Introducing Librarything Local.
A very cool listing of bookstores, comic shops, events, etc in your area. You can see my favorites here. New features include a snazzy Googlemap mashup and a list of other local Librarythingers (there are 154 librarythingers within 25 miles of Ann Arbor). If there was a Blogger feed, this would be perfect.
From the press release:
"What is it? LibraryThing Local is a gateway to thousands of local bookstores, libraries and book festivals—and to all the author readings, signings, discussions and other events they host. It is our attempt to accomplish what hasn't happened yet—the effective linking of the online and offline book worlds. Books still don't fully "work" online; this is a step toward mending them.LibraryThing Local is a handy reference, but it's also interactive. You can show off your favorite bookstores and libraries (eg., mine include the Harvard Bookstore, Shakespeare and Company and the Boston Athenaeum) and keep track of interesting events. Then you can find out who else loves the places you do, and who else is going to events. You can also find local members, write comments about the places you love and more."