If you're looking for a great selection of books and comics, in addition to an on-site bar, Atomic…read moreBooks may be your destination. Located in the Hampden section of Bmore, Atomic Books would easily satisfy the inner book nerd in you (*raises hand...). Upon entering, the ambiance was chill with music playing over the speaker with just enough volume to not get in the way of perusing the incredible book collection. The books are sectioned according to genre, which makes for ease in looking for a specific topic. They have a magazine section as well with titles you won't find in an ordinary newsstand (a magazine titled "Bomb"?.... I'm impressed). The cost of the books varied, but was not so to bust your budget. They also have a selection of comic books in addition to t-shirts and items with the Atomic Books logo. The staff were pleasant and customers who came in seemed to be locals supporting a great small business. I liked that. And don't forget I mentioned a bar....located in the rear....serving adult libations. Can you imagine yourself purchasing a favorite book and settling in at one of the seats in the bar sipping on your favorite drink? Or playing the video game back there? I could and would have...if I had the time! All in all, a cool neighborhood bookstore/bar to chill out, grab a book, and a drink.

This is a great bookstore packed floor to ceiling with fiction, non-fiction, how-tos, cookbooks,…read moremanga, comics, illustrated books and more! All the books were reasonably priced, and service was quick and efficient when checking out. We had time to kill before a dinner reservation nearby so we walked in to see if we could find a book to bring with us to the beach. After searching through the shelves and seeing all that Atomic Books has to offer, my husband and I both found something that piqued our interest. I love shopping small and supporting local, and Atomic Books has classic Baltimore charm mixed with the unique punk vibes of Hamden. The next time I'm around grabbing a bite, I think I'll stop in and buy another book to enjoy.

Great selection and value; really knowledgeable proprietor helped a lot with smart and witty…read morecomments; also great 'if you liked that you'll like this' suggestions!

Very cute and cozy bookstore. The owner is versed in literature and her number one employee,…read moreGermaine, is the cutest black cat in the city. Definitely a great place to stop by.

Fantastic Con. I go every year (when they're open --- COVID sucks) and really enjoy myself…read more Honestly I only go on Friday and I only go to the sales/vendor area. I have no interest in the panels and Cosplay and stuff. The vendors are great and there are hundreds of them. If you want comics, you're golden. But they've also got so many other art vendors, arts and crafts, fantasy, sci-fi, you name it. This year I had a very pleasant surprise: As I was walking around this area, Terry Dodson, one of my favorite artists, was signing. So I hopped in line and bought some of his books with signature, along with really nice 5 minute conversation. That was an unexpected really cool treat. My advice to get there just for the vendor area: The Con usually opens Friday at 1 pm or so. Get there at 130-2 pm. You will avoid the lines and literally walk right in. Get your ticket online ahead of time, and I get a parking pass at a local lot because it's usually cheaper than that-day and I don't have to worry about where to take my car. I end up walking about 2 blocks, which is nothing.

Came here to my first Baltimore Comic Con! This was a traditional comic book convention with a…read moresprinkling of pop culture. It was held at the BaltimoreCconvention Center in downtown Baltimore. Parking can be a nightmare, but it is possible with the city garages you can walk to. I suggest public transportation or a ride share service. Upon entering, we showed our electronic tickets and were given a wristband, which was checked as we entered the convention floor. They had single and multi-day options available. Upon arriving on the floor, we got a program which included the layout of the event (aisles indicating where certain vendors were, the rooms where panel discussions were being held, and the schedule for the meet and greets with invited special guests for photo and autograph opportunities.) To name a few: the twins from Harry Potter, Michael Biehn from "Terminator and Aliens"; Giancarlo Esposito from "Breaking Bad", and a host of others including popular voice actors, artists, and illustrators (with long lines as well, so get their early!) They had an authentication kiosk for items in addition to the ability to sell and purchase items. Folks were there in their cosplay best which was great for people watching. They have a food court and seating area as well. All in all, I enjoyed it and look forward to attending next year.

Great place for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Children and educator would greatly benefitread more

For the price, can't be beat!…read more The model is simple: donate your books (up to 7 boxes per visit). They give them away for free! According to their website, you can't take more than 150,000 books per visit, so don't be too greedy, you bookworms! They sell 1-2% of donated books to cover overhead, but everything else is volunteer basis, keeping The Book Thing a free community even once a month. Be prepared to wait in line. We arrived at 11:45 so most of the big rush had faded. They let people in on the hour, with a max of 100 people in per time. If you arrive after someone leaves, they can let you in to finish that hour out. You could make a day of it - there are several cafés, breweries, and restaurants in the area that you could visit before or afterwards. Inside there are three rooms - red, blue, and green. They are organized by genres. A warning: this is not for claustrophobic people. It gets crowded and while people are generally polite and respectful, you will rub shoulders with plenty of other bibliophiles. My kids enjoyed it, though Child #1 was a tad overwhelmed and Child#3 wanted to get out of his umbrella stroller and run around! They all picked out something that was just for them. My wife gathered several books and I picked up a couple for myself. When you leave, you need to count your books and tell them that number (for their record-keeping) and your ZIP code. Other than that, it's a great deal, not to mention a fun way to meet other folks in the community. One parent reminisced about how her (now grown) daughter used to love a series that my middle child was looking at. I overheard one woman asking about a particular genre and a volunteer told her that those usually get picked over pretty early. So while there is more of a wait and higher demand closer to opening time, it sounds like there are some choicer items that are available then. DONATION - there is a small one-way road that leads around the back. After the morning rush, it seemed like it moves quickly. There's a small parking pad where you can pull up and give your books to some volunteers. Parking - it's Waverly, so pretty much street parking and you will have to look. We lucked out and saw someone leaving their spot right by the donation drop-off, so we were able to park close. If you have a bunch of books that could use a new home, come donate them here! If you are curious about grabbing some new books for yourself, drop on by! Just check the website for specific dates - it can vary from month to month what's available.

Best local coffee spot and a lot of community-centered activities. PLENTY of seating. Go on a…read moreSaturday morning and you'll be right next to the Waverly farmer's market lot.

I didn't have a prolonged visit here, as I just stopped by and picked up some pastries to bring…read morehome. Whilst there it looked like a very big and nice place to maybe meet up with friends or even try to get some work done. It wasn't overly noisy or anything. Also everything is vegan. We actually ordered a vegan pie from them for Thanksgiving and can attest it was delicious. Next to the coffeehouse is the two story bookstore. The ground level is full of books highlighting political and/or social subject matters, whereas the second floor seemed to have more regular fare. It's a nice inviting space for everyone - would recommend checking out.

Normal's Book & Records is a cool little used bookstore in Baltimore, MD. It has a large selection…read moreof used books in just about every genre you can imagine, as well as a pretty good collection of used vinyl. The staff are more than willing to help you find a book and have an interesting conversation. Normal's is a quirky place for book and music lovers alike.

This record store had such a unique selection of albums to choose from, with a lot of eclectic…read morechoices to look through. I found some great albums here for very reasonable prices. Love the fun decor, and the guy running the store is super friendly and nice to chat with.

Avoid if possible. 5 months and still waiting for an order to arrive. Perhaps new management should…read moretake over and staff to be TRAINED.

The people who work here are comically rude. It's wild. As another reviewer mentioned, the return…read morepolicy is almost nonexistent. There are other options for uniforms and books - I would definitely use those.

I love Everyone's Place. It is a historic gem!! Such a wide selection of reading materials and…read moremore! Customer service is always professional, inviting, attentive and hospitable.

Every time I walk in EP, it's the aroma that always make me happy and relaxes my soul. There's this…read moreamalgamation of varying body oils, incense and soaps that truly permeate the air and this fragrant heady aroma that is absolutely intoxicating. My mission: to get raw Shea butter bc everywhere I've gone has refined Shea and I want the vitamins & nutrients raw Shea gives. EP is such a place to get authentic and organic products w/o all the bells & whistles of pretty packaging. It's just really good stuff!! When I tell you no one there gives a crap, believe it. This place has been around 40+ years!!! And u can tell. There is and always has been a type of air that is given off by the employees when you enter. It's as if, 'you should know what's in here and what it's for and how to use it already... and if you don't... ah well'. I get and can't appreciate the hands off approach. I hate nothing more than a pushy salesperson. That's not what's happening in here. It's more of an indifference to anything. This go around, as has always happened here, I had a few questions. The employees seem out off by having to stop looking in their phones to actually answer a question. So after the eye roll and the sigh, I ask... and as is always the case, the question is replied to with complete indifference ['If you want it, get it. If you don't... cool... but put it back where u got it. I ain't movin']. That's always been my 'turn off' w/ this place since I started going in the 90s. Sadly, EP has been one of the only stalwarts that has stood the test of time in the area. Granted, they have good genuine products in stock. Fantastic body oils, tinctures, lotions, soaps, incense, teas, fabrics, art, sculptures a literal library of wonderful Afro centric literature, etc... it's all there. And if it isn't, they can prob get it for you. But it's the 'indifference' for me. I'm sure it works for them bc they've been the same way for 20+ years. While the price points may be a lil higher than expected, taking into account that they are a specialty shop catering to a a specific need/ demographic, the pricing is definitely justified - especially in this market w/ so many businesses closing. I do hope EP stays around for a long time to come. I just wish the employees gave just an iota about what they're selling in the shop (lower level).

My first visit to this location of Greedy Reads. I love:…read more *Recommendations galore. Lots of books with thoughtfully written employee recommendations attached to them. *Variety. From the classics to the current trendsetters. Greedy Reads had a great selection of fiction and non fiction, kids and local interest. Despite being a small place, they pack a mighty amount of variety in here. *Special signed copies for no additional fee. Maybe I'm used to the world where signed things cost more. Here, the signed book I picked up cost exactly what the sleeve said. Only downside during my visit was how cramped it felt when there were quite a few people inside.

I love this little independent bookstore. It is small but mighty…read more Each shelf is packed with thoughtful choices. I enjoy reading through the staff selections. I like that there is a true variety of authors here, some favorites and a lot that are new to me. Reading is a passion of mine, if I am ever feeling blue I dip in here and grab a book and it always makes my day better. None of the workers have ever actually spoken to me, I would love a few recs from time to time.