1812 @ Berkelouw's

With cavalry to the right of me, and canon shot resounding in my ears, I flayed my fingers in the general direction of the window display. What does Tchaikovsky, or perhaps even Napoleon, have to do with perhaps the best little bookshop in Sydney town? First of all, eliminate the street number. Then, sleuth around their website sniffing for clues. And bingo! There in the 'About' was the answer. Nowt to do with music. Nowt to do with armed interventions. But all to do with enterprise and chancing one's arm. To quote them: The story of Berkelouw Books begins in Kipstraat, Rotterdam, Holland, in 1812. Solomon Berkelouw traded in vellum-bound theology books which were en vogue in the early nineteenth century ... Solomon peddled his wares on Rotterdam Quay and his clients were mainly owners and skippers of the barques ... Not much is known of Solomon Berkelouw except that his bookselling career came to a sudden and unfortunate end. On a late winter's afternoon, with snow falling thickly all around, Solomon attempted to cross an icy plank that connected a customer's ship to the wharf. Halfway up, he lost his footing and fell into the freezing water. Before anyone could fetch help he drowned, his jute-bag full of books sinking with him to the bottom of the icy harbour. I have been waiting for this cafe/wine-bar to open. I love going up to the top floor to scrummage through the old books on the history of Sydney. I have found many treasures, at quite reasonable prices. But after each 'find' I've toasted my luck at The Three Weeds next door. Now, I can flip through my treasure AND sip a cold chardy in the '1812'.