Working on your reading list for the upcoming winter months? Our real estate agents stock up their home libraries at these wonderful independent bookstores around the Twin Cities.

Which Twin Cities Bookstores Should You Visit?

Whether you're searching for a specific title, exploring new authors, or looking for a local literary event, these bookstores have plenty to offer.

• Best for Indigenous literature and art: Birchbark Books & Native Arts, featuring books and artwork celebrating Native cultures.
• Best for tracking down a specific title: Moon Palace Books, with online inventory information and ordering options.
• Best for browsing a large selection: Magers & Quinn Booksellers, a longtime Uptown favorite.
• Best for literary arts enthusiasts: Milkweed Books, located inside the Open Book literary center.
• Best for book clubs and community events: Next Chapter Booksellers, with activities for readers of different ages and interests.
• Best for discovering a newer bookstore: Acorn Bookshop, a woman-owned independent shop in St. Paul's St. Anthony Park neighborhood.
  
  

Top Independent Bookstores and Reading Spots Around Minneapolis and St. Paul

Birchbark Books & Native Arts - Minneapolis, MN

Address: 2115 W. 21st St., Minneapolis, MN 55405

When it comes to showcasing literature and art of Indigenous people, Birchbark Books & Native Arts boasts an impeccable pedigree. Founder Louise Erdrich, a member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa tribe, is a noted award-winning author whose works often feature Native American characters and culture.

Categories of the store's book collection include:

• Culture & Tradition
• Stories & Storytelling
• Indigenous Language

Birchbark Books is open seven days a week from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Moon Palace Books - Minneapolis, MN 

Address: 3032 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Ever been frustrated chasing down a particular book? Moon Palace Books makes it easy by listing the number of copies on hand and the ordering status of each title. Even out-of-town visitors say that Moon Palace Books is on their must-see list during trips to the Twin Cities.

Hours are 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. daily except Sunday, when doors are open from noon-5 p.m.

Magers & Quinn Booksellers - Minneapolis, MN

Address: 3038 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55408

During their fledgling days in 1994, All Books was so small that titles were laid out on tables, like a book fair. More than 30 years later, the shop has grown into Magers & Quinn Booksellers, one of the Midwest's larger independent bookstores.

Check out these upcoming events:

• Poetry Night - 7 p.m. on 10/14
• Translation Book Club - 6 p.m. on 10/29

Hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Milkweed Books - Minneapolis, MN

Address: 1011 Washington Ave. S., Suite 107, Minneapolis, MN 55415

How did Milkweed Books come by the unusual name? The shop, along with its publishing arm, Milkweed Editions, aspires to be a vehicle for writer metamorphosis, just as milkweed harbors butterfly metamorphosis.

Both businesses are housed in Open Book, the largest literary center in the United States, just down the street from Minneapolis homes for sale. Open Book is nirvana for avid readers thanks to additional occupants:

• The Loft Literary Center
• The Minnesota Center for Book Arts
• Literary Commons Atrium Area

Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Next Chapter Booksellers - St. Paul, MN

Address: 38 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105

When it comes to Next Chapter Booksellers, bigger is better. As the largest independent bookstore near St. Paul homes for sale, Next Chapter Booksellers offers a comprehensive selection of titles as well as a schedule of events covering a wide range of interests.

Take a look at some of the topics:

• Books & Bites: A Foodie Book Club
• Family-friendly First Chapter Story Time
• Manga Book Club

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except Sunday, when doors open at noon.

Acorn Bookshop - St. Paul, MN

Address: 2238 Carter Ave., St. Paul, MN 55113

The theme of "planting" embodied in the name of Acorn Bookshop has multiple applications. Their goals include planting the seeds of a lifelong reading habit along with promoting environmental awareness.

Acorn Bookshop is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Write Your Own Story with a Home in the Twin Cities

Enjoy the culture-rich lifestyle found in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Call today for assistance with all your real estate needs.