13 Weeks of Adventure: Week 8 - Albertine

The only bookshop in NYC devoted solely to books in French and English.

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I spent some time in Western North Carolina this week.

The Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.

After filling up on barbecue, mountain views, and a star-filled night sky, I’m happy to be back home in the Northeast. This trip was like hitting a reset button, especially as I enter into a new season professionally.

Sometimes, you need to slow down before you can speed up.

Onward,

RL

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At the rear of the Payne Whitney Mansion lies Albertine, New York City’s only bookshop devoted exclusively to French and English books. From the outside, a gauzy, sun-faded banner offers the only clue that this residence— also home to the French Embassy—holds a hidden gem within. After climbing the four exterior steps and passing through wrought iron double doors, there’s much to admire even before perusing the shelves. The building’s foyer has a marble-columned entryway, a replica of Michelangelo’s “Young Archer,” and the eye-catching opulence of a Venetian Room.

As a reading room and bookstore, Albertine is an intimate location, split across two levels, where you can browse popular titles translated from French to English. It also hosts author talks, panels, book club meet-ups, and book signings. Officially, Albertine is a project of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy. With more than 14,000 books from 30 French-speaking countries, it proudly holds its place as a cultural gem on 5th Avenue, alongside icons like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park.

Since its opening in 2014, Albertine has become a cornerstone of intellectual exchange between France and America. This dedication to the bond between the two allied countries is reflected in the display of 11 prominent thinkers from French and French-American cultures throughout the ground floor.

Benjamin Franklin (pictured). There are also busts of Voltaire, Tocqueville, and Descartes on display.

When I first entered the store, it was empty, and I thought I was alone. As I stepped in further, I noticed an attendant quietly reading in the doorway of an office hidden behind a bookshelf.

Concealed doorways? That was the first sign this was my kind of place.

The second was the thoughtfully placed velvet green seating throughout both levels.

It’s clear effort went into designing the space to allow patrons to read in style. Gilded trim runs the perimeter of every bookcase while picture lights dot the top, illuminating the translated works of Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Bridgerton’s own, Julia Quinn. Mini sconces with pleated shades mirror their larger counterparts hung from the upper floor’s ceiling.

The artistic impressions continue up a narrow staircase to the left of the register, where after making it up to the second landing, you’re greeted by the centerpiece of the entire store: a handpainted ceiling mural of constellations, stars, and planets - complete with Albertine’s logo, a starburst, in the center.

Shoutout to Capricorns 😤 🐐👑We stand on business.

Compared to the first floor’s collection of fiction and historical texts, the second floor, with its higher ceilings, abundant light, and books on fashion and design, is an art lover’s delight.

And is precisely where I lost a pair of shades that were gifted to me by my husband 😭.

Look at me 🤦🏾‍♀️ taking selfies with my purchases and unaware I’m about to get got.

There are photo books on Dior, Louboutin, and Balenciaga, hardcovers on French cuisine, and titles celebrating the creations of Matisse and famed New Yorker illustrator Peter de Sève.

The children’s section is within view of a small seating area, making it an ideal locale for readers of all ages, especially with stacks of “Le Petit Prince” huddled throughout the store. With a bronze sculpture of the main character out front of the building, it is safe to say the French are well proud of their late countryman, Antoine de Saint Exupery.

The contrasting blues of the upper and lower floors make me think of night and day.

Though presented as a bookstore, Albertine is also a cultural center that reflects the art and history of France and a gathering place for those who come to speak the language. In short, come for the books, but stay for the art, as there is no shortage of it, even before you enter the door.

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LET ME KNOW

Do you have a favorite bookstore, whether local or from your travels? What makes it special to you?

Have you visited France or the continent of Europe?

When you lose something sentimental, do you try to replace it with something similar, or do you let it go and move on?

If you had to choose only one, would it be baguettes, croissants, or macarons?