Probably the best known independent bookstore in DC is
Politics & Prose. I've actually been putting off writing about this place, as I
was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it justice. I absolutely love this bookstore, and am totally impressed by the extensive book selection and programming offered here.
Unlike the Tattered Cover, it's not the most aesthetically pleasing establishment. The carpeted floors are creaky and the furniture appears to be a curious mishmash of whatever the proprietors could find. Whenever I head to the back of the store, the fixtures seem to be in a slightly different place than the last time. In the basement rooms, the ceilings are low and the books aren't intuitively organized. There are two wooden dining room tables forced together awkwardly in the middle of the sale books.
Time has taught me, however, that there is beautiful method in the madness. A quick browsing of the
event calendar reveals that there is some type of engagement literally EVERY DAY at Politics & Prose. This establishment truly takes advantage of it's location in the nation's capital. I went to event last month featuring a Pulitzer prize winning journalist and several field experts. It makes sense the fixtures change-- furniture is rearranged nightly to accommodate the crowds (yes, actual crowds, not five or ten elderly folks) who turn out for book events. Similarly, the large tables in the basement are reserved for book group meetings and other community events. The low ceilings are in the children's section, tiny patrons who are four feet or so from having the tops of their heads skimmed while browsing for books.
For awhile there was a rumor floating about that the store was closing. Fortunately this is very untrue, and in an effort to dispel such rumors,
this page was added to the website. Here the previous owners state that they have sought to make "room for new ownership from a younger generation." It would appear that this approach has been effective. Like the Tattered Cover, Politics & Prose allows for visitors to their website to purchase ebooks through Google. They even have a portion of their website dedicated to advertising their "Ebook of the Wee
k." They have SEVEN different
blogs on their webpage (which frankly could use a different, more convenient format), and can be found on
Facebook and
Twitter.
Most exciting, however, is that Politics & Prose has an
Android App for smartphones! This is the first time I've seen something like this. Droid users (like myself), can download the app have access to news about upcoming author events, book groups, directions to the store, and links to the website. From the Android Market, I see that the app has between 100 and 500 downloads. I plan to install it later today. For iPhone users, the Politics & Prose website indicated that a mobile app compatible with Apple products is "coming soon."
s), but also includes useful in-store tools like an inventory search feature and staff reviews. Additionally, it provides links to all their social networking profiles. It's an excellent tool for locals.