The Book Escape

Just in: 1981 souvenir book Washington, D.C. and one of its pages. Truly a picture of symmetry, calm, and serenity. And very blue. America of 2026 would eventually fix that.

Interesting look at Charles Street more than a century ago!

The Book Escape is located almost exactly where this photo was taken. In fact, our storefront would be on the right side of the street, near where the man is standing. The funny thing is that there doesn't appear to be a building there yet. Give it a few years.

Eventually the lot would be developed, house a variety of businesses over the decades, and finally arrive at its highest and best use: a new and used bookstore called The Book Escape. 😄

It's amazing to think how much this street has changed—and how much history has passed through this little stretch of Baltimore.

When Hecht's Furniture Ruled South Charles Street

In 1913, South Charles Street was a muddy construction zone filled with workers, streetcar tracks, and the sounds of a growing city. Standing proudly on the corner was Hecht's New Furniture Store, owned by Meyer C. Hecht, whose family would become one of Baltimore's most famous retail names.
For generations, people passed through those doors looking for furniture, pianos, and household goods. As horses gave way to automobiles and streetcars disappeared from the streets, the building remained a familiar landmark. Many later knew it as Shofer's Furniture, never realizing its connection to the Hecht family that helped shape Baltimore retail history.
Today, the street looks very different, but this photograph preserves a moment when South Baltimore was still being built—one rail, one brick, and one storefront at a time.

Happy Juneteenth!

We're open regular hours today, 11–7, with Friday Happy Hour from 4–7, where you buy two used books and get the third one FREE!

This morning we also put together a small display of books on Black history and the American story, including Five Days by Wes Moore.

On another note, when I came in this morning there were four police cars on Charles Street, one with its lights flashing. "Dang. What now?" I was definitely concerned. Looked around but couldn't see anything wrong. They stayed there for at least 45 minutes.

Later, curiosity got the better of me and I walked down to Toasty Corner to see if they knew anything.

"Oh, the police?" the man said. "They came and had breakfast here."

So if none of the Juneteenth books grab you, maybe wander over to the Shakespeare section and pick up a copy of Much Ado About Nothing. You can even wave it in front of my face at checkout, if you like.

The pelicans have left the nest.

These two wooden pelicans have spent months standing guard over our Romance section and keeping a watchful eye on the Nora Roberts stack below them. Today they found a new home and are currently making their way to Harford County.

Their departure is also a good reminder that many of the paintings, sculptures, signs, and other interesting objects you see around The Book Escape are actually for sale.

Sometimes you'll find a price tag. Sometimes you won't. If you see something you love, just ask. Chances are we can work something out.

Safe travels, pelicans. 🐦

Today is our usual Tuesday day off, but there happens to be a sleep conference in Baltimore with 5,000 attendees, so I was already thinking we might open at some point.

(If you are not interested in a long rambling story, just scroll to the bottom now.)

And naturally, with the conference in my head, part of my morning wandered into thinking about sleep. Even more so because I can't say I woke up perfectly this morning. It seemed like I had enough hours, but I just didn't feel... rested.

One side effect of having a Russian wife and spending years trying to learn her language is that sometimes a Russian word pops into my head before an English one does. This morning I knew exactly how I felt:

"Не выспался."

The problem is that English doesn't have a perfect equivalent in one short, snappy word. We have to explain it a little more.

So after some thought, I decided the best translation was: "I didn't wake up rested."

Later, after a walk, I decided to test ChatGPT on this and see if I was right. I gave it only two choices:

"I didn't get enough sleep." or "I didn't wake up rested."

(And I gave it no clue which one I preferred.)

To my delight, it picked mine.

Then—because apparently I have entirely too much free time on my day off—I asked Gemini.

And Gemini... picked the other one.

I pushed back a little. What if you sleep a reasonable number of hours but still wake up feeling not quite right? How can you say you "didn't get enough sleep"?

Gemini acknowledged there was something to that argument, but it never really conceded the point. It kept insisting that "I didn't get enough sleep" was the more common English expression and therefore the better translation.

The debate remained unresolved. Later, I took a 20-minute nap, and at least my personal situation was solved.

I can now happily report:

"Я выспался."

(Meaning roughly: "I got the rest I needed.")

And feeling much better, I've decided The Book Escape will be open today after all.

Long story short:

Book Escape hours today are 3 PM – 6 PM.

Sometimes all it takes is a good nap, a Russian vocabulary word, and an argument with two artificial intelligences.

Our first customer today had just come from The Book Thing, where she was #15 in line. When the doors opened there, she said several people rushed past her to get to the sections they wanted first. Which is understandable—when thousands of free books are involved, you want to be the first to get to the books you want.

Afterward, she came here, headed to the Art section, took her time browsing, and left with about $40 worth of art books.

Two ways to build a library: the thrill of the chase, or the pleasure of the browse at one of Baltimore's many independent bookstores.

Baltimore is lucky to have both.

New cool sign up in our mystery/thriller section today. And a brew or two always helps solve a mystery, at least the person thinks it does. $50

"ChatGPT Calls for Destruction of Local Independent Bookstore after Orioles Win."

After the rowdiness and vandalism following the Knicks game a few days ago, I asked ChatGPT what might happen if the Orioles won the World Series. Part of ChatGPT's response was:

"And honestly, if Baltimore got to the point where people were celebrating an Orioles championship so wildly that your facade got damaged, the city would be having a very good problem."

A very good problem?

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but damage to businesses, including bookstores, doesn't suddenly become a "very good problem" just because it's connected to a championship celebration. Have all the fun you want. Fill the streets. Honk the horns. Celebrate until 3 in the morning. But when it crosses over into vandalism and damage to other people's property, that's where the line is.

Ok, rant over.

And ChatGPT, I do get your way of thinking. People get excited. People get carried away. And in your view, that's enough to explain away the chaos.

Wait... what? AI is supposed to be the rational one!

When the AC decides to take a personal day, The Book Escape adapts: Today's featured employee is this impressive three-fan tower, now working alongside Hemingway and his cats, a giant owl, some Russian nesting dolls, and approximately one zillion books.

Though the AC is underperforming, the good news is that these old brick Baltimore rowhouses stay surprisingly comfortable on the ground floor.

Looking for a book club to join?

A friend of The Book Escape—and a former bookstore owner herself—recently started a new book club that's off to a great start. The next meeting is at Octobar on the 23rd. Call or text her if you're interested!

As luck would have it, this month's selection is a book we currently have in stock. And if you join the book club, let us know and we'll give you an extra 10% off the book, bringing your total discount to 25% off.