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Published on 5/15/08
Published on 5/15/08
Video
Strand Bookstore
WHY ESSENTIAL:
Once upon a time, the grimy aisles at the Strand recalled a dive bar—albeit one stocked with books rather than booze. But ever since its snazzy redesign, there’s very little not to love about the store’s cleaned-up act. The tables practically groan under the weight of modern classics spanning all genres—history, literature, poetry, design, etc.—and where else in the city can you find, as we did on a recent visit, rare copies of Virginia Woolf’s The Common Reader, Roberto Bolaño’s By Night in Chile and Ivy Compton-Burnett’s Parents and Children? Score!
The secret:
A few years before his death, yippie anarchist Abbie Hoffman sold Strand co-owner Fred Bass a hollowed-out copy of Irving Brant’s 1965 The Bill of Rights: Its Origin and Meaning (above). When asked why its pages were gutted, Hoffman replied, “I keep a gun in there.” But Bass believes Hoffman actually hid a tape recorder in the book during the Chicago Seven conspiracy trial. For years after the sale, the Strand used it to store petty cash. Bass also keeps a signed copy of Hoffman’s Steal This Book in his personal collection at home. 828 Broadway at 12th St (212-473-1452, strandbooks.com)
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Rosie Collins
Thu, Feb 07, at 07:31am
I am trying to find Peter Tear! Please forward to him.
adam tobin
Thu, Nov 01, 07, at 7:54pm
Josh, it is true. X is not on the menu.
I am really upset that Time Out printed my secret website for everybody to see. gugunnameable is so secret, you can't even view it on a regular computer -- the secret password is
www.unnameablebooks.net
josh
Thu, Nov 01, 07, at 3:59pm
The concept of this piece, as described, is excellent; the execution is terrible and misleading (per the description, anyway–it would have been a fine article properly described). A tip would be, for example: "order X at Pearl Oyster Bar, it's not on the menu, it's excellent, and you have to request it." Or a reservation password or somesuch.
josh
Thu, Nov 01, 07, at 3:55pm
How is this an "ultra-valuable tip?" It's not even a "tip," it's a piece of trivia.
eyeball hatred
Thu, Nov 01, 07, at 2:05am
url is indeed wrong. gugunameable books sell textbooks.
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