Calling All Non-Crafty Bookworms: Scribble Press

My kids didn't write this book. But I wish they had.

I have always been kind of a nerdish bookworm, so Scribble Press, a make-your-own-bookstore on the Upper West Side (there’s another location on the Upper East Side and for those of you on the left coast, one in Los Angeles as well), is the kind of place I would have adored as a child.

An open studio of sorts, Scribble Press has a variety of projects from which to choose. Books are really their signature item, but for less bookish types, there are also calendars, notecards, bookmarks, and placemats just crying out to be created and personalized. Once you’ve decided on your project, pick out your art supplies and start writing and illustrating your masterpiece.

No fighting over markers at Scribble Press

While you’re waiting for your book to be printed and bound, head down the street and grab lunch at Artie’s, a retro 1930’s New York Jewish delicatessen. 

Pull up a barstool and place your order at Artie's

By the time you’ve sufficiently stuffed yourself full of corned beef, potato pancakes, and cheese blintzes, your book should be ready for pick-up.

Tada! Pirates, Princesses, and airplanes

For those enterprising and crafty readers who might argue that they could produce equally impressive books at home for a fraction of Scribble Press’s cost, I say break out the Magic Markers and get on with your bad selves. When I practice parenting, however, my cost analysis goes something like this:

• The cost of making a book at Scribble Press: $28 and up
• Getting out of apartment and not having to plan and execute a book-making project and being able to not feel bad about my own lack of arts and crafts inclination and prowess? Priceless

There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s plastic.

Scribble Press, 217 West 84^th Street (@ Broadway), New York, New York 10024, (212) 362-2555, www.scribblepress.com; Open Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 7:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Costs: There is no studio fee and products start at $15.

Artie’s, 2290 Broadway (@ 83^rd Street), New York, New York 10024, (212) 579-5959, www.arties.com.