Portrait of a Bookstore

Borders by Cedar's is all out of Updike and I'm too impatient to wait for my order from Amazon so I ran into Portrait of a Bookstore on Tujunga Avenue in Studio City this morning on my way home from riding. Every time I go in, I realize what an incredibly civilized place exists just a mile away from home. A young girl was eating a huge breakfast on the sunny brick patio, her face in a book, while munching on eggs and potatoes; a young couple stared at each other over their cups of coffee from Aroma Cafe which shares the space. The bookstore itself is packed full of books that matter as well as lots of tchotchkes, presents, jewelry, glasses, pens & various antiques that the owner brings back from the Cotswolds. The lady who helped me today gave me that piece of information. They'll order anything for you within a matter of days. As I was wearing my horsehair-coated fleece, breeches & filthy Uggs I didn't stay, but picked up my copy of Rabbit, Run and ran, myself.