Monthly Archives: September 2012

Open Air Philly

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

“Open Air is an interactive art installation designed to transform Philadelphia’s historic Benjamin Franklin Parkway, between tonight and October 14, 2012. In this project, twenty four powerful searchlights create unique, dynamic light formations in the sky which react to voice messages … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, Art, Museums, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Key to Character

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

In celebration of the bicentennial of Charles Dickens’ birth, the New York Public Library has opened a wonderful, special exhibition called “Charles Dickens: The Key to Character”. Running through January 27, 2013, and held in the iconic Stephen A. Schwartzman … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Libraries, Tourism, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Making Public Transit Cool

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

There’s not much humor to be found in public transportation here in the U.S., but the Danish transit organization Midttrafik knows how to make public transit fun. Here are two versions of their recent, very amusing commercial aimed at making … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Literature vs Traffic

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

This past summer our favorite Spanish street art collective Luzinterruptus  visited Melbourne, Australia and made a lasting impression with the reprise of their installation called “Literature vs. Traffic”. The work, which they previously offered in New York City, incorporated more … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Photography, Tourism, Writing | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Painting Europe

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

This Spring, Berlin-based Bruno Levy and Blake Shaw, better known as the performance art group Sweatshoppe, video-bombed five European cities. Utilizing a technique that they call “Video Painting” based on their own secret software blend, the duo temporarily covers urban … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Book Store of the Month

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Urban dwellers in the U.S. are getting ready for their mass pilgrimages to the higher elevations for the autumn leaf-peeping season. Residents of the Northeast often head for the Hudson River Valley region of New York State and the easily … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Ride the SkyCycle

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

London’s colorful and controversial mayor Boris Johnson has endorsed a new scheme to attack the city’s transport mess with sky high bike lanes connecting the City of London with east London. The proposed SkyCycle project won’t be free though, access … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Tourism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A History of New York

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Drawing inspiration from last year’s BBC/British Museum collaboration called “A History of the World in 100 Objects”, the New York Times selected a group of historians to decide what should be part of “A History of New York in 50 … Continue reading →

Posted in History, USA | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bibliotorrent

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

I continue to follow the path of Madrid-based artist Alicia Martin as she spreads her biblio-sculptural installations around Europe. The latest installation is a torrent of books which spill from the window of Den Haag’s Meermanno Museum as the centerpiece … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Museums | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Salman Rushdie Says Thanks

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Salman Rushdie recently issued an open letter to independent booksellers expressing his gratitude for their long support of his work. The image below offers the full text of his message. “I have never ceased to be grateful for what the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Freedom of Speech, USA, Writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment