Profile

Formerly located on the sidewalk in front of Crest Hardware, Airstream changed its name to Open Air Modern and relocated to a retail space just one block north of McCarren Park in August 2009. Inside, the store offers a trove of rare and used design books. The stash is carefully selected by former sculptor and printmaker Matt Singer, who gathers titles on cooking, painting, photography, fashion, and architecture, as well as contemporary and classic literature. Mid-century Danish chairs and antique lamps create a living-room-like setting for browsing. The literature selection includes a variety of out-of-print books, many in the same modernist vein as the furniture. (The décor is all catalogued on the store’s website and is available for purchase.) There is also a small collection of records (David Bowie does Peter and the Wolf, anyone?). — Molly Finkelstein