The Secret New York Alternative to Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble bookstores in New York are massive. They have readings from the world's most famous living authors, as well as late hours, Starbucks coffee and a thorough selection of best-sellers. But such is the case with Barnes & Noble in all cities. So if you're already in New York, you may as well seek out one of the city's more distinctive neighborhood bookstores. Following are seven lesser known shops to keep you well-read every day of the week:

Crawford Doyle Booksellers on the Upper East Side is one of the few mom and pop stores in the neighborhood to stand the test of time; this small room has been a bookseller since the 1930's. In addition to new literary fiction and nonfiction, they carry first editions of post-war American fiction, and have a number of signed first edition books from local Tom Wolfe, who has been known to autograph entire orders. The shop also offers year-long book-of-the-month memberships that manager Thomas Talbot tailors to readers.

For a selection of titles by smart people who know what they're talking about, check out Brown University alumnus Toby's Three Lives & Company on West 10th Street. The interior resembles that of its West Village neighbors, with worn wooden floors and shelves packed with books you should have read already. While deciding what to tackle next, sit on the world's most perfect bench in the back. It was lovingly crafted by my personal favorite New York Times photographer Chris Smith, who also went to Brown with Toby.

For children's books, Bank Street Bookstore, which is affiliated with the Bank Street College of Education, is an obvious choice. The bi-level refuge prides itself on a knowledgeable staff and frequent in-store events, including readings from children's authors. On January 31st, for example, Toy Boat author Randall de Seve, will read her book and teach kids to make toy boats out of cans, corks, pencils and other household objects.

If you're looking for a large independent bookstore with a small bookstore feel, check out McNally Robinson Booksellers in Soho. Enter through the "Teahouse" cafe, which provides sunlit workspace to quietly caffeinated Mac users. The magazine area displays a number of narrowly distributed, New York based literary journals, such as n+1, Wooooo, Canteen and Circumference (for an even more esoteric selection of literary journals, check out Nikos Magazine and Smoke Shop on 11th and Sixth). In-store events take place just about every day of the week.

For a little piece and quiet, go to Hue-Man Bookstore & Cafe in Harlem, famous for its selection of books by African American authors. The five-year old shop doubles as a community space with activities like weekend story time readings for children. The bookseller's first author signing featured Walter Mosley, but former President Clinton drew the biggest crowd when he showed up with 2000 copies of his autobiography, My Life. The cafe sells health food and pastries, which you can snack on while perusing the store's large assortment of African American periodicals.

For used soft covers with cool graphics, try Alabaster Bookshop, which is a small, sweet nook on Fourth Avenue, carefully guarded by Houle, the cat that lives there. The shop has managed to survive for over a decade in the shadow of the blaring Virgin Megastore nearby, which also technically sells books. The much larger and more famous Strand is also only a few blocks away, but because it has become such a behemoth, the used books are always shiny and soulless, there is a small militia of security at the door, and customer service is often impatient.

For socially conscious shopping, check out Housing Works Used Book Cafe on the cobblestoned Crosby Street, where Dave Eggers scribbled "You shook me all night long!" in my copy of You Shall Know Our Velocity even though it was a reading for What is the What? (I'm even more of a dork for smiling at it). Eggers isn't the only socially responsible author to read here, store visitors include Paul Auster, George Saunders and Gary Shteyngart. The store is part of the larger Housing Works nonprofit that deals with homelessness, AIDS and HIV, and as such, almost all of the staff is volunteer, copies of books from signings are donated, and sales are not reported to the Times. The year-round monthly concert series features performers like Ryan Adams, John Mayer and Bright Eyes.

I'm not sure which of these bookstores carry my book, Secret New York, but it would be the greatest thing ever if you asked.