Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

*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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May the Fourth Be With You

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

 

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Indie Bookstore Comedy

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

The TV comedy Broadway Books released its pilot episode, “The Tipping Point,” on YouTube last month for Independent Bookstore Day. The creators noted that the debut came “after a successful bookstore tour (with stops including the Brooklyn Book Festival, Baltimore’s Atomic Books, & … Continue reading →

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Bookstore Tourism: Best Indies in the USA

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

If you want to start a heated discussion with booklovers ask “what are the best indie bookshops in the U.S.” I have my favorites, but then again I’ve only visited a few hundred. Conde Nast Traveler shared its picks for “the best … Continue reading →

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May Day 2026

Posted on May 1, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

 

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What is done cannot be undone

Posted on April 30, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

 

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France and Canada share a border (really)

Posted on April 29, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Canada and France share a maritime border, despite the ejection of France from North America in the Seven Years’ War. Article 6 of the 1763 Treaty of Paris allowed France to retain the tiny islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon in the … Continue reading →

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