Places to See   Powell’s City of Books A Book Lover’s Dream Reviewed by Melissa Minners                 When Michael Powell opened his first bookstore in Chicago in 1970, he could never have predicted that he would become the king of a book-selling empire.  Beginning his career fresh out of college with a $3,000 loan to lease a bookstore, Michael Powell’s success was immediate, allowing him to pay off his loan in only two months time.             His father, Walter, a retired painting contractor who worked in the Chicago bookstore for a summer, followed his son’s example, opening his own bookstore in Portland.  Buying up every used book he could get his hands on, Walter Powell soon outgrew his original location and moved his store to a new location – that of a former car dealership.             The two motivated booksellers joined forces in 1979.  Their new and innovative approach to bookselling was seen as highly unorthodox, yet it made them extremely popular with book lovers.  The Powells stocked their shelves with new and used books side by side; hardcovers next to paperbacks.  The store was open 365 days a year and kept staffed with employees who had extensive knowledge and love for books.             From their humble beginnings as small shops in Chicago and Portland, Powell’s Books has evolved into a chain of bookstores with an equally profitable internet business.                                Powell’s City of Books is a book lover’s dream.  Toted as the largest independent bookstore for new and used books in the United States, Powell’s City of Books occupies an entire city block in Portland, Oregon (between NW 10th and 11th Avenue and Burnside and Couch Streets).  The store is open year round and buys thousands of used books daily to ensure that the shelves stay well-stocked.                         Prior to visiting Powell’s City of Books, one should first visit the store map at the Powell’s website.  The map gives would-be visitors a break down of each of Powell’s extensive collection of rooms – Green, Gold, Pearl, Blue, Rose, Purple, Red, and Orange.  A visit to the Green Room reveals the latest novels, award winning best sellers, staff picks, sales, magazines, newspapers, and more.  The Blue Room sports 12-foot stacks filled to the ceiling with books.  The Gold Room sports all sorts of fantasy and science fiction novels.  Passing through the Gold Room, visitors will discover a place to refuel whilst perusing possible purchases at The World Cup Coffee and Tea House.  The Rose Room harbors the Children’s book area.  Books about forestry, chemistry, math, and virtually any other educational topic can also be found here.  Books about Foreign Cultures and Philosophy can be found in the Purple Room.  Want to learn about other countries - their policies, economy, and more?  Then visit the Red Room.  Visit the Pearl Room for all the art, music, and drama you can handle.  And don’t forget to check out the Orange Room for all of your business and career needs.             As a lover of the written word, I could honestly say that I yearn to see this book extravaganza!  Pictures and words are not enough.  After all, someone once said that seeing is believing.  We at G-POP would love to hear from any of our readers who have actually enjoyed the Powell’s City of Books experience.  Email us at g-pop@g-pop.net and let us know what it was like to wander through the largest bookstore in the United States.    Resources: Powells Books and Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia For feedback, visit our message board or e-mail the author at talonkarrde@g-pop-net.