dilemma...

My favorite place in the world where I used to hang out, was the Barnes and Noble at Lincoln Square, across the street from the Performance Center, ABC New York and the LDS Temple building. It was 4 floors of fantastic heaven for me, the place was light and airy, had a cafe at the top, magazines, music and films in the basement, and.... best of all..... three whole floors, filled, top to bottom with stories, countries, information of just about any kind... books...

the store as seen at night

the cafe on the fifth floor...

Then, I went away, and the building owners decided to raise prices on the rent, B&N said "fuggedaboutit"(a very typical Italian NewYork'ish slang) and left... It was so sad, now there is a discount designer clothes store there, ick!!! 
Now, I am back and forced to find a new hangout, which is turning out to be a very trying business....

My first thought was of course to try out the other B&N stores in Manhattan, there are of course several. There isn't one close to my house, but with a metro pass that didn't really matter to me. The second consideration is lighting and general "feel" of the place, too "hip"?, too young? Too old?? And the only real viable option came in the Union Square store. But even with it, there is a kind of a big problem imho. and that is, they don't let the public sit on the floor even if it is tucked away in a corner, and there are not enough cosy crannies and corners. :(  All the others were too dark, too small, too busy or just didn't give me the relaxing feel I am looking for. 

I have also considered some places that aren't necessarily a B&N bookstore, such as Ikea (too busy and a bit cumbersome to get to), any of the parks but it really kind of needs to be indoors at the time, which also cancels out Columbus Circle, the docks at the tip of Manhattan, or the little square around the corner... I considered the Library, thinking, well that's as good as a bookstore, better in fact because one can check out the books and take them home if one wanted... But, again, they are waaaay too busy, and quite noisy as well.. It seems as if I find myself at an impasse... I don't know where else to look... but I also need a place to hang out, relax and just have "me" time... :S 

As for right now, the search continues, and though I feel a little dejected, I am by no means giving up!!! (so there!!) :)