfield and West Springfield, MA. Originally a print and magazine seller, this company's black and white logo had a font that looked like newspaper print. I remember my husband stopping into the Springfield one every morning to buy the daily newspaper on his way to college and then work. It's probably where he grabbed his Hockey Digest, too. The West Springfield location closed decades ago, and the location of the Springfield one is called Acres Newstand, which is more of a convenience store that sells smoke and cigar products.
7. Books to Be Red, Ocracoke Island, NC. This is another bookstore on the Outer Banks that we visit occasionally. It is located an hour and half drive and a 40-minute ferry ride away from where we stay, so we don't get there every year. Ocracoke is not exactly Mackinac Island, because you can drive your car there, but when traversing the center where many of the shops and restaurants are, you usually park your car and walk, bike, or ride in a golf cart. It's a fun place to browse for books, handcrafted items, and other nice gifts. 
8. Travelers Restaurant, now Blondie's Travelers Diner, Union, CT. When we visited with my in-laws, this place was called Travelers Restaurant. Every meal comes with a book. Their sign literally reads, "Food and Books." This is Blondie's Diner's third location. While we haven't been there since it changed hands, if you blend two of my favorite things, I am happy. 

So not quite ten, but still more than I thought when I started. 

Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST) is hosted by Jen Twimom at That's What I'm Talking About. TMST is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Participation is optional, and you can leave your comments in the weekly post when you participate. Check it out if you're interested in joining.

Tell Me Something Tuesday is on hiatus until September. Check back for more prompts then.