Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Murakami in the Machine or Way back Wednesday

Posted on May 29, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

In the past we’ve covered lots of book vending machine stories, but this one is surreal. The Muzu publishing house in Poland created three vending machines to dispense Polish translations of Haruki Murakami’s newest novel, Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and the Year of … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Books, Europe, Writing | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Chill Out

Posted on May 28, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Summer has arrived early in my little corner of the Western Hemisphere and with the wilting heat my thoughts turn to the far North. Coincidentally, the world’s largest and most northern national park is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Kalaallit Nunaanni … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Film, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

War is not an adventure…

Posted on May 27, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

“War is not an adventure. It is a disease.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Posted in Books, History | Tagged | Leave a comment

Doing it old school

Posted on May 26, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve shared stories about the beloved Arion Press, including a visit to their San Francisco home by Anthony Bourdain in 2015 for a online series called Raw Craft . I recently spotted  a video from Business Insider’s Still Standing series … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Film, History, USA | Tagged , | Leave a comment

a mystery wrapped in an enigma in a vending machine

Posted on May 26, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I love a good European train station story, and I’m always down for a wacky vending machine tale, if you mash the two together I have to share the tale. It seems that the central train station in the charming … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Public Transport | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

seulement des affiches

Posted on May 25, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

 

Posted in Art, Europe, Public Transport, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bookstore Tourism

Posted on May 24, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Bookstar in San Diego, California is no ordinary bookshop. The 1945 Point Loma Theater was rescued from the wrecking ball by the Barnes & Noble chain. The theaters adaptive reuse capitalized on the existing theaters circulation path including the recreation … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Film, movies, Theater, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

scratch-and-sniff

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Each May 16th, France celebrates Saint Honoré, the patron saint of bakers and pastry chefs. This year, the French postal service La Poste marked the occasion with a tasteful tribute in the form of a unique postage stamp. The “Baguette … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Cover Art

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

One of the privileges in collecting and selling antiquarian books is discovering the absolutely wonderful book cover art and design from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Although my specialty has always been books on travel, geography, and history, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Books, Europe, History, Libraries, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Book Mouse

Posted on May 21, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

 

Posted in Art, Books | Tagged , | 1 Comment