Monthly Archives: December 2019

je me souviens

Posted on December 21, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

 

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

Decolonizing the Metropolitan

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is one of my favorite go to places in the city. In fact, I’ve been visiting the Met since before I could walk. The museum’s grand entrance hall never fails to awe. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Canada, History, Museums, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

George RR Martin’s Beastly Books

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

On November 30th, the legendary author George R.R. Martin officially launched his own bricks and mortar bookshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Beastly Books—named for Beauty and the Beast—is located nextdoor to the cinema that Martin purchased and rehabilitated in 2013. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Nothing Happens (for a reason)

Posted on December 18, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

This captivating 11-minute film by Michelle and Uri Kranot is a mysterious, melancholy animation in which a diverse group of people slowly gather in a snow-laden field in Denmark. Nothing really happens in Nothing Happens and that’s kind of refreshing.

Posted in Animation, Art, Europe, Film | Tagged , | 1 Comment

No Need To Fly

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Europeans seem to be taking the lead in the creation of new travel paradigms. In Germany, DB, the German Railway Operator, has taken advantage of new attitudes towards responsible travel by promoting their discounted train tickets. Still, 72% of Germans … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Public Transport, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The 17th Century Kindle

Posted on December 16, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

In 1617. William Hakewill commissioned a traveling library to give as a gift to a friend. The Jacobean miniature mobile library consisted of fifty gold-tooled vellum-bound miniature books contained in a wooden case that resembled a large folio. Inside there were … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, History, Libraries, Museums | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Thanx 4 Nothing”

Posted on December 15, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

I just discovered that the artist and Beat poet John Giorno died in October. You can be forgiven if you are not familiar with him, but in the 60s and 70s he was a prominent figure in the New York … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Film, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Bolder Boulder Travel Guide

Posted on December 14, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

The popular American outdoor clothing company Patagonia commissioned the local design studio Cast Iron to create a city guide to its home town of Boulder, Colorado. The neat little travel guide covers the highlights of America’s “happiest city” from local … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Transport, Restaurants, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Charles Dickens and the Marketing of Christmas

Posted on December 13, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Charles Dickens and his iconic story A Christmas Carol have become synonymous with Christmas celebrations, however a special holiday exhibition at  the Charles Dickens Museum in London demonstrates that his connection to the holiday season is not all candy canes … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Libraries, Museums, Tourism, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Home For Christmas

Posted on December 12, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Last weekend, the UK-based artist(s) known as Banksy stenciled a moving holiday themed artwork on a wall in Birmingham, UK. The piece, and accompanying video, were designed to highlight the homelessness crisis in the city. Of course, the mural was … Continue reading →

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