Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Peripatetic Bookstore

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

By now you know that I love a story about a booklover who turned their passion into a bookstore. But what’s even better is a traveling bibliophile who parlayed their interests and zeal into a traveling bookshop. Saint Rita’s Amazing … Continue reading →

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Anachronic

Posted on May 13, 2026 by Brian D. Butler
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A Fake Museum of Real Truth

Posted on May 12, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Located in the Tribeca neighborhood of lower Manhattan, the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room is a pop-up exhibit created by the Institute for Primary Facts, a nonprofit that describes itself as “advancing civic literacy through immersive … Continue reading →

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Book Machine

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Frequent readers of TBTP know that I have a weird interest in vending machines that defies explanation. And, a book vending machine is my nerdy jam. So, Long Story Books, a new indie bookstore slated to open in late summer … Continue reading →

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Booksellers of New York

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

The Booksellers is a fascinating exploration of the world of antiquarian book selling in New York City, it highlights rare finds and the collectors dedicated to preserving history. Dealers discuss the challenges and passions of their trade amidst a changing retail … Continue reading →

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Really Interesting (ok maybe interesting) stuff

Posted on May 9, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Check the time with NYC Street Clock — telling the time using more than 20,000 Google Street View images found around NYC . I can be an infinite bore when it comes to giving travel advice. Over the years I’ve learned to … Continue reading →

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*Meditations in an Emergency*

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

A poem by Frank O’Hara. It’s the first poem in *Meditations in an Emergency*, 1957: To the Harbormaster I wanted to be sure to reach you; though my ship was on the way it got caught in some moorings. I … Continue reading →

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Emptying Europe

Posted on May 7, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Where Europe’s Population is Shrinking, is an excellent example of how large-scale spatial data and clear visual design can come together to tell a nuanced geographic story. In this case, the story is one of Europe’s rural depopulation and how … Continue reading →

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Hotel Retro

Posted on May 6, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Letterform Archive has published a new large format peel and stick book Hotel Retro: Vintage Luggage Labels from Tokyo to Buenos Aires. A 330-sticker-long journey through this new age of global travel by train and sea designed by San Francisco agency MacFadden & … Continue reading →

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N is for New York

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Those of you who stop by this site on a regular basis are likely aware of my interest in cities, urban transit and city planning. These subjects don’t suggest a topic for a children’s book, but in 1937 New York … Continue reading →

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