Two weeks ago Gareth and I drove to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to cut a rug at the annual Dance Flurry Festival. Turns out we weren’t the only children’s book creators in attendance at this big event. That’s Joseph Bruchac in the center of the room below, beating a drum during "Dancing Our Stories: New England Native American Dances," one of two workshops he led with his son James Bruchac.
When we weren’t brushing up on our swing or tango moves, Gareth and I spent a bit of timing exploring the town of Saratoga Springs, where we stumbled upon Lyrical Ballad Bookstore, one of the prettiest and most well-stocked antiquarian bookstores I’ve ever had the pleasure of browsing. While we didn’t have ample time to spend in the place (I could have happily spent days there!) I did find enough time to snap a few photos for your viewing pleasure.
Below is the main entrance to the store, with Gareth peering in the doorway.
To the right of the entrance above is another nice display window, below.
Here’s the front counter that sits just to your left as you enter the door.
Bookends are displayed along the top of many of the store’s bookcases — I don’t know when or where I’ve seen so many in any one place.
While it may not look big from the front, the store is suprisingly large inside, with a maze of rooms tucked at the back, all chock full of books. Here’s a shot of the front room, facing the counter and front windows.
At the back of that front room is what was once a bank vault, as its door clearly indicates.
I like the quote on this plaque, which sits above the bank vault door: "The only book you’ll ever regret is the one you didn’t buy."
To your right as you face the bank vault are (what else?) more books, tucked into every available inch of space.
To your left are… WOW! The store seems to go on forever!
Here’s one of the rooms off the corridor above. Note that there’s a lack of shelf space in the place, despite its seemingly endless bookcases.
Here’s another room:
And another:
Here’s one that has both books and antique prints on display.
Here’s a print I had my eye on:
After touring that maze of rooms at the back I returned to the front of the store again, this time to the room that’s to your right as you enter — the one behind the display window printed with the store’s name. It’s chock-a-block with huge art books, mostly, on every artist and era imaginable. Here’s how that room looks as you enter it:
Here’s how that same room appears as you’re facing the street. (Note the bookends atop the bookcases on the left-hand wall.)
I loved the cozy feel of this room on a sunlit day. It made me wish I had several hours in which to curl up with a copy of… any number of books I saw in this store! Here’s one I was particularly tempted by: Heroic Women of History.
What I was tempted by most, though, was not any particular book, but a bookcase: the beautiful rotating bookcase that sits just inside the store window. Tell me you don’t covet this:
That bookcase is good evidence of the fact that the Lyrical Ballad offers as much candy for the eyes as it does for the wallet. I was so taken with the beauty of the spines lined up on many of the shelves that I went a little camera-trigger happy. Here are three shots, just to give you a sample:
What can I tell you about the history and operations of the Lyrical Ballad? Not much, unfortunately. I spent too much time browsing and quickly found myself with none left to chat with the owners and pepper them with questions. Fortunately the Book Trout blog has filled that void with a wonderful post about this wonderful bookstore. Be sure to read what Book Trout has to say, and check out their other blog entries too. Reading them makes me think I definitely need to visit THEIR store, Old Saratoga Books, on my next Upstate NY trip!
Jennifer Armstrong took me, a few years ago, to a night of the Dance Flurry Festival. I also spent time in that wonderful bookstore. Another time I went to the races. So so cool. Saratoga, in general, is a terrific town.
I really enjoyed your photos! Thanks for a great story. (Also, thanks for the Book Trout info.)
Now you’ve made me homesick. Costa Rica seems so far from my upstate home. Thanks for reminding me
I was in Saratoga Springs for last year’s World Fantasy Convention, which attracted about 1100 people (including one of the Guests of Honor, Joe Bruchac) at the Convention Center and many of the hotels (I stayed at the Westchester House b&b). I was in this store, which is as complete and as wonderful and charming as the photos attest. Architecturally, Saratoga Springs was a wonderful place. Hope you got a chance to see the wonderful Greek Revival houses a few blocks to the west.
I grew up in nearby Ballston Spa and spent enormous time in Saratoga as a kid and young person — The Lyrical Ballard has the feel of a place that has been there forever but I don’t recognize it! Now I wonder if I somehow missed this gem or if it is “new”
Thanks for the kind comments about the Book Trout blog and for your paean to the Lyrical Ballad Bookstore. The owners, Jan and John DeMarco are wonderful colleagues who have had their landmark shop for over thirty years. Their store is such a cool labyrinth of beautiful and rare books. I covet so many things each time I go in and must use lots of self-restraint. -Rachel
Again, thanks for the comments on John and Jan’s store. I once asked John about the beginnings of the book store. He told me a story about how a wealthy man had entered the store (back when it ONLY inhabited the single room where the front desk is located). This man asked John how much his most expensive book was. John’s reply was $50.00. The man shook his head saying, “You will never make it.”, as he walked out the door. Thirty years later, John wondered aloud to me if “He still wasn’t making it.” Back in 2001, I couldn’t afford to buy books. John let me help out in trade for some of my favorite volumes. If you are in Saratoga, remember to visit John and Janice!
I have been to 100’s of bookstores around the nation. Lyrical Ballad Bookstore in Saratoga Springs is one of the most memorable. A great bookstore in a great place.
This makes me want to visit Saratoga Springs. These pictures are so well done that I can almost smell the fine aroma of books — aging in this glorious book seller. This is literally “Heaven” for the bibliophile’s curious mind.
Dear John, I used to call on you when I was at The Blood-Horse. I googled your store and came up with these wonderful photos of your place. Your place is so unique. I’ve always loved it. Hope you are well. My son still comes up there. John does a lot of sign painting for Fasig-Tipton. My other son works for Darley and comes up there in August. I have 4 grandchildren to keep me busy. Kind regards, Carolyn Cox
The Age of Napoleon, The Horizon Book of, J. Christopher Herold; American Heritage Pub. Co. (1963 “& renewed 1991”; re-issued in 2002 by “Mariner Books”) Foolishly, I persevered & wasted time finishing Bryan Burrough’s God-awful Vendetta (see). I then immediately needed something well-written to get the taste of the disreputable American Express & idiosyncratic Edmund Safra out of my mouth & memory. I grabbed AON, which I had read for the first time just prior to the Vendetta odyssey, & read it again. It worked, and on the second reading, I realized that Herold is the (“unherolded” & presumably, forgotten) equal of Manchester, Massie, McCullough, and Schom. These are the books that my mother brought home that I unconditionally fell in love with, as a very small boy. They had standards. And the art work is as spectacular as the writing is superb. Another great Lyrical Ballad discovery. PN: Years later, having forgotten the title but crisply remembering the author’s name, I jumped like a terrier at an airborne bone when Amazon laid the trap. I now own two copies of AON – the 2nd, the “Mariner Books” edition – a paperback with cheap & unfamiliar black & white illustrations that might be copies of the beautiful full-color, hard cover originals.