A Manhattan Bookstore Closes

More than a year ago, Shakespeare & Company's store, on Broadway near 105th Street on Manhattan's Upper West Side, was closed a short time after it opened for business. I learned it was closing from an article in the weekly newspaper, The Spirit. I later went to the store to buy a couple of mystery paperbacks at a significant discount.

I think the store could have been saved if the owners had focused exclusively on LGBTQ books and merchandise (like posters, rainbow flags, key chains, and slogan buttons).

In a city with a sizable LGBTQ population, and no bookstore catering to it, I refuse to believe such a bookstore would not have been able to thrive, even in harsh economic times. LGBTQ bars seem to stay afloat no matter what.

Aside from selling books and LGBTQ-related merchandise, the store could have been used for book readings, book signings, lectures, film screenings, game nights, special events, etc. The store needed owners who could think outside the box and experiment with different ways to attract a loyal clientele.

The location, in a very busy section of town, would have been a perfect refuge for LGBTQ bibliophiles, in an area convenient to public transportation, public parks, restaurants, supermarkets, and smaller shops.

We Need An Interurban Trolley System

There's a very memorable scene in the 1975 historical novel Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow (1931-2015), in which a character, who I think was a Jewish immigrant, traveled 138 miles from the Lower East Side of Manhattan to Springfield, Massachusetts. He reached his destination by transferring to various trolley lines. The novel is set in the early years of the 20th century. I don't know if such a transit system existed back then or was just a product of Doctorow's imagination, but I do know that this system is not available today. And that's too bad, because an interurban trolley system would help reduce bumper-to-bumper traffic and polluting car emissions.

Very Apt Descriptions

Here are Google A.I.'s recent descriptions of this blog:

"Urban Book Maven is an online blog and cultural archive authored by writer and cultural critic Charles Michael Smith. The blog focuses on the intersection of LGBTQ+ culture, Black history, literature, and arts, often sharing historical essays, author interviews, and reflections on queer and multicultural heritage. Notable topics frequently discussed on the site include the legacy of Black gay writers (such as Assotto Saint) and historical accounts of nightlife and anti-violence resistance [sic] in communities of color." (accessed May 28, 2026)

In an earlier description, A. I. described the blog as "an active blog featuring literary commentary, personal essays, and reflections with recent content published as of March 2026. The site has been noted in academic contexts regarding queer literature and features posts exploring themes of travel, memory, and literature." (accessed April 24, 2026)

I would say that the above statements are very apt descriptions.

Books Are Tiny Time Machines

Michiko Kakutani (born 1955), the former chief book critic of the New York Times, has given what I think is the best description I've ever read of what books can do. In her 2020 book, Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread (Clarkson Potter), she calls books "[t]hese magical brick-sized objects--made of paper, ink, glue, thread, cardboard, fabric, or leather--[that] are actually tiny time machines that can transport us back to the past to learn the lessons of history, and forward to idealized or dystopian futures. Books can transport us to distant parts of the globe and even more distant  planets and universes. They give us the stories of men and women we will never meet in person, illuminate the discoveries made by great minds, and allow us access to the wisdom of earlier generations."

Harlem Church Tours

I could be wrong, but I believe that the hundreds of tourists visiting Harlem churches every Sunday morning come for the spectacle, the entertainment value of the services rather than for religious reasons.

Author's Note: The church, pictured above, was located on West 123rd Street, near the corner of Lenox Avenue, in Harlem. It was next door to the homophobic, anti-Obama ATLAH Missionary Church. The A.M.E. church is now occupied by a mosque called Masjid Futa Islamic Center Harlem.

Homemade Or Store Made?

I'm always amused whenever I see a restaurant window sign that says the restaurant's food is homemade. It would be safe to bet that the food sold never came out of anyone's home kitchen. Plus, I'm sure the health department wouldn't allow such food to be sold. What restaurant owners should say is that their food is store made or cooked on the premises.

Some Good Astrological Advice

Lately I've taken up the habit of reading Eugenia Last's daily horoscope column in the morning paper called amNew York.

I'm a Gemini, and I have found some very useful advice in the column for those born under my astrological sign. Here are some examples of that advice:

"Concentrate on creating partnerships, learning, and keeping busy. The less time you focus on who and what you don't like, the easier it will be to let go of the past." (May 4, 2026)

"Stop talking and start doing. You'll gain ground if you focus on your achievements. Get serious and committed. Give good advice, and you will make a big difference." (April 29, 2026)

"Do what you can to help those who need it. Share your expertise and your wisdom. A kind word will do wonders for others and make you feel good." (April 22, 2026)