U Street Life: Furniture Shopping Roundup

While I like reading from time to time, I really like looking like I'm well read even more. Looking like you are well read saves time and energy (important in this fast paced age of the internet) and produces all the same results as sitting down and reading like a sucker. For example, if someone exuberantly says "Hey I just saw the best movie!" you can always look well read by shooting them a look of disgust and saying, "Yeah but the book was better." This works mostly all books or movies, however be careful how and when you pull this card (I found out the hard way there is no book for Point Break).

A more subtle approach to looking well read is owning a bookshelf. This method only requires you to stock your bookshelf with various books that range in topics that are beyond the comprehension of the average person. Keeping the topics of your books varied and highly specialized is critical, for starters, it reduces the risk that you actually become engaged in a conversation with someone who is familiar with the book, and secondly, if you do find yourself engaged in conversation with someone who is familiar with the book you can quickly point to another book and change topics.

This weekend I chose the subtle route and went to 14th Street to look for a bookshelf. While there are many furniture stores on or around U Street I found that going the used route can save you some change if your willing to dig around. I visited two amazing thrift furniture stores Ruff and Ready and Hunted House. Both of these stores are located on 14th Street opposite the Black Cat and constantly have an influx of awesome used furniture for cheap prices.

Ruff and Ready is a bit of sensory overload for the first time buyer. Literally the merchandise is stacked on top of each other from wall to wall but if you are willing to dig around you can find some amazing deals. The entire downstairs is 75% off and everything will probably be cheaper than its ticketed price once you get to the register. While I didn't quite find the bookshelf I wanted, my roommate and I bought a few cool things to hang on our living room walls and I am definitely going back next week to see if they have anything new.

Hunted House, is more organized, but more expensive. Like an Ikea on shrooms, HH is set up to look like you are walking through a real house. They have tons of great retro furniture and great pictures (see the space tiger below). Unfortunately, it was all out of my immediate price range so I couldn't get a bookshelf there either.

Even though I didn't find the bookshelf I wanted to appear well read, simply by going to these two places I increased my indie credibility by a bunch of points (which may be good after that boat shoe post). Besides, I hear it looks smarter to stack all of your books in various places around your floor anyway.

Ruff and Ready is located at 1908 14th Street NW.

Hunted House is located at 1830 14th Street NW.

Bookcases outside Ruff and Ready