Monday, March 2, 2009

A Visit to Powell's

Powell's is big here in Oregon and I know there are many of you that love it too, so I am going to share the pictures from our trip. Portland Oregon is home to the most amazing bookstore. Powell's on Burnside is a full city block, yes and it also is 3 or 4 floors. There is no way we could capture just how amazing our day at Powell's was from the pictures, it is just too big to fit in a camera..but we tried and I hope you enjoy these.









Art Gallery room on the third floor.







On to the Hawthorne Powell's (much cozier and still amazing!)

What do you think? Is a Powell's trip on your calendar?

26 comments:

Unknown said...

That looks great! Do they have any bargains, or is it just a good place to find new book ideas?

ANovelMenagerie said...

Very COOL!

Heather said...

I think you did a pretty good job of capturing the essence of the place. It's amazing to me how it manages to be vast and homey, metropolitan and old-school all at the same time, if that makes sense.

I've never been to the one on Hawthorne. I should give it a try. My last trip was to the main store with my sisters and mother and we made the mistake of going the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Talk about crowded! But still an amazing place to while away a day.

Anonymous said...

3,4 floors, I could spend in an entire day here. Lovely pics, especially the ones where both of you are sitting down...

So did you get anything?

Marg said...

A whole city block and 4 storys high - awesome!

Meghan said...

I wish I was planning a trip soon! It looks like a supermarket full of books. I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves!

- Meghan @ Medieval Bookworm

Sarah said...

Wow...too bad it's on the total other side of the country from me!

Half Price books deosn't seem so amazing right now.

Ti said...

I heart Powell's! These are great pics! Thanks for sharing. Makes me want to go there again.

Madeleine said...

Oh my! first thing I saw is the baskets at the entrance. I would fill one real quickly :D

Thank you for those great pics, looks like you had fun

bermudaonion said...

I wish a Powell's trip was on my list! It looks fabulous. I love the pictures - thanks for sharing with us.

claire said...

Thank you for sharing these photos! You made me drool.. What did you get?

Anonymous said...

Am I allowed to call in sick with a mean case of bookshelf envy? I'm hoping to visit Portland in the next year or two, and Powell's is most definitely on my must-see list. Looks like an awesome trip!

Alea said...

Wow! I definitely hope to go there one day, thanks for sharing, wow!

Karen Harrington said...

I have bookstore envy! I love Powells, but I've only been there once, which is hardly time to see anything.

Jena said...

I think you did a fabulous job taking pictures--and I know, there's just no way to capture the amazingness within the scope of a normal lens.

Cathy said...

I love Powell's. Thanks so much for sharing your photos! I definitely wish a return trip there were possible, but my checking account is yelling otherwise! LOL

Anonymous said...

oh yes, if I ever hit portland you will find me in powells. how awesome!

Jeane said...

I am so jealous! And I love the pictures. I have heard so much about Powells I really really want to go there someday, but sadly I am on the other side of the country now (sigh).

Anonymous said...

Oh I am so jealous!

Ali said...

You look absolutely radiant in those pictures. So glad you and B got the chance to get away together! Fabulous pictures.

I rarely go to Powell's because--you'll either laugh at this, or hate me--because I try to shop at Portland's small independent bookstores. In the shadow of Amazon and B&N, Powell's is small, and it's definitely independent--but within Portland's city limits, and now with its online business, it's thought of as kind of a giant.

Farmlanebooks, there are both new and used books at Powell's, and sale tables scattered throughout, so yes, good bargains can be found.

S. Krishna said...

I'm so jealous, I want a bookstore like that!

avisannschild said...

Great pictures, Bethany, I'm totally jealous! A friend of mine went to Powell's last year and brought me back a map of the store, which of course just made me more jealous!

Gavin said...

Great pictures Bethany! We visit Portland a couple of times a year and always spend at least a half-day in Powell's but we have never been to the store on Hawthorne!

As for page247 I couldn't decide on a name for my blog so I picked up the book I was reading (The Gathering by Anne Enright) and chose the page number I was on. I sometimes quote passages from page 247 of what ever book I am reading.
Thanks for your kind comments!

Bonnie said...

OMG, I would love to visit Powell's. I could spend days there. Thanks so much for posting such great pictures to give those of us who have never been there a feel for the vast wonders there. It looks like a library.

tanabata said...

Fabulous pictures! I especially love the second one. Someday I hope to get a chance to visit Powell's and just browse for hours.

Vasilly said...

I wish I was out there! I would love to visit Powell's. I'm glad you had a great time.