Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

World’s Latest Check Out Time

The Art Series Hotel chain in Melbourne Australia is now offering the ultimate in customer-friendly check out policies. The Overstay Checkout answers that age old question: Why do most hotels make you checkout at 11AM even when the next guest … Continue reading

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Borrow One If Necessary

Tomorrow, December 1st, marks the third annual Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day. More than 1,000 bookshops in North America, along with stores in the U.K. and Australia, will be hosting special events to celebrate young readers. Many bookstores … Continue reading

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

Timeless Alsace

According to the editor Julien Guntz,  The “Alsace timelapse” project is the fruit of the collaboration of three French artists from Strasbourg, and the fusion of their photographic, editing and musical talents. The collective, baptized IGH, presents a short film … Continue reading

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Go Amphibious

If you have ever dreamed of going camping and boating, the Sealander is the perfect solution for you. This nifty little schwimmcaravan retails for around $20,000, but it’s fully customizable and comes with an electric motor, heating and cooking equipment. … Continue reading

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Mapping Our Emotions

Artist Ed Fairburn creates arresting portraits out of the hodge-podge of streets, roads, railways, topographical features and waterways on ordinary maps. His meticulously worked pencil and ink drawing are hauntingly emotional. Fairburn says, ” The work that I produce is … Continue reading

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Parade Redux

Of course I missed the actual broadcast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade last week (good excuse: I was cooking for 15), so I was amazed to find that former street artist and fellow Jersey boy KAWS had a balloon … Continue reading

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Book Building

Eco-Artware, a retailer dedicated to “green” gifts, has posted a series of impressive projects created with recycled or discarded books. Some are prize-winning installations by artist Job Koelewijn, but the remainder are simply ingeneous efforts from bookstores and museums.

Posted in Architecture, Art, Books, Bookstore Tourism | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Art in the Metro

Many visitors to Amsterdam never ride the city’s limited Metro system; in fact many don’t even know that it exists. But the GVB’s clever campaign to refurbish the Zilbermeeuwen metro cars may encourage art-loving tourists to take a ride. When … Continue reading

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Be Safe Around Trains

Most public transit safety advertising tends to be dull, unimaginative or even browbeating, so it was a treat to see the entertaining approach taken by Melbourne Metro in Australia. Animator Julian frost created this kooky little film called Dumb Ways … Continue reading

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Happy Thanksgiving Day

Like most every kid growing up in the United States, each Thanksgiving Day holiday morning I was glued to the television in anticipation of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade broadcast from New York City. It’s been quite a while … Continue reading

Posted in Animation, Photography, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , | 1 Comment