Best Gifts For Readers And Where To Buy Them In New York City
Looking for a holiday gift for the avid reader in your life? Here are five shops in New York City that celebrate bibliophiles of all ages. By Carly Petrone.
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Sometimes bookworms need a little extra light at night. Stop into Story, the seasonal pop-up shop located across the street from the High Line, and check out the adorable Lumio Lamp. Open up this hard-cover "book" and the pages within light up to create a multi-functional lamp. Not only is it adorable but it comes with a custom orange micro-USB charger, magnetic wooden pegs for mounting, and a beautiful leather strap for hanging. This is just one of the many gifts available at Story thanks to their Home for the Holidays collection. You can also find journals, cookbooks, books for kids, and much more thanks to over 300 small business that have teamed up with American Express OPEN to bring their creative gifts to this Manhattan store.
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The New York Public Library is the perfect place to shop for the avid reader in your life. Check out their online store and grab everything from Marble Lion Bookends (as an ode to the iconic statues that sit out front), to a limited edition tote by MZ Wallace. You can even buy a Personal Library Kit for that special someone. Revive old-fashioned library circulation techniques (remember return date stamps?) and book retention with this classic bestseller. The best part? It's easy to find a gift under $25 that any bibliophile will love.
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If you have a little reader in your life, then Books of Wonder is your spot. This bookstore caters to kids (and the kid in all of us) and is filled with everything from picture books to young adult novels. "Wrap" your gifts in The Books of Wonder 35th Anniversary Tote Bag by Nick Bruel or grab a gift card for your favorite little reader. You can also find the finest in original art from children's books and literature like character drawings from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and creative illustrations by Maurice Sendak.
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Many readers are also collectors which is why Pageant Book Shop might be your best bet when it comes to doing your holiday shopping. They have amazing antique and vintage pages of books that can be framed as well as maps from as early as the 1800's. You may recognize the shop from numerous movies including Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters. Pageant Book Shop has been around since 1946 and is filled with rare finds that will put a smile on any avid reader's face.
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If the reader in your life has always wanted to become a published author than make sure to stop into McNally Jackson in Soho. Thanks to their Espresso Book Machine, now anyone with a written story can transform their words, art, and ideas into a high-quality, perfectly-bound paperback. A small dedicated team of publishing-savvy professionals from the store's Self-Publishing Department will be there to guide your book through the entire printing process. Are the wheels already spinning in your head? Then you'll definitely want to get started by emailing the team here.
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Carly Petrone is a freelance writer living in New York City.
