A Trip to Tubby & Coo's Mid-City Book Shop in New Orleans

(Or “I Solemnly Swear That I Am up to No Good”)

Whoa! Time flies when you’re having fun. It it’s it time’s fun when you’re having flies? Either way, time flies regardless, ago you might as well have fun.

Anyway, speaking of fun! Careful readers (all three of you; good morning! Can you tell I haven’t had enough coffee?) will recall that recently I went to New Orleans for the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival, an annual queer writing conference that’s a lot of fun and inspiration. More on that later, I hope, if I have–you guessed it–time. What I want to tell you about it’s a field trip I took with some friends on the last day off the conference to Tubby & Coo’s Mid-City Book Shop.

The dragon in their logo should tell you that this is no ordinary book shop.
The dragon in their logo should tell you that this is no ordinary book shop.

As you probably know, I’m a big fan of independent bookstores. This one is no exception. Owner Candice Detillier Huber has created a magical place here. It shows in the sandwich board outside the shop too:

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Let’s see what’s inside, shall we?

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Click on that picture to giantize it; it’s worth seeing all the detail in the mural. There are so many cool touches like this throughout the store.

Just below this archway you’ll find a section filed with books of localinterest and by local authors. I picked up a copy of Murder in the Arts District by friend and editor Greg Herren.

Around the corner you’ll also start to find some decidedly nerdy things, like this:

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And this:

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I was mightily tempted to get that mug, but there was more to explore first.

The first floor is full of science fiction and fantasy books, as well as a broad selection of general fiction, nonfiction, and more than a few cookbooks. I picked up a novel by the late Octavia Butler. I’d read a novella and some stories by her and knew I wanted too read more, and since this is the year I’m trying to read more diverse authors, out seemed like an obvious choice.

There’s a second floor to the shop, but don’t head up too quickly. The stairwell has its own charms, like this little door below the stairs:

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You can probably guess what you’ll find inside, yes?

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The Harry Potter theme is well represented in this area. The sorting hat, for example:

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Even the light switches:

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And, of course, this gem:

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Before you go up the stairs, take a moment to pay attention to the stairs themselves:

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I want to do something like this someday.

Further up the stairs you’ll come across these cool floating shelves:

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Followed by this painting:

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The theme continues around the corner:

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There’s also this clever little sign, whose purpose is ably demonstrated by my tall friend Dan:

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Upstairs is devoted to children’s literature as well as a selection of really cool games.

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Be sure to click on this one because the mural is just stunning.

I couldn’t leave empty handed, of course. In addition to the two books I mentioned, I also got possibly the coolest lunchbox:

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Yes, it’s upside down, but you know, wibbly wobbly timey wimey….

The next time I’m in NOLA, there will definitely be a return trip to Tubby & Coo’s!