Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Boutique Hotels at “good value”

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

The folks at Butikk hope to become the go-to site for qualitative information on “good value” design/boutique hotels around the world. Their proclaimed aim is “beauty, but not at any cost.” They currently list just a few dozen properties, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Europe, Hotels, Tourism | Leave a comment

Where in the world is Twin Peaks ?

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Where is Twin Peaks? The mythical community featured in the eponymous 90s television series isn’t that difficult to locate. The weather is perpetually soggy, primeval forests surround, and the coffee is an obsession; this must be the Pacific Northwest.   Twin … Continue reading →

Posted in USA | 1 Comment

Mapping London Underground

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Hat tip to Evan Smythe for this post:

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Support Japan Relief

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Those who have witnessed the ongoing tragedy unfold in Japan cannot fail to be moved by the terrible loss of life, homes and businesses. Booklovers have also been saddened by the destruction of bookstores and libraries. I have recently learned … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Books, Libraries | Tagged | 1 Comment

GigaPanBot Does It Again

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Photographer Jeffrey Martin of the website 360cities has created what maybe the world’s largest indoor photograph ever: a mindboggling 40 gigapixel, 360-degree image of the exquisite Philosophical Hall in the magnificent 12th century Strahov Monastery Library in Prague. Using the … Continue reading →

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

Do You Tip The Taxi Driver ?

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

After a long discussion with visitors from Europe on tipping practices in the Americas, this infographic seems to be just the ticket to solve the mystery.

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Amy Sedaris Can Be So Nasty

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Along with pithy book reviews and commentary on the New York literary scene, writer Bill Ryan posts cleverly insulting book dedications that he elicits from his literary heroes on his wildly funny blog Insulted By Authors. Be forewarned, the language … Continue reading →

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Who Needs Postcards ?

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Artist Bryan Lee Madden has been creating some amazing cityscapes and scenes on pocket Etch-a-Sketch models for the last two years:

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

Tolkien vs Sendak (round 1)

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

  Would you like to see an edition of The Hobbit illustrated by artist Maurice Sendak of Where the Wild Things Are fame ? Well, you can’t. It almost happened, but didn’t, and all because that notorious curmudgeon J.R.R. Tolkien … Continue reading →

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

Before Treasure Island

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Nearly 135 years after it was begun, the abandoned first novel by Robert Louis Stevenson has been discovered. The incomplete book, titled The Hair Trunk or The Ideal Commonwealth, was discovered by literary sleuth and Stevenson scholar Michel Le Bris. … Continue reading →

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