#22: Rizzoli

She's got style, she's got grace...

The Shop: Rizzoli Bookstore

Flatiron District: 1133 Broadway 

The epitome of erudite elegance, Rizzoli may be in fact the classiest bookstore in all of NYC. I started going to Rizzoli years ago during my days performing at the nearby People’s Improv Theater (RIP) for an admittedly unclassy reason— to kill time bumming around Gramercy somewhere with air conditioning and public bathrooms. Since those days, I’ve always been impressed with the beauty of the storefront, tall dark wooden shelves below wistful fresco-esque paintings, high ceilings and spacious pathways. If it’s classy, Rizzoli has it. The coffee table book capital of NYC, you will find thick volumes of art and artists, interior design, or both (Cy Twombly’s Homes and Studios, anybody?) For the less visually inclined there’s plenty of literature, moleskine notebooks, and poetry. If the brows were any higher on this place they’d be up on the roof.

What I got:

Lives of the Artists: Keith Haring 

I had to embrace the Rizzoli vibes with a book of art. Who better than Keith Haring, one of the most iconic artists in the visual history of NYC!? I’ve loved Haring’s work for many years now but I’m excited to learn more about the man behind the aesthetic.

Decomposition Book Notebook

I know this is like the 5th notebook I’ve purchased for the blog but I journal every day and murder notebooks at least twice a season. I did feel a little ridiculous dropping $8 on what’s essentially a cool, sustainable version of a $1 composition book from Rite Aid, but this one has cool bees on it!