Ever find that secret little spot unexpectedly? I found one last summer, a secret garden* of sorts, tucked into a cul-de-sac in my neighborhood. I visited agin this morning.
Monday, we took a day trip to a book store I had been eyeing. Local book shops are my favorite spaces because they’re full of charm and quiet energy.
Within walking distance from our lunch spot, we visited Fabled Bookshop and Cafe in Waco, Tx. Upon entering, Aesop the Owl welcomed us with a tip of his hat. The book cases, dark and cozy, held the usual sorts of books. Shelf talkers, scripted by employees introducing people to their next great read, persuaded me to choose them from the shelf, if not add them to my TBR list.
I always like to check out the kid’s section even though my youngest is thirteen. She upgraded to the YA section, but the lure of kid lit always draws me in at least to take a peek.
I didn’t find it, but my daughter did. I gasped in excitement, so much as to cause her embarrassment even though the two year old writhing away from her mom trying to read her a picture book on the blue velvet couch barely noticed us.
Faux fur coats hung neatly in a built-in wardrobe. We parted the coats on the rack, and sure enough, there’s a door! Is it real? Does it open or is it just for show?
She hunches down, pushes the door, and sure enough, it opens to the other side, the YA section, of all places. As she makes her way through, a group of college aged kids are on the other side, hunched down, making their way in.
“Come on in! The White Witch is gone and Mr. Tumnus has hot tea waiting for us,” I playfully say in my best Lucy voice.
“Oh, yes, we shall come in!” Through the door they enter the kid’s section.
What a gem of a book shop.
*You can read about A Secret Garden here.
Nerds Beget Nerds 
Oh. My. Gosh. I want to be in that bookstore, and already I have written down the title of Mobituaries as a staff pick. That is so incredibly charming – – no, I haven’t found a sweet spot this enchanting in years. I want to be there!!!
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Hi Kim, I remembered your post when I saw this title! I meant to link it to you, but it was a late post. I’m glad you found it. I will visit again, perhaps go solo with my bookish friends who would prefer to hang out here than anywhere else.
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I have put that bookstore on my “I must go” list!! That is amazing & I love how you wrote about it, bringing in your voice of wonder and play.
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Thank you so much. I tend to get over excited about little surprises, fun spaces, objects, etc. that remind me I’m still a kid at heart.
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WHAAAT?! This bookstore sounds heavenly. I love how through the door lies the YA section, which in fact is the perfect bookstore playground for your daughter.
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Hi Amy. It turned out she enjoyed it as much as I did. I didn’t notice until I took a closer look at the picture, but it’s the YA section on one side, parenting on the other. Oh those sneaky, clever bookish owners!
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From reading this post and the other one you wrote about this bookstore, Fabled Bookshop might just win the best bookshop ever award. Now I want to go to Waco!
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