City Lights Bookstore is the headquarters of the 'Beat Generation' culture, housing all the literary works of the 'Beat' movement and an independent, persistent attitude. If interested, after visiting the bookstore, you can also visit the Beat Museum, which is just a street away.
Amoeba Music Record Store (San Francisco)
Amoeba Music claims to be the world's largest independent record store. Although their San Francisco store doesn't have much of a price advantage compared to online, the sheer variety and quantity will excite anyone who loves any kind of music. This store also has branches in Los Angeles and Berkeley.
The Melrose Trading Post
This flea market is located inside Fairfax High School, with some signs around the school perimeter, making it easy to reach. The popularity here is as intense as the California sunshine, with many people lining up at the entrance. The entrance fee is $5, and after paying, a stamp will be placed on your hand for re-entry. The market is quite large. There are vendors selling second-hand goods, local artisans selling furniture or paintings, and many old photos and tapes. Be prepared with cash to shop to your heart's content, and take the opportunity to chat with the vendors about their stories. There is also an area where students from the school sell drinks and snacks.
The Last Bookstore
The Last Bookstore is located in Los Angeles and has been rated as one of the top ten independent bookstores in North America. This bookstore is famous for its various artworks and decorations, such as the mammoth head specimen.
Left Bank Books
This bookstore is located in Seattle. Although it is a bookstore, the business of the bookstore is not privately owned. The bookstore is registered as a social organization and is jointly owned and managed by six full-time employees. In this bookstore, you can read many books on topics such as marginalized groups and culture. Left Bank Books has been in business since 1973, adhering to red and black anarchism for more than thirty years. The entire store is compact yet warm, and as soon as you enter, you will see a large 'No Starbucks' sign, which signifies the bookstore's anti-mainstream attitude. The first floor has a small room up a few steps, and the second floor has a small bay window where you can pick up a book and sit on the window seat cushion, watching the bustling tourists and customers at Pike Place Market across the street. One thing I particularly like about bookstores in the United States is that there are benches or sofas everywhere in the store, and you can pick up a book to read at any time. The bookshelves at Left Bank Books are neatly categorized, with topics covering racial issues, marginalized groups, social movements, and more. If you are not interested in the books, that's okay. The walls of the store are covered with posters, and if you like one, you can talk to the staff and buy it.
Golden Age Collectables
This store has everything from comics to various anime merchandise. The store's slogan is 'refusing to grow up since 1971'. You can find various popular comic or animation scripts, dolls, figures, and life-sized paper cutouts.
