"Books in the City is the alternative." So says the main chalkboard as you walk into the Lincoln Park bookstore. Hmm. The alternative to what, you very reasonably ask in the shadowy background somewhere? Well, to the always-overpriced DePaul bookstore, of course!

People assume because you live in Lincoln Park that you must be a yuppie and therefore incredibly rich with your billion dollar billfolds spilling outward from your too-tight hipster-jean-pant-pockets at alarming rates of speed. Such is not the case, it would seem, particularly when it comes to those of the college variety. That's right—hard as it might be to believe, there are, shall we call them, "non-wealthy" persons residing in Lincoln Park and attending college there, and for them, Books in the City is the alternative. Textbooks are most prevalent (but only in season), but there are plenty of other titles, including an extensive children’s section. If you were looking for a miniature Borders, you've come to the wrong place. On the other hand, if you were looking for an interesting little shop that sells cheap textbooks and neat (miscellaneous) things on the side, you came to the right one.

The best, most unique part of Books in the City is its great selection of mostly humorous birthday and post cards, stationary, toys, crazy mutant dolls, posters, Burt's Bees lip balm, shimmer and hand cream, 'Total Bitch' bath salts and hand soap, and much more. A little tip: If you're looking for a birthday card and you're bored of Hallmark's sentimental nonsense, this is your place. And, more particularly, if you're looking for a card that depicts a cat stealing the milkman's truck because he's drunk on milk, this is definitely your place.

Centerstage Reviewer: Benjamin Andrew Moore