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AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

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Officials name senior vice president, chief of staff
By Fiona Riley, Assistant News Editor • March 26, 2024

The Hatchet staff’s top cozy, local bookstores to find your next enticing read this autumn

More+than+other+D.C.+bookstores%2C+Second+Story+pushes+you+to+take+risks+with+your+genres+with+a+vast%2C+eclectic+selection+of+titles+that+many+other+stores+lack.
Krishna Rajpara I Assistant Photo Editor
More than other D.C. bookstores, Second Story pushes you to take risks with your genres with a vast, eclectic selection of titles that many other stores lack.

Swap out your assigned academic reading for a new or used book to snuggle up with in the evening.

Whether you’re looking to emulate an autumnal, Rory Gilmore aesthetic, need an excuse for an excursion outside the Foggy Bottom bubble or simply desire a new endeavor to add to your reading list, a trip to one of D.C.’s local bookstores should be a top priority. From Adams Morgan to Georgetown to Capitol Hill, here are some of the GW Hatchet staff’s top recommendations for homey bookstores to browse after class.

Bridge Street Books
Caitlin Kitson | Assistant News Editor

From tree-lined, cobblestone streets to bustling cafes, few neighborhoods in D.C. can replicate the picturesque, autumnal vibes of Georgetown. So as you breathe in the crisp fall air and stroll through the neighborhood, pop into one of the best bookstores D.C. has to offer – Bridge Street Books.

Founded in 1980, Bridge Street Books resides in a charming, red brick building near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and M Street. With a bright, fluorescent sign in the window and rows of books housed in wooden shelves, Bridge Street Books welcomes visitors in to peruse its vast selection. From fiction to history to poetry, Bridge Street Books is sure to present the right title to every reader this fall.

2814 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.

Nicholas Anastacio | Graphics Editor

Lost City Books
Gabe Lopez | Contributing Sports Editor

Moody shadows, sprawling plants and dark wooden bookshelves. They’re three fall-favorites and three things you can find at Lost City Books. Selling new, used and rare texts, and offering regular author talks and book clubs, there is something for everyone at this independent bookstore in Adams Morgan.

Windows cast eerie shadows across the shelves reaching from the front to the back of the store. Greenery on the windowsills and vintage furniture create the ideal autumnal environment for you to read a ghost story (they’re located on the second floor near the back, if you’re curious). The staff is friendly and ready to provide you with the perfect autumn novel. You can’t go wrong with Lost City Books this fall.

2467 18th St. NW. Open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Second Story Books
Annie O’Brien | Research Assistant

About a 15-minute walk from campus, Second Story Books hosts stacks of used books, ranging in content from cooking to fiction to philosophy. With most of their inventory priced below $10, excluding the antique editions, this store targets those who read a lot and quickly.

More than other D.C. bookstores, Second Story pushes me to take risks with my genres with a vast, eclectic selection of titles that many other stores lack, while offering the newer releases. While I usually leave other bookstores with a historical fiction novel or contemporary rom-com, I have left Second Story with books I never expected to read, like biographies of my favorite authors and books that offer fiction writing advice. This is the bookstore for curious bibliophiles looking to revitalize their reading lists with the new season.

2000 P St. NW. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Politics and Prose
Abrigail Williams | Community Relations Director

If you’re looking to cozy up with a book this fall, take a solo trip to Politics and Prose at The Wharf. Although the waterfront is mostly known for its summer night scene with venues like The Anthem and Union Stage, the strip is a great place to explore during the day. And as autumn rounds the corner, walking down The Wharf’s narrow cobblestone streets and venturing into the local bookstore might be the perfect way to welcome in the season.

Wander through the bookstore and peruse through the wide selection of genres or pick up a game, some stationery or that staple tote bag you might have seen another student sport around campus. The shop is also known for hosting book talks and other events, so make sure to check their calendar if you plan on sitting in.

70 District Square SW. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Capitol Hill Books
Nikki Ghaemi | Contributing News Editor

Located minutes from the Eastern Market Metro station, Capitol Hill Books is brimming with autumnal vibes and makes for the perfect way to spend a chilly afternoon. This cozy, multi-level business has plenty of new arrivals along with floor-to-ceiling piles of used books full of hidden gems.

Handwritten signs with everything from genre labels to book suggestions to amusing one-liners adorn the shelves throughout the store as part of this interactive experience. This store is perfect for the avid bookworm who wants to spend hours perusing the piles and the occasional reader who wants to pick up the latest bestseller. With so many options and truly something for everyone, it’s hard to leave Capitol Hill Books empty handed.

657 C St. SE. Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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