Phoenix Books & Records

Books and CDs are reborn at this neighborhood mind-trough for liberal and intellectual locals.. The Scene
Shoppers are lured in by the cheapo bins outside, plus a "free" box. Go to the back to view some surprisingly good poetry posted by customers across from the employee-only door. If you need direction, the wise and friendly staff can instantly show you your options.

The Goods
New and used books share the shelves without Noe Valley-inflated prices. Fiction and non-fiction get their substantial sections with plenty of old printings of Beat writings or paperback mysteries. Sections on Alternative Spirituality, Eastern Religion and Gender Studies express the shop's Mission-style bent. Beautiful used, but barely worn, art books fill an entire wall and CDs by current punk, alternative, country, jazz and international artists.…