Portlanders buy more books per capita than people in most other parts of the country; in bookstore sales per household Portland ranks ahead of New York City.

Powell’s Books (1005 W. Burnside, 503/228-4651, 9 a.m.–11 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun.) is not only a Portland institution, it is the largest independent bookstore in the world. Add such accolades as author Susan Sontag calling it “the best bookstore in the English-speaking world” and you can believe tales of shoppers finding books here that were impossible to find elsewhere.

Over a million new and used books are housed in a labyrinth of hallways that take up a city block. A helpful staff and maps of the stacks help locate whatever you might be looking for in 50 sections ranging from automobiles to Zen.

The Coffee Room, on the west side of the store, sells gourmet coffee drinks, pastries, salads, soups, and snacks. It’s a favorite place for singles to make connections. Free parking in the store garage and frequent readings by renowned authors enhance the store’s appeal.

Browse www.powells.com to get a sense of what the Wall Street Journal called “one of the most innovative and creative enterprises in the country.”