Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Better Know Middle Earth

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve been a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books since I discovered the world of Middle Earth at about twelve. So, I’m always tickled to find ways in which obsessed readers help others grasp the complexity of the stories. Emil … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

How Orwellian

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Some perplexing news out of India this week reporting that George Orwell’s birthplace in Motari, Bihar is being developed into a memorial site—but to Mahatma Gandhi not Eric Blair. The little bungalow, where Orwell was born and lived until he … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Books, History, Museums, Tourism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Free Paris Walking Tour

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Well, now that I’ve grabbed your attention, I have to admit that the title of this post is a little misleading. The” walking tour” is just a 50 minute long video (see below) filmed on a week-long visit to Paris during … Continue reading →

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

Manhattan, A Love Story

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Becky Copoper walked the streets and boulevards of New York City’s borough of manhattan from end to end. Along the way she handed-out blank maps to ordinary New Yorkers and asked them to map their personal Manhattan and mail the … Continue reading →

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Little Free Libraries

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

In the winter of 2013, PEN, alongside the Architectural League of New York and IDEAS CITY Festival, commissioned ten emerging architects to design their take on the idea of the Little Free Library. On May 4, the ten little libraries … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Books, Libraries, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Venice, City of Readers

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

A group of 100 authors in Italy have organized as Venice, City of Readers and have issued a manifesto protesting the disappearance of Venice’s bookstores. The writers, including Italian and international authors, gathered at the historic Salone della Libreria Sansoviniana … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Libraries, Tourism, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Can’t Ask for A Better Hotel

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

We all know by now that a significant percentage of online travel reviews are bogus, but a group of pranksters in the UK have raised some serious doubts about TripAdvisor‘s screening process. Last week an unidentified group of jokesters posted … Continue reading →

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One Day One Artist

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Les Bains, the once popular and now defunct nightclub, has been empty since 2010. But while it awaits renovation, the owner Jean-Pierre Marois has allowed dozens of street artists to turn the 19th century building into an art gallery. The … Continue reading →

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Food Tripping

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

Finding healthy food on a road trip in the U. S. is usually a big challenge. Now there’s a really helpful app that meets that challenge. Food Tripping uses GPS to enable travelers to locate the closest farmers’ markets, health … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Who Will Save Our Books

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

I have never read any of his bestselling blockbusters, but I’m now a big fan of author James Patterson for this full-page ad that he placed in the New York Times Book Review. Patterson wants to know “Who will save … Continue reading →

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