Urban Center Books

The books on display here are like candy to me.
Not so much about architecture (although that topic is represented here) as about «urbanism,» that category encompassing everything about cities, their histories, their culture, how they function. You might be surprised, for example, about how many books there are about «infrastructure,» explaining how cities’ plumbing, communications, streets, public transportation, etc. function.
A great place to find an unusual NYC guide book, either as a gift for a discriminating friend, or for yourself, to plan an off-​the-​beaten-​path walking tour. The titles aren’t limited to New York, though; there are lots of books about my second city, Los Angeles, and many other cities, too.

I absolutely love Urban Center Books. It’s beautiful with high ceilings and a very helpful staff. They do the coolest gift-​wrapping and make my day every time I walk in. Plus the location in the Urban Center is a special treat. If this store doesn’t have what you want, you probably aren’t looking for a book on architecture, urbanism, or travel. Love live Urban Center Books!

Not the largest or most comprehensive architecture bookstore I’ve seen, but by far the best edited selection about urbanism around. Plus, it has a super-​convenient location right in Midtown and benefits the MAS, which does yeoman’s work in celebrating and advancing NYC’s patrimony. The MAS usually has interesting exhibits about architecture in the room next door. The space toes the line between compact and cramped, but so does most of Manhattan.
As Sooj suspected, I’ve seen items here that I did not expect to find in the USA.

Oh, God. Just be prepared to spend lots of money if you should even step foot inside this bookstore. Everything is luscious eye-​candy for anyone with the slightest interest in architecture.
Really, I don’t know if there’s much more to say about it. Architecture and books, lots of visuals, expensive books; oh, the bookstore is in a great building. I also recall seeing books in foreign languages, so they might ship in some specially from abroad.
I am a Shiegura Ban fan, and was ogling all the books they had on him. Just recalling those books now while writing this has me all aflush with desire.