It isn't enough for Housing Works to have fantastic thrift stores, or even a vast and welcoming used book store. No, they also have to have a heart of gold, giving their profits to house homeless people with HIV. The mostly volunteer staff do a great job managing an unwieldy and consistently high quality inventory, the dollar racks (and 50 cent racks!) are many and always worth pursuing, and the atmosphere is woody and cozy. A cafe and plenty of chairs and tables invite you hang about, imagining you are in your own personal dream study. Plus: The location hosts in-house musical events (Beth Orton & the like have played there) as well as a yearly, block-closing outdoor book fair.
