I visited The Reading Room for the first time yesterday, and what an AMAZING vibe! We chose it as…read morethe first stop on a first date, and honestly, it was the perfect place for it.
From the moment you walk in, there is so much to take in. The walls feature absolutely beautiful artwork by African American artists, with paintings depicting everything from legendary sports figures to children and everyday moments of Black life. I found myself stopping just to really look at and appreciate the artwork.
Then there are the BOOKS! The library features more than 600 books from the owner's personal collection, with works by African American authors covering Black history, culture, art, literature and so much more. We spent about an hour browsing through books and talking about African American history, music, entertainment, art and culture. It created such a natural space for conversation and connection.
One of my favorite surprises was the collection of old-school CDs. Brandy, Babyface, Whitney Houston, Kelly Price... they took me BACK! You can actually sit and listen to the music while you're there, which just adds another layer to the whole experience.
There's also a comfortable area where you can sit, read, work, have coffee or simply have a conversation. I could absolutely see myself coming back with my laptop, finding a comfortable spot and spending a couple of hours working and reading.
What really stood out, though, was how welcome we felt. We never felt rushed and were able to simply explore, talk, take pictures and enjoy the space.
The Reading Room isn't just somewhere you go to look at books. It's a place to slow down and immerse yourself in Black art, literature, music, history and culture. It feels intentional. It feels warm. And it feels like a space created to be experienced.
I will DEFINITELY be back.