"It's an honor to represent Connecticut's first Cultural District, and everything the surrounding 068 zip codes have to offer. We truly live in a unique town where there is always something more to discover!"

-Dee Dee Colabella, Owner

Connecticut independent bookstores, like bookstores across the country, are surviving the age of online ordering largely thanks to one thing: community. Talk to owners of local bookstores, and you’ll hear that word again and again. Whether it’s connecting with readers who wander into the store or facilitating author events, bookstore owners and their staff pride themselves on fostering wide-ranging literary conversations. In the process, these stores become important parts of their towns, with many serving as essential downtown hubs. Here’s a closer look at some of the best in the area.

November/December An extraordinary evening of music, celebration, and community spirit awaits as the Ridgefield Playhouse welcomes internationally acclaimed artist John Legend for an intimate, one-of-a-kind