Powell’s, Shakespeare & Co. and Strand bookstore – all places any literary lover should put on their travel list. 

While many claim that print is dead, there’s still nothing like the feel of a book in your hand. But it’s not just the book that’s special; it’s the process of buying it. Bookstores are treasure troves, and in a day and age where large online retailers and box stores are pushing out the smaller guys, making sure they get your business is even more important.

Are you a lover of books? Then why not devote your next trip to checking out the independent bookstore scene wherever you are? You never know what you’re going to find. For inspiration, we’ve rounded up a list of bookstores that are worth a visit.

1. Strand – New York City, New York

Around since the 1920s, Strand is an iconic part of not only New York City’s bookstore culture, but simply general culture overall. Visiting NYC without visiting Strand bookstore is simply a missed opportunity. In all, the store boasts 18 miles of used and rare books, which is enough to make you get lost in book aisles for days and days.

2. Powell’s – Portland, Oregon

If Strand is the iconic bookstore in the east, then Powell’s is its counterpart in the west. Opening in the 1970s, today it has five different locations within the Portland area, the downtown main one called “City of Books.” And when you enter, it does in fact feel like a city, the aisles are like little streets that wind you through the many rooms. The best part about Powell’s? You can grab a stack of books, take them to the in-store cafe and peruse them while drinking a coffee.

3. Parnassus Books – Nashville, Tennessee

Leave it to an author to ensure that the local book scene stays alive. When Nashville lost its only bookstore, Ann Patchett stepped in, a firm believer that people should be able to buy their books at a brick and mortar, and helped open Parnassus. This neighborhood bookstore revival is born out of Patchett’s desire for a store “that valued books and readers above muffins and adorable plastic watering cans.” Yes, please.

4. BookPeople – Austin, Texas

BookPeople happens to be Texas’ largest independent bookstore, and it’s so popular that it was voted Bookstore of the Year by Publisher’s Weekly in 2005. But beyond all the literary works housed in this space, there’s another reason to visit: all the books on Texan and Southern cooking, so you can be sure to beef up on your bbq knowledge.

5. The Elliott Bay Book Company – Seattle, Washington

Seattle is known for a lot of rain, and what do you want to do when it’s gray and rainy? Curl up with a good book. Which might be why Seattleites have such a wonderful bookstore at their disposal. The Elliott Bay Book Company is home to more than 150,000 titles. And because it’s Seattle, Elliott Bay’s other claim to fame is that the Elliott Bay Cafe was Seattle’s first bookstore cafe.

6. Shakespeare and Company – Paris, France

The literary crowd will always have a love affair with Paris, and for those there is no place higher on the destination list than Shakespeare and Company. Paris has always attracted writers, and the bookstore is known for supporting the works of both well-known authors and the yet undiscovered ones. Located on the Left Bank it has managed to maintain its quaint, cozy ambiance.

7. Politics and Prose – Washington, D.C.

The name of Politics and Prose is fitting in the U.S. capital. Here you find a community gathering space, with plenty of author events, and lots of unusual books. The bookstore has even started hosting trips, taking book lovers around the world.

8. Bertrand Bookstore, Lisbon, Portugal

While today Bertrand runs over 40 bookstores around Portugal, it’s worth a mention on a list of bookstores has it has one thing going for it that no other place has: it’s the oldest bookstore in the world. In fact, if you’re feeling down about the state of books, there’s nothing to bring your spirits up like a place that has been selling written works since 1732.

9. McNally Jackson – New York City, New York

The Strand bookstore isn’t the only thing NYC has to offer. The literature in the store is arranged by nation, and hoping to bring more great works to the rest of the world, they even offer self-publishing services.

10. The Last Bookstore – Los Angeles, California

While younger than many bookstores, The Last Bookstore is California’s largest independent one and perhaps the most unique. It began in 2005 in a small loft space and now takes up about 20,000 square feet. There are books everywhere, often part of the interior design of the space, making it just as much a museum of books as a bookstore.

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Images: Alexendre Duret-Lutz, Patrick Haney, Nicola, Scott Garner

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So many microbrews…so little time.

Two of Portland’s favorite pastimes? Beers and bikes, which is why it makes sense that the two would come together in a guidebook, intended not just for tourists but locals with an affinity for exploring the wide world of microbrews on two wheels. Hop in the Saddle is just that guidebook.

Whereas most guidebooks focus simply on destinations, Hop in the Saddle is just as much about how to get there as what to do when you arrive.

“Cycling is the best way to explore any city. You’re out in the open instead of being hidden inside a vehicle where you can’t interact as directly with the world around you. On a bike you notice things like which plants are blooming at certain times of the year and the rainbow knee-high socks of the rider in front of you. In Portland, you’re smelling coffee roasting and beer brewing as you ride. You’re hearing urban chickens. On a bike you get a real sense of the way a city’s designed and what matters to the people who live there,” says author Lucy Burningham.

With a focus on local drink culture, the guidebook is also an exploration of a thriving beer scene.

“Portland has 51 breweries within city limits, more than any other city in the world, which means there’s plenty of beer being made in every corner of town. Beer drinkers have plenty of choices when it comes to finding fresh, locally brewed beer. And this is a town that celebrates quality and innovation. Brewers are constantly using new ingredients and methods to make surprising, thought-provoking beers. As a beer writer, there’s never a dull moment,” says Burningham.

Combining insider knowledge of the city’s best tasting rooms, where to find rare bottles and which top chefs have a secret beer stash with detailed bike routes and maps, this is the kind of guidebook that will certainly make other velo and hop aficionados jealous.

Images: Hop in the Saddle

The post Hop in the Saddle: A Guide to Portland’s Craft Beer Scene, by Bike appeared first on EcoSalon.

Life on two wheels. 

EcoSalon reader Kristin Bott rocks a sundress at the Portland Short Track Series.

As she puts it, “It rains for nine months of the year in Portland. Not an exaggeration. So when summer comes, the whole city celebrates. Every year, the folks behind the Portland Short Track Series  have a ‘summer casual night’ when they encourage racers to ‘Leave the lycra at home and come race in your Monday best’- casual threads: oversized surf trunks, colorful skirts, double-rainbow tie dye tees, knitted socks… anything goes. I lack tie-dyes and surf trunks, but I do have a couple of sundresses, and I rarely wear skirts, but it seemed a good fit.”

On the Move documents our life on two wheels. Have your own On the Move worthy photo? Send it our way! Email pictures tocontact@ecosalon.com.

Image: Richard Rosko

The post On the Move: Portland, Oregon appeared first on EcoSalon.

Life on two wheels.

Elly Blue, cycling advocate, writer and woman behind Taking the Lane, rocks not only two wheels, but wheels that manage to pull a futon. When was the last time you put your bike to work like that?

On the Move documents our life on two wheels. Have your own On the Move worthy photo? Send it our way! Email pictures to contact@ecosalon.com.

Image: Neighborhood Notes

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If you’re new here, we’re on a road trip down the West Coast this summer with our sustainable clothing company, {r}evolution apparel. You can track our journey here, here, here and here!

On a random Thursday night in Portland, 30 people packed into a dining room at Oba Restaurant. We had drinks. We swapped eco-tips. We took photos. We talked about sustainable fashion. We played dress-up.

It was a small gathering with a big goal: to “Spark Something Sustainable.”

Nothing earth-shattering happened that night – no petitions were signed, or commitments made, or fast-fashion CEO’s burned at the stake. It was just about the conversation.

That’s how change starts – with that amount of people in a small room on a weeknight, who care enough to show up and inspire each other to live, design, and work more sustainably. It’s change on a small, yet crucial, level.

And we believe that’s what a fashion movement looks like. Working together towards something bigger than each of us individually. It’s about people and small businesses simply sparking something, no matter how big or small. It’s a slow revolution and it all makes a difference.

A huge thanks to EcoVibe Apparel for partnering with us on this great event, and of course, to our media sponsor here at EcoSalon!

We’re Kristin and Shannon, the founders of {r}evolution apparel – a clothing company focused on sustainable and versatile design. We created the Versalette – one garment that can be worn over 20 different ways — as a dress, skirt, shirt, poncho, purse & more. It’s made in the USA with 100% recycled fabrics. In 2011, we launched the Versalette on Kickstarter and raised over $64,000. Since then, we’ve been featured in Forbes, Gadling, and the New York Times. To learn more about our mission, check out our website, Facebook, and Twitter.

The post Spark Something Sustainable: The Power of Conversation appeared first on EcoSalon.

If you’re new to our journey (or even if you’re not!) we’ve created a video to introduce ourselves, our journey, and our mission. We’ll be posting here each Friday with videos and thoughts from the road, so we hope you’ll join the conversation.

It’s a tough question to answer. Sustainable fashion can mean so many things and be described in so many different ways.

But last week, while on tour, we took the opportunity to ask the people of Seattle this question: What is sustainable fashion?

We got a mix of answers – and not one of the same. So today, we’re sharing what it means to us.

Sustainable fashion is clothing that’s created with the whole life-cycle of the garment in mind. From design to sale, two questions are asked:

Where did that piece of clothing come from?

And…

What’s going to happen to it when it’s no longer worn?

Sustainability means a system of longevity that considers everyone and everything that’s involved, from the cotton farmer to the factory worker to the seamstress. It means using responsible (and low-impact) fabrics, ethically-sourced materials, and smart design that doesn’t deteriorate as quickly as the trends.

People often ask us where they can find sustainable clothing, so below is a list to get you started:

Buffalo Exchange, Good Will, Savers, Value Village. We always prefer buying used to buying new. Recycling, repurposing and reusing are the fastest way to get textiles out of our landfills. Remember, one (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treasure.

Horny Toad and NAU. These two labels partnered up, and you can find a combination of outdoor active-wear and casual wear all sustainably-sourced.

The Autonomie Project. Great basic tees, sneakers and pet products. Everything is organic, sweat-shop free, and vegan.

People Tree. Based in the UK, founder Safia Minney has pioneered the environmentally-friendly and fair trade fashion industry.

PACT. 100% organic-cotton underwear. Remember, the stuff underneath your clothes matters, too!

Sites we love. Fashioning Change is a great resource for finding responsible fashion at the same price points as mainstream brands, and they’re here featured here on EcoSalon weekdays, with new and interesting labels introduced all the time.

For more great sites, check out EcoSalon’s top eco-boutiques to shop.

What does sustainable fashion mean to you? Leave a note in the comments below, and check back next week when we post about spending, our shopping habits, and true cost!

The post {r}evolution Reel: What Does Sustainable Fashion Mean to You? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Join us in Portland, Oregon on July 12, 2012.

This summer {r]evolution apparel is touring the west coast talking about fashion and sustainability. As a sponsor of the tour, we’re excited to be teaming up with them and one of our favorite eco-boutiques, EcoVibe Apparel, for an event in Portland, Oregon.

Join us to celebrate eco fashion and spark conversations about sustainability. There will be special happy hour pricing, door prizes and even a photo booth.

Come by to join this fun group of sustainable loving folks and talk about fashion, design and the latest in the world of conscious culture. We like to be inclusive, so the event is all ages and open to the public.

Please be sure to RSVP to alice@revolutionapparel.is.

We hope you’ll join us!

WHAT: Spark Something Sustainable

WHERE: Oba Restaurant, 555 NW 12th Avenue, Portland, Oregon

WHEN: Thursday July 12, 2012, 7-9pm

RSVP: alice@revolutionapparel.is

The post Spark Something Sustainable Coming to Portland, Oregon on July 12, 2012 appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnTake that obsession with food porn and sea salt and do something with it.

“I just had a Portland moment and only you will appreciate,” my friend said, calling from Tuscon in the middle of a Sunday.

“Ok, what?”

“Well, so we walked into this cute coffee shop and the first thing I thought to myself ‘I wonder where they roast their beans?'” she paused. “Who am I?”

At first thought I saw nothing wrong with this situation. Good coffee shops tend to sell good coffee, and if they’re really good, they’re probably running a coffee roasting operation in the back. Nothing weird there.

But at second thought, I realized what she meant. Most people, even those in coffee-centric cities, are probably more concerned with what coffee drink they’re going to buy than where the beans were roasted. We’re in the minority.

This call came less than six hours after brewing a morning French press on a quick one night girls’ camping trip. I had ground the beans before leaving home to ensure that we had good coffee on the trail. As we’ve already discussed, coffee is exponentially more delicious when brewed after a night in a tent.

“What kind of coffee is that?” one of my girlfriends asked.

“Water Avenue,” I responded.

“Have you tried Oblique?” she offered up

“Have you tried Extracto?” chimed in the third of our trio.

Here we were by the side of a stream in the middle of the forest discussing craft coffee roasters, and although we left it at that, I am certain that the conversation could have continued, naming off a handful of other small coffee roasting companies in the city that are neighborhood favorites and garner cult-like followings.

The rest of the world thinks Portlandia is guided by Stumptown, but the rest of us know better than to put all of our coffee desires into one basket, even when we’re not extreme coffee aficionados. Most of us just want a good, strong cup, and like being able to purchase beans that are roasted on site. When we travel it’s not surprising that we seek out the same thing.

Back to the phone call a few hours later.

“This coffee thing has gotten me thinking,” continued the friend calling from Tuscon. “I realized this weekend how many times I thought “food porn!” and it’s getting a little out of control. Am I a foodie now? I think you should write about that in your column. When did you realize that you were a foodie? What was your defining moment?”

Good question.

What is it that makes you a foodie?

Is it when you’re sitting on your couch post-run eating a semi-failed batch of No Bake Chocolate Energy Bars with Sea Salt that you made the day before because you just felt the need to tweak a recipe? Is it when your friends ask you to plan dinner? Is it when you look at your phone and realize that 75% of your photos involve food or drinks? Is it when you took your own syrup with you to a restaurant because you knew you wouldn’t be happy with what they had to offer? Is it when you’re in the backcountry drinking specialty coffee because you refuse to bring instant?

It could be all of those things, or a long list of others, but does a defining foodie moment even matter? Why is it that having an appreciation for good food is all of a sudden an indicator for something larger?

As human beings, we have a need to define ourselves. We’re born with a tribe mentality, and because food brings us together more than many other things do, if we like good food we seek out those that do the same.

But unfortunately the word “foodie” also has a negative connotation to it. It’s stuffy, implies the obsession with a certain type of menu and a little pretentious. I in fact, hate calling myself a “foodie.” “Food-obsessed,” “food crazed” or “food freak” sure, but “foodie” just has an odd ring to it.

However, we have yet to find a better word for the phenomenon and it has come to define a cultural trend and shift. A trend of people that have started thinking about food. Although we might smirk at craft coffee obsessions and the need to check out every hole-in-the-wall operation that claims to be farm-to-table, we are thinking about the value of food, the time that goes into it and the people that are behind producing it.

Or are we?

A Mother Jones article last week cited that only 13.5% of food workers earn a living wage.

Americans love to talk about food—how asparagus is best prepared, which preservatives to avoid, which types of fish are in peril, where to find the best tacos or most delectable peach pies. Most of us spend far less time contemplating the people that pick, slaughter, sort, process, and deliver the products of this 1.8 trillion dollar industry—a group of workers that makes up one-sixth of the country’s workforce.

Herein lies the problem. We are obsessed with food, talking about it, taking pictures of it, and making our own judgements on the establishments that serve it, and even so we are still disconnected from the entire process. This thing that is at the core of all of our daily routines and we still don’t really know where our food comes from, who’s producing it and how much those people are getting paid.

That is frightening.

All this talk of and obsession with food doesn’t amount to anything if it doesn’t lead to change. Be that change in public health, workers’ rights, or corporate social responsibility, there’s a lot that needs to happen. Which means that voting with your fork does make a difference. Not once or twice a week, but every single day.

Having a vested interest in food has to be more than a trend, it has to be a movement. If we’re in the position to be making smart choices about every item that we eat, we should be. That means no food from China, even when it comes from a store with a fancy name, always thinking about if we’re eating the most sustainably sourced product, even when we’re tired and lazy, and choosing brands that are committed to working directly with independent farmers, even if doing so takes a little more research.

Maybe our defining foodie moments aren’t when we realized we were food obsessed, but when we realized we were making choices that made ourselves, our communities and our planets healthier. And that is something that anyone can do.

Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’s weekly column at EcoSalon, Foodie Underground, discovering what’s new and different in the underground food movement, from supper clubs to mini markets to the culinary avant garde.

The post Foodie Underground: Are You Part of a Movement? appeared first on EcoSalon.

A round-up of what we’re reading right now. 

For some, Cinco de Mayo is an excuse to drink too much Corona. For us, it’s an excuse to cook up these seven mouth-watering recipes. To each her own. [via Big Girls Small Kitchen]

Want to live an awesome life but have no idea where to begin? Consider this an intro course. [via Elephant Journal]

A new music device is able to create melodies by reading tree rings. We sense a new 8tracks playlist. [via UTNE]

Should a fetus have more rights than the woman who carries it? One opinion writer says no. [via The Frisky]

Finally, a major magazine takes a stand against the anorexic pre-teen model craze. [via The New York Times]

Introducing a new hand-powered artisan .GIF maker… from Portland, of course. [via The Atlantic Cities]

Image: Big Girls Small Kitchen

The post Link Love: Mexican Food and Maternal Rights appeared first on EcoSalon.

VideoGorgeous timelapse captures the beauty of an urban landscape.

You may have seen Portlandia, but “Finding Portland” by Uncage the Soul Productions shows a completely different side of the city full of burrito carts, bikes and baristas. Over 300,000 images were taken over the course of two months, resulting in almost four minutes of stunning timelapse.

A few behind-the-scenes shot from the video:

More images here.

Image: Ben Canales

The post Video: Finding Portland appeared first on EcoSalon.